Ady went down to the farmhouse this morning to finish the garden, while I went across to get the mower. Denise asked me to do some clearing out in the cow shed first though as the grass was still quite wet with dew, so I spent half an hour or so sweeping, wiping and mopping the corner of the shed where the calves formula feed is made up. The calves were really funny, edging away from me while I was looking at them but then creeping up behind me while I was working and nibbling and sucking at my clothes. They are like toddlers – weaned but still like chewing and sucking for comfort so will suckle away at your fingers or a corner of your clothing.
When I’d finished that I went into the kitchen and had a cup of tea with Glyn then we took the mowers round to the camping field and I went up and down with the mulcher while Glyn followed me with the mower cutting slightly lower and picking up the clippings. We paused for another cup of tea when Denise came home (she’d been into town) and brought out drinks for us, which we sat on the bench in the camping field with chatting to a couple who had just arrived – we have neighbours both sides of us now having had the field to ourselves all week. Both couples in caravans, both local and just here for the weekend.
I carried on mowing til lunchtime and Davies appeared having walked up to join me – he and Scarlett had spent the morning down with Ady playing with the dog at the farmhouse. Lunch was once again a luncheon 😉 leftover beef, pizza, salad, home made coleslaw and potatoe salad and bread.
We met Sam, the hosts son over lunch which was nice, he’s an interesting bloke – a lorry driver for Riverford. Several friends arrived after lunch so we left them to it and came and chilled out in the van for an hour or so. Then we walked down to the farm next door – about 15 minutes away where Glyn was doing the afternoon milking shift to watch. 120 cows, all milked by machine, 6 at a time. After learning how that all worked I asked how easy milking by hand was and Glyn showed me so the kids and I all had a go including squirting into our hands so we could try it ‘straight from the cow’. Glyn said afterwards we should have brought a bottle down to milk into and bring back – wish we’d thought of that.
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We stayed for about 90 minutes watching it all happening and having a couple of goes before walking back up the hill again for dinnertime. Glyn was there for another couple of hours finishing up and waiting for the milk van to collect.
Dinner was chicken – first time we’ve been here and not had beef! Very lovely again though, chicken and leeks in cream sauce, bacon and potato gratin, carrots cooked in honey glaze and more home made bread, followed by waffles and maple syrup and served with a bottle of rose wine! Definitely, definitely the best food hosts so far 🙂
We all had showers, caught up with Glyn when he got home, had interesting chats with Denise and Sam about organic vs local vs seasonal vs welfare food vs fair trade and what hierarchy you choose, what ethical really means and whether Riverford is really any better than Tescos. Fascinating stuff :).
Face is very nearly on the mend. It is still puffy first thing in the morning and I have various dry and sore patches around my eyes along with lots of flaky bits and several spots but at least I now just look like a rather older and more tired version of myself instead of someone else entirely. We’re doing a couple of tasks in the morning and then looking forward to an afternoon catching up with Sarah & co 🙂
Love the gastronomic reporting :-).