…SUREOFAWELCOME
The house is humming with comings and goings. It has been for a while now, starting with Tims side of the family (Dad Green, She and Big Al) over for a break, but keeping very busy.
Shortly after they left my brother Johnny arrived for a weeks holiday, but he ended up taxi-driving to a certain extent as weve had a little car trouble lately. Just time to change the bedding before some friends, Peter and Carol, arrived for a few days, at the same time as a troop of boy scouts from Cambridge (luckily bringing their own bedding!).
At some point the electric kettle in the dairy gave way under pressure so ours from the kitchen went downstairs to keep the men – Jacques in particular, who likes his coffee – happy.
Peter and Carols visit was a lovely surprise in two respects. Firstly, we havent seen each other since our children (all around their 20s) were babies! And also because they were quite happy to muck in and help out. We go back to college days, Tim and Peter were in the same year at Harper Adams Agricultural College. Peter and Carol were already married then and so were we, in fact it was surprising how many married couples there were at the college then.
We used to go around to each others place for supper. They were living in a caravan near the college at the time and had a cat. One evening we were invited along with our friends William and Sarah from Cheshire, who were also recently married and had just acquired a kitten, so Sarah (who had a lovely way of getting her words or sayings muddled) and Carol were comparing cat notes.
"Oh shes lovely," said Sarah. "Weve called her Jemima Puddleduck, but, poor little thing, weve just had her forked? – no – shovelled? – no – spayed!"
Our reminiscing this week included little gems such as this, and poring over old college photos (good heavens – the hair… Tims is almost on his shoulders and red…) proved our greetings of "Oh my goodness, you havent changed a bit" to be a teensy bit exaggerated – though nothing worth dwelling on.
So weve remembered, and giggled and got on just as well as we did in the college days. On their last evening we were invited to a barbecue with the scouts, and at 5.30 this morning they were away with lots of promises that we wont leave it so long before we meet again.
Then it was back to changing the bedding as the Vimoutiers Lions twinning exchange is this weekend and we have Bob and Miriam from Bridgend coming to stay tonight, but the washing machine broke down and this morning we had water all over the kitchen.
However, it is now 11.30pm, the washer is fixed, the floor is washed, daughters bought me a lovely yellow kettle for (French) Mothers Day on Sunday and tomorrow we are changing the car.
…SUREOFAWELCOME
AFTER a very rainy day spent at the Balmoral Show, Belfast, it was a pleasant drive beside Strangford Lough with the evening sunshine shimmering across the water.
I saw some changes since my last visit as I drove past Newtownards towards Port-aferry, the mainland supermarkets have invaded with a vengeance for one thing.
On arrival at contact leader Sheena Birchs home, I was welcomed by the family and pleased to see familiar faces as well as some new ones. We gained three new members that evening. I had seen quite a few members of this friendly group at the show so was not surprised some of them hadnt made the hours drive to the meeting. In one case the menfolk hadnt returned from the show so she was left to do the milking – a familiar tale!
The following day after the show I started my drive down to Cashel in County Tipperary and it was a long way to go! What a stunning sight Cashel Castle is as you round the bend into the town, overlooking the surrounding lush green valley. I couldnt resist turning the car around and finding somewhere to park so that I could take a photograph. To anyone who was driving down that road that Saturday morning it must have been a shock to see a body lying on the wide grass verge where I had slipped off a low wall. Shaken but not stirred, I returned to town and had first hand experience of kindness to a stranger who was daft enough to fall over when stone cold sober!
I was still in plenty of time for the first meeting arranged for the Eire FWC, unfortunately depleted in number as the day coincided with the Punchestown Eventing and Country Show.
We had a short tour of the town and visited the Cashel Folk Museum.
Jean Howells
Farm Womens Club
This informal friendship club has more than 60 groups nationwide and is open to all female readers of FW.
Details from Jean Howells (0181-652 4927)
CORNWALL
Mon, Jul 5, 10.30-12 noon. Coffee morning at Treyarnon House, Treyarnon Bay, Padstow in aid of the Childrens Hospice South West. Bring and buy and raffle. Contact Maud Old (01841-520578).
CUMBRIA-PENRITH
Wed, Jul 21, 9am. Meet at South End car park for trip to Skipton and canal boat cruise. Coffee stop. Evening meal at Whoophall Inn, Kirkby Lonsdale. Contact Marlene Cowperthwaite (01931-712248).
SUSSEX
Tue, Jun 29, 10.30am. Meet at West Dean Gardens for a tour.
Contact Mary Passmore (01273-452028).
WORCESTERSHIRE
Thur, Jul 1, 2.30pm. Meet at Madresfield Court for conducted tour. Contact Connie Stokes (01884-575865).
THE CRYSTAL SET
Thur, 8 July, 12 noon.
This is your opportunity to meet your fellow members of 15 years or more from all parts of the United Kingdom. Many countrywide friendships have been nurtured from this annual get-together at the Woodhouse Hotel, Princethorpe, Warwickshire. Why not come along and join us – you never know who you might meet! Send £12.50 to Jean Howells, FARMERS WEEKLY, Quadrant House, the Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS.