We,ve actually had two sets of guests in our bathroom when we've had guests in all the other rooms, and they were very interested in the grey water recycling. Everything is working well and its nice to try out the different bath products -great for us and for the environment as well.I've always wanted a nice blue and white chamber pot -for display purposes only of course - and was delighted to find a Ringtons one in a North Yorkshire antique shop, as we do have Ringtons -teas, coffees and other products in every room as examples of local produce -also have an art nouveau tin with choccies in in the bathroom incidently. Ringtons was started in  the North East in 1907 and our bathroom is designed in an Edwardian style, so its very in keeping.

Well its been5 months since I wrote about the ongoing bathroom development, and we are nearly there now. The bath and sink are plumbed in and working and the bidet at least has a drain attached, but still needs pipes as does the cast iron radiator with the lovely brass flower taps.

The walls are covered with wood and tiles, but there's still some grouting to complete, and the floor is half laid. Running a B&B and RHS teaching centre as well as a plant nursery, its not always easy to get back in the bathroom, especially if its stopped raining, there's always so much to do in the garden. I have been in the bath once now and its fantastic. I have never been in a high back roll top bath before, and you will not get me back in a standard bath again. When I suggested to Dave we should replace the other one in the west wing with a roll top as well you can imagine the result as he can't wait to get this one finished and though his plumbing duties would be complete. I did explain he was doing such a good job of it all......... .
As its a polemonium / art nouveau themed bathroom, I splashed out on a pair of picture frames for two silk hankerchief paintings I have had in the cupboard for years which needed a wall out of sunlight so the colours would not fade. I also found a blue metal Haws seed and feed bin which has made an excellent waste bin. As the waste pipe is connected to a grey water system to water the gravel garden, we need to use ecofreindly soaps and shampoos. The RHS students have got to test the pH and conductivity of some grey water as part of their assessment so its all coming together nicely. They laid out the seep hose in the garden last week and Dave has to connect it to the water butt with some standard hose so I can demonstrate its use next week. Its all coming together nicely, and then we can get out and enjoy the allotment and garden when it stops raining. The students did ask what you did in the winter with the water, but as I pointed out there are lots of evergreens in the garden and even winters can be too dry. The idea is to keep the water table topped up anyway.It will definitely all be done before our next Garden open day in August. Yes it will.