Current Weather at Strickley

Sunday 30 June 2013

Family History

or things they don't write about in The Gazette now . . .

My family history research comes and goes, depending upon among other things, time and the resources available. I subscribe to a couple of Genealogy sites and periodically get email updates about new sets of records that are available. The latest email mentioned newspaper reports, so I had a quick look and put in the name of Henry's Great Grandfather (also Henry Robinson), a date range and Cumbria.

Success! I instantly found a report of Grayrigg & Selside Show in the Westmorland Gazette of September 13th 1890. No banner headlines of photos of cute girls with cuter pets, but a full column (Broadsheet size of course) of comprehensive results, plus another full column on the dinner and speeches in the evening. Amongst the list of prize winners there was Henry Robinson of Strickley in the horse, turnips and swede turnip classes. And a Highly Commended for "the greatest improvement on farm in the last four years".

In an edition from April of the same year I found a report of cattle sold at Kendal Auction Mart, including
 
I'm sorry the quality of the reproduction is not so good - I looked at a scan online of the original, downloaded it as a pdf, then copied and saved the relevant bit as a jpg.
 
But the Strickley Robinson's were not the only ancestors showing and winning with Shorthorns. A quick search for someone on my side of the family, found my Great Great Great Grandfather Jacob Blamire taking a second place for Short Horned Cattle in 1850, as reported in The Kendal Mercury and Northern Advertiser. According to the 1851 census he was a "Farmer of 90 acres" at High House, Burrow with Burrow. Once again the report covered several newspaper columns.
 
 
The Blamire family later moved to Matterdale and another quick search found my Great Great Grandfather (another Jacob Blamire). I've copied in the whole report - as it's something that doesn't happen now - but skim to the highlighted bit at the bottom for the family connection.
 
 
I'm sure I'll have more stories to unearth!
 
 

Friday 28 June 2013

I always knew the Robinsons were sports stars

Well done to Izzy (6).

It was her Hockey Club's presentation evening tonight and she was awarded not only her Silver Stick Skills medal, but also got the and Most Improved Player award!

Friday 21 June 2013

A Fish out of Water




While Henry was checking the stock this morning, he found this drifting across the field. It's tied down as it's filled with helium and is obviously remote controlled (the receiving part is still attached). So, if you've lost one you know where to look. If you Google for more details you'll find this site - but please don't try to fly/swim it near here - there's some nasty wire inside that wouldn't go down well in a mower or cow's stomach. (It does say on the website that it's for indoor use).

But the really important question is - is it organic? Has it got the necessary paperwork and/or derogation to be on an organic farm - especially today when we are having our annual Soil Association Certification inspection!

Ready to leave the nest

The last few years a family of blackbirds have taken up residence in the corner of our porch. Last year the male blackbird returned and started building a rather avant-garde nest in the hope of attracting a new mate.

 
 
But there were obviously better offers elsewhere as the nest remained empty, and gradually disintegrated.
 
This year the blackbirds were slow off the mark and another family moved in. We've always had plenty of swallows round the buildings and this year one of their haunts was not available - the old workshop that is now a classroom (with no access for swallows!). So one pair took advantage of an empty plot and set up home on an empty pipe in the porch.
 
By the 4th June the eggs were hatching, and the nest began to get more and more crowded. Eventually there were five heads peeping out over the top of the nest. By this week it was so crowded that they were often fitted in nose to tale.
 
 
But today's the day and they are starting to venture out of the nest and onto the pipe.
 
 
 
They don't seem to be too bothered by the comings and goings in and out the door; the adults fly around close by or wait on the beam at the end of the porch, keeping a watchful eye on us.
 
 
 
 


Sunday 16 June 2013

Happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JAMES
 
born on Father's Day nearly 40 years ago!
 
 
 


Friday 14 June 2013

Hot of the press

In the post this morning -
 
and on page 9
 
 
There should be a link on the RCG site - but they haven't updated it yet - but click here for the previous catalogue, and check again in a couple of days for the new one.
 
And, if anyone would like to see Maximus "in the flesh" (or any of our herd), just get in touch with us.
 

Thursday 13 June 2013

Off and On

Today another of our bulls - Strickley Wiggo - went off on his "holiday" to Cogent. Strickley Maximus came home, looking very fit and well. He's filled out a lot in the 5 months he's been away. I expect he enjoyed all the attention.

Look out for them in the next RCG catalogue!

Friday 7 June 2013

What's in your fridge?

Maybe your fridge is well stocked with food for this hot weather - cold meats, cheeses, salad vegetables. And your freezer full of meat for the barbecue.

We do have some tasty comestibles in the fridge - but there's also a large shelf full of veterinary medicines that have to be kept cool. And I've just cleared a space in the freezer for enough Power Start for the rest of this year and next year.

We used to keep it in an old fridge freezer - along with wine and beer etc (which led to it being known as the Drink & Drugs Fridge), but decided it was more eco friendly to switch that one off and use the house fridge

Tuesday 4 June 2013

Make bales while the sun shines

Yesterday we finished tidying up round the silage pit, and today James and the mower are out again, cutting grass for big bales.

Sunday 2 June 2013

It seems quicker every year . . .

. . first cut silage is in the pit and the contractor has moved on to Henry's cousin's

Saturday 1 June 2013

Latest weather statistics from Strickley. A cold wet month - but drier and warmer by the end. There were still more rain days than dry days.