The Guestbook at Willow Cottage. Holly Martin

grand re-opening of The Painted Plate was a huge success. The press turned up and there were even a good number of customers. Not bad for Annie’s first day. So many of the locals turned up as well to support her which was lovely. They all love her here, that much is clear. I wasn’t comfortable with the questions the press were asking about the reason The Painted Plate had stayed closed for so long. I just palmed them off with tales of decorating and renovating. Thankfully they were only local press and not the damned paparazzi that hounded us after Nick had died.

      Oliver Black

      After flying in from New York yesterday, I’m feeling so jet lagged it’s like I’m drunk. My mind is racing and I’m clearly not thinking straight. I just offered to accompany Annie on a walk on the beach. She always goes for a stroll on the beach after dark, she’s done it as far back as I can remember. Why I felt the sudden compulsion to go with her I don’t know. It’s a recipe for disaster; moonlit stroll along the beach, the waves lapping gently on the sand, the deserted solitude, my beautiful best friend, what on earth am I thinking? What’s worse is that I’m now putting my innermost feelings in this damned book.

      I have already betrayed my brother in the worst possible way just six months after he died, I can’t let it happen again. I just have to remember that she’s my brother’s wife, she is not the girl who rode on the back of my bike as a kid, she’s not the girl I shared my first kiss with. She is my brother’s wife, nothing more than that. Arghhh why am I writing this stuff?

      Sunday:

      Early hours Sunday morning. I’m so tired now, think I’ve been awake for thirty nine hours. Of course we sat on the beach and talked, of course she got cold and I put my arm round her, of course she sat next to me with her head on my shoulder. I didn’t do anything. She’s my brother’s wife.

      Oh Olly!

      Woken up around lunch with breakfast in bed. Annie is a wonderful cook and I’m feeling a lot better now that I’ve slept. Yesterday was just the inane ramblings of a madman.

      Flying back out to New York tomorrow, for which I am thankful for.

      I did not go for a walk with Annie tonight.

      Monday:

      Take care my Annie xx

      **********

      25th - 28th April

      Rosie and Jake Hamilton

      Friday:

      Hi again Annie, just back for a weekend. It’s so sweet that Willow Littleton was born here.

      Jake and I are in the middle of doing up our new home so it’s nice to have a break even if it is only for a few days.

      Rosie

      HI ANNIE. IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK.

      JAKE

      Saturday:

      Another day at the beach today. I could walk on that beach every single day, I love it here. I’m trying to persuade Jake to move.

      Whoa! The power has just gone out. We’ve not had any dinner yet.

      A QUICK CHECK HAS REVEALED THAT THE WHOLE VILLAGE OF CHALK HILL IS OUT AND BY THE SOUNDS OF IT ALL OF WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA IS OUT TOO.

      Wow! What an amazing night. Shortly after the power went down and we were wondering what we were going to do for food, someone set up a barbeque on the village green. People started coming out of their houses with burgers, chicken, sausages and whatever else they had in their fridges. Annie told us to come out too even though we didn’t have anything to contribute towards a barbeque. There was so much food and drink that everyone in the village was catered for. Someone built a big fire and many people returned back to their houses to bring out blankets and duvets. We all sat together well into the night eating each other’s food and drinking cups of hot chocolate and chatting until the early hours of the morning. There was such a huge sense of community.

      THE POWER IS STILL OUT BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER (EXCLUDING MY WEDDING DAY OF COURSE). WE HAVE MADE SOME REAL FRIENDS TONIGHT AND I CERTAINLY COUNT ANNIE AS ONE OF THEM.

      JAKE

      Sunday:

      The power is back on, just in time to cook breakfast. I’m not sure eggs and baked beans would be easy to cook on a barbeque.

      I think I might be pregnant. It’s so early in our marriage and I wanted time alone with Jake before we had kids. We have spoken about it though. Jake would like a whole football team.

      WHAT??!! YOU WRITE THIS IN THE BOOK AND NOT TELL ME FIRST.

      Monday:

      I’m not pregnant. Though I wanted more time, I can’t help feeling a huge sense of disappointment. I had already started to think about names.

      MY DARLING ROSIE, THERE’S PLENTY OF TIME YET. I LOVE YOU AND WE HAVE THE REST OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER.

      TILL NEXT TIME ANNIE

      JAKE X

      **********

      2nd - 6th May

      Phil and Sue Martin

      We have had a lovely time here in Wells-Next-The-Sea. Our dog Jack loved the beach so much he had to be carried off it at the end of the day. Not an easy feat considering how big he is. Willow Cottage is delightful. The Frog and Rhubarb does fantastic food and even lets in dogs, which was great for us.

      Phil, Sue and Jack the dog.

      **********

      10th May - ?

      Barney Quinn

       SATURDAY:

       ALTHOUGH I AM HERE AS A GUEST, I WILL SOON BE A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF CHALK HILL. MY NEW HOUSE, APTLY NAMED THE SANDCASTLE FOR ITS YELLOW COLOURING, IS JUST GOING UNDER SOME MUCH NEEDED RENOVATIONS. I’M STAYING HERE TO OVERSEE AND HELP WITH ITS UPGRADE BEFORE I MOVE IN A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW.

       I’VE NOT MET THE LANDLADY OF THIS LOVELY COTTAGE YET. THOUGH I SPOKE WITH ANNIE BUTTERWORTH ON THE PHONE, SHE WAS NOT HERE TO MEET ME. APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOME PROBLEM WITH HER PAINTING STUDIO AND SOPHIA LORENZO LET ME IN INSTEAD.

       THE LOCAL VILLAGERS I’VE MET SO FAR SEEM TO BE SO FRIENDLY AND SO WILLING TO HELP. I EVEN HAD AN OFFER TO SEE SOME COWS FROM SOME MAN CALLED WILLIAM. NOT WISHING TO OFFEND HIM I ACCEPTED AND SPENT A RATHER DULL HOUR LISTENING TO HIM TALK ABOUT THEM AS I WATCHED THEM GRAZE.

       I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU, ANNIE, FOR THE BOOKS, MAPS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS OF THE LOCAL AREA THAT YOU LEFT FOR ME. THIS WILL BE A HUGE HELP IN THE COMING WEEKS.

       MY TEMPORARY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR IS BEAUTIFUL. I’VE JUST SEEN HER IN HER BACK GARDEN CHASING THE CHICKENS BACK INTO THEIR PENS. THIS MUST BE ANNIE’S GRANDDAUGHTER.

       WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED BAD FORM TO DATE THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF YOUR LANDLADY? I CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF HER. GOD THAT ARSE.

       HAVE JUST MET THE BLONDE VISION. SHE’S CALLED ANNIE TOO, PROBABLY AFTER HER GRANDMOTHER. ANNIE WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD SETTLED IN ALRIGHT SO I IMAGINE SHE HANDLES THE COTTAGE WHEN HER GRANDMOTHER ISN’T HERE. I’M GOING TO ENSURE ALL MY DEALINGS ARE WITH THE YOUNG ANNIE FROM NOW ON. SHE IS LOVELY. THE DRESS SHE WAS WEARING WAS SLIGHTLY SEE-THROUGH IN THE SUNLIGHT, SHOWED OFF HER LEGS BEAUTIFULLY. SHAME ABOUT THE BIG SANDALS, KIND OF RUINED THE IMAGE A BIT, BUT AT LEAST SHE WASN’T WEARING THEM WITH SOCKS. I’VE ASKED HER TO DROP ROUND FRESH EGGS EVERY DAY.

       HAVE JUST BOUGHT SUPPLIES FROM THE VILLAGE SHOP. LOCAL MILK, LOCAL BREAD, LOCAL CIDER, LOCAL CHEESE, LOCAL BUTTER AND LOCAL MEAT SO SAID THE VERY ELDERLY LADY AS SHE SERVED ME. NOT LOCAL CONDOMS THOUGH.