Good News, Bad News

The good news - Claire has passed her driving test.
The bad news? - Rob has a "radial head fracture" (broken elbow)
The good news - he has a chauffeuse!

Herd Competition

Last night was the Annual Dinner for the North West Regional Association of Shorthorn Breeders. This was a good night held at The Lowther Castle Inn at Hackthorpe. After the meal,as the final raffle tickets were sold, the President of The Shorthorn Society, Neil Madeley gave a short encouraging talk, exhorting us to continue to take every opportunity to publicise  the breed and to register all our animals, The herds had been judged in September by Basil Lawson, and he gave a brief talk of his tour round our region and presented trophies and prize cards to the winners. We returned two cups from last year, and came away with three (plus two raffle prizes), so it was a good night out for us. And in bed just before one in the morning. The alarm at 5.30 seemed far too soon.

Here's the full list of results in the various classes. And apologies - as I copied and pasted a Word document, the formatting may be a bit odd.

NORTH WEST REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SHORTHORN BREEDERS

HERD COMPETITION 2014

JUDGE - BASIL LAWSON

BEST LARGE HERD

1st       Whitchester Herd                             C Hall

2nd     Winbrook Herd                                 G  A & D W Dent

3rd      Brafell Herd                                       J Teasdale & Son

4th      Strickley Herd                                   Messrs Robinson

BEST SMALL HERD

1st       Briscoll Herd                                     Mrs I Coulthard

2nd     Beaconview Herd                            J Handley

3rd      Moorriggs Herd                                 P Armstrong

4th      Irthingelt Herd                                   T Moscrop

BEST YOUNG STOCK (LARGE HERD)

1st       Parton Herd                                      Messrs Hewson

2nd     Winbrook Herd                                 G A & D W Dent

3rd      Brafell Herd                                       J Teasdale & Son

4th      Strickley Herd                                   Messrs Robinson

BEST YOUNG STOCK (SMALL HERD)

1st       Oakthwaite Herd                              M J & J A Dobson

2nd     Moorriggs Herd                                 P Armstrong

3rd      Beaconview Herd                            J Handley

4th      Newpark Herd                                  D Craig

HEIFER IN CALF

1st       Winbrook Vi 143rd                           G A & D W Dent

2nd     Strickley Starbud 54th                     Messrs Robinson

3rd      Tahuna Dewdrop                             D Jackson

4th      Moorriggs Sparkle 7th                     P Armstrong

HEIFER IN MILK

1st       Strickley Goldie 217th                     Messrs Robinson

2nd     Moorriggs Lady Barrington 3rd         P Armstrong

3rd      Beaconview Annabella 3rd              J Handley

4th      Screel Erin 3rd                                 S Wilson

COW HAVING CALVED TWICE

1st       Briscoll Graceful Lady 7th              Mrs I Coulthard

2nd     Winbrook Foggarthorpe Lass 5th G A & D W Dent

3rd      Strickley Starbud 48th                     Messrs Robinson

4th      Brafell Molly 8th                               J Teasdale & Son

PROGENY OF ONE BULL

1st       Bishopsbrae Royal Appeal                        C Hall

2nd     Panorama Aramis                            J Handley

3rd      Winbrook Marmaduke                     G A & D W Dent

4th      Llandovery Jinny's Empire             Messrs Robinson

BEST BULL ON INSPECTION ONLY

1st       Middlebankend Digger                    N Barker

2nd     Brafell Royal Lad                             J Teasdale & Son

3rd      Winbrook Pedro                               G A & D W Dent

4th      Nejay Errol                                        Messrs Robinson

BEST BULL ON INSPECTION AND PRODUCTION

1st       Nejay Errol                                        Messrs Robinson

2nd     Middlebankend Digger                      N Barker

3rd      Winbrook Pedro                                G A & D W Dent

4th      Brafell Royal Lad                               J Teasdale & Son

BEST COW ON INSPECTION ONLY

1st       Winbrook Peeress Rose                 G A & D W Dent

2nd     Strickley Goldie 198th                     Messrs Robinson

3rd      Kenprest Lady Hermione 19th        J Teasdale & Son

4th      Parton Perry Blossom 13th              Messrs Hewson

BEST COW ON INSPECTION AND PRODUCTION

1st       Strickley Goldie 198th                     Messrs Robinson

2nd     Winbrook Peeress Rose                 G A & D W Dent

3rd      Kenprest Lady Hermione 19th        J Teasdale & Son

4th      Parton Perry Blossom 13th              Messrs Hewson

BEST PURE BRED ANIMAL

1st       Kenprest Lady Hermione 19th      J Teasdale & Son

2nd     Dunham Margaret 122nd               Mrs I Coulthard

3rd      Oxton Foggathorpe 677th              T Moscrop

4th      Newpark Barbara                            D Craig

                       

Just a quick note

I know that I've been very lax in Blogging lately (where does the time go?) - but a quick note, and an aide memoire for us, today all the rest of the stock came inside for winter. All the counting, contemplating and calculating worked out as we still have an empty pen!

Stars at Lane Farm

Last September it was Robert 

But next June it will only be an old singer 

Winter is upon us . .

 . . we started hedging today (at the top of the lane for those who want to see us in action)

Remembering my Grandfather

My maternal Grandfather, Isaac Edward Blamire, was born in 1902, the eighth of eleven children. He was born in Castle Carrock, but by 1911 was living in Kendal on Windermere Road. In 1923 he married Jessie Garnett and they had one daughter, my mother Marjorie.

For much of his working life he was the caretaker of The Provincial Insurance Company at Sand Aire House, living in at one point, what seemed to me as a young child, a wonderful flat on the top floor of the building, and later at Melrose Place. Despite living and working in town he was a countryman at heart and my first visits to Kendal Auction were with him in school holidays.

He never served in the First World war but was called up at the end of 1941. He was passed as fit by the Medical Board

and in January 1942 was  sent out to the war in the East.

He didn't come home again until 1946.

He was a prisoner of the Japanese and despite what may have been written on postcards supposedly sent by the prisoners, suffered deprivation and hardship.

Before repatriation he was sent to India to recuperate and convalesce. He was then able to write home for the first time 

first page of a long letter

He had missed my mother's wedding, but was there for my Christening in 1948. Seen here with my Godmother Alice (Isaac's sister) on the top Sand Aire House.

After the war his life returned to normal, working at the Provincial until he retired and he and Jessie moved into a house on Hallgarth. My Grandmother Jessie died in 1977 and my Grandfather in 1982. 

Great Grandchildren Victoria, James and Robert with Granda Ike summer 1982

There are lots of reasons while I'll never forget him, but among the most light hearted are - 

Growing so many raspberries on his allotment that I could have them for breakfast.

Teaching me to swim.

Getting a liking for curry whilst in India and having Nan make it (whose recipe I have).

Isaac Edward Blamire

1902 - 1982

Remembered today and always.

I think I've got it right this time . . .

. . . the cows are staying inside today (and for the rest of the winter). Unless someone here knows differently and I see them walking past the window.