Sewell Travels: Hampshire 27th July

We headed to Burghclere where friends, Alan and Sandra, from Jeff's Young Farmers days, live. They were dairying for many years but now have Simmental "suckler cows". We do not have similar terminology in NZ. We just have beef cows who raise a calf.

They had put on the birthday party last year for Jeff's 70th. This time around we had a lovely afternoon tea, scones, jam, cream and sponge - classic English. Was good fun with Malcolm and Celia ex neighbours from last years housesit. Malcolm is famous for burning old silage on a summers day upsetting neighbours. Unfortunately Malcolm recently fell into the concrete bound lily pond at his place and did himself some serious leg damage, had to be lifted out with a front end loader.

Alan still works from 5am to days end most days. Had taken the afternoon off for us as he and his son have been carting straw for days. After the hectares of cereal are harvested the straw is baled then these massive wagons lumber down the narrow roads to where the straw is stored for bedding in the winter. Cows are winter housed. A real skill for drivers turning with loads and not tipping the whole unit. Sandra is the village stalwart and also sells sunflowers with her daughter. They open the sunflower fields to the public and can be overwhelmed from far and wide.

Next day we travelled down to Hassock - above Brighton- to met the folks we will be housesitting for from Sunday 3rd August. Quite a haul as various crashes on the M27 and M25 caused delays and we had to dodge about. Will be a different housesit as house is chaotic and the dachshund yappy. Owner uses a water pistol to calm it down? Hassock is very close to the South Downs National Park. 162,000 hectares of recreational paradise. One could walk from Winchester to Eastbourne if you had a mind to. Plenty of National Trust places nearby also. Dachshund will be encouraged to fall into line and it loves car rides. Can also get the train to Brighton to have a look about sans the ghastly parts.

Jeff's 71st birthday we went to the New Forest Hampshire County show.

This chess set made from forged iron was in the craft tent

Vege and flowers display. Runner beans and potatoes popular

Clydesdale and Shire horses were magnificent

These are doorstops. There are some in the house we are in at Over Wallop. Jeff keen the Nelson Mens Shed have a go as a fund raiser using some of their wood stored.

This is how post and rail fences start off stripping off bark then shaping just using an axe.

These chaps were branding name plates for homes

Winner of best calf and handler.

The show goes for three days and was very large. Trade displays endless and the craft fabulous. Not one dolly toilet roll holder to be seen. Art, jewellery, pottery, sewing you name it. The dogs trailed around with us for four hours amongst the huge crowd.

Very well set out show with ample space, sitting areas, toilets and signage. Even an old farm area displaying machinery, skills from bygone area.

3pm time for lunch so Birthday Boy was in heaven when we went to the show's nearby pub at Lynhurst.

Toad in the hole

Beaming Birthday Boy

Went down to Braydon next day having lunch with Alastair and Jo. They milk, along with family members, 650 Holstein cows. We saw the farm last year and did not agree with cows being housed 365 days of the year but that is how they operate profitably. They enjoyed hosting us as a break from the daily routines and our NZ, travelling stories they love. Jo helps rears calves which is no mean feat as she has Parkinson and not that steady on her feet. Jeff and I forever gratefully for our robust good health.

Managed to book a tour of the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distllery. Quite the history going from a paper mill printing banknotes for the UK and India to a gin distillery in 2013. This company exports 45% to USA, with 15% sold within the UK and balance exported to the rest of the world. 60m 1litre bottles per year - a lot of gin. Still uses the same recipe from 1761 with flavouring from 10 ingredients or botanicals - juniper, lemon, almond, cassis, angelica, liquorice, coriander etc. They use water from Wales, gin is 40% proof! Bacardi own the company so gin tankered to Glasgow, bottled then shipped from the port.

Vapour infusion stills. If you leave out juniper it is vodka not gin

As per the label Queen Victoria

Masses of brick buildings and an offshoot of the Test River

Nearby Laverstock is the Longstock Park Water Gardens and farmshop. Farmshop cafe is a top spot according to friends and was pretty busy. Being the cheapskates we are had taken sandwiches, money better spent on entry fees, tours etc. On the way there was a terrific thunderstorm.