We've got a couple of new kittens which are huge distractions for guests - here's Scott taking time out from bacon and egg
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Distractions at breakfast
Had a wonderful few days at the end of last week and over the weekend - breakfasts outside on the terrace each morning: loads of people trying to get to the beach at West Wittering: everyone in T shirts and shorts again and the ice cream sold out in the local supermarket.... perfect temperatures, loads of sunshine - it was summer at last!
We've got a couple of new kittens which are huge distractions for guests - here's Scott taking time out from bacon and egg
We've got a couple of new kittens which are huge distractions for guests - here's Scott taking time out from bacon and egg
Saturday, 23 July 2011
The Mongol Rally
It's the start of the Mongol Rally and there are a couple of hundred (I think), cars/vehicles setting off this morning from Goodwood.
I'm going to go and see what's happening and support a nephew and a friend who are both participating - one in an old ambulance which apparently has an armchair in it.....they've got sponsoring from a sofa company and have the bright idea of taking photos of locals in every country as they go along - sounds brilliant! Good for the sofa company!
It takes around 6 weeks to cross a variety of borders and get to Mongolia. Quite an experience!
Here at Church Gate, the holidays are hotting up (wish the weather was too but looks better this week) and it's pretty busy but we've still got a few spaces if you're looking for a room.
A few members of the family have been crewing at the Panerai British Classic Week at Cowes which finished yesterday where they had a lot of fun in spite of the rain and very windy weather on occasion.
And we're now picking courgettes and beans; chickens seem to have gone off lay a bit; birds sounding wonderful in the garden - lots of activity and I love it and luckily lots of bees buzzing around too - they seem to love the purple flowers especially.
Time to pick some sweet peas for the rooms before I head up to Goodwood
I'm going to go and see what's happening and support a nephew and a friend who are both participating - one in an old ambulance which apparently has an armchair in it.....they've got sponsoring from a sofa company and have the bright idea of taking photos of locals in every country as they go along - sounds brilliant! Good for the sofa company!
It takes around 6 weeks to cross a variety of borders and get to Mongolia. Quite an experience!
Here at Church Gate, the holidays are hotting up (wish the weather was too but looks better this week) and it's pretty busy but we've still got a few spaces if you're looking for a room.
A few members of the family have been crewing at the Panerai British Classic Week at Cowes which finished yesterday where they had a lot of fun in spite of the rain and very windy weather on occasion.
And we're now picking courgettes and beans; chickens seem to have gone off lay a bit; birds sounding wonderful in the garden - lots of activity and I love it and luckily lots of bees buzzing around too - they seem to love the purple flowers especially.
Time to pick some sweet peas for the rooms before I head up to Goodwood
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Summer's here...
Yes, almost on top of the garden but it's getting away. I can see the weeds growing visibly - thanks to the recent rain, but then we did need it.
We're lucky enough to have a glut of raspberries so they have been on the menu for breakfast: not sure my guests will appreciate the courgettes when they start coming too...
Blues on the Farm has been and gone and it's looking pretty good for the end of the week and Festival of Speed up at Goodwood: sunshine and cloud. Perfect. Not too hot. Not too wet. Hopefully not too windy. Guests start arriving very soon.
We've had a terrific couple of days when breakfast has been out on the terrace. Just perfect. All the flowers and grasses are at their best and the birds are chattering away too. Even the hens are enjoying the summer and obligingly are laying beautiful yellow-yolked eggs for breakfast.
My guests who have been here a few days went to try and spot the peregrine falcon chicks in Chichester and they are apparently still around the cathedral.
Evenings are long and it's been warm enough to sit outside: smells of barbeques on the air. And guests have even dipped their toes in the water - and more - swimming at the weekend.
We're lucky enough to have a glut of raspberries so they have been on the menu for breakfast: not sure my guests will appreciate the courgettes when they start coming too...
Blues on the Farm has been and gone and it's looking pretty good for the end of the week and Festival of Speed up at Goodwood: sunshine and cloud. Perfect. Not too hot. Not too wet. Hopefully not too windy. Guests start arriving very soon.
We've had a terrific couple of days when breakfast has been out on the terrace. Just perfect. All the flowers and grasses are at their best and the birds are chattering away too. Even the hens are enjoying the summer and obligingly are laying beautiful yellow-yolked eggs for breakfast.
My guests who have been here a few days went to try and spot the peregrine falcon chicks in Chichester and they are apparently still around the cathedral.
Evenings are long and it's been warm enough to sit outside: smells of barbeques on the air. And guests have even dipped their toes in the water - and more - swimming at the weekend.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
And the drought goes on!
Had guests this morning who were advising me on what to do with a newt that I'd just discovered in a pool of water.
Although the weather has turned a bit and it's been pretty windy with the odd shower, everything is still very dry and we are desperate for a good downpour.
Gardens looking great. Bank holiday coming up.
Although the weather has turned a bit and it's been pretty windy with the odd shower, everything is still very dry and we are desperate for a good downpour.
Gardens looking great. Bank holiday coming up.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Magical Easter!
Perfect....wonderful weather - the sun just kept on shining, balmy, warm and just right for cycling along Salterns Way and to West Wittering beach and East Head...
here are some photos which my guests have sent me (including the Easter egg hunt) and a couple of days ago this interesting butterfly was also spotted. Think it must be an Orange Tip (male) - which is as my Collins book describes 'a true harbinger of spring'.
It's so dry now that very soon I shall have to water various plants and the water butts are nearly empty. Wishing for a large downpour overnight.
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| Cycling at East Head |
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| Coastal path between West Wittering and Itchenor |
here are some photos which my guests have sent me (including the Easter egg hunt) and a couple of days ago this interesting butterfly was also spotted. Think it must be an Orange Tip (male) - which is as my Collins book describes 'a true harbinger of spring'.
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| Orange Tip |
It's so dry now that very soon I shall have to water various plants and the water butts are nearly empty. Wishing for a large downpour overnight.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Easter coming up!
It looks as though it's going to be a really warm week with Easter in a few days. In the sun, it's great: out of the sun it's still chilly. But with the sunshine comes lots of enquiries and bookings - people just seem to love to get away down to the seaside and Chichester Harbour is a favourite destination.
I can really understand why people do a spring clean. First of all you can suddenly see much better when the sun shines on all the dust and dirt and smears. And secondly, well you just seem to have much more get up and go when it's a great day! Been polishing bits and pieces and trying to get into all the corners.
Had a bit of a drama with one of the chickens this week but the others are all laying well though some days I don't get an egg from each.
Slugs or is it mice or is it even birds have nibbled through all my newly seeded broad beans. Really fed up about this as I'd got a special variety and they sounded as though they were going to be small and yummy. Think I'll have to stick to the ordinary varieties! Need to put some grit down near my lettuces before the slugs spot those too!
Preparing for plenty of guests this week and need to make a cake today. Think I'm going to try a recipe for Bara Brith that a friend gave me - I wonder if it will turn out the same as hers - delicious and fruity. Here it is:
Bara Brith
2 cups mixed dried fruit soaked in a cup of strong tea, overnight
Add
1 egg
1 cup SR flour
Tspn baking powder
Tblspn marmalade
Tspn mixed spice
or whatever variation you'd like to try!
Cook in a lined and greased long loaf tin at 150C for one hour.
Think I'd better post this now and not wait until I've found a suitable photo!
I can really understand why people do a spring clean. First of all you can suddenly see much better when the sun shines on all the dust and dirt and smears. And secondly, well you just seem to have much more get up and go when it's a great day! Been polishing bits and pieces and trying to get into all the corners.
Had a bit of a drama with one of the chickens this week but the others are all laying well though some days I don't get an egg from each.
Slugs or is it mice or is it even birds have nibbled through all my newly seeded broad beans. Really fed up about this as I'd got a special variety and they sounded as though they were going to be small and yummy. Think I'll have to stick to the ordinary varieties! Need to put some grit down near my lettuces before the slugs spot those too!
Preparing for plenty of guests this week and need to make a cake today. Think I'm going to try a recipe for Bara Brith that a friend gave me - I wonder if it will turn out the same as hers - delicious and fruity. Here it is:
Bara Brith
2 cups mixed dried fruit soaked in a cup of strong tea, overnight
Add
1 egg
1 cup SR flour
Tspn baking powder
Tblspn marmalade
Tspn mixed spice
or whatever variation you'd like to try!
Cook in a lined and greased long loaf tin at 150C for one hour.
Think I'd better post this now and not wait until I've found a suitable photo!
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Wonderful Spring Days!
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| Primroses in the garden |
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| Daffodils |
This is when this particular part of England really comes into its own (we're probably ahead of the northern parts) - the warmth of the sun can be felt, everything is stirring, plants are budding up and the birds are singing and I, for one, energetically feel as though I should tackle all the dozens of little jobs at once. Rather a mistake.
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| Unexpected guests, two little white girls |
At present I have the evidence of half started tasks all around: spring cleaning the cottage, ascertaining what I need to go and buy, looking at paintwork and smaller decorating jobs; turning out cupboards and rooms, unpacking from a recent trip abroad, plants bought to put into pots and beds, seeds sitting on the kitchen table waiting to be popped into the ground, the edging of the lawn, filling up the nuts for the birds - (constant challenge with the squirrel) - plans for a run for the chickens, taking photos when the inspiration takes me, sorting through a pile of mail and finishing off the website; taking bookings and finally making lists of everything that needs doing (which is getting longer rather than shorter).
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| Hellebore |
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| Anemone blanda |
Yesterday I had someone who dropped in unexpectedly. I rather wished that I hadn't made such a mess everywhere - do you know that feeling? You're not sure whether to apologise or just pretend that you hadn't noticed there was anything amiss. So I think rather than blogging I'd better just go and get on but here are a few photos to put you in the picture.
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| Hellebore |
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