dinglingblog

asec files

2011-11-09T08:00:00.001Z

Update on the chicks

2008-07-27T13:00:00.001Z

All three chicks with mum. Alex is the darker one.

Proud "parent"

Cuties

Sue chick now she is fluffed up like the others.

New chicks at the Dingle

2008-07-26T11:00:00.000Z

Our hard-working surrogate mother hen has successfully hatched three new chicks: Jen, Alex and Sue.

Mother hen and Jen

Jen (left) and Alex, who we think is a boy

Sue very soon after hatching

More produce

2008-07-21T15:00:00.001Z

Growing is going well ... the salads and veg are springing up.

Peppers, marrow, courgettes and tomatoes

Blackcurrants, cabbage (our first!), runner beans, broad beans and peas.

Looking rather nice

2008-07-13T12:00:00.000Z

View across the petunias in the new border.

Another view of the house.

The coach house looking great.

The lavender hedge

A visitor to the Dingle

2008-05-24T12:00:00.001Z

Here is Dolly - who spent a few days with us in late May

Behold ... the Crystal Palace

2008-04-15T21:00:00.004Z

Well nearly - here are the first shots of the lovely new greenhouse. At present it lacks staging, beds and plants but hey thats detail!

View of the new greenhouse looking down past the chicken shed to the house.

Here you can see the greenhouse behind the chicken shed.

Good progress in the greenhouse

2008-04-06T19:00:00.002Z

I managed to get some good planting done today in the greenhouse - we now have the following on the go: salad leaves, radishes, sweet corn, tomatoes (various), red & yellow peppers, chillis (various), cucumber, aubergine, runner bean, courgette, marrow.

And next week the new greenhouse arrives ... and it should look like this. We are putting it behind the chicken shed on the hard-standing so it is convenient to get to. I will post photos as soon as I take them.

Back from Hols

2008-04-06T18:00:00.003Z

Here are some photos from this year's holiday in Hong Kong and Vietnam. More to follow ...

On our "private" yacht/junk in Halong Bay

Elegant couple on yacht as above

Three explorers at Ho Chi Min's Mausoleum in Hanoi

Me defending North Vietnam from hostile aircraft!

Please join Chicken Out

2008-02-05T18:00:00.000Z

Our girls are outside free and happy. Please join this campaign to raise the standards for other chickens. http://www.chickenout.tv/

Gardening - well Jo gardening actually

2008-02-03T20:00:00.000Z

Yes the gardening season is upon us again. So its more time at the garden centre, in the veggie patch, and in the greenhouse. Here is Joanne getting into the swing of things.

Purchasing a few new plants

Planning which seeds to plant when

Shuffling some of our many many snowdrops

Picking some leeks for tea

Al Harding ... pub landlord

2008-02-02T21:00:00.000Z

Beer for the Men - actually Stout, IPA, (or Ginger beer) down in the cellar. The position of Cellarman is currently vacant.

Wine or a Fruit-based drink for the Ladies - Dingle Damson Wine, Damson Gin, Sloe Gin, Pineapple Gin. Some gents like these too!

Wine at the Dingle

2008-01-20T21:00:00.000Z

The wine rack is now populated - shop-bought to the left and home-made to the right. We have a few more gallons of home-made that will be ready soon - damson, plum and greengage - so we'll have less empty spaces.

Filling up

Ten (not) green bottles

Bodie and Doyle

2008-01-20T20:00:00.000Z

The boys carry on maturing:

Bodie is the more mischievous, and the one who wakes us up in the morning
Doyle is the cuddlier, the better tree-climber, and first to the food bowl.

They are both great!

Bodie up a tree

Doyle conserving his energy

Clearing the Pigstys

2008-01-12T18:00:00.000Z

Today was Day 1 of clearing out the Pigstys ready for Dingle pigs. We drew on Shotter-power to assist, and Andrew and Harry threw themselves into it. Caz and Sophi (not a Shotter but helped out too) provided some more gentle assistance.

More to do yet ... but a really great start.

Bye bye Nicki chicken

2008-01-12T10:00:00.000Z

Nicki chicken has shuffled off this mortal coil and joined the choir invisible. She was a bit sluggish last night, and sadly didn't make breakfast. The Speckledy hens are relatively delicate so its sad but not a great surprise.

We're back from Merrow

2007-12-30T18:00:00.000Z

We've just got back from Sue & Shahid's in Merrow. It was great to catch up with them both and to see how the house is coming on. Both are doing well - Sue is recently back from Barbados (work) and is well; Shahid is concerned about the situtation in Pakistan at present.

Sue & Shahid

Me with S&S

Me and Jo with Sue

World's Biggest Wine Rack?

2007-12-28T15:00:00.000Z

Work is progressing down in the cellar ... possibly the world's largest wine rack is taking shape. At an estimated capacity of 416 bottles it should keep even the Harding household in wine and Champagne for a while!

Happy Christmas

2007-12-27T22:00:00.000Z

Happy Christmas everyone - hope you had as relaxing a few days as we all did. We were joined by Nicki, Sue, Dot and Pete and did the whole eating and drinking thing properly.

Al, Jo and Turkey

Christmas Dinner Table

Boxing Day brekkie

Boxing Day buffet

Bye Bye Blackbird

2007-12-21T11:00:00.000Z

AMAZING!!! - I have just watched from my desk a Kestrel drop down and take a blackbird who was minding his own business eating crab apples on our tree. I just managed to get the camera and long lense to see our predatory friend heading off with lunch.

It clearly spooked the chickens, but they are back scratching around again now ... though perhaps a little more alert than before.

Christmas Decorations

2007-12-08T12:00:00.000Z

We enlisted 2/3 of G6 to help with decorating the Dingle - Joanne (and me), Lisa (and Scott), Janine, and Jane. With two 9 foot trees it really required organisation (too many managers?) and of course alcohol. Shaun the Sheep adorns the tree in the dining room.

Fondue night

2007-12-01T21:00:00.000Z

Here are three happy ladies enjoying the Dingle's inaugural fondue evening. I guess this qualifies as a cheesy photo?

Breakfast time

2007-12-01T10:00:00.000Z

Here are Dave and Martin (with the muscles) from Shropshire Pine enjoying a Dingle breakfast while on one of their many visits to fit wooden radiator covers and pelmets.

Tenerife

2007-11-13T12:00:00.000Z

We managed a pre-Christmas break in Tenerife this year - Mum and Helen looked after the cats and chickens so we could holiday with a clear conscience! Great weather, lovely apartment (thanks Sharon) and some nice food.

Fireworks at the Dingle

2007-11-03T11:00:00.000Z

Fireworks night at the Dingle was cold, dark, loud, and alcoholic. We sampled the homebrew and I made a chilli. Nicki brough vol au vents which all went very fast.

Long lie-in

2007-10-27T16:00:00.000Z

Bodie and Doyle started the day slowly today - sharing Bodie's favourute chair ... its a cat's life!

Cute but deadly.

2007-09-30T20:00:00.000Z

Bodie and Doyle continue to look cute, even though they are spending all day out in the garden terrorising the small mammal population. So if you look vaguely like a mouse, mole, frog or bat think VERY carefully before coming to the Dingle.

Busy weekend at the Dingle

2007-09-30T19:00:00.000Z

Janine and Sue were over this weekend and we had a busy chutney, picalilli, curd and wine-making session - note Janine's double-stirring action here. We used all the pears we had picked, and some more of our tomatoes and chillis. We also found time to plant more bulbs, plant eight rows of onions, move some logs, mow the lawn/field, visit Wroxeter vinyard, and cook and eat a few delicious meals. Busy busy busy.

Closes spotted at the Dingle

2007-09-30T18:00:00.000Z

Andrew is over from USA on business for a few weeks so we took the chance to snap the three of them.

Starting them young

2007-09-23T19:00:00.000Z

We like to start our guests working early - here is Elizabeth (two and a half) feeding the chickens after collecting the eggs. She seemed fascinated by them - perhaps she will want to clean them out next time?

Apple pressing time at the Dingle

2007-09-16T19:00:00.000Z

Lisa, Scott, Willy and Chester came to visit this weekend and we had a proper go at apple pressing. We processed two wheel-barrow loads of them, and made loads of apple juice plus we set off 2.5 litres of cider. You can see us behind the fruit press, with our bucket of Dingle apple juice.

Another busy weekend at the Dingle

2007-09-02T20:00:00.000Z

Another busy weekend at the Dingle. Apart from gardening, we made our first apple juice, started more elderberry wine, picked blackberries, damsons (LOADS), runner beans, and a few more plums. We made Picalilli (well Sue did), and Damson Jam and Jelly and Cheese. We like our damsons!

We also sampled our Pickled Walnuts, comparing them with shop-bought and they are good. Ours are a little more crisp, and due to the cloves etc. slightly more spicy. Nevertheless I am looking forwards to trying them with some cheese.

Peppers and chillis

2007-08-27T17:00:00.000Z

How about this for a nice crop of peppers and chillis? All from our greenhouse, and destined for Dingle chutney!!!

More harvest

2007-08-25T20:00:00.000Z

Another good day's harvest at the Dingle - we picked elderberries from the hedgerows, and damsons and plums from our own trees. Most of the plums are already prepared ready for wine-making, and we are making some damson jam tomorrow!

Spot the boys ...

2007-08-24T20:00:00.000Z

See if you can spot Bodie & Doyle in this photo ... they MAY be near the business end of the arrow. Its as much as we can do to keep them in now, there are so many interesting things for them both. Joanne is waiting for her first present of captured wildlife - it won't be long.

Happy picking

2007-08-12T15:00:00.000Z

A good weekend for nature's harvest ... 4kg of plums picked from trees on the side of our lane, and 8kg of Greengages from Ian's garden in Preston upon the Weald Moors. Mum and Jo spent ages stoning them before use. Most of the greengages are already fermenting their way to become wine.

Shrewsbury Flower Show

2007-08-10T18:00:00.001Z

Today we all went to the Shrewsbury Flower Show - an annual feature of our diary. Great weather, lots to see and do, and plenty to buy. Amongst other things we bought a new watercolour from Tony Cowlishaw of English Watercolours. We commissioned Tony to paint The Dingle - and we love the results.

Apart from the art and flora I found (as so often is the case) something military to amuse me. We saw a good display from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR) Parachute Display team - though why an infantry regiment has a parachute display team was not explained!

The Royal Signals White Helmets also did their motorcycle thing. 30 riders on British bikes, and no slip-ups.

For those who are interested I have a web page with lots of Military Stuff on it - most significantly info on the origins of all of the current Regiments, plus a good amount of Military Etymology.

One Thousand Egg Day

2007-08-10T18:00:00.000Z

Its today - the girls have laid their 1000th egg!!! It took 32 days for their last 500 eggs, at an average of just over 15 eggs a day. Well done ladies!

WINNER!!! - Wrockwardine and District Garden Club Summer Show

2007-08-04T17:00:00.000Z

Its official - Joanne is now an Award-Winning Wine and Liqueur Maker. A bottle of Dingle Elderberry 2006 took first prize in the dry red wine category, and a bottle of Dingle Damson Gin ran out a close second in the home made alcoholic drink category. Much excitement in the Dingle household as you can expect! You'll have to visit the Dingle to try some ... and you'd better be quick

Thanks to Sue at Brew Genie for the equipment and advice in our first attempts in wine making.

Show programme

Winners' enclosure.

Yep ... still cute

2007-08-04T16:00:00.000Z

Just in case you wondered? ... still cute

Fruit and Veg progress

2007-08-04T12:00:00.000Z

Mid-way through the year and the vegetable and fruit growing proceeds well. We are eating potatoes and peas, some carrots, and the parsnips beetroot and runner beans are coming on well. Even the sweet corn is growing nicely.

On the fruit side the currant bushes are doing well, including the eleven new blackcurrant bushes Jo has grown from cuttings.

Walnut picking

2007-07-21T18:00:00.000Z

This year we beat the squirrels to some of our walnuts, after last year when we got none! We sent Harry up the tree, and also used a very long pole to hook them down. We have now made loads of picked walnuts which are "maturing" in the cellar.

Where's Wally (oops Harry)

Giant Egg

2007-07-21T17:00:00.000Z

Well here is our biggest egg yet - it must have made its mother really proud. Well lets say it must have triggered a pretty strong emotion one way or the other. This was a double-yolker but must have been close to triple status.

Five Hundred Egg Day

2007-07-09T19:00:00.000Z

Well done girls - today is the big 5-0-0. Five hundred eggs since they arrived on 16th April. The photo below is their best single day's production - fifteen eggs laid on 6th July.

Weekly kitten photos (or it seems like it)

2007-07-08T17:00:00.000Z

Another week, some more photos - this time reclining in the dining room like two toffs.

Spot the boys

So why exactly are you disturbing us?

Still cute

2007-06-30T11:00:00.000Z

No surprises this week ... Bodie and Doyle are still cute as little buttons.

On their favourite window sill.

Bodie

Doyle

Dingle Deli - progress update

2007-06-30T10:00:00.000Z

Work on the Dingle Deli continues - now we are in the fresh fruit/veg season stock is building up and we have registered the web address. The main products are jams, chutneys and eggs, though the 2006 Dingle Elderberry Wine is likely to be very well received also. Contact either of us for details - the deli website will have more information soon. Bookmark it now!

Dingle Elderberry 2006, made from Dingle and Wrockwardine Elderberries. Dry and smooth.

West Mid Show

2007-06-24T19:00:00.000Z

We went to the West Mid Show on Saturday, and were VERY lucky with the weather. Even though the girls wore wellies it was dry. Plenty of livestock to see, plus military stuff (for me!), plus eating and drinking opportunities.

Just like an episode of Emmerdale?

Some prime beef for the ladies, err and me.

The show kindly arranged a dating agency for farmers from West of Offa's Dyke.

Troopers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment gamely performed their Musical Ride. One fell off and one lost his helmet - otherwise excellent.

Soldiers from the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, supported by AAC Gazelle helicopters, provided a military display. Smoke, blanks and all good fun.

One of two Gazelle AH1 helicopters that joined in the fun.

Anti-bunny defences

2007-06-17T18:00:00.000Z

We have completed our anti-bunny defences of the vegetable patch. There has been too much nocturnal nibbling of carrots, cabbage etc. and while the bunnies are cute we are not a charity :-) Hence chicken wire, stakes and tie-wraps were deployed. The results are quite reasonable we think!

The boys are still cute

2007-06-17T17:00:00.000Z

Hardly a news item I realise but an excuse to post some more photos. While spending much of the day racing around, they still enjoy a good nap in the morining and afternoon. The second photo shows my desk - a favourite location!

Early season produce

2007-06-17T16:00:00.000Z

Today we picked two cucumbers, some new potatoes, some peas and a few gooseberries. There will be loads more, as we have 4 cucumber plants and rows of peas and potatoes. I added a few Dingle eggs for artistic licence.

Britney - troubled chicken

2007-06-17T15:00:00.000Z

Britney chicken has (like her namesake) been stopping out all night, and we presume partying hard in bad company. As she has not been back to the coop for a few days, apart from some flying visits, we have been worried about the local foxes.

After returning to the Dingle and in need of a drink.

Fresh faced before running away.

Single parent family - even Brit and K-fed would have run out of names.

Shotters at the Dingle again

2007-06-03T08:00:00.000Z

Another chicken-related weekend at the Dingle. Caz and Andrew are here, and while Caz has become "chicken-woman", we have kept Andrew safely (?) locked in the kitchen.

A Hard Day's Work

2007-05-18T21:00:00.000Z

Bodie and Doyle are now keymembers of the Harding workforce. Here you can see Doyle helping me with a presentation, and both of the boys taking over my chair.

Freedom

2007-05-12T19:00:00.000Z

Today's the day that the girls have gained their freedom. We will now be letting then out to roam round the garden when we are at home. They seemed very happy to get to the grass - as you can see they started scratching around immediately.

Eggs-ellent

2007-05-05T09:00:00.000Z

Today we have eaten the first eggs from the girls - five so far as you can see. They were very nice. And there were two double-yolkers!!!

New arrivals at the Dingle

2007-05-04T17:00:00.000Z

The day has finally come when the patter of tiny feet comes back to the Dingle. Bodie (or 3-7) and Doyle (4-5) have arrived to take up their pre-defined names. Both are cute 6-week old tabby kittens, Bodie has little white feet.

Arrival was courtsey of a cardboard box

Neither is very much like their namesake ... yet.

How cute are we?

Another busy weekend

2007-04-29T22:00:00.000Z

Another busy weekend at the Dingle - Lisa and Scott, plus Chester and Willy came to lend a hand/paw. Lisa joined Jo to make Jam, plant things and mow things. Scott and I did mens' work - sawing, lugging stuff, and burning things. Oh and our egg total is up to TWO!!!

Good photo

2007-04-29T21:00:00.000Z

A great photo of me with Iris - well I think so and I have not asked her.

Eggbert

2007-04-26T15:00:00.000Z

At last ... here is Eggbert's first public appearance. Laid today by an unknown hen. Hopefully he will have some brothers and sisters VERY soon.

Chicken run!

2007-04-22T23:00:00.000Z

After a busy Sunday afternoon the girls how have a complete home. As you can see we used a load of wood, screws, wire and staples and I think have managed to create a reasonable outdoor space for the girls.

Joanne waiting for further instructions.

All done.

The girls check out their new run.

One man and his chickens

Lawn mowing help arrives

2007-04-21T14:00:00.000Z

Automation arrives at the Dingle - Shaun (our sit-on mower) will be a big help with the grass.

Here is the driver

Spot what's wrong with this photo? clue - Jo isn't driving!

The chickens have landed

2007-04-16T12:00:00.000Z

We are now the proud parents of fifteen chickens: eight Black Rocks, six Calder Rangers, and Iris the one-eyed ranger. They have a rather gucci chicken-shed, converted from a pig sty complete with power and light . We are building their out-doors area this weekend.

The girls - Black Rocks (predictably) are the darker ones.

Here I am feeding the girls.

Here is Jo holding Iris - showing her better side (Iris that is).

Weekend work

2007-04-15T19:00:00.000Z

We had a busy weekend in the garden - ably assisted by Sharon and Alec. With our new sit on mower (pictures to follow) plus the Suffolk Punch and the Brush Cutter we have got the lawn pretty neat, though choosing probably the hottest weekend of the year to do it was poor planning.

Here is Alec doing his action man bit - he was a strimming legend.

And here he is relaxing later!

Sharon and Joanne keeping an eye on the food

The Veggie Patch is now operational

2007-04-09T19:00:00.000Z

After a hard weekend's work the veggie patch is planted and hopefully growing.

We have: potato, carrot, parsnip, brussel sprout, caulifower, broccoli, globe artichoke, asparagus, onion, beetroot.
Still to come: pea, runner & french bean (still in the greenhouse), squash, courgette.

Greenhouse growing

2007-04-09T18:00:00.000Z

Things are growing well in the greenhouse. We are growing veg/salads and flowers, and having some success from seeds at our first try.

Here you can see tomato plants, chillis, dahlia, sweet pea, and basil.

Here is the other side of the greenhouse - showing the peas and beans getting ready to be planted out, plus sweet corn and some other things.

Some holiday photos

2007-04-04T01:00:00.000Z

Here are some "rush" photos from our annual trip to Hong Kong and China.

Good work down the lane!

2007-02-25T22:00:00.000Z

We have done some good work on the lane in the last couple of weeks. We have replaced the original gate at the top of the lane - it was "parked" there for ages but the posts on which to hang it had long-since rotted away. You can see the new cental gates - a pedestrian gate to the left and a standard 5-bar gate to the right (just out of shot). In case you wondered - Chris fitted these for us.

Work has also progressed at the bottom of the lane. This is the first clear view of the end of the lane for years. Until we got Andy down with his chainsaw and chipper it has been the habitat of the badgers rather than humans.

Critter time again

2007-02-18T19:00:00.000Z

Seems our resident squirrel hasn't given up eating the bird food yet. Here he is doing his SAS thing, finishing the last of the pie. We have slowed him down by caging it but a complete halt seems a mission impossible!

Steps refound

2007-02-16T17:00:00.000Z

Here's an interesting one ... while working on the path down to the little house in the woods we have uncovered some original stone steps. There are also the remains of some wooden ones, but of course they have fared less well over the years. We are aiming for a set of steps down to the house (just visible in the middle of the photo) with a wooden handrail so it is safe even when a bit wet.

I wonder who has walked down and up these over the years?

Snowy robin

2007-02-10T13:00:00.000Z

The little birds have been very active at the feeders today - all the species we usually see plus song thushes (a new one). The robin was looking particularly sleek

Wrockwardine in the snow - February 2007

2007-02-09T17:00:00.000Z

Here are some photos taken by Joanne - seems to have been some weather around!

This one is sized nicely for a screen-saver

Dingle in the snow

2007-02-08T21:00:00.000Z

So ... the long anticipated snow arrived today at the Dingle. Just like when the winds arrived, Alan was "down South" leaving Joanne to make the snowman.

Luckily Bandit arrived to help

Shamus visits the Dingle

2006-12-31T11:00:00.000Z

Shamus honoured us with a post-Christmas visit, while his mum moved house. He found it a bit strange being away from home, but once his Dad was here he got into the swing of investigating.

It woz the shower valve what done it!!!

2006-12-28T16:00:00.000Z

After another day of fun and games the problem has been finally diagnosed. The shower valve in the first floor bathroom had gone faulty causing high-pressure cold water to push back on the hot water all the way into the tank - hence allowing some water get heated but not much.

Plumbing Fun

2006-12-28T13:00:00.000Z

Its now five days on ... here is Dave puzzling it out. We are VERY hopeful of a shower some time this year, as Joanne has threatened to send me to the pigstys.

Christmas Photos

2006-12-27T21:00:00.000Z

Here are some snaps from Christmas at the Dingle. We were joined by Mum, Nicki, Sue & Shahid, Belinda and Susie, Sue Dot and Pete, and Ian. Apart from some fun and games with the hot water (hi Dave and Sharon) we all had a good time.

Here are Sue, Mum, Bin and Susie.

Dot and Pete in a brief pause between festivities!!!

Nicki making Ian feel welcome.

Tai and Bandit enjoying eachother's company.

Sue and Tai posing for January's Tatler magazine!

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T21:00:00.000Z

Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a great New Year from the Dingle.

Santa's little helper ... beside the biggest pile of pressies ever.

Dingle chickens getting closer

2006-12-17T17:00:00.000Z

Planning for the Dingle chickens continues ... today we went to the national poultry show in Stafford. This is a very handsome chicken, not sure what type .

We were most drawn to the Orpington Buffs, and may well get some in our Dingle chickens.

The holiday is coming

2006-12-09T22:00:00.000Z

Christmas is coming to the Dingle - here we see the local ladies dressing the tree, complete with Sean the Sheep. Look out for more photos soon.

Winter work at the Dingle

2006-11-19T17:02:00.000Z

This weekend we got stuck into the garden - this time to clear old wood and nettles from the area where we will keep the Dingle chickens. The Shotters (Andrew and Harry) got stuck into the task, with the help of Smokey Joe.

You can see the space we are clearing - about 12 by 20 foot and plenty for quite a few chickens.

Caz joined in the outdoor fun collecting pine cones to use to decorate the Shotter fire place.

Getting ready for next year's crops

2006-11-11T17:00:00.000Z

Well its autumn and time to get the garden ready for next year's fruit and veg ... which means plenty of digging and weeding. As you can see we are creating a decent sized veggie patch - all we have to do now is decide what to plant!

What you cannt see is the MOUNTAIN of bushes and weeds that with Colin's help we have cleared and are starting to burn.

House looking smarter

2006-10-12T10:00:00.000Z

As you can see the outside of the house is coming on really well now - its getting smarter and easier to maintain. Plenty left to do of course ... but then again what would we do with spare time anyway?

And at long last the front door is done - Brunswick Green, and it looks very smart!

Killer

2006-10-02T17:00:00.000Z

Today was really, really, sad because Killer, our much-loved pet of over twenty years, has left us. He made great use of at least eighteen of his nine lives, but even our boy couldn't beat old age. It was very sad and things won't ever be the same without him - but all of us loved the feisty little so-and-so. Especially Joanne who spent over half her life with him.

Apples, apples, get your luvverley apples

2006-08-20T20:01:00.000Z

30 minutes later we had a few apples (cookers and eaters) - and some damsons thrown in for luck. So all we have to do is decide what to do with them.

Pickin time

2006-08-20T20:00:00.000Z

At long last it was time to pick apples from the lower field. So with all available hands we set off with a load of boxes and the ladder and picked picked picked.

More Dingle produce

2006-08-14T21:00:00.000Z

Grapes, courgettes and more toms.

The Long Mynd

2006-08-12T21:00:00.000Z

Here is a wonderful view North from the Long Mynd - and yes we actually got away from the Dingle for a few hours! The weather was great ... and the view ... well not bad for Shropshire.

Dining at the Dingle

2006-08-06T21:00:00.000Z

Our new dining table has arrived - hand-made by Shropshire Pine. It looks really good against the waxed wood floor as you can see. We test drove the table today and it seemed to work ok.

Lilac room nears completion

2006-08-06T20:00:00.000Z

The Lilac bedroom is now (a) lilac and (b) has carpet in it. Other recent innovations include curtains (made by Joanne) and pictures/a mirror.

More Dingle produce

2006-08-06T19:00:00.000Z

Here is a selection of Dingle tomatoes - already in use for cooked breakfasts and to make delicious Bruschetta. Possibly also coming soon ... tomato chutney.

Veuve Croquet

2006-07-28T20:00:00.000Z

Here are the girls relaxing with some fruit-based refreshment ... well Veuve Clicquot. Croquet is exhausting as you no doubt realise.

Digger in the lower field

2006-07-27T15:00:00.000Z

Well there is a time when even we need some outside assistance. And 8 foot high weeds in the field needed it! Joanne managed to convince a friendly man with a tractor to help and ... bingo ... a mowed field. Perhaps we should buy a tractor?

Dingle blackcurrant jelly

2006-07-16T21:00:00.000Z

We have turned the first of our blackcurrants into jelly - it looks and smells good; wonder what it will taste like?

First crop of the year

2006-07-09T19:00:00.000Z

Here is a rural scene of blackcurrant picking ... we have had about 4 kilos so far and counting.

Its just not croquet

2006-07-09T18:00:00.000Z

Well we have got a nice big front lawn so what is better than a game of croquet? Here is the spectacle of Wrockwardine's first senior croquet hooligans.

Glamour comes to croquet!

Action shot - note the ball in the air!!!

Dingle Motor Show

2006-07-08T10:00:00.000Z

Motoring news: Helen bought her trendy new car to the Dingle - and doesn't it look cool? Mum and Helen are doing their Thelma and Louise impression all over Shropshire!!!

First Day on the Somme

2006-07-01T11:00:00.000Z

Here is a photo of a poppy field taken near Shrewsbury reminding us of the poppies that grew on the battlefields in Northern France.

Nearly 20,000 British soldiers died on 1st July 1916, and a further 125,000 died over the next five months. Most were volunteers in the "New Army" who responded to Field Marshal Lord Kitchener's famous entreaty below.

More nice flower photos

2006-06-04T20:00:00.000Z

Views of the garden

2006-05-30T07:00:00.000Z

With some sunshine and quite a bit of mowing, weeding, pruning, sawing effort the garden is starting to look good.