 Hello All I am sure you lovely people are all in recovery mode today from the first round of a fest of overeating and indulgence. Round 2 to commence anytime soon. We are slowly finding our groove again after an extemely hectic run up to Christmas. Many thanks go to all my little helpers who pitched in to help a slightly frazzled friend out. I finished the season with a mild case of tendonitis but after a week of very little butchery work, hot water bottles, massage and the kids preparing the veg we are nearly back to normal. So here is our Christmas gang photo, minus one photographer trying out her new phone. Apparently the lunch was a triumph and after having nearly forgotten about the potatoes they turned out to be rather good. We had slow roasted leg of lamb. Fab. Only draw back was having to leap out of bed at 8am to turn on the oven after too many gin and tonics the previous night. However, if you want food to be ready when you are rather than being in a stress fuelled, steamy kitchen, counting the seconds until you have to put the veg on so it is ready at the same time as the meat being carved and the yorkshires, then this is the recipe for you. Anyway there was none left :-) Mission accomplished! Now you know when you have planned on leftovers for Boxing day and there are none, and oh yes we had forgotten to prepare our own ham..... and then you think thank goodness I was bought that recipe book for Christmas. And so you choose a recipe to cook as it is nice and easy for Boxing Day.....and then you put the onions on to cook..... and then you go to the cupboard and realise that you have no oregano, tomato paste, not enough bacon (??!!**), and a shortage of white beans. So, you make substitutions with leftover roast pork, marjoram, tinned tomatoes, lentils and plonk dumplings on top for good measure and hey ho.... it is absolutely delicious :):):) Happy, happy, happy. Chilled, feet up, nice cup of tea.
Patrick has returned to the fold for a bit before he continues on his travels. He came back from UK via Holland and is hoping to be accepted at a university in Venlo in September 2016. Emily is still trying to work out what she is going to do after the Baccalaureat which is in June 2016. Fortunately Number 3 has a much less complicated life for the year ahead requiring me to not have to expend too much in the way of intellectual capacity and emotional support.
We ventured into Bordeaux just before Christmas for some chilled family time and watched the new Star Wars film. It was AWESOME and took me back to watching it with my own parents and sister when the first Star Wars came out many moons ago. Not sure that we went out for a McDonalds afterwards though. In fact I don't even think there was one in Peterborough. Aaahhh....memory lane, it seems to get longer and more blurry... with or without gin and tonic. Have a fabulous New Year. We hope to see you all soon Helenxx
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 After Gavins momentary lapse of memory he arrived sheepishly (or catishly) with his glasses back on his nose. Apparently the naughty little tikes had been lying blatantly on the table next to the telly, right in front of our faces. So, feeling smug at having found them, he tells me that it is time for me to own up.... he is convinced that we hid them so that he would remember not to lose them...????? Logic???? Hmmm... "It is nice to be able to read the phone book again" he tells me. "I promise I will look after them now." It has been a busy week, and I have travelled a few miles delivering to my lovely regular clients and also some lovely new ones this week. I have been to a new market and met some more new and lovely people, and I have seen some really terrific countryside in both the daylight and the twilight and the dark. Obviously things have been a little packed and I have been a trifle fatigued. Now, our driveway requires some delicate treatment when it is a little rainy, as many of you already know, which means that the van has to be reversed in and down the road,400m. I have in 4 years pefected this, but, on Sunday evening I had to phone for a Gavin rescue from the top of the driveway. He arrived on our trusty steed ,quadbike, and pulled me out of the ditch. There are times when it is a good idea to go with the husbands request for the more expensive model with the winch on the front. :) The photo is not me, as you can see it is not nightime, however it bears a close resemblance to my slightly embarassing circumstances.  I am told that occassionally I have to 'fess up' to some of my own less than graceful moments. However other news of the less embarassing variety, is that we have acquired some new sheep..... They are Jacob sheep some 4 horned some 2 horned for those sheepy fans out there. In the background you cab see that all our sheep have collected to welcome the newcomers. And since they arrived Gavin has spent a number of days repairing fences and re-sorting previously sorted sheep as the lascivious rams have been quite keen to make friends with all the girls. After all it is the season! (farming pun there just in case you missed it) 15 days to go. Shopping nearly complete. Don't forget to place your orders. See you all soon Helen  |
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February 2023
Helen FranklinI am farming sheep and goats on the Dordogne/Gironde border with my husband and our 3 children. We have an on farm butchery and sell our meat direct to the public via the markets and delivery points in our local area |
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