I'm back!

Hello everyone, I can't believe it's been almost 4 months since my last post! I have been so busy, and I have done so many creative and interesting things that I decided it was time to start sharing them all with you again.

I've just finished making some canapés for a party this evening at Myer Bridge Farm, it is a joint birthday party for my best friend Annette's husband - Gavin, and her daughter Lauren. They are expecting around 50 guests and the theme is aviation & farming, my husband David is going as a farmer/country gentleman, and I'm wearing that all time classic ... the little black dress!

Some of my delicious canapés

I really don't think that fits either theme, although if you were to stretch your imagination you could say I was a passenger on a posh airline ... couldn't you? Anyway, Annette is also wearing her little black dress so at least I won't feel out of place. Gavin is coming as a pilot, which is quite good really as that's what he does for a living, yes ladies & gentlemen, please meet Captain Gavin Wightman!

The party starts at 7pm (officially), although I notice that David is on his second glass of beer ... lets hope he doesn't peak too soon! He needs to take it steady as he is off to Tweseldown in the morning for a Point-to-Point meeting. He works for the AGA Rangemaster Group and AGA are the National Sponsor of the Ladies' Open race series. This is their second season as national sponsor and between now and the beginning of May David will be out in the countryside somewhere in the UK representing the company every weekend.

I will be with him at most of the meetings although I am having a day off tomorrow for two reasons, one to recover from the party, and two so that I can get on with my preparations for Christmas. I am a little bit behind this year but I know what I need to do so I'm quite looking forward to a relaxing and creative Sunday.

Lots of time at Farmers Fayre but not much time on my allotment

Since my last update I've been as busy as ever and I've been working very hard, and where do you work I hear you ask, this is where I work - Farmers Fayre, which is a farm and coffee shop at Stoneleigh Park.

Farmers Fayre farm shop

They specialise in quality local meat, and sell a range of locally sourced produce, preserves, cakes, cheeses and much, much more, and they also serve a tempting and tasty selection of breakfasts, lunches and cream teas. Yummy!

On the website it says "why not drop in and speak to our friendly staff, they will be happy to advise you on any of our produce or services" - guess what? I'm one of those friendly staff!

In my last blog I also wrote about Mary Arden's Farm which is where I work when I'm not at Stoneleigh Park, but for the past week I've been here and it's been very, very busy, and on Friday I worked a 15 hour shift!

That's not my normal shift by the way, but there was a cattle show the show on Friday and Saturday, and on Friday night there was a dinner for the rare breed society. It was the "Red Poll Cattle Society National Show & Sale 2011" and I really enjoyed it, I met some lovely people and I learned even more about cattle ... maybe I could become a farmer?

The show was on Friday and the sale was on Saturday, and the prize bull sold for 3,400 guineas, take a look at him, he's a beauty!

3,400 guineas worth of bull

I really do enjoy my job and there is something different on every week, it's worth checking out the Stoneleigh Park website as I'm sure you'll find something of interest, I was going to post a link but it's down at the moment so maybe in my next blog. I went over there this morning with David as there was a Land Rover show on, it was interesting but I think David was more impressed with the bacon & egg roll from Farmers Fayre (and the selection of cakes)!

During the past week I've also been busy in the kitchen and I made a delicious summer pudding for the farmers, and I also made a lemon & strawberry tart which didn't last very long at all - and I got lots of compliments about it. I have just made a lovely lasagne for tomorrow and David is under strict instructions not to touch it, I have a feeling that it won't last long!

I haven't had much time to spend on the plot but my dad is keeping everything ticking over, and the runner beans are ready to pick, along with the plums & the cooking apples. That can only mean one thing, lots of lovely apple pies & plum jam - if any of the plums actually make it as far as the kitchen that is.

Take care - Cindy xx

Thinking of a new title for my blog ... and a week of al fresco dining

No longer a diary about allotment life
I think I may have to change the title of my blog as I seem to be posting about anything but my allotment at the moment, everything is ticking over nicely but I have been working non-stop so I have spent very little time on the plot in the past couple of weeks.

No longer a blog about my allotment!

I did pay a visit yesterday before I went to work so that I could pick some beetroot, I've cooked it and I am going to put it in some vinegar, and if this weather stays with us for the week as forecast then I would imagine the beetroot will be gone by Friday! Why? because the cover is off the BBQ for the first time this summer, and I think a week of al fresco dining is on the cards in the Simpson household. That means lots of healthy eating as well so I will be raiding the allotment every day for some fresh produce!

We're sat outside now as I write this blog, enjoying the sunshine and listening to Absolute 80's, with a nice bottle of wine cooling in the fridge, and the BBQ ready to be lit. There's a nice breeze, you can smell sun cream and charcoal in the air, and for the first time this year it really feels like summer! I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine, but remember to get your sun cream on and have plenty of fluids ... do I sound like my mum?

I worked yesterday for Farmers Fayre over at Mary Arden's Farm in Stratford upon Avon as there was a production of Macbeth during the evening by Oddsocks, I didn't think I was going to enjoy it but it was a comedy version and it was very funny. We did a BBQ with Pimm's, and there were lots of families there with deck chairs and picnics, it was a long day as I started at 11am and didn't arrive home until well past 11pm, but I must say it was quite enjoyable.

I think I deserve a day off today and I am signing off now so that I can enjoy the afternoon in the garden.

Cindy xx