missing pics

   

 

warawick castle from the bridge

Bourton house Bourton-on-Hill

Sue at rear of house

toparies at rear of house

don't they know that not everyone is 4' 11''

us on front lawn

follow me

looking out over Bourton-on-Hill from top of street

growing up fast

it's been a hard week

Sue and new friend BARLEY-SUE TAKES HER FOR A WALK 3 TIMES A WEEK

update on the arbour

snake skin found by pond.Have yet to come across the donor!!

domestics on the car

Hi all, I somehow missed getting the latest pics on to the latest blog so here they are. J

getting settled in the village at last

Hello again - We have had a week of meeting quite a few locals here in the little hamlet of Knightcote.  Sue was out walking early one morning  - gorgeous walk takes you through the village out to a country lane that has very few cars on it - mostly folks and their dogs - but just so pleasant on a sunny morning - and on way back home passed a local gentleman (Richard) hoeing weeds in the driveway.  Stopped to say hello and let him know we were resident in the Farmhouse - locals call it the Manor house as it was the original farm house with hundreds of acres once upon a time and the village grew up around it.  In fact the house 2 down from us was once three workers cottages and then was the home for the last owners (Bill) parents.  He was an only child and led quite an eccentric  life apparently and keep to himself and his quite posh friends.
Richard introduced me to Rita his gorgeous bubbly wife and we arranged a cup of tea for Thursday afternoon.  She invited Moira and Graham who live across the road from them - and in the house that was the three workers cottages originally - hope you are following.  Moira has been a teacher around these parts for many years so where ever she goes she meets parents of kids she has taught - kids she has taught, or kids of kids she has taught, or fellow teachers etc.

Moira invited me to flower morning she was going to being held by a friend - ex teacher I think - Barbara who lives in the next village has Folly Flowers and has a large rambly but abundant garden so we were able to pick what ever we chose and made up fresh wreaths.  Was lovely to meet some new girls - did not mention that I was a floist tho -
John and I joined Moira and Graham that same afternoon to attend a primary school in Warwick where Moira used to be head teacher.  She had been invited to the afternoon which celebrated the year of the African Child - and several schools united to perform a drumming concert to celebrate this day.  It was well done.  We then spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Warwick - along the Avon River which takes you past the enormous Warwick Castle, through old streets, into the church, and the main centre of the town. Was very pleasant.

We have spent some time ourselves exploring even more of the cute villages around here.  Edgehill is the site of the first battle of the civil war and about 5 miles away.  Is on the side of a hill so gorgeous views and very quaint.  Nearby is a government ammunition depot and army base camp where soliders used to live and a memorial on the side of the road to commemorate those who lost their lives in the battle.  The bodies are buried in a enclave of trees that no one is allowed access to.  Had a delicious ploughmans lunch in the pub and a chat to the owner who has had a career in the film industry.  He was very impressed with Peter Jacksons movies!!

Also met, through Moira, an elderly couple - Vera and Derek.  Vera used to look after the previous owners Mother in her later years so knew the house and garden here very well.  She came by for a cuppa one morning and was able to tell us some history and changes that have taken place.  The tower attached to our flat was originally for the geese and then an office and our flat was a barn for stock.    John has promised to make her a date and banana cake  and invite them around again for coffee.

Had a well earned day off last Sunday and drove through to the picture perfect Cotwolds.  Veronica - a neighbour on the other side of us is a gardener who looks after a couple of properties and she has given us lots of useful information on gardens to visit - I attended the local gardening club meeting with her last week - visited a well planted garden about 30 min drive from here.  She gave us a flyer on an artist who had an exhibition at Bourton House at Bourton on the Hill.  The cotswolds are so picture perfect I just could not stop taking photos.  Bourton House also had a superb garden which we really enjoyed walking around.  Stopped at Moreton in Marsh on the way - another gorgeous picture perfect village with beautiful galleries, antique shops,  cafes, a really good cheese shop - I think we made a purchase in all!!    The cafe we had lunch at had three pages of tea varieties to choose from.  Luckily the young waitress was very helpful in giving suggestions as to which tea would compliment our food choice. -

Have also made a new special friend - Barley - She is the cutest Great Western Terrier (dog).  Met her and her Mother Sarah on a couple of walks around the circuit.   Sarah is about to start a new job for 3 days a week at High Wycombe which is about an hours drive away.  I have offered to walk Barley those days - we start tomorrow and I had a practise run with her this evening,. She is just gorgeous and really energetic - In fact she will be taking me for a walk - and easily pulls you along on a bike - will have to get one of the bikes out!!

Our six baby moorhen chick are growing - still cute and fluffy but developing wings now.  Hope you are all well and thanks for the lovely comments.  Bye for now  the cook and the gardener.

addition to local stuff

j
John's favourite garden tool

the old  with the new.  The Marks and Spencer building with the Cathedral

Main house front door

local stuff - 9 june 2011

A quiet week on the exploring front, but lots of local stuff to show you.  Have been busy in the garden again - have had the awful job of clearing out excess irises and bull rushes out of the ponds.  Quite heavy duty stuff and |I am so glad that there is only one pair of waders.  John looks so funny both before and after -   However that does mean I have to load the trailer after John has pulled them out.  He was furiously pulling out a heap of them in the middle pond when he came upon a family of moorhens and 6 chicks so stopped so as not to disturb their home.  We have had such enjoyment watching the adult female mother these tiny black bits of fluff around the pond.  They are under threat from a nasty heron who visits occasionally  and apparently they just pluck the baby chicks out of the pond and eat them.  We scare it away when we can and the other night I suggested to John that we spend the night in sleeping bags on the look out.  He did not seem keen!!  Susie has what I call a plastic fantastic which is a fake heron bird which is supposed to be a deterrent, but not too sure how effective it is.

Last week we enjoyed a walk up to the Burton Dasset Hill which is a local park with spectacular 360 views.  Right throughout England you can take walks through private property across fields, over styles, through little hamlets.  They are marked  by yellow arrows beside styles or entrances showing you the direction to take.  We had to walk through several fields of young wheat crops with tracks left to walk on.  It really quite neat.

bring it on

where to begin

this is a sh... of a job

our latest arrivals- 3 of the six. So very cute

Banbury market on Saturdays

all 1 pound a bowl

love the choice

Just finished the lawns

The style at the start of the walk thru' the fields

Sue about to take off

umm- this way I think

a bunch for our dining table from the garden

have filled in our application forms

Roses around the kitchen window

The wine shop in Banbury

Birmingham market-also 1 pound for about 8 large tomatoes

Finally met some local villagers this week.  Richard and Rita - gorgeous folk  and their neighbours Graham and Moira.  Was out walking early on Tuesday morning and Richard was chipping weeds out of his driveway so stopped for a chat.  That resulted in an invite for afternoon  tea on Thursday which also extended  to a glass of wine.  Both couples have lived here for over 25 years so have lots of knowledge about the hamlet here.  Richard and Rita were very friendly with Bill the first owner of Knightcote  Hall  - a very wealthy old gentleman who now lives in the South of England.  They were able to give us lots of info about which is the main local put - news about the garden club - John got an invite to a mens breakfast on Saturday morning - the ladies one is not until September, but all the men cook and run down to the local hall which is situated in the middle of the hamlet with hot bacon, eggs etc - sounds a real hoot.  The men are trying out a new location on Saturday.

Saturday mornings we love to go into the market in Banbury to stock up on fresh fruit and Vegetables.  The are super cheap - and fresh.  The vegetables are displayed in plastic bowls which cost £1.  Last week we got 8-9  each of capsicums, pears, potatoes and tomatoes.  Such a bargain -

The famous Banbury cake is obviously made here and as we leave the market to get to the car there is a cafe which advertises them for sale and gives some details about their history.  We  made the mistake of buying a packet of three to try - not only are they delicious - they are addictive and fattening.  Made from crusty pastry, coated in huge granules of sugar with a mix of raisins, spices and some secret ingredient, and they are about the size of a med pita bread but oval in shape.

Had a visit from Sarath who was visiting London to see the cricket test at Lords - Sri Lanka/England en route to Switzerland.  Was lovely to see a familiar face - he ended up staying the night as all the chatting and dinner meant it was to late for the bus after the train once getting back into London.

Had a day off today - a well earned rest - and caught the train up to Birmingham.  ( 50 min on train) A city of a million people.  Could not venture out too far as we were on shanks pony, but had a good explore of the two huge shopping centers which are located side by side.  Discovered the local open air makets which were very busy with locals buying fresh produce which was also ridiculously cheap - we bought 5 hass avocados for £1 - produce of Peru - most avos we have seen are the flavourless Fuerte,  some good looking cheddar and free range eggs all for £2.  Guess its omelettes for dinner.

Must report in that the cook is mastering that beast of an aga - he cooked pork belly this week to the utmost of perfection.  I had to say what Bronnie Towersey says - I dont want this to end - when eating it.  It was so so delicious.

Had the funniest experience at a bank also - was a real  'are you being served'  moment.  Were making enquiries about a bank account and were asked to wait whilst the guy dealing with us said he would try to find someone free to help us.  He disappeared behind a swing door only to return about 2 minutes later to say 'I am  free'.  We just about wet our pants with laughter.!! and are still laughing about it.

Yay Summer is finally showing its face.

the sweet peas

white peonies picked from garden for house arrangements

bean frame replicated in our garden

bury your nose in this!!!

beautiful border in hospital garden

guild hall built 1580

exterior of museum and guild hall .The Brethren Kitchen is on extreme right

only remaining original buildings built 1380 after great fire

west gate under chapel where all the hangings were carried out

original table from 14th century where guild members met

update on herbaceous border

ready set go

more of border from other end

R.I.P. head gardener

Today - Wed 2nd June has been our warmest day and has filled us with the hope that summer is not a myth here.  We have been hearing about how you  have had the warmest May on record  over there in the land of the long white cloud - well we would have had the coldest.  Night temps are about 8 or 9 deg - hello that is not spring/summer stuff -  and last Monday was another bank holiday the high was 12.

Last week was very busy as we had to prepare ourselves plus the buildings and gardens  for the owner who was coming up for a night.  Cleaned every nook and cranny of the main house and barn, plus windows and cob webs etc.  John was perched on a skinny ladder in some instances with rags in hand to clean the very highest barn windows, but he did a very good job.

Our first encounter with her went very well and we found her to be just lovely.  She was very pleased with our standard of work and was even more pleased I think with the fact that we are experienced gardeners.  I was able to really excel with flowers in the house as the garden is full of paeonies, roses, philadelphus, water- lillies
and gorgeous creamy margined hosta leaves.
Jonnie had to put on his apron too but he will add his comment later.

We enjoyed a well deserved rest on Bank holiday Monday and took ourselves off to Warwick which is about 30 mins away.  We had intended on visiting the historic Warwick castle, but did not get past the mediaeval hospital for service men.

As you drive into Warwick you pass under either the East or West gates depending on which direction you are coming from.  The are the remainders of the old wall built in 1383 and the East gate is where they used to carry out the hangings.  Were desperate for a coffee by the time we arrived as it was wet and freezing, and passed the Brethern cafe which was the original kitchen from the 1500's which provided meals for the hospital community.  That led us to the actual entry to the hospital and we met one of the residents.  In this instance, Hospital means place to stay and not a place for the sick.  It was built by Lord Warwick in 1300's for service men recovering, but today is houses about 8  servicemen from the Queens Hussars.  The displays and memorabilia were very interesting and covered battles of the first and second world wars, plus showed how tanks have replaced the horse. We spent several hours there.  One of the displays gave details of the battle of El Alamein which included the Bristish and NZ soldiers under General Fryberg.  To this day the all tanks have a silver fern on them to commemorate this occasion.

The property has the most beautiful garden - abundant with spring flowers and beautifully laid out with arbours, hedges, pathways and gorgeous lawns.

Found a wonderful pub about 4.00 for lunch and a pint which was just humming with locals.

A NOTE FROM THE COOK
Not alot of action from the aga front to date.  However last weekend managed to turn out some superb lamb shanks - one hour in the roasting oven followed by 3 hours in the baking oven.  The following day, roast chicken - 1 and a half hours in the roasting oven - which is so quick.  Between now and the owners next visit I will prepare some of our own meals in the aga and might even manage a cake.  There was not a crumb left on their plates so that is a good sign.

It is lovely to have all your replies and to know that you are enjoying following our adventures.  Thanks for your interest.