The last 10 ten days has been a series of luncheons undertaken by us here at The Crane Farmhouse. Was an opportunity for folks for a day in the countryside and given our horse, dog obligations meant we did not have to travel. We have hosted seven lunches and really nice to see friends relaxed and making the most of a long, languid lunch.
Friends from Burghclere - Alan, Malcolm, Celia and another Sandra! Jeff was in Great Shefford Young Farmers moons ago with Alan and Sandra. We met Malcolm and Celia when housesitting a couple of years ago and in fact they recommended us for the three weeks at Crane Farm. Alan and Sandra farm suckler cows, grow cereals while Malcolm and Celia farm beef and have honey hives. Malcolm is famous for being grumpy, especially after he fall in their farm pond badly injuring his leg. He is a sweetheart really. They all had a white knuckle drive here while Malcolm, who was driver, was looking over hedgerows on the way.
The next day we hosted Alastair and Jo who live near Baydon. Another Young Farmer cohort. They farm 650 dairy cows and their two adult children live on the property with their own families. Everyone has a role. They do not get away much and they had never been to this part of West Berkshire before. Alastair was taking it all in. Jo has Parkinsons disease and has deterioated since we saw her last year. Just breaks your heart, so unfair. Thankfully instead of raising the calves her role is now to help with the care of five grandchildren at home which she loves and suits her mobility at this point.
Since we arrived in the UK six weeks ago it has not rained. Warm and sunny everyday which we are loving. Have turned the horse out a few times at 5am so as to bring him in before it gets to 25C - 10am-ish. Walk the dogs every day for 1.5 to 2 hours and endeavour to include water for a swim. We get annoyed when we see the above signs on a nice stretch of water. Some fishing club with ownership rights which is legal in the UK. Tossers. Never at a loss for places to walk and do the odd one in reverse, dogs unaware just very enthusiastic.
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Sunday we hosted David Patient and family. The dog, Otto, always likes to be in the photo!
Nicholas is 14 yrs old with size 11 shoes already and his sister Charlotte a button.
The kids and dogs had lots of fun and even though Nicholas is wary of dogs but after an afternoon of being licked, smooched on, laying over his feet Nicholas was more relaxed.
David has been retired as a GP for a year now and it really suits him. Much happier.
After
This is Jeffs effort with the Farm signage. Initially lying in the hedge covered with Hawthorn. Stood it up, trimmed foliage and touched up the white paint. Made it a whole lot easier for folks to find us given the farm tracks they had to negoiate.
Ros and Stuart from Cheltenham visited on their way to East Harting. They had looked after Jefferswood for us a couple of times as Wwoofers - willing workers on organic farms. They were in good form and very much thriving on having downsized to an apartment.
One of the joys of cafes here are the cakes! Tea shops, cafes usually have a great range. We have been to Priscilla's Kitchen a couple of times on the way back from a dog walk in East Garston. One of our cycling companions, Matthew, is a cafe cake exponent extraordinare so found a book for him at Priscillas.
We leave our house sit on Thursday 23rd. We have 8 days break, so we are going to go about Wales. School holidays here so should be the least jammed. Our next house sit starts on 1st August at Congresbury which is 20 minutes SW of Bristol.
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