tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39125741315960366872024-03-13T21:40:51.362+00:00muddybootsmuddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-36778673527212457612013-07-24T16:42:00.000+01:002013-07-24T16:42:02.466+01:0010 years on<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So we have been making ice cream here at Mr Moo's in Skipsea for 10 years. Ten years, where has the time gone? What an exciting trip from dairy farming to ice cream manufacture. Wow.</div>
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So where are we now, OK you'll say 'mr moo's in skipsea' but l mean how far have we traveled from first opening our our gates in May 2003 to now, this minute, 2013.<br />
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We have gone from ice cream parlour serving our own made-on-the-farm to visitors to now supplying most of the Yorkshire coast from Spurn Point to Saltburn together with inland Yorkshire ranging along the M1 / A1 corridor. Our customer base now includes supermarkets, stately homes, theatres, farm shops & various tourist attractions.<br />
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We have met a wonderful bunch of young people who have worked for us over the summer holidays. We have made lots of new friends who have taken a delight in supporting us by choosing our brand!<br />
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So, in, what is turning out to be a busy year for us, we will be holding a 'bit of a do', here, on 4th August 2013 from 1pm. Its a way of saying thank you to all our customers & to celebrate our first 10 years. So, what will we be doing then? Well, we will be hosting some of local food producer friends, there will be a hog roast, then we have morris dancers, arena game, tug of war, coconut shy, birds of prey, kids fancy dress & a fun dog show. For full details visit our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Moo/258095430894310%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> . </div>
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So after no blog for some time, here's a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>big thank you</b></span> to Fran & her moo crew past & present, Harry & Jenny the ice cream creators & not forgetting Rose & her sales team! Without you lot we couldn't have done it. </div>
muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-73974586672539833332011-03-11T15:44:00.000+00:002011-03-11T15:44:20.434+00:00gale force winds along the coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zarXK2K2hqM/TXo8lgp4bGI/AAAAAAAABRo/kid8Ow_dH7U/s1600/1915672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zarXK2K2hqM/TXo8lgp4bGI/AAAAAAAABRo/kid8Ow_dH7U/s1600/1915672.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the snowdrops are slowly replaced by early daffodils, so it is that weekly ice cream production kicks into action. Over the winter months we played with several new flavour ideas, testing the results on all too eager customers as they braved snow and howling gales to come for their weekly 'ice cream fix'! Ideas for flavours came to us from our Facebook & Twitter pages. Flavours ranging from chocolatey to nutty to chewy. Narrowing the suggestions down to 'hm, thats sounds good', we began test mixes of things like white choccy & raspberry, chocolate n orange & honeycombe toffee [we are still experementing with 'soft' or 'crisp']. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7uEmFYGExKM/TXo8ysYueRI/AAAAAAAABRw/AO1DFgIA7j0/s1600/page0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7uEmFYGExKM/TXo8ysYueRI/AAAAAAAABRw/AO1DFgIA7j0/s200/page0001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When not playing with flavours, we were making contact with new customers and getting a little carried away with our graphics, mr moo seemed to be enjoying learning how to play rugby league & diving! So, if you are attending a rugby match or pop concert at <a href="http://www.kcstadium.co.uk/">KC Stadium</a> in Hull, you can top up you ice cream cravings with a pot of Mr Moo's, available from the snack counter or why not stop & but one from one of the vendors walking the terraces?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3iJvDpJi4yQ/TXo8sBGnWYI/AAAAAAAABRs/Gr0vFnM8SFc/s1600/page0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3iJvDpJi4yQ/TXo8sBGnWYI/AAAAAAAABRs/Gr0vFnM8SFc/s200/page0001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Moo, did rather well with his learning to dive lessons, managing to be one of the first bovines to manage a snorkle and eat ice cream beneath the waves at the same time. Yes, you can find him in the cafe at <a href="http://www.thedeep.co.uk/">The Deep</a> and in the much aclaimed restaurant, eat your pudding whilst being watched by sharks & rays.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ACha3H2AWlQ/TXo9L4kq72I/AAAAAAAABR0/ywsaROw29FI/s1600/SAM_1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ACha3H2AWlQ/TXo9L4kq72I/AAAAAAAABR0/ywsaROw29FI/s200/SAM_1380.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is amazing just how busy Mr Moo has in fact been, <a href="http://www.monkparkfarm.co.uk/">Monk Park Farm</a> has now a wonderful colourful counter and even on a chilly day in February chilldren were waiting in great anticipation for their teddy cones topped by a scoop of mr moo's ice cream! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All go then for the team here at Mr Moo's, it is really great to meet with potential new customers and pass on our enthusiasm for proper dairy ice cream. Towards the end of the month sees the announcement of the <a href="http://www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/reyta-finalists-2011.aspx">REYTA 2011 Awards</a> at Bridlington Spa, so, fingers crossed, we may be in the running for an award this year, lets hope so! </div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com144tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-28830980469839648962011-02-08T15:59:00.000+00:002011-02-08T15:59:50.285+00:00Busy busy busy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TVFgOBCNOJI/AAAAAAAABRc/VEKVFq8HuO0/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TVFgOBCNOJI/AAAAAAAABRc/VEKVFq8HuO0/s320/Picture3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Second week in February, wow, doesn't time fly when you're busy! The past weeks have seen Team Moo busy with data bases, new customers, inventions of new flavours and trying to remember what day it is.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TVFgPFt-OcI/AAAAAAAABRg/P1m71u2yeTU/s1600/DSC01039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TVFgPFt-OcI/AAAAAAAABRg/P1m71u2yeTU/s320/DSC01039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ice cream Parlour remained open during the winter months, closing only during the heaviest of snow & lowest of temperatures. With an improvement of weather trade is building up week by week as weekend visitors and day trippers return to the coast. The Traditional Yorkshire breakfasts have proved popular with us taking part in the Farmhouse Breakfast week at the end of January. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Caravan Club CL site bookings are coming along nicely, with Easter being fully booked. This year the CL site is for adults only but, small people, do not worry as the Rally Field has been re-named the Family Field, a whole field to play and run about in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TVFgPXTygHI/AAAAAAAABRk/44eOypJ1rGY/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TVFgPXTygHI/AAAAAAAABRk/44eOypJ1rGY/s320/Picture2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The Moo Experimenters have been in action too, with new flavour suggestions being made by our Facebook & Twitter followers; so probables for 2011 include chocolate orange and white choccy chunk with a red berry, perhaps raspberry or strawberry, haven't decided yet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mini Moo & JD have just started their Advanced Apprenticeship work through East Riding College, so hopefully by the time they finish their course they will know everything about, well everything!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have some good new outlets & customers for the coming year and are actively looking for a distributor in the South to supply Mr Moo's Real Dairy Ice Cream to a growing number of inquiries from Southern England. Will be announcing new tourists attractions stocking Mr Moo's in the near future, we will also be doing a press release to coincide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is only a quick doodle as my brain is somewhat higgledy piggledy and my spelling and grammar are even worse than normal, perhaps because as l sit in the office blogging, answering the phone / emails whilst listening to Steve Wright in the Afternoon l am just not too good at multi-tasking [but don't tell anyone please]? So as l close, please watch this space over the coming weeks to keep abreast of what is happening down here on the farm and if you have any suggestions for interesting flavours, please feel free to comment away!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span id="goog_168603929"></span><span id="goog_168603930"></span>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-78741896868817464552011-01-09T17:12:00.000+00:002011-01-09T17:12:22.673+00:00Escape from the weather<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Winter proper started here in East Yorkshire mid-November. Frost followed by snow followed by yet more snow and ever lower temepratures. Normally we try to get away for a holiday in January or February, before the season proper starts, this year I suggested, why not holiday before christmas? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnSsk6uhqI/AAAAAAAABQE/wIYr8qy1tRk/s1600/SAM_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnSsk6uhqI/AAAAAAAABQE/wIYr8qy1tRk/s320/SAM_1333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Where shall we go at such short notice, where do we actually fancy going to? As many of you will know, we visited Kenya back in Februay 2010, stopping for once in what is termed a proper hotel. The ones that have piped musak absolutely everywhere, the ones that have buffets positively growning under the weight of vast amounts of frankly, booring food, you know the ones that have organised activities and have large perimiter walls & fences to keep the locals & wildlife out. So, after scrabbling around on Trip Advisor and researching flights out of Humberside our local airport, we decided to go to Kenya again, this time staying in tents and trying our hand at what can only be termed 'Glamping' at Gazi Beach Retreat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnS4P32IPI/AAAAAAAABQI/yZrdpj2icRg/s1600/DSC03693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnS4P32IPI/AAAAAAAABQI/yZrdpj2icRg/s320/DSC03693.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">We booked our flights independently with KLM from Humberside via Schiphol & then on direct to Mombasa the accommodation through </span><a href="http://africasky.com/" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">africasky.com</a><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">. All pretty straight forward really. We duly arrived at Moi International Airport, Mombasa obtained our visa, collected our bagage, cleared customs and then walked out in the bright sunlight and tropical heat, from -10C to 35C not much of a temperature shock really? You know when you fly somewhere and then walk out through the arrivals door you see people holding up cards with names on? Yes, well there was no one there with our names on. Yes, OK we were'nt so daft as not to book transfers. Fortunately, we had contact phone numbers and began dialing, assisted by a very helpful young taxi driver called Simon. The mobile phone signal kept cutting out. It was </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamhuri_Day" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jamhuri Day</a><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">, a BIG public holiday, everyone was partying. Simon spoke to our contact who asked him to bring us to the resort. So, off we went in a bright yellow taxi, roaring through mombasa at great speed, through the arched elephant tusks, over the Likoni Ferry, past the street parties, southward heading to Ukunda and then turned off to Diani. </span>Diani? </span></span></div><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0pt;"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnS8dxkafI/AAAAAAAABQM/pCCP27XbQbU/s1600/DSC03726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnS8dxkafI/AAAAAAAABQM/pCCP27XbQbU/s320/DSC03726.JPG" width="245" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><span>Turning south at the T junction at Diani, we drove past the high walls of the BIG hotels, where are we going? Simon indicated left, pulling into the driveway of Galu Beach Retreat, security guard opened the barrier and in we drove. Deadly silence. We were met by beaming staff clutching trays bearing fruit punch for the weary and, to put it mildly, somewhat suprised travellers. 'You will be staying here', we were informed by the jovial Whitecliff, 'Doris is on her way'. as we were shown our room, and given a guided tour of the retreat.</span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnTIjheBdI/AAAAAAAABQQ/PdFHC8QwdWk/s1600/DSC03728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnTIjheBdI/AAAAAAAABQQ/PdFHC8QwdWk/s320/DSC03728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We sat, sipping ice cold Tusker, looking out across the white coral sands and turquoise blue of the Indian Ocean. We paid the Simon and moved in! One look at that view was all it took. Superb, awesome, fabulous. So this was where we ended up, not really sure why we were here, but we didn't mind at all, in fact Farmer said he prefered this site much to the relief of our new best friend Doris, was somewhat relieved to discover that we weren't bothered at all about the morning's potential disarster! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnTYeq1E-I/AAAAAAAABQU/c5XaR5_dORg/s1600/DSC03752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnTYeq1E-I/AAAAAAAABQU/c5XaR5_dORg/s320/DSC03752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Galu Beach Retreat is owned run by <a href="http://www.destination-adventures.com/">Destination Adventures Kenya</a> whose other resorts include, Gazi, The Cove and Sable Valley Tree Houses. All the resorts are pretty small, no more than 8 rooms each l think, hence us booking. The meal plan is all inclusive, OK l hear you groaning, but this was AI with waiter service, choice of menu and you could eat either in the treehouse banda or ourside your room, we chose the former. The place is so relaxing, no need to 'dress' for dinner or slap on the make up, this was my idea of heaven. I would have gone barefoot all week if the pathways wern't so hot!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnTm4YXlGI/AAAAAAAABQY/R60qd_P1Cac/s1600/SAM_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnTm4YXlGI/AAAAAAAABQY/R60qd_P1Cac/s320/SAM_1180.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rooms themselves were of a good size & for life's little luxuries there was air conditioning. There was decent sized bathroom [though the original taps were a bit of a pain to use], proper fridge filled with soft drinks / Tusker plus the really nice touch of a water dispenser, nothing is worse than being somewhere hot and having to keep buying drinking water. The bed, traditional Lamu style, came complete with mozzie nets. The covered terrace with comfy day bed was a favourite lazing spot and wasn't it great to not have TV or internet access or crappy music wafting past the frangipani trees.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnT1UFFu2I/AAAAAAAABQc/PtyW6eWMoXE/s1600/SAM_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnT1UFFu2I/AAAAAAAABQc/PtyW6eWMoXE/s320/SAM_1193.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tell you what, the staff were absolutely wonderful. Helpful, polite and happy, they even tried to teach us some Swahilli! Asanti sanna! Being a bit of a foodie, what is brought to you on a plate is of some importance. Here the choice of food was fresh, local and cooked to order, not wearing a timepiece for 10 days, the only way l knew what the approximate time was, was when Sieed brought the lunch or evening menu for us to choose from. Oh, and it was so nice to have cocktails before dinner. Cocktails whilst wearing flip flops how very funny!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnUEewPCbI/AAAAAAAABQg/1u_IFnuPQ54/s1600/SAM_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnUEewPCbI/AAAAAAAABQg/1u_IFnuPQ54/s320/SAM_1203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> There were other facilites there, it had been an Holistic retreat before being taken over by the current owners, so there was a jacuzzi, some sort of fancy wooden yoga floor, star baths, [apparently you lie in a buble bath and look at the stars], mud bath and spa treatments. I did let Phoebe have a go at my nails which she took one look at and then proceded to tell me off whiilst stressing the word 'nail file'!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnURhNAjOI/AAAAAAAABQk/8meVK0EtcWo/s1600/SAM_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnURhNAjOI/AAAAAAAABQk/8meVK0EtcWo/s320/SAM_1248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst stoping here at Galu, we did have one night up at Sable Valley inlcuded in our holiday. These are two treehouses out in the bush en route to Shimba National Park. The drive itself, once you left the tarmaced highway at Ukunda, are along red dirt tracks and are really interesting. Passing though small villages, seeing local people fetching and carrying large cans of water from bore holes or streams., the strength needed to do this must be immense? The houses were surrounded by vegetable gardens where they were growing maize, casava and other vegetables.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnUgGbJyjI/AAAAAAAABQo/lKcQrnwcIsc/s1600/SAM_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnUgGbJyjI/AAAAAAAABQo/lKcQrnwcIsc/s320/SAM_1252.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tree house, well words fail me. Ours was called ndovu in Swahilli, was heavenly, even the no door bathroom wasn't a problem. We watched the sun sink behind the acacia trees, supped sparkling wine in the jacuzi, then tucked into our 3 course supper prepared by Sieed who came with us as chef. Then as the bushbabies started to tune up & the geckos emerged from the grass roof, the large mosquito covered bed was rolled out onto the veranda for us to sleep in under the stars. It was like being 6 again and camping out in the garden and this time there really were wild animals at the bottom of the garden!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnUt_ecS6I/AAAAAAAABQs/kQ9E8wbBcvI/s1600/SAM_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnUt_ecS6I/AAAAAAAABQs/kQ9E8wbBcvI/s320/SAM_1303.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following day after breakfast, we set off to Shimba National Park and spent the morning spotting game with Moulai. Propabley the best bit was watching the pygmy elephant in the undergrowth. Yjere he was totally oblivious to the world, calmly stuffing his face full of greenery - and forgetting to chew, when all of a sudden a large agrigate lorry thundered past. Up went his tail and he began thrashing through the undergrowth</span><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">trumpeting away. Poor beastie was terrifield!</span></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnU9XnKAII/AAAAAAAABQw/ntw6riGegTQ/s1600/SAM_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TSnU9XnKAII/AAAAAAAABQw/ntw6riGegTQ/s320/SAM_1327.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0pt;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our last trip our was 45 minutes south to Gazi, where we took motorboat trip through the mangroves followed by a guided walk along the <a href="http://www.vub.ac.be/APNA/staff/FDG/Gazi_Women_Mangrove_Boardwalk_brochure_low.pdf"> Women’s boardwalk</a> which was really intersting especially as you could plant mangrove seeds! </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The trip home back to Yorkshire went fine, we heard about the very low temperatures and airports being closed yet again so we were pretty lucky that our flights were unaffected. We did however land in a snow storm at Humberside, there was 2 inches of snow on the runway!</div><br />
Would we go again? In a word yes. This is a place to relax and totally switch off, with a ‘no news, no shoes’ feel. Thank you Doris & your team for such a great holiday!!<br />
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The other thing is, my spell checker here on blogger does'nt seem to want to work, hence the mulitude of typos! Sorry.muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-76099660589327951102010-11-20T14:43:00.000+00:002010-11-20T14:43:34.057+00:00Update - Press Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TOfcRRmPoRI/AAAAAAAABPQ/-B6v6mFeUzg/s1600/biz250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TOfcRRmPoRI/AAAAAAAABPQ/-B6v6mFeUzg/s1600/biz250.gif" /></a></div><br />
So we went along, no l tell a lie, we sent Harry along [Farmer doesn't really like wearing black tie gear] with the promises of good food & a free night out. As he left, he asked would he need to make a speech if we won? I casually assured him that he wouldn't, just shake hands, smile for the photographer then go and sit down.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TOfbk4ZRoGI/AAAAAAAABPI/y8GmR1wTgUw/s1600/330biz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TOfbk4ZRoGI/AAAAAAAABPI/y8GmR1wTgUw/s320/330biz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I didn't hear Harry come in, but over a late breakfast shared with the previous evening's loot scattered across the kitchen table l was informed that a] the food was blurdey brilliant b] the tables were growning with bottles of plonk and c] he had to make a speech and no he couldn't remember what he said. The award evening, Harry proceeded to inform us, were more MTV than School Prize giving.<br />
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So we are now proud holders of the York Press Family Business Award 2010.<br />
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PS: in the photo Harry is right in the middle of the shot stopping down behind a brunette [girlfriend] & blond who are in the front row.muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-6349316967064511762010-11-11T13:52:00.001+00:002010-11-11T14:21:16.274+00:00Freezers, Awards & Gales<div style="text-align: justify;">It's quiet nice really, the end of the season, a little more opportunity to have 'me' time, relax and generally catch up on things that get side lined during the Summer. The ice cream parlour is now closed on Mondays & Tuesdays, whilst we operate reduced hours during the week, 11 - 4, but remain open as normal during the week end. Don't get me wrong, we are still busy, wholesale orders still come in, farm shops & restaurants busy ordering seasonal & Christmas flavours, best of these seems to be the new winter flavour, damson & plum crumble with Christmas pudding coming in a very close second.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We have some new customers this autumn, with <a href="http://www.drewtons.co.uk/pages/farm-shop">Drewtons Farm Shop</a> holding a very successful opening last weekend with Jenny providing samples of Mr Moo's Real Dairy Ice Cream to the shop's visitors. It's really great to get direct customer feedback and with the new flavours going down an absolute treat! Other major projects this year have seen the building of a new purpose built freezer room, this has made storage a much easier task with easy access to stock & reduced electricity bills! We have also improved the visitor facilities for viewing the livestock. Not content with the freezer room & barns we have also set up an anemometer care of <a href="http://www.fastmast.co.uk/">Fastmast</a>, to record wind speeds on the Hill Top field with a view to installing some sort of wind turbine. So you see, nothing just stands still we are always busy with something!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TNvpE2fNklI/AAAAAAAABPA/xNxiFgH3L7U/s1600/freezer+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TNvpE2fNklI/AAAAAAAABPA/xNxiFgH3L7U/s320/freezer+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On the farm, the sheep have arrived for winter grazing whilst the red polls heifers & Malcolm the Hereford are now inside for the winter. The sheep today do look pretty miserable as the wind is at storm force and the sharp squally showers seem to resemble water coming out of a pressure washer. The heavy seas at high tide have resulted in large chunks of the SSSI being washed away, ice age peat deposits stand no chance against the pounding waves of high tide. The whole beach area looks as though a tsunami had struck, bolder clay, concrete WW2 defenses being strewn like balsa wood across the sand & clay.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TNvodd1x2kI/AAAAAAAABO8/Fh18O8uWm8g/s1600/nov+2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TNvodd1x2kI/AAAAAAAABO8/Fh18O8uWm8g/s320/nov+2010+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our seasonal staff have now finished with us until next year whilst Harry & Jenny are starting their Advanced Apprenticeships in food manufacture whilst the rest of us have updated our CIEH stage 3 food hygiene certificates. Some of the photos on food hygiene were pretty gross, the worst being the man from japan who, after eating sushi for many years, had parasitic worms lodged in his brain...............</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TNvptxOVQ6I/AAAAAAAABPE/pqagc2nc84k/s1600/snow+nov08+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TNvptxOVQ6I/AAAAAAAABPE/pqagc2nc84k/s320/snow+nov08+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Well, there go, busy season, sales have gone well with our wholesale customers, we have had some good press coverage in several national publications, and on a whole the summer months have not been too bad. Bookings are starting to come in for next year on the CL site, though we are now an adults only site, with Bank Holidays about fully booked. Wish us luck for next Thursday as we are short listed for in the Family Business category in the York Press Business Awards.muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-13348516537963173002010-10-12T17:27:00.000+01:002010-10-12T17:27:50.129+01:00Autumn vacation<div style="text-align: justify;">Autumn came with a suddenness that we haven't seen for a while. Past Septembers have been more Indian than an early launch into late wet autumnal weather. Certainly up & down the east coast, the seasonal weather has been, well unseasonal to put it mildly, oh sorry about that! I do really hope that winter in not going to be a repeat of last year's. Snow & cold are fine if you are in the Alps & skiing but when you are having to work and rely on the public it is not so good. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TLSEUsode9I/AAAAAAAABOk/1W5dYlsBjnU/s1600/59891_161096663906622_100000188695204_553602_7709193_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TLSEUsode9I/AAAAAAAABOk/1W5dYlsBjnU/s320/59891_161096663906622_100000188695204_553602_7709193_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> So then, lets get on with the blog. As you may know, we have bought ourselves a motor home, couldn't afford the holiday cottage purchase on the North York Moors so plumped for a movable alternative. In previous Septembers we have flown south heading to the greenness of Corfu, this year we headed north, north to Scotland. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I haven't really been to Scotland before despite having an ancestor marrying a Scottish lady, Miss C MacDonald, in the 1820s. Yer, wasn't too bad you know. Yes it was very wet, the wind howled, the scenery when emerging from the mists was spectacular, the oysters from Kishorn were to die for, the tourist honey pots of tartan & shortcake were, well, not really my cup of tea.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TLSEViIr3iI/AAAAAAAABOo/JHOnIeOPBIM/s1600/58656_161096383906650_100000188695204_553594_3601936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TLSEViIr3iI/AAAAAAAABOo/JHOnIeOPBIM/s320/58656_161096383906650_100000188695204_553594_3601936_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I enjoyed the historic aspects, the harsh northern coast line, the painfully narrow roads that were blissfully empty, was that due to the weather? Then there were the coach loads of Grannies............. Best bits? Thanks to rain, couldn't explore the Culloden battle field site, but l think the vast emptiness of the Western Highlands was pure tranquility. I really can do isolation, just me & the landscape. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TLSEWkzt8hI/AAAAAAAABOs/XvGS46zyTEs/s1600/58656_161096390573316_100000188695204_553596_5820845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TLSEWkzt8hI/AAAAAAAABOs/XvGS46zyTEs/s320/58656_161096390573316_100000188695204_553596_5820845_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We have been away since coming back, nipping down to Devon to have a look at some wind turbines cited on a dairy farm somewhere at the back end of beyond down a myriad of country lanes. We have also, no Farmer, has some good ideas how to improve the CL site for motorhomes next year. Amazing as to how many motorhomes we have had stop here during the summer, Haz thinks it is something to do with being over a certain age, elderly nomads? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Half term is now almost upon us, Christmas seems to be coming at all local garden centers and l have surcombed to the fist of the sniffles and sneezes, great. We are already starting to think about next year, e have erected an anemometer to record wind speed, its standing in the Hill Top field & already accepted by te local birds population who seem to see it as a rather good 'tree' on which to roost. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The CL site is more or less closed for the winter, Caravans & motor homes can park at the end of the car park. Next year we have made the decision to become an Adults Only site, a move widely supported by our regular visitors. I guess it's just how things are moving forward now. Footballs and sat dishes don't really go very well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The dogs are scratching & howling at the back door, they aren't supposed to come into the house you see . Gordon & Lucy-Piglet need to go and chase more wildlife; they have been ratting this afternoon with Haz; L-P proved to be pretty good despite being a labrador, Gordon, well, not so good a bit like Anne Widdicombe on Strictly, tried hard but showed no real ability! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-1654642441971776212010-08-20T16:49:00.000+01:002010-08-20T16:49:49.303+01:00Ladybirds& Filming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6ZU-7puUI/AAAAAAAABN4/ZI5mMVkErQk/s1600/geese+aug+2010+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6ZU-7puUI/AAAAAAAABN4/ZI5mMVkErQk/s320/geese+aug+2010+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now that the summer season is in full swing bringing with it busy roads and grid locked coastal towns, it is sometimes easy to forget that the farming calender continues to creep along in between rain showers. Yesterday saw the last field of winter wheat being combined and field headlands baled before the evening's drizzle called a halt to the contractor's square bale machine. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It always amazes me just how quickly the flocks of geese home in on the newly combined fields, a few small family groups soon become large, sociable flocks</span></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">honking loudly to one another as they come into land</span>, <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">an amazing sight as the evenings start to draw in, these large birds just skimming over the barn roofs</span>, <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">altering their pitch and air speed as they glide down onto the stubble.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6Zm0fdzkI/AAAAAAAABOA/hha_-YYP3DY/s1600/august2010+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6Zm0fdzkI/AAAAAAAABOA/hha_-YYP3DY/s320/august2010+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Harvest also brings with it insects. Some are OK others are not so. Thunder bugs, great clouds of them swirl about your head, crawling everywhere on your person when you venture outside, wasps - certainly this is their month - don't they just seen to be all over this summer, haven't found any nests apart from the one that was smashed when the muck spreaders were here, but they just seem to love mr moo's, must be the ice cream? Have you noticed the ladybirds yet? These little red & black bugs seem to be enjoying the coast, just keep munching away on green fly and other pests please, l noticed this morning that they were all over one of the rubbish bins, a black bin covered in moving red dots!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6Zi1mBw6I/AAAAAAAABN8/CAVtDOqckNk/s1600/august2010+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6Zi1mBw6I/AAAAAAAABN8/CAVtDOqckNk/s320/august2010+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No, don't believe it, have a few moments of doing nothing time & the dogs start woofing, someone at the door, who needs a door bell when Gordon & Lucypiglet let rip with volleys of deep barks every time a stranger approaches their door. I was going to write how busy Haz and Jen have been, well you know that, the car park that's been full most days as well, then there was an article in </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2uuhmz3" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Guardian</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> newspaper plus the added excitement of the approaching Bank Holiday closely followed by the BBC filming scenes for a new adaptation of <a href="http://tinyurl.com/396xm7n">Winifred Holby'</a>s <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3ay8z6o">South Riding</a>. So not a lot happening really.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6ZyQyxJsI/AAAAAAAABOE/sSeM2A3kWJc/s1600/tesco+009+%28Small%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TG6ZyQyxJsI/AAAAAAAABOE/sSeM2A3kWJc/s320/tesco+009+%28Small%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The above photo is of Haz and Jen plus calf. They are posing, holding tubs of ice cream for a publicity shot, if you live in Yorkshire you may well see this pinned at point of sale in the ice cream display freezers belonging to Tesco.</span>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-9144072923053803442010-08-03T14:34:00.000+01:002010-08-03T14:34:03.774+01:00Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TFgPkiUGQyI/AAAAAAAABNw/-yaAg6zP0lA/s1600/july+2010+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TFgPkiUGQyI/AAAAAAAABNw/-yaAg6zP0lA/s320/july+2010+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">oday has been mad, no l correct that, ridiculous. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">OK</span>, so it is august, yes the schools are on holiday. yes the roads are rammed pack full of holiday traffic all looking to go somewhere for the day, no, no l am not moaning about the stay-cationers, l am not actually moaning at all, merely stating that today has just been one of those days when things go wrong, pear-shaped, shit hitting the fan type.. </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TFgPWVPV4tI/AAAAAAAABNs/O3SjZ6WsGj8/s1600/july+2010+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TFgPWVPV4tI/AAAAAAAABNs/O3SjZ6WsGj8/s320/july+2010+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t all began to hiccup last friday in fact, one of freezer vans was following a tractor and trailer on the road than runs across the Beverley Westwood, an open common found on the York side of the town and home to the racecourse, golf club and several small herds of beef cattle. A popular place to stroll, indulge in strenuous exercise or walk the dog, not really the place to partake in agressive football target practice using bullocks as The Target or so you would think? Well think again, herd of about 15 beasts average weight about 900kg, bored lads with football looking for something to do. Imagine then, if you will, the cars slowing down, speed limit 40mph, as the small herd slowly walk across the road, a group of French visitors admiring the quaint English countryside when, WHAM WHAM, footballs whiz through the air, THWACK THWACK footballs hits the head of one of the animals as it slowly meanders along. In a matter of seconds, the creature had spun around on sixpence, leapt about, well 3 or 4 feet into the air, coming to land, crump onto the bonnet of the Mr Moo van. Moo crashes into Moo. Moo van = right off Moo Animal galloped off, boys raced away hotly pursued by one very angry farmer.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TFgRYfvIy-I/AAAAAAAABN0/QBjdZAYxVko/s1600/june2010+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TFgRYfvIy-I/AAAAAAAABN0/QBjdZAYxVko/s320/june2010+058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">S</span>o there we have it, one van down and that was last week. This morning, no today at lunch time the replacement, C/O NFU Mutual Insurance, freezer van arrived. It was late. We needed it yesterday. All today's orders were ready to go, ASDA stores in Hull together with Hull Truck Theatre then the original van to ASDA York, stress levels rising, do you get the picture? We asked that the freezer be turned on so that we could do a quick turnaround, no luck temperature was at +2, today was feeling more akin to the film Ground Hog Day? Eventually, at last, finally, thankfully the van's temperature had dropped to be usuable, the ice cream loaded on board and within the last few minutes was able to head of with its cargo!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>ell, l suppose no real damage has been done, except to our van, life continues, the ice cream has gone out on delivery and l have added three photos from yesterday, one of the Beach Huts from Shanty Town on the cliff top here at Withow, round bales in Colley's Field and one of our Red Polls. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-436244111596092802010-07-17T10:55:00.000+01:002010-07-17T10:55:56.985+01:00Mid Summer on the Coast<div style="text-align: justify;">Today the weather forecast is dry with the odd shower if we are unlucky, this past week, on one hand we have been lucky, the weather has been unsettled, which in lay man's terms means wet & windy. Don't get me wrong, we desperately need the rain, the grass fields are looking to be droughting out badly but then on the other hand the hot, & l mean hot, dry weather of the past month have been wonderful ice cream weather bringing in the punters. Don't we just love the English weather?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As it is a while since my last blog, can l say, what is it with not being able to upload photos from my pc, this business of web albums is a real pain in the butt, talk about time consuming and low broadband speed....... So, l am writing before the pics up load & having a brain with the capacity of diving of on any tangent at any moment what l am typing will probably have very little to do with the photos. At least the spell checker works.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj10Tc81I/AAAAAAAABNQ/z8b7Vn0_mho/s1600/medquip2010+204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj10Tc81I/AAAAAAAABNQ/z8b7Vn0_mho/s200/medquip2010+204.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, Harry &the Brandesburton YFC Team completed this years 50 mile Mega Hike in 23 hours, on what turned out to be a very hot Saturday in late June, 59 teams started whilst only 36 finished. A slight problem for them was that the course took place along parts of the Pennine Way, steep ascents and the like, the bulk of their training had taken place in the flat lands which are Holderness, but they did it with only one member have truly nasty blisters. They raised over £1500.00 which is pretty good going l think well done you lot for doing the walk and the back up team with Hermie the Hymer getting a special mention for being such a uselful back up bus!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This summer we have had about 40 heifers roaming the stewardship grasses, free range so to speak, all well behaved bar 3. These are new comers, from a farm near Bedale, and were completely wild. I say <b>were</b> as they have now gone back to Harpham in disgrace as they did nothing but break every electric fence, knock over as many wooden fence posts as possible on the farm then proceeded to wrap themselves up in the wire or race up to the [fenced] footpath at full speed snorting, bouncing and behaving in a general ASBO style fashion. The fields seem a much more relaxed place to be now, the dogs especially can root around without having to feel that they need to keep their tails clamped firmly between their legs.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj3tRJd8I/AAAAAAAABNY/1tt_51a5_Nw/s1600/june2010+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj3tRJd8I/AAAAAAAABNY/1tt_51a5_Nw/s320/june2010+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So, news from the walk & the farm is suitably updated, so, how's the ice cream & Mr Moo's doing? In the ice cream parlour, our new crop of Moo Team Members are settling in nicely, having quickly picked up the art of the perfect Cowpat or making that superbly frothy cappuccino or quickly clearing & cleaning tables before the next batch of customers arrive looking for a seat. As Captain Cook says 'we have a real good team on for this year!'. We mustn't forget either the hard work put in by Mr Moo and his wholesale & delivery team, speeding up & down the coast delivering ice cream and meeting with new customers, Mr Moo A boards are appearing all over & l have heard a rumor that there is a facebook exercise to attempt photograph Mr Moo's ice cream in as many places as possible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj4LAkGdI/AAAAAAAABNc/ZFmw5EFIAqk/s1600/DSC00307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj4LAkGdI/AAAAAAAABNc/ZFmw5EFIAqk/s320/DSC00307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So finally, l come to the last paragraph, the summing up is it or something like that. It is wonderful or even F.A.B. to have a Proper Summer, sunshine, temperatures in the 80s, blue skies, sun burn which in turn it is great for business that so many people are not traveling into the Euro zone for their holidays; we are almost fully booked for all of July on the Caravan Club CL site, many visitors being first time caravaners. Lets hope that this week's blip in the weather is just that, a blip and in a few days time the weather is back to 'temperatures above average for this time of year'.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj2TR59eI/AAAAAAAABNU/3xt5nU964eU/s1600/sunset+july+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/TEFj2TR59eI/AAAAAAAABNU/3xt5nU964eU/s320/sunset+july+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-934655534088310532010-04-13T20:19:00.000+01:002010-04-13T20:19:22.580+01:00Here come the day trippers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S8S6cGAk3LI/AAAAAAAABMY/5zt5YX-XXh8/s1600/mr+moos+ice+cream+parlour+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S8S6cGAk3LI/AAAAAAAABMY/5zt5YX-XXh8/s320/mr+moos+ice+cream+parlour+003.jpg" width="320" /><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>April:</b> At last the sun has come out, the grass is growing & the sky is blue whilst Easter has come & gone like a politician chasing a floating voter. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I think therefore, it is fairly safe to say, the 'Season' is upon us. The season that sees empty country roads reduced to a snaking crawl of nose to tail traffic, the season that finds all roads lead to the coast, the season that sees our ice cream vans trundling up and down the Yorkshire Coast restocking beach side kiosks, farm shops, gardens & tourist attractions. </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S8S4t71PfcI/AAAAAAAABMI/5DXLDB9e-l8/s1600/april+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S8S4t71PfcI/AAAAAAAABMI/5DXLDB9e-l8/s320/april+001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, we have survived Easter, the Caravan Club 5 pitch certified site was, well to be blunt about it, more akin to a swamp than beautifully manicured lawns. Thanks to the pretty aweful winter weather consisting of snow & rain, the ground was, & up until just now, been well & truly water-logged. The forecast for the Bank Holiday was, as is so often the case, broadcasting heavy rain. Did we get this? No. I do get so very angry when l hear the BBC weatherman telling us that 'this weekend the weather is not going to be good........' and then we get sunshine. We got sunshine for the Easter break. Caravans who had parked on the winter hard standing pitches fearing the worse,were able to move onto the gravel trackway in the rally field. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So what about the ice cream parlour? Well, it was MANIC, so very, very busy. All the staff managed really well. Coffees, ice cream sundaes, cakes & lunches being served with not to long a wait for the customers. We have remained busy all through last week, customer numbers being similar to those of August. We were not alone in being hyper-busy, our customers based along the coast have had a similar experience, Hippy Shake at Whitby sold out of ice cream as did the Beach Hut in Sandsend. This is unheard of at this time of year. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sunday we had the car park filled with the rumble of 32 Mazda MX5, c/o the Yorkshire Ridings MX5 Club. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S8S5Q9kMTPI/AAAAAAAABMQ/bnqT_SCeggs/s1600/april+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S8S5Q9kMTPI/AAAAAAAABMQ/bnqT_SCeggs/s320/april+008.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So as l come to my closing paragraph, what happens next & where are we heading to? Well for a start,Tesco [Yorkshire] have had their first delivery of our more unusual flavours which, according to the data, are flying out as fast as the stuff goes into the freezer</span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">so that's pretty encouraging news, must be doing something right, whilst on the farm we are trying to fit in fencing so that the heifers, which are coming over from the farm at Harpham, wont go for </span>a l<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">eaisurely stroll along the cliff top!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> So have l forgotten anything? Hmn, the new investment is a very large white board sat beside me, on which all this week's deliveries are written up on in bright red plus things that are happening or need chasing up or what time is tea.And so on that note, l can hear the kettle boiling away on the aga so had better go and pour some hot water into the tea pot and pass around some cups of <a href="http://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/">Yorkshire Tea.</a></span></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-1742012437295494232010-03-18T10:57:00.007+00:002010-03-18T12:47:35.953+00:00Nest boxes and lawn mowers<div style="text-align: justify;">I am still coughing away here, brain still feels as though it is stuffed to the gunnels with dense cotton wool, not that l am totally spaced out mind you, just a tadge 'woolly'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IeEVUAYcI/AAAAAAAABLo/qOWuhcVOhzk/s1600-h/DSC00261.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IeEVUAYcI/AAAAAAAABLo/qOWuhcVOhzk/s320/DSC00261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449951558861087170" border="0" /></a>The weather is still improving, such a relief after the coldest winter for 30 years, the daffodils are a last emerging into flower, we might even have to get the lawn mower out to give the Caravan Club site a quick whiz over carefully avoiding the wet bits & boggy bottoms! The hard winter has taken its toil on many of the pot plants on the terrace, the standard lavenders and date palms seem to be well and truly dead, they are no more with no sign of greenness anywhere, shame about that but l will have to look out for some more 'exotic' plants once the fear of late frosts have gone, we are pretty fortunate as we have a garden center outlet, who are also one of our customers, that have a large selection of tropical looking but totally hardy plants. Strange but the olive tree has taken no harm at all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IdhlEzGmI/AAAAAAAABLg/7DrvtstLBms/s1600-h/production.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IdhlEzGmI/AAAAAAAABLg/7DrvtstLBms/s320/production.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449950961796848226" border="0" /></a><br />The woodland planting has in its turn suffered too from the low temperatures & winter blizzards together with those prolonged rabbit attacks resulting in replacing the dead saplings with slightly large plants. Last year, we had to put extra long rabbit guards on all the trees as the rabbits were stripping the bark above the plastic. This year, we have rather a lot of bird boxes to put up around the farm, plus a couple of owl boxes, though the barn owl in the back cow shed seems to be managing OK in the eaves!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IIi8u1NwI/AAAAAAAABLY/8Uz6DBHVZ0Q/s1600-h/farm+033.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IIi8u1NwI/AAAAAAAABLY/8Uz6DBHVZ0Q/s320/farm+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449927895582848770" border="0" /></a>The ice cream parlour is now open 7 days a week; orders for ice cream are starting to come in rather nicely from our wholesale customers as the tourists start to emerge after the long winter; the caravan parks are once again open and the coastal resorts are becoming busier with day trippers, or as they say in Yorkshire they have 'comfur-day', together with the early holiday makers taking advantage of the spring weather with its blue skies and sunshine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IHxfYx1QI/AAAAAAAABLQ/9NzQntBenSo/s1600-h/DSC00319.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S6IHxfYx1QI/AAAAAAAABLQ/9NzQntBenSo/s320/DSC00319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449927045892134146" border="0" /></a>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-86922777469087011192010-03-13T11:12:00.007+00:002010-03-13T11:41:47.419+00:00Mid March<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S5t0Q1kxHzI/AAAAAAAABLI/UKiz_g8GTV4/s1600-h/march2010+008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S5t0Q1kxHzI/AAAAAAAABLI/UKiz_g8GTV4/s320/march2010+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448076006842769202" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Thank goodness for St David say l, December, January & February were just full of snow, frost and a decide lack of sunshine, then, pow, St David's Day - the sun comes out, ok it's not warm but the daylight hours are lengthening and the sun has emerged after being submerged in a smog of dismal greyness. What l suppose is even more remarkable is that the sun has continued to shine for most of this month. The birds are singing away, the thrush perched on the highest branch of a tree just outside our bedroom window, sparrows moving into nest boxes designed for blue tits and the ducks - The ducks come every spring, taking up residency in the CL field. Every morning they waddle across the car park to the bird feeders which hang from the sycamores next to mr moo's, they check the ground looking for any scraps missed by the chaffinches or blackbirds then after a quick snooze toddle back again to their own special corner which gives them a good vantage point to wag their tail feathers or quack for the attention of passing walkers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S5tz76jcSQI/AAAAAAAABLA/LeEZrF0xggQ/s1600-h/march2010+006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S5tz76jcSQI/AAAAAAAABLA/LeEZrF0xggQ/s320/march2010+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448075647402133762" border="0" /></a><br />The farm is slowly coming to life, with this winter's wet holes frequented by wildfowl, beginning to recede as the water table lowers. The winter wheat on the cliff top looks a little sick brown and stunted, thanks to those continual easterlies that blew in from the Arctic laced with salt Talking about easterlies, the cliff too has suffered from the harsh on-shore wave action, the pounding of the clay or Skipsea Till to give it its correct name, has turned it into a brown sludgy slurry before being washed away by the action of the sea. This year, as a rough guess, about 2 metres have gone whilst over the past years, since l have lived here we must have lost about half the Cliff Top field to coastal erosion?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S5tzgbbeBJI/AAAAAAAABK4/vbl3kS-hKL4/s1600-h/march2010+005.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S5tzgbbeBJI/AAAAAAAABK4/vbl3kS-hKL4/s320/march2010+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448075175190725778" border="0" /></a>So now it is a case of releasing the handbrake as we move forward towards Easter, the ice cream team are already filling the freezers with stock, the car park has been fitted with a new drain to prevent the large puddle that settles in for winter, the grass on the CL site is drying nicely so could be a goer for Easter, and the rabbits are already breeding, well like rabbits what more could you ask for?<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-75082881752068161022010-02-15T15:49:00.002+00:002010-02-15T16:58:35.159+00:00Harry Foreman is fundraising for MedEquip4Kids - JustGiving<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3l9IHQId8I/AAAAAAAABKw/ydM4Jfh4fus/s1600-h/DSC01496.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438515603365722050" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3l9IHQId8I/AAAAAAAABKw/ydM4Jfh4fus/s320/DSC01496.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/brandesburtonyfc">Harry Foreman is fundraising for MedEquip4Kids - JustGiving</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com/">ShareThis</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Brandesburton Young Farmers Club are taking part in the 2010 <a href="http://charityadventures.co.uk/megahike/http://"><strong>Mega Hike</strong></a>. This is a 50 mile hike which has to be completed in a time scale of 24 hours. Team Brandesburton consisits of 4 walkers and 2 support crew. The walk will be taking place inthe Penines on the weekend of 26th & 27th June 2010. The charity is <a href="http://www.medequip4kids.org.uk/"><strong>Med Equip 4 Kids</strong></a>. You can follow the team's progress & training on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?v=info&ref=nf&gid=307167981525"><strong>Facebook</strong></a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-69192942248489965102010-02-10T12:04:00.009+00:002010-02-10T13:30:31.314+00:00Please accept my apolgies Mrs S<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KkKdIvUGI/AAAAAAAABKo/Ia4fu_2ftD8/s1600-h/Galu+Beach+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KkKdIvUGI/AAAAAAAABKo/Ia4fu_2ftD8/s320/Galu+Beach+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436588199716540514" border="0" /></a>Oh l am sorry Mrs S, your email was sat in my 'inbox' waiting for me when l got home. No. no, no l haven't stopped in my attempts to fill the Internet with bad spelling, punctuation & grammar, it's just that we have been busy at this end.<br /><br />Thanks to the panto season, ice cream orders for the little pots were amazing, Hull Truck Theatre doing particularly well, closely followed by both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bridlington</span> & Scarborough Spas. Farm shops too were pretty busy with our total stock of Christmas pudding flavoured ice cream being sold out by mid-December with the Cointreau & orange coming in a close second! So you see, no time to hit the keyboard and then in January, time just flew, Harry was skiing with Young Farmers in Val <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Thorens</span> and we were thinking, 'need a holiday' & 'must get away'.............<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3Kjw1Yn5nI/AAAAAAAABKg/tPtEZ9jf3mI/s1600-h/Neptune+Palm+Resort+Galu+beach+16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3Kjw1Yn5nI/AAAAAAAABKg/tPtEZ9jf3mI/s320/Neptune+Palm+Resort+Galu+beach+16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436587759549015666" border="0" /></a>Get away we most certainly did. After a lot of trawling the Internet for 'late holiday deals' then reading reports on <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/">Trip Advisor</a> we found ourselves sat in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">GP's</span> surgery at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Leven</span> waiting to have our bodies stuffed full of injections. Well, you don't need jabs to go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bridlington</span> but you do if you are heading down Africa way, south of the Equator, across Sudan & Ethiopia to Kenya.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KjWIVBdBI/AAAAAAAABKY/AYhcBAvA4JM/s1600-h/Mombasa+Ferry+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KjWIVBdBI/AAAAAAAABKY/AYhcBAvA4JM/s320/Mombasa+Ferry+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436587300777718802" border="0" /></a>After a 24hour delay, thanks to our flight being canceled due to a '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">medivac</span>' and spending the first night of our holiday in a Manchester Hotel, we finally hit Mombasa in the early hours of Tuesday morning.<br /><br />The streets of Mombasa were strangely deserted as we speed through, heading for the 'notorious' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Likoni</span> ferry and the road south that would take us to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Galu</span> Beach, just south of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Diani</span> & our <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://tinyurl.com/yg6avg9">Hotel</a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KjB0B7rlI/AAAAAAAABKQ/jBpwY_PL9dA/s1600-h/Mombassa+Highway+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KjB0B7rlI/AAAAAAAABKQ/jBpwY_PL9dA/s320/Mombassa+Highway+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436586951731555922" border="0" /></a>Arriving in the dark at about 4.30am local time, we were greeted by ice cold towels and a fresh fruit punch by happy smiling staff who seemed to think nothing of us arriving so late or early depending on which way you look at it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So this, l suppose, set the scene. The hotel, backing onto <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Galu</span> beach, was amazing, the staff happy & chatty, the weather hot & sunny, the sea warm and azure blue, who could ask for more!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KiicYZvCI/AAAAAAAABKI/U9iKwo2OxSw/s1600-h/Tsavo+East+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KiicYZvCI/AAAAAAAABKI/U9iKwo2OxSw/s320/Tsavo+East+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436586412807404578" border="0" /></a>Before we left, l had done some research on the National Parks and safaris. Being keen followers of anything coming out of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">BBC's</span> Natural History unit and as we were actually in East Africa, a safari should feature somewhere on our itinerary. Before leaving home l had contacted several local safari companies, the choice being once again being based on reviews on Trip Advisor. No easy choice l can tell you as none have prices posted on their web sites, and you need to pick any over night accommodation that you require, OK, you have a list so a case of deciding tent or walls.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KiDkJLexI/AAAAAAAABKA/Hyy6BCEkFqE/s1600-h/Tsavo+East+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KiDkJLexI/AAAAAAAABKA/Hyy6BCEkFqE/s320/Tsavo+East+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436585882315094802" border="0" /></a>At the end of the day, we plumped for a two day safari encompassing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Tsavo</span> East & West, staying overnight at the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.severin-kenya.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Severin</span> Safari Camp</a> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Tsavo</span> West. We booked the trip with our new best friend, Julius C.K. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Nzumbi</span> & his company, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.julius-safaris.com/index2.cgi?lang=UK&page=1&name=Home">Julius Safaris</a>. All l can say is AMAZING! The drive to the park was a safari in itself; so much to see along the way, houses, villages, the local inhabitants, then the parks. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The scenery in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Tsavo</span> East is flat, a bit like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Holderness</span> with out the drainage <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">dykes</span>, and animals, elephants and more elephants, giraffe, gazelle, zebra, our driver/guide making sure our cameras missed nothing that moved! Lunch was spent at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Voi</span> safari lodge, sited high up on a bluff overlooking the Savannah below, peppered with water holes around which families of elephants relaxed.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a long way, believe me, a lot of driving and if you are a poor traveler take a large packet of travel sickness pills with you for you haven't finished the day's game drives yet! From <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Tsavo</span> East we drove across to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Tsavo</span> West via the Man-eaters bridge. A railway bridge built by the British in the late 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">thC</span>, plagued by 2 man eating lions who devoured a great many Indian workers before being shot by Col. Paterson who lay in wait with his guns. Sorry, Mrs S, l seem to absorb trivia.<br /><br />The landscape, here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Tsavo</span> West, is truly awesome. Loved it. Volcanic hills, rugged rocks, black lava flows, dramatic landscapes, few tourists. Loved it, loved it, loved it. We decided to give the Rhino sanctuary a miss as it was now 4pm & poor old Mr Moo was having a seriously bad reaction to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Malerone</span> [the anti malaria tablets] plus l had forgotten the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Qwells</span>, was in need of a cup of tea and a cold towel. As we drove to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Severin</span>, the landscape continued to enthrall, totally mind blowing! The camp, my god, we were met by a real Masai complete with pointy stick! Never had an iced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Tusker</span> tasted so good as we sat in comfy sofas watching the giraffe grazing the acacia trees just metres from the lodge! And it got better. As the sun set the frogs began singing in stereo, hippos emerged from their water holes with an amazing grace for such a bulky creature. Once the light had failed we had to press the 'escort button' to bring an armed guard to take us to super; no fences between us and the wildlife you see, the animals, in this case the hippos with wind were only yards away & very dangerous! Amazing, truly amazing. The food in the middle of the bush was mouthwatering delicious, the tent was, and l do NOT camp, was unlike any tent l have seen, fabulous. So there we were, in the bush sleeping in tents serenaded by hippos and frogs whilst in the morning we were woken by the songs from the finches and weaver birds. We staid till 8.30, leaving reluctantly to head back down the Mombasa highway, an exciting drive through Mombasa itself to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Likoni</span> ferry, then back to base where once again we were welcomed by those oh so cool towels & fruit punch. I could see myself getting used to this life l can tell you!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KhOOm8FDI/AAAAAAAABJ4/rwAfaUfIC-0/s1600-h/Tsavo+West+Severin+Camp++002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/S3KhOOm8FDI/AAAAAAAABJ4/rwAfaUfIC-0/s320/Tsavo+West+Severin+Camp++002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436584966001267762" border="0" /></a>So, we are back now, the flight was almost on time, the UK weather cold & snowy. I have replied to my emails, caught up with the accounts and Harry & Jenny, who incidentally are adorning the freezer cabinets in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Tesco</span>, attended the Meet the Buyer session at the Yorkshire Showground. So what are my thought of the holiday now? Amazing, the locals are happy, polite and friendly, the country is full of so much to see, will we go back? Yes, not the same hotel as all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">inclusives</span> are not, if l am really honest, our cup of tea, but l have spotted on the Internet several small hotels in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Diani</span> region that have now been 'bookmarked' for future reference and no l am not putting up a link for those!<br /><br />So, l hope, Mrs S, you will forgive me for not having written for such a while and look forward to seeing you soon!<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-22475948522020720912009-12-17T09:37:00.004+00:002009-12-17T16:22:37.997+00:00Only a few days left<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Syn8JLLomMI/AAAAAAAABJI/e-QB0TN8PnE/s1600-h/image005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Syn8JLLomMI/AAAAAAAABJI/e-QB0TN8PnE/s320/image005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416137261440342210" border="0" /></a>I hadn't realised that it was over a month ago that l last hit the New Post button on Blogger. It's been busy. Usually, this time of year we have time to slow down, relax, put our feet up. This year, well no. The Shop has been steady away, which is normal, but the wholesale has been busy. Our theatre customers & farm shops have been very busy, in fact, we are all but sold out of the Christmas pudding flavour! That's good.<br /><br />The schools break up this Friday for Christmas, so we will remain open this Monday & Tuesday, closing for the Christmas holidays on 23rd, reopening on the following Tuesday, closing again, just for the day on New Years Day. We have had notices up to let customers know for the past month, but l expect someone will try to get in on Boxing Day! Hey Ho!<br /><br />The sheep:- well what about them? These lot of fluffy anarchist seem to do nothing but escape, they make Shaun the Sheep look like an amateur! Under electric fences, barging at gates, squeezing through tight spaces that no sheep should attempt to squeeze! The Great Escapees these little lot! It started with just one sheep, Hilda, she with the wall eye; she was out, all alone, walking the farm walk. Two days later, there was Hilda and friend walking along the path. By the end of the week she was calmly munching away with a dozen compatriots. Yes, we kept checking the electric fence; we caught her last week, walking under the galvanized gate, pushing it high on its hinges as she went! We have moved the soggy baggages into new pasture, and yes they have escaped, well only Hilda & Maud so far, who l have caught 3 times trimming the short grass in the caravan park!<br /><br />So, this is it, Christmas. Time fly's by when your having fun. Have sort of got into the pre-Christmas thing following a 'moving into new house' visit to <a href="http://sallyschateau.blogspot.com/">Sallyschateau</a> in Carcassonne, ice rinks and ferris wheels, penguins and polar bears NOT forgetting the tres chic elderly lady who wore huge sunglasses at night whilst on top of her head, perched at a jaunty angle, a jet black fedora.<br /><br />Happy Christmas!<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-70841138327216419382009-11-17T13:27:00.008+00:002009-11-17T14:40:07.298+00:00Christmas food & Harry<div style="text-align: justify;">It's strange isn't it how once Halloween is over and done with, the shops decided that its 'time for Christmas'. Our farm shop & garden centre customers have been transformed into Santa's Magical Wonderland, all twinkly lights, ho ho ho's & scrumptious looking hampers, overflowing with the epicurean delights that are Christmas.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SwK1FnXsexI/AAAAAAAABIQ/VnN4rJ93eXQ/s1600/christmasshopping.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 174px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SwK1FnXsexI/AAAAAAAABIQ/VnN4rJ93eXQ/s320/christmasshopping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405081610870356754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I am one who feels Christmas is at Christmas not 6 weeks before, but, we have to prepare and make those festive flavours that plump out our order books at this time of the year. Yes, ice cream is an all year round delicacy, so this year we are making Christmas pudding, cranberry & redcurrant, marzipan and cointreau & orange flavoured ice cream. So far, the Christmas pud & the cranberry are the favourites with our customers. I have noticed that many of the food magazines are featuring Christmas pud ice cream in their festive menus. Good choice!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SwKy_5av6WI/AAAAAAAABII/MECT6wPUT0I/s1600/xmas_christmas_hampers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 229px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SwKy_5av6WI/AAAAAAAABII/MECT6wPUT0I/s320/xmas_christmas_hampers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405079313612532066" border="0" /></a>Returning my previous blog, Harry was amazed at all the responses, he doesn't feel as though he is any different to anyone else, such modesty. Someone asked how we had managed to get Harry motivated, how much push and shove had we given him. The truth is, in fact, we did very little, no not being cruel or neglectful, but explaining that a] this was the problem, b] this is how you can learn to cope and adapt to dyslexia & finally c] we can't make you do this but everything is in place ready for you to try. I know that computer games are slammed by so many 'experts' but we have found playing them in Harry's case, really jumped started his reading and comprehension, because he HAD to read & HAD to understand the on-screen instruction, oh and then there are the benefits to the hand eye co-ordination. He tried. He tried so hard, A's for effort, not so good for exams but you can't win all the time now can you? It's hard with exam results, your friends tell you how well their offspring are doing at school, 'little Freddy has got straight A's', it's normal, parents boast. You just have to let go, ignore little Freddy's results, and smile. Everything is a bonus, you know how much effort it takes to get a D grade, for Harry, he has been spared the pressure of getting good grades in readiness for university, he was able to enjoy his teens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SwKuW5HRiCI/AAAAAAAABIA/iOO2gQrW9Z8/s1600/agni+taverna+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SwKuW5HRiCI/AAAAAAAABIA/iOO2gQrW9Z8/s320/agni+taverna+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405074211109701666" border="0" /></a><br />Well, there you are then, a quick little bit of extra concerning Harry, who has been busy making mango sorbet today. Just don't give up or let them give up, but what ever you do, don't take the fun out of learning by pushing, it's a bit like schooling a young horse, you don't want to present it to a fence beyond it's current ability and over face it, putting it off for ever.<br /><br /><br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-30740663373385834202009-11-04T13:29:00.005+00:002009-11-04T14:07:14.714+00:00dyslexic child<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SvGDObboeqI/AAAAAAAABHw/86W6HU_WM2E/s1600-h/farm+047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SvGDObboeqI/AAAAAAAABHw/86W6HU_WM2E/s320/farm+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400241712098998946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, as usual l am sat in the dining room cum office, catching up on the accounts. As is always the case, l am daydreaming, my excuse for wasting time. I am emailing, chatting on skype, listening to the wireless. I have in front of me, on the floor 6 large piles of A4, bills paid, bills to pay, bank downloads, remittance advices, VAT print outs, it looks very organized. it should be all filed away in the colorful collection of folders shoved onto the shelves. They are not and l am just getting ready to hole punch.................<br /><br />The internet is wonderful. I can sit here, listening to the wireless and the current item on the Jeremy Vine show on radio 2 is continuing the theme on the best childrens bedtime stories, the choice is down to the final 8 titles.<br /><br />As a child, in fact even now, l am what you could call a 'book gobbler'. I read, l read obsessively. I have favourite authors and pre-order their new titles. I have books everywhere. On book shelves, next to my bed, in the bathroom, in the spare bedrooms, any flat surface you will find books. Paperbacks, hardbacks staked precariously in large, wobbly piles. Farmer suggests that it might be an idea to open a used book stall in the garage. I don't think so.<br /><br />I am side tracked, l was going to mention my favourite childhood reads but, well never mind my brain is off on a different tangent. When Harry was born, l would read all about hungry caterpillars and fierce bad mice and wondering hedgehogs. As he got older would buy stories for him to read and enjoy. He preferred story tapes and would be able to recite all the Roald Dahl stories word perfect. By the time he reach 6, his reading was pretty bad, a real struggle, a chore more akin to pulling teeth than something of pleasure. Needless to say, l was concerned. A visit to the village school and discussion with teachers did not exactly allay my worries. To me, and as there is dyslexia in the family, Harry was showing the classic signs.<br /><br />We moved school, Harry traveling up to Scarborough everyday and within his 1st week at the new school he had been booked for assessment with the Dyslexic Institute. Dyslexic, Harry was dyslexic, high IQ but disorganized, dancing words & letters chasing each other across the pages, the world seen as a multi-layered 3D adventure. For the duration of his school years, he attended the Dyslexic Institute. He learned to touch type, to organise his time, to learn how to manage his pictorial world in the flat real world.<br /><br />Harry, is now 21. He runs the ice cream production side of the business. His spelling is still truly unique and he still sorts out problems using the 'picture in the head technique'. He has found a balance, he still hates reams of text, but just gets on with it; he plans out his day so he knows where he is and doesn't get lost. Pretty amazing really, well done Harry, your hard work has paid off!<br /><br />The picture is totally unrelated to this blog, but it is of the beach.<br /><br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-50895266237337408552009-10-29T14:15:00.006+00:002009-10-29T14:50:36.615+00:00half term is almost over<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SummULiOvlI/AAAAAAAABHY/6PuyGCyUsNY/s1600-h/shops+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SummULiOvlI/AAAAAAAABHY/6PuyGCyUsNY/s320/shops+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398028494004207186" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are then, closing days of October 2009, half term nearly at an end but, the weather, so very un-Octoberish. Temperatures in the high teens. No frosts or early snow, just blue skies and sunshine. Hells teeth l am not complaining. Mr Moo's has had a good week with visitors, both regulars and newbies paying us a visit, coming for that special treat or for top up on ice cream, any guilt about those calories being erased by a gentle walk down to the beach along the farm walk.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sumk2LHWiDI/AAAAAAAABHQ/D1eW3OaxJQs/s1600-h/shops+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sumk2LHWiDI/AAAAAAAABHQ/D1eW3OaxJQs/s320/shops+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398026878983768114" border="0" /></a><br />It has been a pretty good summer for our wholesale customers too as holiday makers indulge in this year's trend of 'staycation'. In fact, Hippy Shake in Whitby is looking forward to a major ghoulish weekend, serving up such delicately named flavours as 'blood n guts' and 'bramble stoker'. Whitby, to the uninitiated is not only home to the most exquisite fish & chips but also to Dracula who can been seen most days stalking through the town followed by his acolytes, dressed to impress in layers of black & grey wearing the most incredible gothic footwear that looks more like surgical boots than jimmy choo!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SumkNvaxr_I/AAAAAAAABHI/VreYyTZVQHw/s1600-h/party+shop+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SumkNvaxr_I/AAAAAAAABHI/VreYyTZVQHw/s320/party+shop+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398026184354279410" border="0" /></a>So, there you go. A busy week for everyone, here on the coast. Families enjoying quality time together, a walk along the sea front combined with a bucket & spade day, something simple & fun. Memories are made of this, it may not be the Mediterranean, but the weather has been glorious and the English pound buys so very much more than the Euro!<br /></div><br />PS: the first picture is of the new fish restaurant in Leeds, Nash's on Merrion Street.muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-76333773327636344412009-10-20T17:46:00.008+01:002009-10-20T18:45:06.192+01:00Blue plastic bags<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/St3qeTLBvNI/AAAAAAAABHA/tZiDt_UkMag/s1600-h/farm+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/St3qeTLBvNI/AAAAAAAABHA/tZiDt_UkMag/s320/farm+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394725734923222226" border="0" /></a>Today, right at this very minute l am cross, very cross, blurdey MAD to tell the truth. Why oh why do people in cars view the countryside as a free for all rubbish dump? We know from the detritus strewn along the grass verge that it takes from the local MacDonald's to here to eat a Big Mac meal, we have tesco carrier bags stuffed full of picnic waste, carefully tied and then hurled from passing car windows. Why?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />So, by this evening, after having attended a nervous persons all time nightmare in the form of an HSE meeting, that l saw a white van. l was enjoying the final leg of the farm walk, dogs walking smartly to heel at this point. This was not any white van but a YEDL one, well, actually a contractor to YEDL. It was pulled in casually just alongside the roadside gate with its back doors pulled wide open, a man rustling about in the back. Nothing suspicious about that, perhaps someone was having a pee or bird spotting? Then l saw it, or rather HIM. He was carrying a blue carrier bag, carefully tied at the top to prevent anything 'spilling 'out in the back of his van. Then, with the skill of a Driffield rugby club player, tossed the bag with amazing accuracy into the hedge bottom in the corner of the footpath.<br /><br />Well, l am a bit of a rottweiler when roused and l was roused! Marching across with Gordon & Lucy-Piglet in tow, l shouted into the back of the van. He must have had a hearing problem as there was no answer. Bang bang, l rapped on the door. A face appeared looking not exactly pleased. 'What the hell are you doing' l thundered? 'Take your flipping rubbish home with you!' l continued, my voice becoming more 'Cheltenham' by the minute.<br /><br />He looked even more angry; me a mere woman telling him off? Poor deluded fellow must have thought l was really stupid, he told me this was work things for tomorrow which he would collect in the morning. Farmer drove past in the JCB. ' That's the farmer', l said, not at all sure that this guy was going to back down. l continued, 'rubbish does not biodegrade in hedge bottoms and dustmen do not walk along footpaths collecting trash, l have to do that!'. I stood there, glaring at him. Lucy-Piglet looking fierce. The prat tried again, ' I am coming back tomorrow to fix the electricity pole'. Aha thinks l, that pole there by the bunker belongs to US and is not connected to the mains. My remark was oh so casual, ' & will that be to bring more rubbish to join that bag over there?'.<br /><br />He gave up. Leapt over the gate [ impressive] collected the rubbish bag, threw it in the back of the van. I stood on guard just in case he chucked it back when my back was turned and waited purposefully until he drove of.<br /><br />Farmer, when l told him about the YEDL contract man, asked had l got the van number. Ergh men.<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-58321568829242612202009-10-16T16:58:00.006+01:002009-10-16T17:42:50.311+01:00Sir Jimmy and a large ship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StieXUsaeYI/AAAAAAAABG4/sLEltUBVGf4/s1600-h/party+shop+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 210px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StieXUsaeYI/AAAAAAAABG4/sLEltUBVGf4/s320/party+shop+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393234677305342338" border="0" /></a><br />So we were delivering ice cream to Cobble Landing this lunch time, when Stu casually mentions in passing that The Queen Mary was sailing close in to Filey at about 1'ish. Quick check of multi-coloured Swatch watch which reads 12.45 followed by hard stare out to sea, 'it's going to be more like 3', replied the amusement arcade chap from next door. The slight crowd thronging the sea front at Filey might be in for a wait.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StiZrr-tfCI/AAAAAAAABGw/kKzJBxRfeP8/s1600-h/queen+mary+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 227px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StiZrr-tfCI/AAAAAAAABGw/kKzJBxRfeP8/s320/queen+mary+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393229529595345954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">No such wait in the bracing sea air for us, mon brave. Onward with deliveries, mustn't keep the customer waiting. In Scarborough, Farmer parked up on North Marine Drive with the van window facing North Bay & then scuttled purposefully off to meet with a possible new customer. The cars casually drove along Marine Drive, pedestrians ambled passed as the tide came in, their dogs held firm on leads whilst the waves roared up the beach and then crashed down on the sea walls.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">From the first picture, you can see the weather was bright and cheerful although out to sea, to the north, there was a squall bustling towards the land. By about half part two, the roadside car parking began to fill. People emerged clutching binoculars and cameras. wearing woolly hats rammed down hard on their heads. The squall got ever closer, the waves even larger. The weather clamped down, visibility at a minimum.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StiZJvmClEI/AAAAAAAABGo/fmIprNp2z4U/s1600-h/queen+mary+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StiZJvmClEI/AAAAAAAABGo/fmIprNp2z4U/s320/queen+mary+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393228946450060354" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Suddenly there she was, bow emerging from behind the castle headland. Traffic stopped, people braved the sea spray and rain, cameras flashed as automatic flashes went off. The ship's passengers flashed back in unison. Then, slowly the Queen Mary turned, once past the Sea Life Centre, to head back out to sea, disappearing into the gloom that had by now completely enveloped North Sea.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StiYpmqVxSI/AAAAAAAABGg/-rYmvW_3ycM/s1600-h/queen+mary+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StiYpmqVxSI/AAAAAAAABGg/-rYmvW_3ycM/s320/queen+mary+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393228394296362274" border="0" /></a>The last time a large cruise liner came THIS close was a few years back, when local resident, Sir Jimmy Saville Fixed It for himself to embark locally via fishing boat. This time our local celebrity was going to join the cruise in Edinburgh this evening and so had asked Cunard to Fix It for the inhabitants of Scarborough to receive a right royal sail past!<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-92126863581348586112009-10-14T10:42:00.008+01:002009-10-14T15:22:38.681+01:00Ideas & days out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StWg1vxkNvI/AAAAAAAABGM/N1Ct8PFjh9Q/s1600-h/harry+hyg+024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 168px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StWg1vxkNvI/AAAAAAAABGM/N1Ct8PFjh9Q/s320/harry+hyg+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392392974063908594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">From now on in, the ice cream parlour and wholesale becomes a lot less manic, it gives us a well earned break but also, more importantly, a chance to forward plan for the next 12 months.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StWefBgQcSI/AAAAAAAABGE/fegBNXoG8B4/s1600-h/harry+hyg+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 175px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StWefBgQcSI/AAAAAAAABGE/fegBNXoG8B4/s320/harry+hyg+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392390384662901026" border="0" /></a>This summer we ran an competition for our customers to design a new flavour to grace our pots, the response was immense and we are still sifting through the entries looking for that winning entry. <br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StWdSolHwCI/AAAAAAAABF8/Z59PjEclD1Q/s1600-h/harry+hyg+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/StWdSolHwCI/AAAAAAAABF8/Z59PjEclD1Q/s320/harry+hyg+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392389072302358562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Other interesting things that happen during the Autumn and winter months are 'days out,' or to be more correct, an 'afternoon away''. While most people have days out during the summer months, we have to wait until things quieten down before we can hit the road and visit the many wonderful sights that are to be found here in Yorkshire. <br /></div><br />Photos: Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-84172565924720549372009-10-09T10:09:00.007+01:002009-10-09T11:54:16.538+01:00Timewasting<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br />This week l don't seem able to settle down and concentrate, l fidget and waffle about, drink coffee, walk the dog, sweep up the leaves and open the shop but l just can't sit down in the office, open up the accounts software program and get cracking on invoices, bills, statements and bank reconciliations. The mind is not engaged. The computer is turned on, the pages from ebay open, emails shoot back & forth but, as the business returns to the seasonal norm perhaps l too am slowing down or am l getting ready to either hibernate or fly south for the winter?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Ss8L1-2BBkI/AAAAAAAABFs/r23NQBfOWQk/s1600-h/hind_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 199px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Ss8L1-2BBkI/AAAAAAAABFs/r23NQBfOWQk/s320/hind_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390540301016303170" border="0" /></a><br />The geese stream across the sky & l watch. Where would l go? I think l might like to visit India and travel around in an elderly car taking in the sights and sounds and smells. Staying overnight in glittering palaces, sipping gin & tonic as the sun sets behind the Himalayas. Riding through the tea plantations as dawn breaks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Ss8Lp0VCFRI/AAAAAAAABFk/3ZSJzPGp9Og/s1600-h/m_1097264f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Ss8Lp0VCFRI/AAAAAAAABFk/3ZSJzPGp9Og/s320/m_1097264f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390540092035175698" border="0" /></a><br />Oh hell, you daft bat, stop it. Pull yourself together. You must ring up that customer who hasn't paid for 8 weeks and give them what for................!<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-69354252433227979902009-09-29T17:24:00.009+01:002009-09-29T18:51:27.169+01:00The Big Birthdays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsJIw-p3G7I/AAAAAAAABEs/gTHHR5emFBA/s1600-h/party+shop+051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 182px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsJIw-p3G7I/AAAAAAAABEs/gTHHR5emFBA/s320/party+shop+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386948110578031538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">1959 & 1988 heralded the arrival of the 2 reprobates who live here; Haz celebrated his 21st in August without too much fuss whilst Farmer has got to the grand old of 50 without loosing his hair and having an almost full set of teeth. A celebration of some description had been discussed months back but as with most things once the Summer Season arrives, everything else bar business flies very rapidly out of the window. Anyway l did remember to organise birthday presents for the 'lads', a couple of circuits at high speed driving ariel atom cars on the race track at Elvington near York. The date booked was for last Sunday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI4y0FIkdI/AAAAAAAABEc/u-PCh-A-qLQ/s1600-h/party+shop+047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 184px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI4y0FIkdI/AAAAAAAABEc/u-PCh-A-qLQ/s320/party+shop+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386930549913326034" border="0" /></a><br />As the departure date loomed ever closer for our annual sojourn to Corfu, the 'Party Planner Action Plan' kicked into operation. So that week prior to heading off for 7 days of grilled sardines and king prawn saganaki, the local butcher's hog roast contraption was hired, a friend's marquee was booked [avalon marques] plus twinkly lights as an 'extra' thanks to Lucy-Piglet's over protective attention providing ventilation to the posterior and of course the disco music chappy. Not a lot of fuss we had said, you know friends, family all pretty laid back.............<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsJIHxcBdMI/AAAAAAAABEk/arBzrO-dSbg/s1600-h/party+shop+054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 186px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsJIHxcBdMI/AAAAAAAABEk/arBzrO-dSbg/s320/party+shop+054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386947402655691970" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok, so it is great to GO AWAY, but, oh dear me, the return to reality. Mail to sort, bills to chase up not to mention the washing and those mosquito bites. I was more or less organised, l did know what l HAD to do and how go about everything in the party planner modus operandii guise. So Friday saw me speeding, as if you can from Beverley to Kingswood Shopping Centre [Hull], tracking down items from my every growing list; balloons - black & white, garden flares x 5, helium x 2, cellophane x ++ metres, tissue paper x black +++, and finally liquid refreshment - wine: red / white, larger, cider, bitter. Easy l hear your say? Well no actually, l spent most of the day hunting for the items to cross of the list. I tell you, my feet were killing me by the time l got home!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI4XrQoQdI/AAAAAAAABEU/qkjgH4pPV8c/s1600-h/DSC00919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 186px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI4XrQoQdI/AAAAAAAABEU/qkjgH4pPV8c/s320/DSC00919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386930083689152978" border="0" /></a>Writing this, l really think that l must have had a brain malfunction. Myself & Lora basically, on the Sunday morning, got the tent decorated and then a pile of 'stuff' ready to transport into the shop at closing time. Yes, we were open until 5.00pm. Balloons, flowers replaced menus and salt & pepper pots whilst Yorkshire curd tart was replaced in the cake cabinet by bottles of wine. Outside, the patio tables were to be illuminated by candles whilst the herb border by tea lights suspended in jam jars. I think l might have overdone the candle thing..<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI2HwQDZqI/AAAAAAAABEE/EP6VjoerPhs/s1600-h/DSC00856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 184px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI2HwQDZqI/AAAAAAAABEE/EP6VjoerPhs/s320/DSC00856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386927611127752354" border="0" /></a>The sun set, the Disco Man & Butcher arrived baring sound systems and roast pig, the candles were lit and our car park began to fill with cars as our guests began to arrive. Gosh, were we lucky with the weather. The evening was balmy and mild with little breeze to stir the leaves of the trees that over look the terrace. People mingled and chatted, friends caught up on news and gossip. The younger ones sat outside under the stars munching roast pork with sage & onion stuffing topped off with home-made Bramley apple sauce. As the evening progressed and the air temperature dropped people drifted into the tent to dance to some sort of music, which although not to my taste, seemed to go down rather well.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI1CRiOBlI/AAAAAAAABD8/4HQ-GLUkrmE/s1600-h/party+shop+046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/SsI1CRiOBlI/AAAAAAAABD8/4HQ-GLUkrmE/s320/party+shop+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386926417471473234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I would be lying if l said that l wasn't knackered, it has been hectic, but l think we might have just pulled it off. The idea was to keep it simple, it was. No ties, no presents, no plates, people relaxed and happy. The Hazz's friends all behaved pretty well and exhibiting none of the drunken yobbishness that we read about in the Daily Mail. So that's it then, no more Big Do's for at least another 10 years..................<br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912574131596036687.post-27075807295009780992009-09-26T11:20:00.005+01:002009-09-26T11:50:53.668+01:00Late September<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sr3soOB4ePI/AAAAAAAABDE/WM0AntvS5fM/s1600-h/pinkfootedgoose15_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 170px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sr3soOB4ePI/AAAAAAAABDE/WM0AntvS5fM/s320/pinkfootedgoose15_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385720905109895410" border="0" /></a><br />Just when you think that the warmth of the summer months has gone, you are surprised by a last blast of the sun's warmth, although the nights are now drawing in and the evenings cooler, the days feel warm and balmy. The Indian Summer. September, which last year was wet and dank topped by the global down turn, has been replaced this year with a warm & very, very dry September</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sr3r51z4RkI/AAAAAAAABC8/7CGIFLcNcVY/s1600-h/farm+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sr3r51z4RkI/AAAAAAAABC8/7CGIFLcNcVY/s320/farm+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385720108334728770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Already the skies and stubble fields are proving welcome resting stations for the flocks of pink footed geese that noisily swoop low over head, making their final approach into wind to roost over night on the Cliff Top field which as yet has not been cultivated and thanks to the combine misfunction seems to have plenty of wheat left on the ground.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sr3rXwldx-I/AAAAAAAABC0/BymbbYJ5gEw/s1600-h/DSC00645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 238px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_f9ycTfKSY/Sr3rXwldx-I/AAAAAAAABC0/BymbbYJ5gEw/s320/DSC00645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385719522816542690" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The hedgerows too seem to be enjoying a bumper harvest, along the farm walk the rowans are positively groaning under the weight of their glossy berries, hips & haws make up the contingent of the brilliants reds whilst the blackberries & elderberries tempt in the small flocks of birds with their juicy, sweet fruit. Thistles that we left for the wildlife are now awash with frothy white seed heads providing a welcome snack bar for the gold finches which provide a flash of bright colour as they flit from plant to plant. The hedgerows seem to be at their noisiest what with the twittering and chirping of the frantically feeding bird. The countryside is at its peak, a mad flurry of fruit & seeds, falling leaves and migrating birds, a rush before the slowing down of life in the approaching winter months.<br /><br /><br /></div>muddybootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01117980616235810426noreply@blogger.com7