Rotavation
Safety goggles, check .. ear defenders, check .. ill fitting overalls, check. Had fun with the rotavator this afternoon. A few cartoon moments when it ran away with itself, dragging me behind (luckily, no one looking) .. but mostly, all good. Now the piggies field looks LOVELY and ready for sowing tomorrow with grass seed. Then a little rain .. forecast over the weekend (no, really?) and voila! Will go and buy some new egg layers once I’ve reinstated the chicken coup. On legs as before, to keep out nasty critters with sharp teeth.
Christmas Day Plunge at Polkerris
Its become a Christmas tradition amongst some hardened individuals – to throw oneself headlong into the freezing surf battering the beach at Polkerris. Lots of people do it! Honest. Simon cycled to the beach, then jumped in. Rosie, Matt, Charlie and Joe did it. Kit took photos. Rosie even swam! This year I decided to go for it too. No longer could I be shamed by my children. Man, what a way to wake up after a night of limited sleep. The best part: medicinal malt whiskey administered by good friends immediately after and the warmth of the Rashleigh Inn to defrost.
Preparations for the Christmas Play
It’s started. Jona Lewie, the Pogues and Kirstie McColl all confirm it. The 2012 lead up to Christmas .. the great British pantomime .. beginning with the stage dressing. I’ve chosen my tree. Put my order in with Amazon. I’ve considered sending cards (I fail at this every year – some kind of get out clause in the job description). Even the leaves in the yard have been swept in readiness for our Christmas visitors. And elsewhere .. christmas cakes and puddings are quietly maturing in Big Buns kitchen, whilst brussel sprouts are being harvested in the fields of Cusgarne – shamefully tolerated only once a year in our house with the promise of lardons – and beautiful children’s surprises are being gift wrapped at Bird to be sent across the globe. And cue the pluckers! Hoorah! Today, together with our splendid team, we began killing the geese. They’ll hang for 2 weeks, after which we shall make them ready for ovens all around the UK. That it happens at all is a feat of behind-the-scenes organisation; a crazed time of phone calls, orders, packaging, more orders, finalising transport details, last minute orders etc. starting for us way back in June and continuing until the final curtain call. ‘FIVE MINUTES EVERYONE!’ Santa, no snow please till after Christmas eve. Cheers mate. Mad .. hohoho
Shocking Synod Decision
Susie Leafe, a lay member of the General Synod of the C of E .. living in our Parish .. opposed to women bishops .. is representing who exactly? Please Susie explain WHY women should be denied equal opportunities within the Church of England. In a 5 minute tv video (4.thought) she airs her frighteningly simple views explaining why it is natural that we look towards our menfolk as decision makers based upon leap year marriage proposals and Eve’s messing up in Eden. In contrast look to the brave Pakistani school girl, Malala Yousafzai, shot by the Taliban for daring to exercise her rights as a woman. Women around the world are still fighting to be heard. Extrapolate your feeble arguments Susie and we women shouldn’t have the vote – following your logic women shouldn’t take lead roles in society, in business, Government, within the armed forces. And how reassuring for you that as the minority partner in your relationship you don’t have to take any responsibility when things go wrong. I honestly don’t Adam and Eve it .. I can’t seem to post the link here. Go to Google and take a look. It’s astonishing.
Hoedown, west: ‘Bigwigs and Titfers’ a birthday celebration ..
Last Saturday .. Golant village hall .. me and my wonderful friend Estelle shared a birthday bash. And it was a splendid one (Hooray!). At least .. I had a BRILLIANT time, as can be seen by the photos. I think (I hope ..) everyone else enjoyed it too – perhaps not quite with the same enthusiasm as me (I blame boat-builder Pete and his generous gift of 2 pints of Cosmopolitan. Thanks man!). Thanks too must go to Jackie, Jaz and Dave that worked the decks and kept us on our toes all night. Plus of course the talented Susanna Stables and her pics that have helped jog my lapses of memory! Cheers girlfriend!
Ice Skating at Eden
Been ice skating at Eden with Kit this afternoon .. it’s BACK ON (hoorah, hoorah!) .. and with comfier-than-usual boots. £6 per 40 minute session. Half term dodgems today, with a packed lunch-time rink, but I’m sure it’ll quieten down when all the kids are back to school. Tempted to take some lessons this year .. it would be great to be able to stop! Also .. cheap passes for locals (£7.50/year or £12.50 for 2 years) from 4th November till just before Christmas. Make a date to SKATE.
Organic Turkeys, Ahoy!
Contacted by ITV and Dick Strawbridge’s Hungry Sailors .. coming aboard the South Torfrey ark to interview our organic turkeys. More TV coverage – that’s nice!
Wind Turbines
Wednesday 18th April, Cornwall County Council planning committee narrowly refused our planning application for the 2x20kw turbines. 8 votes against to 7 votes in favour. A very finely balanced decision. We still hope to generate our own sustainable energy on the farm in the future. Organic farming and farm holidays powered by the wind. We understand it’s a contentious issue, polarising opinions in the community. However, it’s one that believe is worth pursuing.
Our annual charity give-away
This year, as we have done most years, we decided to give-away a few of our organic turkeys to the St Petroc’s Society. St Petroc’s Society was the first organisation in Cornwall to provide accommodation and housing related support services to meet the needs of the single homeless. We think that they do an admirable job in the community and were delighted when Margaret Rail, St Petroc’s Society Administrator, thanked us in the email shown below. What can I say? On behalf of everyone at St Petroc’s and all of our clients a huge THANK YOU for your support. I can’t begin to tell you the difference it makes to be able to provide the Christmas lunches over the holiday period. We really are so grateful. Thank you once again and on behalf of everyone at St Petroc’s I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas.
Organic Goose Taste Test with Rick Stein
Our organic free-range goose gets the thumbs-up from Rick Stein in a taste test. Get yours here…
