July 2008 Newsletter from Annaharvey Farm
Hi there, how the weeks are flying, half way through July already and the summer is hardly here!
We have been very busy with guests, particularly a number of young people’s camps from Canada, Sweden, the States and this week a mixture of Irish and Swedish so never a dull moment – the emphasis is on training in the 3 disciplines of eventing, dressage, show jumping and cross country, finishing each week with a mini competition which is great fun.
In the autumn we hope to run something similar for adults so if any of you are interested – watch this space for more details!
It is difficult to make ourselves think ahead to the autumn and the changes that automatically brings to all of us, but we have to start planning and working towards organising the Art Workshops, maybe a Creative Writer’s Break, and possibly a few cookery courses – I was thinking of doing a "Back to Basics" cookery course with the emphasis on all the old favourites that we grew up with, reminding ourselves about the lovely comfort food such as Bread and Butter pudding, or Upside Down pudding drizzled – or "slurried" as the lads are wont to say –in jam and custard! Anyway, this is all only in the think tank at the moment, but hopefully I will get time to progress it further over the coming weeks.
Aisling’s dog, Zulu had her pups, which I think I mentioned in the last news letter, 3 in all, and Zulu to be fair made a supreme effort to be a good mother, but it was obvious to us all that her heart wasn’t really in it – nevertheless the pups grew to be as fat as snails and went to their new homes looking like they could do with being on the Atkins diet for a little while – meanwhile Zulu has had her training programme in order (bouncing up and down in the wheat trying to catch rabbits) and has recovered her figure. I suspect she considers her maternal duties are well and truly behind her and isn’t going to suffer from the "empty nest" syndrome.
Sam and Aisling have been going to few show jumping events at the weekends, and Paddy has been eventing on Wilma quite successfully this year. Sam I think has found his house and garden are constantly calling him to pay attention, so he doesn’t have the same enthusiasm for travelling the length and breadth of the country to compete, but this is a natural progression and we have all changed our routes in life, which I suppose makes it all the more interesting.
Rory, Joanna and Katie are off to the States in a few weeks – we are really pleased for them to be able to go and travel, but there is part of us dreads the thought of all 3 of them being gone out of our lives – they will be missed by everyone that comes in to the place as Katie makes it her business now to inspect everyone she meets, so no one is in any doubt as to her existence and the important role she plays!
The Connemara show is coming up soon and we look forward to seeing all the showing classes and of course the jumping classes as well – it is a great event with competitors coming from all over the country.
We are hopeful the weather will be kinder to Tullamore Show this year – last year it was abandoned as a result of flooding the night before – this year we aren’t having a lot of sunshine, but there isn’t as much rain thank goodness – and it didn’t rain on St. Swithin’s Day which is a good sign – if it did, rumour has it would rain for another 40 days and 40 nights!!
Well that’s all from Annaharvey for now,
Best wishes to all
Lynda, Henry and all the Annaharvey Gang
Annaharvey Farm
Tullamore
Co. Offaly
tel.+353 (0)5793 43544
Back
|
More Newsletters
