A Cottage, an Aga, and an Open Fire: My Cambridge Housesit

This Cambridge sit is still living rent-free in my head, and I think it will be for a long time. I'm still thinking about that heavenly kitchen.

The house was a beautiful five-bedroom detached cottage with a hot tub, gym, sauna and a groundsman working the gardens. But honestly, all of that faded into the background the moment I clocked the Aga.

The Aga

It was my first time using one and I didn't expect to fall in love. If you've never cooked on an Aga, I genuinely don't know how to explain it except to say it changes everything. Because it stays on all the time (I can't speak for summer), it becomes this warm, constant presence in the kitchen. I didn't touch the microwave once. Things I'd normally ping out of habit I'd put on the Aga instead, and because it was just sitting there ready, I'd find myself thinking, oh, I'll bake some bread, I'll throw a cake in. I'm not usually that domestic, believe me.

The kitchen itself was a dream, fully stocked with every dish, roasting tin, mixing bowl and baking tray you could want. I went full Fanny Craddock. Focaccia, banana bread, a lemon cake, normal bread. There's something about cooking in a kitchen that's properly set up, with an Aga going and space to work, that turns it from a chore into a genuine pleasure.

The Fire

Then there was the fire. The living room had a beautiful open fire and outside there was a whole stack of logs I could just help myself to. I'd never come across one of these electric fire-starter pokers before. You just push it into the wood and it lights straight away, no kindling, no newspaper, no messing about. The handyman cleared out the ash too, so I really was living like the other half. I'd get the logs going, curl up on the sofa, and that was the evening sorted.

Jackson and Coco

Jackson, their dog, was obsessed with fetch and my ball-throwing arm got a serious workout. He and Coco became firm friends, which helped, though it didn't stop them both making a beeline for the stinkiest, dirtiest puddles they could find on every walk. Ely Country Park was a lovely circular route and although it was pretty cold while I was there, we somehow managed to dodge the rain every day.

What I Took Away

This sit reminded me why I love this lifestyle. Not because of the hot tub or the sauna, though I did enjoy both, immensely. It was the slowness of it. The fire in the evenings, the Aga on all day, lovely dog walks and beautiful countryside on the doorstep. I've already been invited back for their next trip towards the end of the year, and I was really pleased. It'll be cold enough for the Aga.