A Year at The Mill

Wow, really really can't believe it's been a year - this blog post is way overdue. Let's just say its damn challenging to keep on top of all things social media when you are busy actually living it! Social Media expert coming to the rescue January Horah!! Thank you universe!

I think most of you have been following the progress via Instagram & Facebook. The Mill has become such a collaborative space/project and every day I wake up pinching myself in awe of what an amazing time/place I'm in. Just so happy.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of challenges and they will continue I'm sure, but every day surrounded by beauty and nature, there is always a moment to pause & reflect.

The local community have been so utterly welcoming...I literally cannot keep up with the invites to various fetes, festivals, musical gatherings! Its just so heart warming.

I had a little apéritivo gathering here back in August, to follow on from the local JAMS music festival in St. Georges de Luzencon. I just wanted the opportunity to say thank you to everyone that had been so supportive to me since I arrived. It turned into a full on mini festival/after party, with all the musicians from the Festival arriving also!

The Mill came into its own. It was a truly incredible evening. The energy was so high with all the musicians, singing & dancing. Senegalese drummers, Romanian dancers & singers, English Gypsy jazz & French Brass band! Massive thanks to Alice, Hannah and Edward, and Alice’s Mum & Dad, Ann & David who took part in The JAMS music festival also.. Thank goodness they were here to man the bar! It felt like an initiation opening ceremony of all the good things to come!

The other saviours have been the amazing workawayers, I've been privileged enough to meet.

For those that don't know Workawayers is a global cultural exchange programme. Previously, I've not been one to ask for help, always putting myself under pressure to be perfect, which came with 'no it's fine, I can do it, thank you'. My standard mantra whenever anybody asked if I needed some help with something.

Yup, well that kinda had to change, the Mill demanded it of me.

I signed up on the App as a host and helpers arrived. I have been utterly blown away by the love for the project that has come from these people. Complete strangers…who have shown nothing but love and determination in pushing the project forward. It has brought me to tears on several occasions. They have even looked after me and cooked for me and insisted I take time out. They really had my back recently when the river flooded its banks and caused me a tense few hours.

They have ALL been amazing! So much love for all who have visited so far, and have done so much to contribute to the progress of the Mill.

For more info on coming as a Workaway Helper, look at our Volunteers page.

Massive thanks to all the friends & family that have been out to visit support, help and enjoy the Mill. In particular thanks to Jon & Karl for the water proofing, installing roof windows and the river clean up. Thanks to Oscar and Archie for progressing works while I was away visiting Poppy for her 21st in Australia back in May. And big thanks to Ricky for ceramics studio help and Annie and the girls for soda bread lessons, ironing, measuring, and everything else you did to help. Big thanks to Elaine for working on the curtains (still WIP - sorry Elaine, waiting for you to come back!)

Its been an amazing year with much renovation works being completed & a lot of preparing for the next round of works which will be for the start of summer.

Really excited to be listed with four location houses for film and photography shoots.