Hi I'm Bunny

[BunnyHankers]

Hi Everyone
I'm Bunny, I'm 34 and I currently live in a little village in Essex.

I'm not currently working as I have ME, so most of my time these days is spent fighting my employer and insurance company who sadly have been less than understanding.

I live in a period victorian cottage which I've spent the last few years doing up, with my 5 cats and 2 dogs.

Up until about a year ago when I became too ill I used to take in rescue cats - always the ones noone else wanted, the sick and the elderly, and so far I've had 5 - only one remaining as the rest have since died. The cats I have now are one rescue, Leggs (5 years old) and 4 that I've had from kittens Moses (12), Geoffrey (10), Black (8) and George (7).

I look forwarding to rescuing more in the future when I am better. My dogs are a golden retreiver, Henry who is 10 this year and Red, a cocker spaniel who is 5 this year.

My Mum lives next door in the 'other half' (our cottages used to be a pub called the Queen's Head which has been split into 4 cottages and we have the two in the middle). She has a 9 month old boxer who spends most of his time in my house chasing the cats around.

I first read Derek's books about 20 years ago. Even then for some reason I wanted to live in Cornwall so was attracted by the cover of one of his books (I think it was 'A Gull On The Roof'.) I also really enjoyed his tales of life with various animals.

I was surprised at how old the books were as his description of the trains to London and working there generally didnt seem to have changed much!

I can't say they really changed my life as I already wanted to do what he had done but it did inspire me that it might be more possible than I'd thought it was.

I havent managed it so far but still hope to move to Cornwall. At present I am locked in a legal battle with my employer which prevents me from moving but we have decided when that ends (which we hope will be soon) that my Mum and I will sell up and buy similar cottages and finally make the move.
We both love it there and have been staying down there for a month of the year (May) for many years.

It's nice to finally meet some people who actually know who Derek Tangye is as I've never met anyone previously who knew who I was talking about.

Love Bunny

[Linda]

Hello Bunny and a big warm Welcome!

Your home sounds delightful!
I just love the idea of your Mums boxer chasing the cats...bet he gets a whack on the nose!
I like Cocker spaniels ...we were thinking of geting one as a companion to our Old English Sheepdog...as she thinks she is a cat having grown up with the nine cats.
Employers can be less than understanding when it comes to illness. It always seems to me that such a time is when we need not to be worrying about money ,security and such like . However, that seems to be the time when we are hit the hardest. You have to find the loop holes and you need a sympathetic doctor..hope you have. It certainly helps.

I too look after rescue cats and re home them so know the extra mile you go in looking after them...it can be hard and heartbreaking but you just feel you have to give them a life and love they deserve .
I think thats what Derek's books did for me. I always wanted to live out of the city but wasn't sure what or how...and by reading his books realised I could do it too. I just needed to take the plunge and find that 'opportunity'.

Have you been to Minack and Oliver Land?

What would you say is your favourite book if you have one?

We were just saying on the forum how may is probably the month to visit Cornwall...so you will be off shortly...where do you stay?

Its great to know you have found us and that you can now chat to your hearts content with others who will understand and know what your talking about.

Welcome Bunny and enjoy the forum!

Kindest regards
Linda
:lol:

[gloria townsin]

Hello Bunny
Nice to meet you in Minack cyber-land. You can't be that far away from me I live in South Herts.
Your life sounds quite busy and entertaining and hopefully you will very soon sort out your difficulties and move to Cornwall. We have been looking for a property there for a few months now and gradually it seems to be getting a clearer picture so it will be achieveable I'm sure. If you are off to Cornwall for May let us know where you are going and give us some Cornish news to savour. We do have some lucky people here who already live there - John and Mim live in a lovely cottage but I'm sure John will tell you all about it. :lol:

[Heather]

Hello Bunny!

I am new too! It is a lovely site, lots of lovely photos and lovely friendly folk who also love Minack.

I too have ME and come from Essex. There is a really good cfs/me clinic in Benfleet if you can get referred.

The Minack Chronicles are a great escape for me from my worries. I only have one cat now (Holly) but did have 3 and a springer spaniel and would love to have another dog.

See you around the site!

[Kath Mulligan]

Hello Bunny

Nice to have another new Minack devotee to chat to on the forum. How did you find the site? Just by browsing or were you directed to it by someone? I'm sure you will enjoy this forum, since Linda and Jeff started it last year we have all become really good friends, and like you say, most people have not heard of the Chronicles or Derek and Jeannie, so it's lovely to have a place to chat to like minded souls.

Hope you manage to realise your dream of moving to Cornwall; it's my dream too, but sadly a dream is what it is likely to remain. Still I get down there most years, and it is usually May when I visit. I love it then when it is not too crowded and all the thrift and bluebells are carpeting the cliff tops.

I have just been discussing with my family the possibility of spending my 60th birthday in Cornwall next June (2008) and they are all up for it. We shall probably book our favourite house in Portwrinkle with its own indoor swimming pool for a week.

Look forward to hearing more from you soon.

Kath

[BunnyHankers]

Hi Everyone
Thanks for welcoming me. I found the site last night. For some reason I decided to do a search on Derek. Don't ask me why cos I can't remember. I have a search every now and again just to see if there's any new websites and I found this one.
I also saw some signed first editions of his books last night on ebay but got distracted and missed them.

I'm only going to Cornwall for one week this year :cry:
I actually booked the month about a year ago at this place called Treworgey that we stay at.

It's near Looe and the owners are another inspirational story. They bought all the cottages and old buildings there one by one and restored them (or turned them into cottages as some were stables and barns). They have 100 acres of fields and woodlands and in May it's all covered in bluebells when we go. They really are lovely cottages and hideously expensive at least to me at the moment. It's kind of dreamlike staying there - it must be like that all the time for the owners. Their website is www.cornishdreamcottages.co.uk I think they have their story on there.
I booked about a year ago cos they are so popular that they get filled up years in advance but I had to cancel when I felt ill as I couldnt afford it. When they couldnt relet the last week I figured if I had to pay for it anyway I may as well go. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that my employer etc don't decide to cause trouble that week meaning I have to stay at home. :roll:
We take all all the dogs with us and go for lots of walks.

After about a year of insisting I have finally got my GP to refer me to the Benfleet CFS centre. For about a year she has been telling me there are none in this area or that the local authority won't pay for it. But finally after me going to see her every Wednesday for a month and asking she has referred me so I am waiting to hear from them now.

I have health insurance and for the benefit of anyone who did'nt just see Watchdog they are awful. I've now got this solicitor who has years of experience with ME/Insurance claims and is reassuringly expensive also. My Employers are also absolutely awful and have been trying to say for the last year I've been ill that I am useless at my job anyway so they were going to sack me in any case which is complete nonsense. They seem to be able to do whatever they want and there's not much I can do about it but I am determined to beat them eventually. The worst part is my insurance is through my employer so my solicitor insists I must 'be nice to them.' Very irritating!

I'm not sure I'd recommend Cocker Spaniels. They are lovely but mine is very fat for no apparent reason because he doesnt get any more food than he should and he's also got millions of allergies which cause him to break out in rashes all over the place. I have to shave all his hair off all year round to stop it getting worse. I've tried all different diets and supplements but it never gets any better. I feel sorry for him. Not to mention his constant ear problems! I remember someone told me to avoid them once but I obviously ignored them.

I've never been to Minack. I nearly went there once but only decided on the spur of the moment and it was long before the internet so I suddenly realised that I didnt actually know where it was. Derek was still alive then so I was quite upset when I read later on that he had died.

May really is the best month I think. Apart from all the lushness and flowers about it's also the best month for the dogs cos it's warm enough to sit in the garden but not so hot that they expire on a walk.

I do enjoy rescuing things. I've rescued a couple of seagulls from the river behind my house and looked after them until they're well enough to set free again. They get poisoned by all the rubbish about. One was grateful and loved me the other tried to eat me.

Red became firm friends with the first seagull and refused to come to bed at night because he wanted to 'guard' the seagull from the cats. I had him for about 4 months in the end and they spent all day together. When we set the seagull free again Red swam out very far into the river trying to follow him and we had to go and rescue him.
It was heartwarming though to see their friendship develop. I felt a bit mean breaking them up.

I'm not sure which is my favourite book. Probably the first one cos that's the one I reread for inspiration to get out there and do it myself.

Love Bunny

[nashie]

Really glad that you found our Forum Bunny and very interesting to read about your animal rescues. We've had up to 13 cats atone time, but we're now down to a more sensible 4 residents + 1 interloper who gets his meals with us but lives outside. Our dog Conor, a wolfhound, was a rescue from a stables, where he was being bullied by their alsations, and nobody else wanted him.
I hope you can sort out your problems and that maybe you'll be able to eventually move down here.
Regards
John

[Linda]

Bunny,
You really must make that trip to Minack on this visit...I have a feeling you must and sit on Ambrose Rock and think......and feel...I think it is something you need to do....please...Theres directions on the website. (You were obviously meant to find the site then...at this time in particular)

Re Employers see it as a process and dont give up...

Aaaaw shucks! re the cocker spaniel...think we may think again then....:)

I just love the story of Red and the seagull...that really is amazing ~ what a lovely dog! You must love him to bits.

Love and best wishes
Linda
:D :D

[Heather]

Bunny I agree with Linda, you have to go visit minack and let it work its magic on you!

Good luck at the cfs clinic, they are lovely there and don't forget to make a list of all your symptoms and questions ready for your first visit. There are several treatments available there, occupational therapy, cbt and physio.

[BunnyHankers]

Thanks Heather.
The CFS centre sounds like just what I need. I really hope I get to go there. :roll:

I'm not sure about Minack this year. At the moment just getting to Cornwall sounds like such a journey. I feel like I'm going to need a holiday just for the journey.

I've always felt like I'd like to go there once I've moved to Cornwall so I could look around and think 'finally I've made it.'

I feel a bit down at the moment and like going there may make me annoyed with myself for not achieving it yet.

We shall see.......

[Sybille Weber]

[quote="I'm not sure about Minack this year. At the moment just getting to Cornwall sounds like such a journey. I feel like I'm going to need a holiday just for the journey.[/quote]

Hello Bunny,
I know very well how you feel as I have often felt exactly like that and for this reason haven't been able to travel to Cornwall for several years now. I do not suffer from ME but from a heart and circulation problem and anaemia apart from being underweight and suffering from several other chronic health problems which aggrevate the problem and make me feel very weak most of the time. The journey is always a problem for me, and the holiday itself is also always quite exhausting for me partly because of the change in climate (as we do not live by the sea). During the first holiday week I can usually hardly do anything until I gradually get a little better - but I do love the sea and a holiday away from the sea would just not be the same. These past few years we spent our holidays on the German Northsea coast (approx. 3 hours travelling time). It was beautiful, but still it just doesn't compare to Cornwall. I always tend to compare everything with England and Cornwall in particular (thus probably spoiling my holidays over here, but I can't help it.)
At least you have the advantage of living in England, so chances to get to Cornwall are better for you than for me with Holland, Belgium, France and a stretch of water between Germany and England! I do hope everything will go well for you and you will be able to move to Cornwall, as this will certainly solve a big problem for you. So keep your chin up! I keep hoping, too, and maybe I can at least make it for the Minack Chronicles Festival in 2011. Time will show.

As to insurance I know what you are talking about. It took several years of fighting with pension insurance until I was granted a small part pension so that I only have to work parttime instead of fulltime now, although my doctor thinks I should not be working at all anymore. (The part pension is only limited though and has to be applied for again shortly - I hardly dare think of it!)

[BunnyHankers]

Thanks Sybille.
I'm sure I'll be okay once I get there, and I'd much rather be there than not.