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Winter

Well it has been some time since we last wrote ! It has been a very quiet summer for the holiday cottages, but hopefully things are changing. As I write the snow is falling and it is -1 degree. The Middle Keld Kids went off to school looking forward to play time, although they are not allowed to have snowball fights. I must admit it made me reminisce of my school days when our play times revolved around snowball fights, with two rival gangs fighting it out until we were absoloutely soaked through and not be able to feel our fingers. You could only make a really good snowball without gloves. Any way enough of all that or it will be turning out to be when "I was a lad" stories !!

End of an era....for the time being

That's it folks, yours truly has finally completed her degree. Just when I thought it was never going to end, and the Middle Keld Kids would never to speak to me again, there it was - finished! Graduation was on Monday, and it was not only a gloriously sunny day but a truly wonderful experience. Now? Well, trying to rediscover normal life - and wondering if there is such a thing! Life here has continued throughout the intensity of study, with perhaps the most amazing event being the temporary arrival of a bittern, much to the interest of local bird watchers and the total disinterest of George and Billy, who continued to munch grass as though nothing had happened. The whole site is lush with the green mantle of summer, assisted by some tremendous downpours interspersed with hot summer days. The kids have been busy helping Fish and I with planting, and as a result we have some colourful tubs and pots around the place, and the promise of tomatoes and courgettes at harvest time. All we have to do now is try and keep the slugs at bay...

Just to let you know...

I've seen the very first swallow of the spring here at Middle Keld. There it was, a lone bird sitting contemplatively on the telegraph wire as the Middle Keld Kids and I were dashing off to school (late as usual) this morning.
Am in the midst of the final furlong of assignments, so Shakespeare demands more of my attention than the blog page I'm afraid, but couldn't resist breaking off for a few moments to share this snippet. Now waiting for the first cuckoo, will be sure to let you know that one too!

British Seasons

March seems to have blasted in like a fury, and we have spotted a few mad march hares, haring around as you might expect. The changes in weather are really quite startling, having had a glorious day of sunshine yesterday, today is wet and extremely windy with the trees lashing about around the pond and the wind howling through every crack and crevice it can find. The daffodils are a delight to see, but in spite of all the comments about the changing seasons it is interesting to note that the trees are only just showing signs of greening up, and even the hawthorn is very reluctantly putting out new leaves. All will come in its own good time, I know, but I have to admit to taking some comfort in this tiny bit of evidence that maybe the seasons remain, to some degree, as we have always known them to be. Again, as last spring, we have a pair of mallards on the pond. Will this be the year they decide to raise a brood at Middle Keld?? I'll keep you posted!

Spring, a time for fun, flowers and fabulous events...

Having experienced the seriously sub-zero temperatures of recent weeks (remember the movie 'Day After Tomorrow....?) we are again enjoying sunshine. Is the climate really changing? Well, at least we are learning to appreciate the good bits and survive the not so good. The Middle Keld Kids enjoyed their recent half term break, and the weather was kind enough to allow us to have fun on the beach with a rugby ball (we have a budding Johnny Wilkinson), play games with coloured rocks and use the kelly kettle for the first time this year. The kids are getting excited about their discoveries, and are constantly finding new leaves and daffodils, catkins and celandines. The woodland walk is preparing itself for spring, and is just right for a little gentle exercise - something we can all appreciate, especially when the sun is shining, the birds are busy and the blossom is scenting the breeze. We are looking forward to everything being at its best as we have guests coming to celebrate their wedding here around Easter time. We are excited to be part of this occasion and hope it will be a wonderful experience for all concerned.

Paradoxes

Couldn't resist sharing this. As the sun refuses to shine and the rain continues to pour, our current guest in the Cottage in the Pond is enjoying the feeling of being protected from the ill effects of the weather while being cosily ensconced and watching the rain through the window. And in spite of spring feeling like its in 'a galaxy far, far away' - guess what? Saw our first batch of snowdrops at the weekend! Spring will come....all in its own good time. Come and share it with us - the weather might be inclement (!!) but here at least you can always find a warm welcome.

Where did it go?

Christmas has been hectic here at Middle Keld, but a lot of fun! We have had a plethora of visitors, old and young, two legs and four legs but the best news is that my oven remained in good working order throughout! Big improvement on last year.... Heavy frosts produced some spectacular scenery, particularly around the pond areas and a light dusting of snowflakes caused great excitement. The disappointment on the faces of the Middle Keld Kids must have been reflected on other kids in the neighbourhood too, as the rain swiftly followed snow and we were back to grey, wet days again. It was good to welcome old friends in the shape of Mr and Mrs Biggins who came to spend their third Christmas in Cottage in the Pond, and to see the Cornmill Cottage celebrate its first Christmas since completion with a family of five enjoying its cosy warmth. The kids are now back at school and we are zooming into another new year. Yours truly has the added stress of coursework deadlines to aim for, but the first green shoots of snowdrops can be seen, the hope-filled promise of spring!

Looking forward to spring ...

The year moves on to....

November, and still very little change in the weather, making it difficult to believe that Christmas is really not very far off. The sun continues to shine, and it is only in the past few days that the temperature has been falling into the single figures. The colours of autumn continue to be a joy to the eye, and the most recent delight (discovered, I have to say, by Poppy) is the presence of water voles, or 'arvicola terrestris'. Poppy has unearthed two of them that I have seen and the description has been verified that they are, in fact, the more desirable members of the rodent family and not the type that gives me the heebie-jeebies! Had a fun Bonfire Night, with a fabulous bonfire (constructed last-minute in order to preserve wildlife from a roasting) and a selection of fireworks, although sparklers will always be a firm favourite. This was accompanied by a delicious barbecue supper (sausages and burgers supplied by Fitling Farm) and excellent company. Good food, good friends, good fun - it can't be beaten and it can all be found here, at Middle Keld. Join us.

Love the change of seasons!

Oh dear, I've just looked at the date of my last blog! What can I say? Actually, being a past master of excuses I could give you a whole list of reasons why I've not been in touch, but they would just be excuses so I sha'n't bother. It has been a busy time here at Middle Keld, with a long stretch of Conference Room bookings. Hospitality is always a key element here, so the house has been redolent with the smell of baking, as we always like to offer freshly baked scones and biscuits to our delegates. I am thinking of having flour and sugar shipped in by lorry, but maybe not yet.... Autumn is in full swing finally, with treasures to be found by the ever adventurous Middle Keld Kids. Horse chestnuts, shiny and glowing, fresh from their prickly protection; apples, small and sweet, to be found along the woodland walk as well as blackberries - and with these, I am lucky if they make it to the house as the Kids consider anything found outside to be theirs by right! Cannot deny them the fruits of their labours, and the hours spent gathering, eating, swishing through the long grass or crunching through heaps of fallen leaves are far too precious to pass by. Hope you have the opportunity to revel in Autumn's bounty wherever you might be. If it does not offer what we are enjoying then book yourself into one of our cottages and share all that Middle Keld has to offer.

OK, so what happened...

.....to the summer holidays? Suddenly we are down to a week and a bit before we return to the madness and mayhem of school life. I have to say we have had a lot of fun this summer - in spite of the very strange weather patterns! The Middle Keld Kids have ranged far and wide, covering as much of the place as they possibly could, building dens, ramps, riding bikes, checking out the local wildlife and including as many visiting kids as they could. Social creatures, our kids, returning only for nourishment when their need was great. There has been no recent sighting of the kingfisher, but deer have surprised some of our visitors as they have walked their dogs around the place. We can detect just a faint touch of autumn to the trees, and the several apple trees are doing their bit to contribute towards a rich harvest. I am also keeping a careful watch on the blackthorn with a view to sloe gin production when the time (and fruit) is ripe. Living in England, there is always something to look forward to with the change of seasons.

School's out for summer

Finally, after weeks of asking 'when??', the Middle Keld Kids are finally on vacation from school - yes, six whole weeks of no getting out of bed when you don't want to, no searching for school books or musical instruments that have mysteriously vanished overnight, no desperate searching the fridge and freezer for pack-up materials. The mood of Middle Keld is decidedly more relaxed, and the other good thing to happen recently was......a birthday! Yes folks, the Kids have been celebrating this weekend because someone has turned 8, so there was a trip to the cinema to see Shrek the Third, followed by fabulous food at The Med in Hornsea. It was a very good day, and the rain did stop eventually, although we have again been horrified by the recent images of the flash floods in other areas of Britain. The water levels here have remained at manageable levels, and the hundreds of wild flowers planted this year have responded beautifully to the wet and warm conditions. The resultant variety of colourful blooms has amazed us all, especially Fish who did not expect to see the fruits of his labours so soon. He has now completed the walkway right around Middle Keld, so those who enjoy the riches of the countryside are welcome to come and enjoy the fruits of his labours too.

Update....

The changes seen on our plot this morning were little short of miraculous! The level of the pond was back to normal, with no water left within the cottage at all and the decking clearly visible - amazing. All we need to do now is dry it out, clean it through and it will once more be ready for visitors. Dave and I were so thankful we had been able to move furniture as there was minimum spoilage, unlike many of the scenes on the news today. Locally, there are still many areas struggling with high water levels and the national news has been compulsive viewing - especially as there was nothing to take me away from my ironing board. There is sunshine as I write this, quite startling after recent conditions. The other bright spots? A heron pinching a fish from the moat, and most startling was a kingfisher having a quick dip in the pond cottage this morning.

I'm thinking of a song.....

Which could be 'Singing in the Rain' - but perhaps not! Today we decided that the cottage in the pond should be renamed the pond in the cottage! As so many of you out there are also discovering, home and castle does not mean invincible, and as the rain continues to fall many are suffering the anguish and frustration of watching the water levels rise and being totally unable to do anything at all about it. Fish and Dave made valiant attempts to shift the rising flood with the help of a tractor, a slurry tanker and a smashing bloke supplied by Bob Smales, but the water was coming in too fast for them to be effective. Mr and Mrs Sutton, visitors to the cottage this week, were absolute stalwarts, coping with all the inconveniences of having to be evacuated to a nearby B&B. There are many out there far worse off than us, and I'd like to end this blog by sending our heartfelt condolences to the family of the young man from Hull, who died as a result of the horrific conditions. We grieve for you.

The Pond in the Cottage

The wet, the wild and the where on earth is she...

What a week it has been! The weather - well, the torrential rain continues although the sun did shine on the select group of dignitaries who met for lunch in the conference room early in the week. If you've got influence in the right places you might as well use it! George and Billy have been in the stable, back in the paddock and back to stable so many times because of the sudden storms they can just about manage without Fish's help. We had a traumatic time on Thursday when Poppy disappeared. There was a storm - again - and although Molly, our labrador, was hiding behind the sofa, Poppy is quite confident during the worst conditions. The Middle Keld Kids were distraught, one couldn't sleep without Poppy on the end of the bed (how on earth we ever let that habit develop is beyond me!!) and the other decided this was not a good thing to happen on the eve of one's sixth birthday! We were all pretty glum, but our prayers were answered when Julia, a good friend of ours, rang early on Friday morning to let us know that she thought ours was the dog who had been handed in at Withernsea Police Station. A well-meaning passerby had gathered up Poppy, obviously thinking her lost or abandoned, and taken her to a place of safety. To say we were overjoyed doesn't do justice to the atmosphere in the Fisher household when Fish returned to Garton with the little tyke. She, unlike us, seems totally unaffected by the experience, except to act as though she has never had a decent meal in her life. What do they feed jailbirds these days......??

The fun continues

Life continues at the usual Middlekeld rate, which is somewhere between manic and so laid back it's horizontal. This is sometimes extremely confusing, but it does make life interesting! The Cornmill is now fully operational, and we are happily welcoming guests whose comments, so far, have been very favourable. The conference room has also been very busy, and the Middlekeld oven has been working overtime recently, much to the delight of the Middlekeld Kids and friends, who are always ready to sample any leftovers! The arrival of oak leaves before ash, true to Fish's dad's rural wisdom, has definitely resulted in 'a bit of a splash' to say the least! Friday morning saw Fish upto his knees in mucky water, trying to clear a dike as the water level in the pond was giving just a little cause for concern. We were delighted to see some sunshine on Saturday though, as City Life Church, Hull, held a 'Build the Team' day here, and everyone had the opportunity to enjoy some of the delights of rural Holderness. Even when the rain started to fall again the fun continued, as the younger members of the group discovered that the interactive whiteboard is an ideal place for playing with a Wii, showing us that a conference room is not just good for conferences. Hope you're having as much fun
Mrs Fish x

Rain

Well after nearly 9 weeks, it rained. Which will help the new wild flower meadow, it was sown over two weeks ago with poppy, meadow sweet, cow slips, etc, etc. Plus 1000 plugs of mixed wild flowers.
The new Corn Mill cottage is almost finished, decking and patio just constructed, the plumber with one days work left, and we are ready !!
So if you are interested in bringing the family or two families, well we can put you up in comfort, 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 3 toilets ( 1 downstairs ). Bring the dogs and save on kennelling, we now have our own kennels for the time you may want to go for a meal, or out for the day without the dogs.
Our own terrier "Poppy" acts as security, in fact she thinks she owns the place any way !!
Bye for now. Fish

Spring fever

Well spring has well and truly sprung, and Middlekeld is a joy to behold at the moment. The fresh and beautiful green of new leaves abounds, the cherry trees are in full bloom and the apple trees are all set to burst into flower. We are still wondering whether the oak will leaf before the ash, but it's still neck and neck as I write. There is that wonderful scent of early summer, the first swallows are making their presence felt, and trying to get the Middle Keld Kids in for anything except meals is a real problem at the moment - but then it is difficult to deny them the sheer pleasure of running about in the sunshine (even if Fish - among others - is secretly wishing for rain!). Bows and arrows have been made and tried out - not found a budding Robin Hood yet, even the dogs are unworried by target practice; there is a new swing hanging from the old sycamore tree which has been thoroughly tested and the kids have even been coerced into helping dad plant the 1000 or so wild flower plugs. Train a child while he is young... Me? Well, I have essays to do, of course, and there is always baking to be done....

A little pampering makes a big difference

Hello again, Mrs Fish here to fill the gaps left by himself! What Fish failed to update you on was the 'Ladies Pampering Day' which was, though I say it myself, a real success - gauged by the fact that no-one wanted to leave! Many thanks go to the ladies who did the pampering - Clare, Jackie, Julie and Sarita. You did such a wonderful job that all who came have asked us to arrange another, and all who missed it would like advance notice so they can get to the next one. Also a big thank you to the ladies who brought such a fabulous display of jewellery which was on sale to all visitors, and at very reasonable prices. Refreshments were provided throughout the day, lunch courtesy of Gemma and home baking by yours truly. An exhausting day for Fish and myself, but the Middle Keld Kids behaved impeccably, the sun shone and all delegates thoroughly enjoyed being pampered. Here's to the next one!

Progress

This is how the new cottagis is looking so far.

Getting Busy

Well it is Fish this time, Nadine is well and truly among the essays. You will obviously tell by the grammar and spelling, I will leave you to gues which one has it right !!
Well the weather has turned cold again, just when everything was thinking about coming into bud. We now have 1000 wild flower plugs to plant, these will be among the new half acre orchard and around the ponds, but I am afraid I am a warm weather planter, I have spent too much of my life planting trees in all weathers, the worst I can recall was on a cliff top in North Yorkshire with horizontal sleet and hail. Enough of that, the 3 bed cottage is almost finished now and we're starting on the accessible cottage, which does seem to be creating interest, there would appear to be a distinct lack of accomodation for the disabled, so let's hope we can plug a gap. Got to go now the sun has come out and I do not want to miss it !!

Fish

Pampering Day

Spring is in the air....

And life at Middle Keld continues at its usual breakneck speed, with major progress being made on the new cottage. This is now really taking shape and should be ready to welcome visitors soon. It is so exciting when we reach the stage of choosing colours, curtains and furniture. The only problem we have is choosing a name - it's a bit like choosing a name for a new baby, because the poor thing is stuck with it permanently! Anyway, spring is really taking off with daffodils bursting like rays of sunshine all over the place. There are catkins on the hazels, alder and pussy willow. The sticky buds on the chestnuts are opening to reveal new leaves and the hedges are modestly revealing their spring greenery. The mallards are still occupying the pond by the cottage - no sign of offspring just yet - and the water level in the new pond is rising steadily as the rain seems to have been ceaseless. Fish has been having ideas recently - the result is a 'Ladies' Pampering Day' to take place on 17th March, just in time for Mothers Day. So, if there is a lady in your life who deserves a little special attention, contact us to book a place. Don't worry guys, ideas are on the back burner for a 'Men's Day' too.

What happened to winter?

A belated happy new year to you all, and I hope Christmas was a good time for you. In this area, it seems to have been the season to go bang. I have been told of microwaves, washing machines, tumble driers and boilers breaking down. We were not immune. As the turkey, lovingly stuffed, annointed and wrapped was ready to go into the oven, there was an ominous orange flash, and a bang, and the oven temperature dropped immediately.... How long does it take to stir fry a turkey? And another question - what happened to January?? Amazing to think the first month of the year has sped by, and the weather of course is so unseasonal no-one is quite sure what time of year it really is. Daffodils in flower have been noted in Hornsea while swathes of snowdrops are still decorating the lawn. Anemones and crocuses are all responding to the sunshine and high temperatures, but the Middle Keld Kids are desperate for snow. We have visitors as well, not just in the Cottage in the Pond, but in the pond itself. A pair of mallards have taken up residency, and we are all watching covertly in the hope of little fluffy bundles appearing in due course. Watch this space, we'll let you know what happens!

Christmas work

Work at Middle Keld continued through the Christmas holiday ...

Yet another night before Christmas!

'Tis the season to be jolly! And at Middle Keld it seems to be the season to open the door, put the kettle on and share out whatever happens to be in the cake tin today.... The Middle Keld Kids have been doing their bit, and we had five of them around the kitchen table on Friday, with raisins and flour decorating much of the room - and the kids! Great fun was had by all of them, especially as they were able to eat the fruits of their labours. The grown-ups enjoyed the fun too, and I decided it might be more practical to have an urn instead of the old teapot, as we must have dispensed several gallons throughout the day. The mincemeat, as mentioned on my last blog, has been duly stuffed into pastry, baked and sampled along with the almond tarts, lemon and jam tarts and jumbly cake. Long may the Middle Keld kitchen offer a welcoming cuppa and something tasty out of the tin. I wish you all a warm and peaceful Christmas, and may you lack no good thing in the year to come. Keep checking the blog, as I intend to share more of my favourite recipes with you, and please feel free to send me your own favourites. Our best wishes to you all from Nade and co. x

We're getting closer....

We're on countdown now, and no mistake. I finally put down the textbooks for a little while and made an effort in the direction of Christmas fayre! Tonight, in spite of everything else that needs doing, I have made Christmas mincemeat. This is an old favourite of mine, and has permanently put me off buying the stuff. It's dead easy to make, just takes a little time to prep, so I thought I'd share my recipe with you all.
Ingredients:
1.5lbs baking apples, 12oz suet
12oz raisins, 8oz sultanas
8oz currants, 8oz whole candied peel - finely chopped
8oz dried cranberries, 8oz mixed berries - sour cherries etc
juice and rind of 3 lemons and 3 oranges
3oz flaked almonds, finely chopped
4tsp mixed spice
1tsp cinnamon
half tsp ground mace
one whole nutmeg, grated

Mix all the ingredients together, taking the core out of the apples and grating them into the mix, peel included. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave at least overnight, 24hrs if possible. Remove film and cover loosely with foil. Put the bowl into the oven at 120'c (gas - one quarter) for three hours (the house will smell wonderful). Stir the mixture occasionally as it cools. When it is completely cold, add about 6-8 tablespoons brandy, mix in well, then pack the mixture into clean jars. Use generously, and distribute to friends who really appreciate proper food!
Hope you enjoy this, all I have to do now is find time to write some cards and wrap all those odd shaped items I have stashed in the back of the wardrobe......Merry Christmas, God bless us, everyone! Nade x

Armed to the teeth with a minidigger!

Life here continues in its own inimitable, not to say manic, fashion. We have a gang of three fellows, armed to the teeth with minidigger, dumper truck, spades and at one point, a full size cement wagon. They are restructuring the entrance, which means a lot of noise (we have already apologised profusely to guests in cottage) and yesterday, a burst water pipe ... somewhere! Fish continues his usual self, though has now equipped himself with wellies. I, in the midst of this, am attempting to write a 2k word essay on Oscar Wilde's work. It is interesting, living here. The weather continues to be more like autumn, which is reassuring, and the donkey and goat now have a new home which is much dryer than their previous shelter, and are consequently much happier. Better get back to work now ... Nade

Autumn in Holderness

Here we are, almost at the end of October. It's getting chilly now, and is lovely to come home and enjoy the warmth of the fire in the evenings. The apple trees along the woodland walk have yielded much treasure which has been thoroughly enjoyed by the Middle Keld kids and their friends, time now for the grown-ups to collect, the thought of sloe gin on a winter's evening is a big incentive. There was a flock of visiting ducks today - no, not in the pond but in a huge puddle in one of the paddocks. They didn't hang about with four children rushing over to have a look, but hopefully they will return. Business is taking off in the Conference Room, our first 'guests' were from the local church of St Michael's, enjoying a harvest supper with a slide show of local scenery provided by Steve of Straightforward Software, and background music by Jonathan Shelton of City Life Church in Hull. An enjoyable evening, in spite of the rain!

From heaven to earthy....

Where did September go? Autumn is definitely here. The swallows have finally gathered the last few stragglers and set off on their amazing journey, the leaves are turning and falling and the berries in the hedgerows glow like jewels. The nights are drawing in fast, and the sky in early evening is a breathtaking range of colours behind the silhouette of trees across the paddocks. On a slightly more earthy note, the major event recently has been the interment of a humungous digester. Sitting at the back of the woods it resembled the kind of bath tub the Bash St Kids would have larked in, and the hole needed to bury it had to be about 4m deep! The Middle Keld Kids were in their element as everything was mud and diggers for a while. The job was completed with surprising ease by an amazing team of contractors - very impressive lads! The conference room is in its final stages of completion and everyone is busy. It's a good atmosphere, in spite of the pressure, just needs someone to take a camera in there and we can show you just how good it's looking.

Inside the Conference Room

Seasonal delights

It's been a busy summer, and amazing to think the Middle Keld Kids are back at school next week - and I, for one, will be really sorry to let them go. It has been lovely having time to play and enjoy the sunny days. Activity on site has continued at a fast and furious pace, in spite of high temperatures, but we have attended to the menfolk with frequent applications of ice cream and home cooked treats, prompting the suggestion that we add a Middle Keld Recipe section to the website, so watch this space! There has been a distinctive change in the atmosphere recently, a decided nip in the air and much pre-flight activity from the swallows. The apples are tempting us to go out gathering, and the sloes are ripening fast in the hedgerows. The preserving pan calls as the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness approaches. Time to start washing all those empty jam jars I think.....Mrs Fish x

Are we home or abroad....?

Wow, have we had a wonderful start to the long summer holidays. The men of the establishment have strained and sweated with diggers and barrows and shovels all week, but yours truly has enjoyed the sunshine - and the storms! There have been some amazing displays in the skies this week, and an impressive amount of rainfall. The ponds are full again and the local wildlife probably sighing with relief. The days continue to glow with all the richness of summer, and time spent on the local beaches this week could compete with any Mediterranean destination. The Middle Keld Kids have enjoyed new additions to their ranks as the visitors to the cottage included children, who were quick to join our own little adventurers in exploring all we have to offer.

Digital donkeys

The Middle Keld blog has been updated and can now display photos. Here is a picture of the donkeys celebrating their digital lifestyle.

Click on the image for a better view.

He's done it again.....

And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have cows! Only borrowed, Fish assures me, but nevertheless we have two cows and three calves in the paddock next to the donkeys. Very picturesque, and a great attraction to kids from all over Holderness, young and old. Come and see, you are all welcome, and if you are really lucky, you might visit on a baking day but you have to be quick - all produce from the Middle Keld kitchen disappears faster than I can supply, which is a good sign, but a bit disconcerting when I expect to find a little smackerel of something in the tin....... The building continues to progress, and everything is suddenly taking shape amazingly. The Middle Keld kids have been bitten by the bug too, and sand and gravel has been shifted around the site by toy tractor, toy digger, any bucket the little darlings can lay hold of....but they think it is all interesting and exciting, which it is. The weather continues to smile on us, and the flowers and trees are really beautiful at the moment. The baby swallows have taken their maiden voyage and are becoming very competent at landing and taking off from the bedroom windowsill. We also have sparrows nesting in the birdbox in our garden, and it always makes me smile when I am busy out there to hear the parents chittering crossly from the roof of the fold yard. Spring is exciting, but summer is wonderful!

A Week of New Arrivals.....

It has been an interesting week here at Middle Keld. Monday saw a group of us - kids and grown ups - searching for Nessie in the small pond. The monster was nowhere to be seen, but there was a tremendous variety of other creatures including a tadpole, several varieties of newt, nymphs, water boatmen and sundry other strange beasties. The kids had a marvellous time, and finished off with copious amounts of juice and home-made buns, essential after all that hard work! Wednesday saw the major event of the week - the arrival of George, Seamus and Joey. No, not a gang of builders looking for work, these are donkeys, now residing in the north paddock. With them came Billy the Goat, quite tame and always happy to greet anyone coming towards him - especially if they bring food! Yet another group of children decided to visit on Friday, and the new livestock proved very friendly and well-mannered (phew). The local school fair on Saturday attracted a good number of visitors and the sun shone on the proceedings this year, which made a very welcome change. Arthur the Owl graced the day with his magnificent presence, but he is male and can never resist the chance to show off...... That's it for now folks, but who knows what the coming weeks will bring??? Will keep you posted. Mrs Fish x

Trees

Well Spring has arrived at Middle Keld, the trees are about covered in their new leaves, the ash and oak are rather slow, but getting there ! The temperature actually reached above 20 degrees, by Saturday had dropped to 8.5 degrees. We are moving with the conference room, roof on, floor concreted, dry walls erected, it is actually looking like we will have a July opening. Which is just as well as we are taking part in an exhibition at the KC Stadium in Hull extolling our benefits of coming out into the countryside for your conference. If you are in the area come on and see us on the 6th. and 7th. June. We have been re-stocking one of our ponds with carp, hopefully this time we can control the duck weed which last year took over and just about smothered any thing which was in the pond. It also pleases Molly our pet labrador, when the weather warms up she loves a swim, which is rather like me, I do like the warm weather, not for swimming in the pond I hasten to add. Talk to you soon. Fish

Conference Room

It is now "felted and lathed" and ready for the tiles. Although we are still in very cold wet weather, at least it is good to be moving after a long winter. I have had man flu at least that what Nade calls it, I have not got a clue, as to what she means ? At least now Spring is here, we have seen two swallows and the trees are beginning to open their buds. No joy with the ducks nesting, a lot of splashing and quacking and not a lot else ! We had a day out on Saturday at a friends wedding, very enjoyable and lovely weather, it is always good to catch up with old friends, there was also a lot of farmers about, which ensures you will get a laugh or two ! and this wedding was no exception. Bye for now, Fish

Weather

Well Spring is here, and bitterly cold ! at least we are doing something constructive. The roof trusses arrived for the conference room, so we have been busy erecting them, it was quiet a strange feeling fixing them in place the manufactures had their delivery notes on each one with my name on them, to think they will be still there when I have long gone. We have also had rain, the pond which laps up to the cottage in the pond, has reached the overflow pipe, at least it works, or else I think we would have had some disgruntled guests. We have also received a delivery of frog spawn, this is to replace the frogs which we received last year, as the frogs did not stay, they hopped back to Aldbrough 4 miles away. Bye for now, Fish

Spring

Is Spring here ? Well the birds are singing even though the weather fluctuates from a high of 18 degrees to a low of 3 degrees. The first daffodils are just beginning to show, and the ducks on the pond are beginning to nest. Although I have been told we are approx. 6 weeks behind last year. The farmers in the area seem as though they have managed to fit the top dressing in, picking the good days. Village life is quiet, I think we all hibernate in the winter. Although this saturday Nadine is running the "bacon butty" morning at our local chapel, it allows all the locals plus any one else who feels the need for a good quality bacon butty and a chat, to pop along. Any way I must do some work now ! accountant to see this afternoon. Bye for now Fish

Nesting boxes

We're about to start making unique Middle Keld nestboxes ready for spring. If you're after some luxury accommodation for the birds in your garden give us a call.

Welcome

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