When is a "preview" not a preview? When the resultant post looks nothing like my carefully laid out effort.
Must do better.
Monday, 28 May 2007
Sorry
Just a quick note to apologise about the layout of the post earlier today.
When is a "preview" not a preview? When the resultant post looks nothing like my carefully laid out effort.
When is a "preview" not a preview? When the resultant post looks nothing like my carefully laid out effort.
The Three R's
Our Ten Year Plan to have a magnificent patio and garden at the back of the house is slowly reaching fruition. It began PD (pre digital), so I've no photos to hand to show the initial digging out. After a quick levelling and scattering of gravel, we enjoyed being able to sit out in the evening sun and decided to make a "proper job" of it.
Drains were laid, electricity cables were laid (just in case). And the ground left to settle. Now this seemed to be a euphemism for leaving the next phase until next year. But eventually work began again on what was now just a weedy patch of earth.
A few pots of flowers provided an instant garden, and for a few days it was even hot enough the justify the parasol.
"The Three R's"?
Drains were laid, electricity cables were laid (just in case). And the ground left to settle. Now this seemed to be a euphemism for leaving the next phase until next year. But eventually work began again on what was now just a weedy patch of earth.More levelling and a retaining wall, artistically curved round the corner, and we (or rather Henry) w
ere ready to lay the paving blocks.
ere ready to lay the paving blocks.
The blocks were laid over all the main patio, and once again work was put on hold as the evenings became too short to work after milking.
By Easter 2007 we were ready to get the new table and chairs out of storage and dri
nk a toast to many family parties outside in the sun.
nk a toast to many family parties outside in the sun.
A few pots of flowers provided an instant garden, and for a few days it was even hot enough the justify the parasol.We were pro
bably going to do Phase 2 (the path round the house) in the same leisurely time scale, but a suggestion that we have our Granddaughter's Christening Party at Strickley in June served to concentrate the mind and we (ie Henry) have been working every night to level the ground, remove the old rickety steps up to the paddock, build more wall, lay more blocks and build our very own Grand Design - the new steps.
bably going to do Phase 2 (the path round the house) in the same leisurely time scale, but a suggestion that we have our Granddaughter's Christening Party at Strickley in June served to concentrate the mind and we (ie Henry) have been working every night to level the ground, remove the old rickety steps up to the paddock, build more wall, lay more blocks and build our very own Grand Design - the new steps. 
"The Three R's"?
Reduce - Recycle - Re-use
Or as farmers and hoarders say "Don't throw anything away - it may come in useful". All the stones for the wall, the flags for the steps etc were from Strickley and the paving stones were taken up from someone else's drive. And even the small low window in the picture above has been been recycled (admittedly a long time ago - it was a mullion window in the long since demolished wing of Bleaze Hall). Now all we need to find is an old gate to put at the top of the steps to keep stock in the paddock, and get ready to enjoy sitting around doing nothing!
Sunday, 27 May 2007
To cut or not to cut?
Who do we believe?
The BBC's Countryfile forecast for "farmers and growers"?
The BBC website (which doesn't always match the television)?
The Weather Channel website?
Accuweather (which doesn't always live up to its name)?
Or the seaweed on the windowsill?
Ar this time of year, there's only one subject up for discussion - when do we cut for silage. We're essentially optimists, so we'll probably look at all the forecasts and then choose to believe the best one!
The BBC's Countryfile forecast for "farmers and growers"?
The BBC website (which doesn't always match the television)?
The Weather Channel website?
Accuweather (which doesn't always live up to its name)?
Or the seaweed on the windowsill?
Ar this time of year, there's only one subject up for discussion - when do we cut for silage. We're essentially optimists, so we'll probably look at all the forecasts and then choose to believe the best one!
Saturday, 26 May 2007
Congratulations! You are a Winner!
Remember the Readers Digest letters? Hinting that you were already a winner (in a draw you didn't even know you had entered) -promising prizes of untold magnificence.
Well, we received something similar yesterday from NMR, about a new award scheme which recognises "efficient milk production", using NMR's "unique measure - Lifetime Daily Yield" and "a cow in your herd has been identified as having one of the highest values among NMR recorded herds".
We know we have won at least a certificate, but it could be more! But I've a feeling no monetary value is involved.
And we don't know which cow!
As ever, watch this space!
Well, we received something similar yesterday from NMR, about a new award scheme which recognises "efficient milk production", using NMR's "unique measure - Lifetime Daily Yield" and "a cow in your herd has been identified as having one of the highest values among NMR recorded herds".
We know we have won at least a certificate, but it could be more! But I've a feeling no monetary value is involved.
And we don't know which cow!
As ever, watch this space!
Monday, 21 May 2007
Another Leaf on the Tree
20th May 2007
19:30
Leicester
.
FLETCHER DAVID SHIPLEY
.
Congratulations to proud parents Glenn & Victoria
(and to big brother Elliot)
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Thank you for all your suggestions . .
At the beginning of the month, I threw out a challenge to name a bull (son of Crusader and Pansy). I should have added the rider, that we were not bound to accept any of them, and that the editor's (or editor's son's) decision is final.
And now, after carefully considering all (one) suggestions, I discover I have been misinformed! The sire was not Crusader, but Thorndale Chester (Crusader's father - are you keeping up with this?). So please feel free to ignore the picture of a Crusader on the original post, and substitute it in your mind with one of Chester.
James is following a vague line of thought that takes in films, especially Bond ones, so the new name is
And now, after carefully considering all (one) suggestions, I discover I have been misinformed! The sire was not Crusader, but Thorndale Chester (Crusader's father - are you keeping up with this?). So please feel free to ignore the picture of a Crusader on the original post, and substitute it in your mind with one of Chester.
James is following a vague line of thought that takes in films, especially Bond ones, so the new name is
THUNDERBALL!
.
And the link to Chester? Daniel Craig (the latest James Bond) was born in Chester!
.
Saturday, 12 May 2007
A Quiet Week
Some people manage to write reams in their Blogs every day. Not so me. Unless you want to know that I got up at 5 o'clock every morning, drove to work, laboured away all day (brain power not muscle power), drove home, made supper, checked there was something in the freezer for next day's dinner, sat down and fell asleep. Oh, and it rained every day. Not all day, but just enough to remind us that the previous week's good weather was an unseasonable abnormality.
But really all I've been doing all week is listening out for a phone call. I'm a grandmother-in-waiting expecting some news Any Day Now. Watch this space.
But really all I've been doing all week is listening out for a phone call. I'm a grandmother-in-waiting expecting some news Any Day Now. Watch this space.
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