I managed to avoid murder in Swinithwaite this month, but we are planning one for next month! Talk about lateral thinking, Berry’s staff get the gold award for keeping the show on the road. With all access to Berry’s snowy white, but the food prepared, and tickets sold, we had to call off our planned murder mystery event at Berry’s, but all was not lost as the food was relocated to Richmond, which was marginally more accessible and it had the murder weapon there! So, a happy night was had by all!
Next month’s mystery evening planned in Swinithwaite is 1920’s style, Lightning can’t strike twice!
Carrying on the theme, with snow in drifts everywhere throughout Wensleydale, we had to shut (which is unheard of) Berry’s for three days! But I jumped into Adrian’s truck, which is a tractor with a top on, and rounded up the staff and we had a cleaning, cooking and brainstorming few days at Berry’s. It was a lovely way of keeping warm.
Another casualty of the weather was Jon Brindley, who was set to entertain us with his guitar, fiddle and accordion while we ate a choice of homemade burgers. Jon, to his credit was still planning to drive through the snow from Lancashire, but not to worry, we are re-scheduling the event.
Feeding the highland cattle up the mountain was always going to be interesting, as vehicles were not going to get through. In the end a rope was hitched around the hay and it was dragged up the hill.
Adrian is converted to highland cattle, they don’t need straw in the winter, they only like rough grass, preferably on a hillside, and they are very quiet to move around as they do everything slowly to conserve energy, and they produce a calf every year without help or fuss.
I have enjoyed the snow sculptures that the east wind has created, and the brave daffodils battling through after the third covering of snow!
I have a feeling we could be getting more then we need with the pet lambs ordered for Easter, a hard beginning to life coping with the snow and temperatures. We will start bottle feeding a few, so we have the most popular part of the Easter farm tours all ready.
Black Adder, the naughty pygmy goat, has had a glowing report from his new home. They love him and sent a photo of him watching someone else, Cid, rearing for a change! Doris, however has had a moderate school report, she has enjoyed a romp with Andy Pandy...
Who wouldn’t!?
But she has been horrid to the other Nannies and we have decided the horns are coming off in punishment. Hopefully then she will be able to live happily with other Nanny goats and discover the benefits and joy of friendship.
The puppy story from last month, quickly before anyone else reminds me.
Picture it, stressed (the days when I had no help with the animals), end of an active day outside, probably raining, get the jist? and there, in the middle of the car park was a black and white puppy surrounded by all the Berry’s staff (who should have been elsewhere!), cooing over and cuddling said bundle. Everyone was shooed back to work, black and white was given straw and a stable, while I rang up families in the village who might have had a litter of puppies, but with no joy.
Black and white was left in the stable, and there were no calls to Berry’s asking about her, which made all the staff want to take it home. I was planning a visit to the vet the following day as I had heard of puppies being left on motorways, but somehow hadn’t expected that behaviour in the countryside.
Later the following day, a Gentleman rang Berry’s to ask if we had found a puppy. He had been delivering his prize sheep dog puppies to several would-be owners but had no idea where he had lost one. He had retraced all his steps and had forgotten he had stopped at Berry’s for a welcome break, who wouldn’t? and was trying a last call to discover where his valuable puppy could be.
Well champagne, flowers and chocolates were flowing at Berry’s and luckily, I hadn’t made it to the vet! Apparently the black and white non-descript bundle was worth thousands and I am sure has been winning prizes ever since.
March hasn’t been all bad, with the extra daylight (sunlight is too strong a word), there is definitely an energy around the place, with animals waiting to deliver, more colour about and an expectation generally of excitements ahead!
Our head chef, Gavin, continues to excel.
I think I must have greener fingers then I realise, this point settier was looking totally dead, however when I threw it away it found renewed reserves and bloomed all over again! It does wonders to your confidence.
