Introduction
The Manna is a log cabin that overlooks the lake in the grounds of Ruston House. It was originally conceived as simple venue for day retreats but, to make the cabin suitable for as wide a range of uses as possible, the plan developed so it would be possible for it to be let as a venue for those who wished to have a short "off-grid" break at what many would consider to be an idyllic site on the fringes of the Norfolk Broads National Park.
Development ceased when Ruston House was put on the market and the agent advised allowing any purchaser to finish the cabin to suit their needs. Currently, there is no kitchen or toilet installed and water would need to be carried to the site. As with other sections of the site it is recommended that you visit the What's New page where you can find how subscribe to our newsletter.
2022
22 June 2022 - A Reed Screen Is Installed
Although, in March it was reported that the Main Build of the Veranda was complete, there was a suggestion that screens were needed to protect the barbecue from the worst of the wind. Today we report that a reed screen is now installed that fills the gap between the building and the fence. The extension was deliberately built to wrap around the corner of the cabin to create an alcove where the log store could stand and not intrude into the veranda space.
11 June 2022 - Summer Views, Inside and Out
In the January report showing the stove lit for the first time you can see that the dining table had been moved to a new position. The report in December shows it Next to the Stove. Here is offered a better view of the table that also includes an indication of the location of the 12volt sockets. Outside, the french doors can be swung through 180°. As planned, when the sun is hottest in the height of summer it is still possible to keep in the shade while watching the view of the lake.
4 May 2022 - The Path Is Complete
Although I'm sure chippings had been added to the white plastic grids, the photographs included in the Path Construction Update last December did not clearly show whether they had been. That's because, by then, they were also covered in leaves. The pictures in this report show a new top dressing of chippings had been applied to all but the first few yards of the final approach to the cabin. After the winter storms there is usually a supply of timber that can be chipped and added to those parts of the paths most in need.
14 March 2022 - The Veranda Extension Is Completed
Having started on Monday there were a couple of minor hiccups along the way. For example, the felt shingles that Richard had bought online turned out to be black, rather than the grey needed to match the rest of the roof. The result was that you could not see much progress from ground level on Thursday afternoon other than a first coat of stain having been applied. So it was not till Friday afternoon that the decking boards were installed and Richard's work was complete.
7 March 2022 - The Veranda Extension Is Started
As plans for the Manna have developed we now foresee The Manna being used for "off-grid" weekend retreats and while, in the winter months, cooking on the wood burning stove inside should have appeal, we began to think that as that was the only source of heat for cooking, it might be less welcome in the summer. That led us to move the barbecue to The Manna, where it could be used as an external kitchen in warmer months and that meant an extension to the veranda is required.
22 January 2022 - The Stove Is Lit
While The Cooker was installed in September.2021 it was not tested until today. One of the things we had been concerned about were embers dropping onto the vinyl flooring as fuel was added to the stove. Previous pictures of the Furnished Cabin show a lack of any protection provided to the floor. These are the first pictures that show the rubber mat that we hoped would hide any marks should anything spilled from the fire box. The final picture shows that the magnetic thermometer had been fitted to the chimney.
