One of the chores in coming away on a self-catering holiday is getting all the food sorted and packed before you leave (and then keep it fresh if its a long hot drive). Of course if you are not coming by car they you've got to lug it. Or you have to rush to the shops once you've arrived when you'd probably prefer to just relax.
Well now there is an answer to these problems. Somerset Local Food Direct lets you shop online for the best of local produce, much of it organic, and have it delivered and stocked in the cottage before you arrive. Sadly this only currently works for Friday arrivals, just order by the 9am on the Tuesday and it all just happens. Magic. They have a very extensive range of food, and its a friendly and thoughtful service.
Click the link, choose Gorge View Cottage and order away.
Of course you might also be tempted to take a bit of Somerset back with you: have a delivery just before you go home to save on that tedious moment when you walk in to a kitchen with a half-empty fridge or larder.

I have just found the rather amazing 360Cities website which is now featured on Google Earth, but you can visit directly. It just happens to have a few excellent 360 degree panoramic images of Cheddar Gorge that give you a good feel of the stunning gorge, cliffs and views. These are images that you essentially dive in to and then use your mouse (or finger if using an iPad or equivalent) and zoom around the panorama. Well worth a try. Jump to the list of panoramas here.

It is probably worth assuring those contemplating a break in and around Cheddar that the road up through the gorge, a beautiful and breathtaking drive, or cycle (or even walk), is open again. It was closed for many weeks after flash flood damage to the road surface. Repairs we hampered due to continuous stream of water from the very top. But thanks to a bunch of local cavers some blocked sink-holes in the upper reaches were cleared allowing the water to do what it should do naturally and flow down in to the Mendips and eventually percolate through as the Cheddar Yeo.
So good for the volunteers. The road dried up. The repairs got done, and it is all back to normal. There is though a slight tinge of sadness: whenever a road gets closed the route can be reclaimed by walkers and cyclists and they can enjoy it in a traffic free environment.

We have always thought that Gorge View Cottage is a beautifully romantic and cosy little place for couples. This has been emphasised by a lovely recent young couple who were guests here. They spent the week doing lots of walking and cycling and clearly magic was in the air as a proposal was made, and we understand it was accepted!
We are delighted and we wish them a long and happy life together. It seems the history of this little cottage and the way it touches peoples lives continues to develop and grow.

Our neighbouring village, Wedmore, has been making some serious moves in improved dining recently. It started with a big refurbishment of The Swan which is a lovely upmarket pub and restaurant with great food. Another pub, the George Inn was a beautiful building but very run down - but that has now got new owners and a lovely ambience. And now, next to the George we have a new Italian restaurant: Brown Paper Pizza. 
The name suggests a basic pizza takeaway  But this is much more. It is the next venture of Arthur Potts-Dawson the chef and restaurateur from London who made himself famous with his "The People's Cooperative" venture in London and filmed for Channel 4. 
Before that, and after a career with the Roux brothers, head chef at the River Cafe, executive chef at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant and working with Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, he set up and ran the highly regarded and very sustainably run Water House and Acorn House restaurants. He has now returned to Somerset and started this new venture and rumour has it it will start to spawn more branches soon.
Anyway - the emphasis on great fresh ingredients, and a very sustainable operation, are all still there. Although everything is very simple, the ambience is rustic and lovely and the food is great - eat there or grab a pizza to take home and enjoy in the cottage in front of the log burner.

Check it out here: www.brownpaperpizzas.com