Martin Lane Farmhouse Holiday Cottages

BEST IN LANCASHIRE

2011-10-30T14:15:00.000Z

photograph from visitlancashire.com

Delighted to announce that we won 'Best Self Catering In Lancashire' at this years Lancashire Tourist Board awards. We were unable to attend the awards ceremony as we were away in Ireland cheering on the European ladies at the Solheim Cup so our daughter Zoe and her partner Chris attended on our behalf.
They had a great night and were presented with the award by Jodie Prenger (Nancy in the West End musical 'Oliver'). They were both relieved that they didn't need to give a speech!
Our cottages will now represent Lancashire in the national 'Visit Britain' awards 2012.

FIVE STAR *****

2011-09-01T15:59:00.000+01:00

Great news.....We have just been awarded 5 Stars for our latest cottage 'The Stable'. We are absolutely delighted, makes all the hard work worth while. It has also achieved M3 in the mobility ratings which means that it is suitable for a disabled guest with the severest disability. Everyone who has stayed in it so far have been full of praise for it.

NEW ADDITIONS !

2011-08-24T16:22:00.001+01:00

Meet the 2 new additions to our Barn Owl family. They're ever so sweet, we've christened them 'sleepy' and 'dopey' . They probably won't hang around for too long before they spread their wings and find pastures new.

The Stable continues to delight all those who stay tin it and has been fully occupied since the begining of July...

Were delighted that we have been shortlisted again for the Annual Tourism Awards, it would be the icing on the cake if we won this year.

THE STABLE

2011-06-18T11:59:00.000+01:00

Our latest cottage is finally finished and it's fab. Been alot of hard work but we're delighted with the finished product. It has been carefully designed to accommodate guests with any disability whilst not appearing too 'clinical'. More photographs and a complete description of the cottage can be found on our website www.martinlanefarmhouse.btinternet.co.uk

SPRING LAMBS

2011-03-28T16:51:00.000+01:00

Meet the latest additions to our farm. These two beautiful hebridean lambs were born this morning. Mum needed no help whatsoever, she just got on with the job and produced these healthy twins. 1 boy & 1 girl. .....perfect

GREEN SHOOTS !

2011-02-23T10:16:00.000Z

Signs that Spring is on its way are definitely all around. The snowdrops and crocus's (crocii ??)are up and loads of daffodils ready to burst out.

The birds are busy looking for nesting sites, the boxes that Alan put up last year have lots of activity around them this year.

Our resident Robin was captured on film last year, by one of our guests from Australia and he sent me this copy at Christmas. I think its fab! He's coming again in July so I look forward to some more fantastic photos.

Milly continues to be an absolute treasure. The only problem is that she gets so excited when she sees anyone that she jumps up at them like a 'jack in the box'. We are trying to stop it but its not easy as everyone makes such a fuss of her!!

Home to the Sun

2011-01-12T12:12:00.000Z

Mykela & Kirra with their very first snowman

Really sad, just waved goodbye to our dear friends from Perth, Australia. They have been here since the beginning of December and Mykela & Kirra were delighted when it snowed....they had never seen snow before! Their snowman sported a very attractive 'Freemantle Footbal Club' scarf! However I think, like all of us, they were glad when it had gone....enough was enough !!! It really curtailed their sight-seeing trips. It was great to have them here though and I hope it won't be too long before we see tem all again. Milly will really miss them, they made such a fuss of her.

Fortunately, none of the animals came to any harm during the freezing weather but it made a lot more work for Alan, trying to keep them with a constant water supply. The only fatalities we had were one fish and two frogs who perished in the pond.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!

2010-11-26T22:44:00.000Z

Its sooooooooooooooo cold !!!! I really feel sorry for the animals at this time of year. Even though the sheep have nice woolly coats they still look forlorn in this weather.

Afraid I have bad news about the hens. You will remember that in my last blog I said that we had bought 8 new hens and now had plenty of lovely brown eggs for our visitors. Then a friend gave us 2 bantams so we had 13 hens in total. This week a fox has been on the rampage and we now only have 4 hens left................ What do the 'anti hunt' brigade think about that ??? ............Maybe they think that a few domestic hens, pecking around in the garden, are fair game !

Where Has the Summer Gone ??

2010-09-19T20:12:00.000+01:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged since June....just where has the time gone?? The cottages have been pretty full all summer and we are still almost fully booked until end of October.
Milly hasn't been well and had to stay in at the vets for tests. Eventually found that she had picked up some sort of bacterial infection but, a course of antibiotics and £115 later she is finally OK again. She just loves all the visitors because everyone makes such a fuss of her.

Finally bought more hens as the demand for eggs was bigger than the supply so now we have plenty of eggs for everyone. We've also got 3 new piglets. Val, one of our regular guests, has christened them 'Itchy' 'Scratchy' & 'Patch' . Thats Patch, the one in the middle thats got its beady eye on you! Scary or what !!

The weather has been foul today, so much so that the Southport Airshow was cancelled.
The golfers staying in the cottages this week came back like drowned rats today, they got absolutely soaked......hopefully all their gear will be dry by tomorrow.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

2010-06-20T20:35:00.000+01:00

Absolutely thrilled to receive a ' Highly Commended' award at the recent Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board Annual Awards. Micheala Strachan was lovely, a wonderful personality and great fun.

The blackbird nesting in the clematis hatched 4 eggs but there only seems to be two birds in there now. They are almost ready to leave the nest now so I hope they survive ok.

Our visitors arriving in the Dairy today found a tiny, tiny baby sparrow alone on the cobbles. Can't find the nest it is from so Zoe has taken it home to try and feed it and help it to survive. Its such a tiny little thing, I just hope it makes it.

CONGRATULATIONS

2010-06-02T09:09:00.002+01:00

Many congratulations to Philip & Hannah who stayed with us over Easter while competing in the Ballroom Dancing Festival in Southport. They did extremely well and are now ranked 4th in the UK sequence dancing. Well Done.
Plenty of activity in the various nests around the place. Our blackbird is back again this year, nesting in the clematis around our back door. She fledged 3 babies successfully last year so lets hope she does the same this year. We have also been watching a pair of robins who have built their nest in an upturned flowerpot in the rockery. Mum and Dad were very protective and 'dive bombed' Milly if she went anywhere near!
The hens are away on holiday at the moment. We took them to stay with Zoe while we went to France for a week and haven't been back for them yet. Alan is making a new compound for them in the field so we will bring them back just as soon as it is finished.

GTBS AWARDS

2010-04-28T21:26:00.001+01:00

Just received the photos of the GTBS awards. It took place two weeks ago at Salmesbury Hall and was a really nice event. Salmesbury Hall is well worth a visit as its a most beautiful building with lots of history and there's a really unusual craft/gift shop. They also serve great food and scrummy home made cakes.Sharon, the manager is 2nd from the left in the group picture.
Victoria and John in the centre are from Martin Mere, they won a Gold award. We now have an arrangement with Martin Mere. They allow our guests in at a reduced entry fee and I give WWT members a 5% discount on their stay with us. Its working really well already.

GOZZY

2010-04-24T09:32:00.001+01:00

Think foxy roxy must have moved home! The geese were ganging up and attacking another one, (now called 'Gozzy') so we had to spilt them up. Gozzy now roams free around the farmyard and is still alive to tell the tale so foxy roxy can't still be around. Milly isn't quite sure what to make of Gozzy. She runs towards him then, as soon as Gozzy flaps his wings and hisses at her she skids to a halt. Then its like a 'mexican stand off'......neither will lose face and turn away so they both stand there looking at each other menacingly, at least as menecing as a 15 week old puppy can look!!
Beautiful day today, sun cracking the flags so should be able to get some work done to the nature walk we are trying to establish.

TOURISM AWARDS

2010-04-02T12:01:00.000+01:00

Delighted to have been shortlisted in the Lancashire Tourism Awards for 'Best Self-Catering'. Busy working on my final submission, I can't believe just how long these things take to put together, still it will be all worth while if we win.

Milly is just adorable. Can't wait to start taking her for walks next week once she is fully vaccinated. She has really settled in well and doesn't cry at night any more.

The hens are laying well now but we will have to get some more to keep up with demand.

MEET MILLY

2010-03-25T11:07:00.000Z

Meet the latest addition to our family. MILLY is our beautiful border terrier puppy. She is just 11 weeks old and is absolutely gorgeous. Only arrived here on Sunday and hasn't lost a minute exploring her new home. She's very inquisitive and full of mischief but loves nothing more than to cuddle up to you.

She's had her first vacination and will have the second one in 2 weeks time. Until then she cannot go out but I know she will love running around the garden and will definately be a big hit with our visitors.

GOING GREEN

2010-02-15T14:05:00.001Z

Over the last 12 months we have been endeavouring to be 'greener' and all our hard work has now been rewarded with a SILVER award from the 'Green Tourism Business Scheme.

The hide is well & and truly finished and loads more bird boxes and feeding stations have been installed around the grounds. Our project for this year is a nature walk, through the garden and down the side of the field. As soon as we get some reasonable weather and the ground is soft enough to dig, we will get started.

Work has started on our 4th cottage. This will be a single storey, 2 bedroomed cottage with complete accessibility. Hopefully it will be ready by the summer but not taking any bookings as yet.

FOXY BUSINESS

2010-01-14T16:35:00.000Z

One good thing to come from all this snow is the discovery of a fox living in style under our big barn. After the first heavy snowfall we noticed this strange set of prints coming from the lane and down our drive, skirting around the edge of the courtyard then over the wall into the farmyard. We could then follow them around the barn to a foxhole dug under the floor in the wood store. It is probably the same one who killed the geese last year!. Talk about 'sly'....living rent free with ready made meals to hand!! Anyway, the hens and the geese are now kept in their compounds at night so 'Foxy Roxy' can't get to them. This is presumably why she/he found it necessary to go down the lane to look for sustinance. Don't quite know what to do about it at the moment. Zoe would never forgive us if we exterminated it. (She's already horrified that we now have 2 freezers full of pork/bacon)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-05T14:49:00.003Z

After all that hectic preparation, Christmas came & went in a nano second...or am I just getting too old? Still, it was nice to have the family all home for Christmas. Total 'whiteout' today, hasn't stopped snowing since the early hours and I've a really bad dose of the flu so, feeling really sorry for myself!
It will be a shame to take the fairy lights down from the trees as everyone has remarked how lovely they have looked. 'A Winter Wonderland' was how one guest described it.
We have a beautiful Jay visiting the back garden on a regular basis now. Its colours are just lovely and it looks huge next to the robins!. Alan has erected loads more bird boxes around the site so, hopefully, they will become 'home' to the many species we have around here. 'Ossie' the owl made a rare appearance yesterday, we don't usually see much of him this time of year!

2009-12-09T21:02:00.001Z

What a welcome change in the weather. Thought it would never stop raining long enough to get the Christmas lights up. We normally get them up on the first weekend in December, but have only managed two trees to date due to the weather! One of the hens fell off its perch this week so now we're down to 4. Will probably wait until next spring now to replace her. Pinky & Perky????????.............Pork chops anyone !!!!!!!

Saturday 14th November 2009

2009-11-14T12:57:00.000Z

At last, the hide is almost complete. Windows are in, just need a bit of insulation to stop the draughts, and it will be ready and waiting for all you twitchers. The whooper swans have been arriving in their thousands in the last month. The sight & sound as they pass overhead is amazing as they make their way to Martin Mere.
Trying to get my head around this 'Twitter' business. If anyone is interested in following my 'tweets' you will find them on Twitter / Martin Lane Farm Our home made jam & chutney is going well and, fortunately, the hens are still laying. Pinky & Perky continue to eat us out of house & home, I'm sure they must be fat enough by now for..........

Sunday 1st November 2009

2009-11-01T11:31:00.000Z

What a difference a day makes! After a beautiful day yesterday when the geese were enjoying the warm, autumn sunshine, woke up this morning to a howling gail and the rain beating against the windows. It then hit me that I had forgotton to bring in all the washing from the changeover yesterday. To make matters worse, I then discovered that the washing line had broken and so all the bedding (from 8 beds) had to be rewashed....hey ho !!!!

Sunday 4th October 2009

2009-10-04T21:47:00.000+01:00

What a week. Alan has been away in Stutgart for the beer festival so I have been here on my own. Pinky & Perky are lucky that they aren't bacon !! On Friday evening, when I went to feed them, they had got out into the field and had made a right mess ! I eventually got them back into their pen and settled them down for the night. Saturday morning all was well, fed the beasts and then went off for a round of golf with my friends. Returned Saturday evening ( loooooooooooong game !) only to find that the porkers (no longer sweet little piggie wiggies) had, once more, escaped from their pen. Not satisfied with just digging up the paddock they had rampaged through the potato patch and devastated it. All our potato crop eaten in one day. (Roast pork & apple sauce now has a distinctive appeal!)
Still busy in the cottages, only a few days vacant up to the end of October. Seem to be very popular with Germans in two of the cottages this week and next week all our visitors are from New Zealand.
Played golf again today.....absolute rubbish....think I'll stick to watching it on the telly

Tuesday 15th September

2009-09-15T20:34:00.002+01:00

Still holding onto the summer weather thanks goodness! Pinky & Perky are growing really fast, they really love being out in the field and digging up the earth. They don't like the rain however and soon scurry into their sty at the slightest drop!
Last Saturday we saw a red squirrel running across the garden and up the oak tree. It stayed up the tree for quite a while and we could see it leaping across the branches then it just disappeared amongst the foliage and we haven't seen it since.
Diane, who stayed here last week, spent hours trying to get a photo of the little owl. It would sit on the roof of the shed watching her but, as soon as she got near enough to get a good picture, it popped down out of sight.

Friday 31st July 2009

2009-07-31T15:04:00.004+01:00

Introducing you to the latest additions to Martin Lane Farm. Pinky & Perky (not very imaginative I know!!!) have now taken up residence. They are living in the shed at the moment but, when they get a bit bigger they will be going out into the field.

All the cottages are full this week. Yvonne & Val are here once again from Ipswich. This must be their 5th visit. They have come up to watch the Ladies Golf Open at Lytham St Annes and they have already booked with us for next year when the same event takes place at Royal Birkdale.

The weather hasn't been too bad, we seem to have escaped alot of the rain so I'm keeping my fingers crossed about August.

I completed the Race for Life on Sunday 19th July. Was very pleased with myself as I completed the 5k in 40 minutes and have so far raised £405 for cancer research with some more promised. If you would care to add to my total, its very easy to do via the 'Just Giving' link on this blog

Monday July 6th 2009

2009-07-06T14:40:00.002+01:00

What a difference a week makes!! Last week we were sweltering as the temperature soared ever higher but yesterday & today the rain has come down in torrents. The garden looks better for it and the geese are delighted but the poor hens are looking a bit bedraggled.
Have been very busy getting the 'Welcome Walkers & Cyclists' accreditation so, now we've got that,
we're working to get the 'Green Tourism' award. We want to be as 'environmentally friendly' as we possibly can so there's quite a few things we need to change, but I was surprised at just how many things we were doing right already.
Our free range farm eggs are proving very popular with our guests so the 'chucks' are earning their keep at last.
Work has finally started on our fourth cottage which, when finished will be suitable for wheelchair users and guests with other mobility problems.
I'm running in the 'Race for Life' in two weeks so, if you would care to sponsor me for Cancer Research, its very easy to do via the link to the left of this article.

Thursday June 11th 2009

2009-06-11T09:59:00.004+01:00

The last few weeks have been delightful with all the warm sunshine. The sun umbrellas have been brought out of hibernation at last and now it feels as if summer is nearly here!
Mr & Mrs Galbraith are here from New Zealand visiting family. They have been on a coach tour for the last 21 days touring the whole of the United Kingdom so they are really enjoying the rest here and taking full advantage of the peace & quiet.
Went to see 'The Dream', at Sutton Manor in St Helens. For those of you who didn't see the Channel 4 programme 'The Big Art Show', its a sixty metre high sculpture of a girls head erected on top of a former coal mine. It is fabulous, well worth a visit and set to become as famous as the Angel of the North in Gateshead.

Wednesday May 13th 2009

2009-05-13T09:41:00.003+01:00

Spring is well and truly here. We have a blackbird nesting in the clematis that grows around our back door. Alan has fixed a tiny camera up so that we can watch the 'comings & goings' via our tv, ....its really fascinating. There appears to be two 'babies' who keep mum & dad very busy as they seem to need feeding constantly!

The new hens have settled in and are laying fairly well so our visitors can now enjoy a new laid egg for their breakfast.

Ron & Annie from Devon are here for their second visit and love the changes to the Dairy. Ron has doubled up as shepherd & poutry man already. We were away for a few days and the sheep managed to find their way out of the field and into the lane. Fortunately, Ron was just returning from a day trip to Windermere and was able to get them back into the field, then the hens decided that the grass was greener in our garden than in their pen so made their 'great escape'!...

I'm also entering the 'Race for Life' to raise funds for cancer research. If you would like to sponsor me you can do so online at www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/elainestubbs1 . I am hoping to raise around £500

Wednesday April 29th 2009

2009-04-29T12:21:00.003+01:00

The reaction to the refurbishment of the Dairy has been great. Everyone loves it and its so easy to keep clean & tidy.

With hindsight, my claim that our visitors would have new laid eggs in their welcome baskets was a bit rash, some would say 'tempting fate'! .....Our two lovely little hens are 'no more'. Don't think it was the fox that took them this time, Alan seems to think it may have been a sparrow hawk because all we found was their feathers. Anyway, we've now purchased five new brown hens which should start laying soon so, hopefully I will be able to fulfill my promise.

Monday 23rd March 2009

2009-03-23T14:53:00.004Z

The refurbishment in the Dairy is finished at last and is really fab. Could live in there myself! Its been alot of hard work and expense but well worth it in the end

The lounge area looks much better since we removed the sofa bed and have put in a nice comfortable setee and sideboard.

The kitchen is a real triumph. Trying to fit everything into such a small space was really difficult and took ages to plan but I think, in the end, we have succeeded magnificently. I can't wait to see the reaction of our first guests this weekend. They have been coming here for the last 15 years so they will see a tremendous difference

We had our annual inspection on Thursday by the Tourist Board and passed with flying colours.

The hens are laying regularly now so our guests will be treated to a couple of newlaid eggs in their welcome basket!

18th January 2009

2009-01-18T14:53:00.003Z

Can't believe that I haven't posted a blog since NOVEMBER !! Where does the time go ??? Christmas was hectic with the Shippon and the Dairy both having families in from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day then more families from Boxing Day to New Years day. Couldn't ask Sue, my cleaner, to come on Boxing Day so had to do both cottages myself. Fortunately the Granary had the same family in right over the Christmas & New Year so that was great.

It was really nice having the boys home for a full week but, no sooner had they gone back to the big smoke than my youngest brother arrived with his family for a few days. I seemed to spend the whole holiday cooking & cleaning........I'm sure lots of you can relate to this !!

Work on the 'hide' has started again so, with a bit of luck, that should be up and running by next month.

We're also planning big alterations to the Dairy and intend to make a start in February. The kitchen area is to be completely re-fitted and we are going to put an oak floor down in the lounge as its impossible to keep a carpet clean. The Granary is due for re-carpeting....such a hassle as we have to take all the furniture out, but it will be well worth the trouble when its finished. There's actually nothing physically wrong with the carpet that's in there it just looks a little 'old fashioned' now. We will have to replace the cooker in the Granary as someone has been too vigorous with a Brillo pad and made a real mess of the top surface. I have tried re-painting it with special paint but it hasn't worked. Anyway, this should all be finished by March when we start to get busy again

Saturday 22nd November 2008

2008-11-22T19:50:00.002Z

Apologies for the absence of any news since October. We have been away on holiday to New Zealand and Australia. Had a great time but the weather was terrible everywhere we went. In the whole month we only had approx seven sunny/hot days, so I don't want to hear anyone ever complain about the British weather again!
Unfortunately, while we were away, that evil fox got into the compound and killed another 3 geese. We've only got 7 left now and we have had to start penning them up in a shed at night for their own safety.
There's lots of tidying up outside to do. Everywhere is thick with leaves which need sweeping up and all the tubs and baskets need replanting with winter flowers and foliage. We must get it done by next weekend as the Christmas lights will need putting up shortly.
No further progress on the hide yet but will keep you informed.
Went into Liverpool on Tuesday evening and walked around the new shopping precinct 'Liverpool One'. It's fab, even though the shops were shut it was really lively and energetic. There's loads of bistro's, bars etc and it was great fun.

Saturday October 11th 2008

2008-10-11T17:55:00.002+01:00

The great Firework Competition in Southport last weekend was disrupted a bit by the torrential rain but they managed to get the show completed eventually. It really is a spectacular show and can be seen from miles around but you need to be along marine gardens to get get the full effect of the music as well.

Sadly, a fox killed two of our geese this week. It's a shame that those people who think foxes are cuddly & cute and should be protected at all costs, couldn't see how they rip apart a poor defenceless goose. So, while foxes have the run of the countryside, the geese, who used to roam freely around the fields, now have to be penned up in order to save their lives.

Everywhere is looking very autumnal now and the garden hoover has been working overtime to clear the leaves. The Bramleys have all been picked and frozen but we still have a few tomatoes left in the greenhouse.

Tuesday 1st August 2008

2008-10-01T20:53:00.002+01:00

Have had a very busy weekend. Our son was 30 so had a family BBQ in the garden. Fortunately the weather was great and so everyone stayed outdoors. Had a few braziers and the chimenea going so it was really quite warm and with all the fairy lights in the trees it was quite magical.

The difference a few days make. Today it is absolutely freezing and the wind is howling, feels like the deep midwinter!

Our guests this week are walkers and they don't seem to mind the weather at all. Of course they have all the right gear and so they just don't worry what the weather is like they just enjoy getting out and about.

Also have a visitor from Belfast so I took him into Liverpool yesterday to see all the various art installations for Capital of Culture year and then we drove to Crosby beach to see the 'Iron Men' as they are known locally. He was very impressed with it all.

Princess Anne was in Liverpool today opening the second phase of the 'Liverpool One' shopping centre. Unfortunately I didn'tt get a chance to go and see her.

Monday 15th September 2008

2008-09-15T17:42:00.002+01:00

Yet another wet week. A good job the cottages are warm & cosy because all our guests spent most of last week inside. I think its about time I bought the sun umbrellas in, doesn't look as if they will get any more use this year.

The geese are enjoying the lake that has formed in the field but the sheep don't look too happy!

The air show in Southport was a great success. Luckily it was one of the good days, warm & sunny so a good time was had by all. Lots of the air displays flew over our house so we saw the Red Arrows and the Lancaster bomber from the back garden.

Just got news of a farmers market which is to be held once a month in Burscough Village. This will be great as we have such alot of good produce in the area that it will be nice for our visitors to have somewhere to get it.

Monday 1st September 2008

2008-09-01T09:47:00.003+01:00

Apologies for the delay in postings but I have been having trouble with my computer .....All very technical but got it sorted at last !!

Well, what can I say about August !! The weather has been awful but, on the whole, this little corner of the world seems to fare better than most. Our guests have all managed to get a few good sunny days in although, with hind sight, I think buying the sun umbrellas for the patio tables was tempting fate a bit!.....Still, they'll do for next year.

Two of our guests in August, Terry & Liz were so determined to see the owls that they sat in the big barn with a glass of wine and waited for them to return from their evenings hunting. They were well rewarded for their patience when two barn owls returned and perched, for quite a few minutes, in an opening in the eaves of the barn. Liz said that they almost appeared to be 'framed' against the dusky evening sky.

The ground has now been cleared for the 'hide' and the camera is, hopefully, being installed this week. It wont be filming directly inside the owl box but will be trained on the entrance and hopefully catch the owls as they take flight.

We saw a huge big bird of prey at the bottom of our field yesterday. Unfortunately, by the time we got the binoculars it had flown but we'll keep our eye out for it and hopefully be able to identify it soon.

Saturday August 9th 2008

2008-08-09T15:29:00.002+01:00

Our old friends from Glasgow have just gone home after spending a week with us. They have been coming here every year for the last 18 years and , over the years, we have become good friends. Last year we spent a long weekend in Glasgow for Helens 50th birthday and we had a great time, they all made us so welcome.

Just discovered a baby barn owl sheltering in the timber store. As soon as it saw me, it flew out into the garden so I wasn't able to get a good photo of it. It's fully fledged and is just trying its wings out.

Friday August 1st 2008

2008-08-01T20:49:00.004+01:00

The weather was glorious at the begining of the week so we managed to get lots of gardening done. Almost stepped on a baby hedgehog which was sleeping in the sunshine right in the middle of the yard !!. lucky I found it or it could have been run over.

At the bottom of our garden we have a 'pill box' which was built during the war. When our children were small they called it 'the fort' and spent many hours playing games in and around it. Over the years it has become totally overgrown with ivy etc. We have finally had all the excess foliage removed and so it now makes quite a good viewing platform to look out over the surrounding fields.

Hope the weather is good tomorrow as we have a wedding party here. The 'Bird' family (good name for someone staying here!!) are here for the wedding of their son Russell.

Monday 21st July 2008

2008-07-21T09:35:00.004+01:00

Went to the Albert Dock yesterday to see the 'Tall Ships'. Absolutely thousands there and the queue to get on the quayside was horrendous so we had a look from the distance and left!. Went inside the Town Hall which I have never ever been in before and it was magnificent....well worth a visit if you're in Liverpool..

News of the owls. Found another baby owl in distress. This time it was a baby barn owl which was not completely fledged. It had (fallen/flown/been pushed?)out of the owl box and didn't have the strength to get back up to it. It was all night on its own in the barn and was looking very distressed so we called in our local 'owl man' . He has taken it back to his sanctuary to feed it up and, once it is fully fledged, it will be released back into the wild.

Once all the baby owls have fledged and left the nest, we are going to fit a camera in the box so that visitors can see whats going on in there. Work will hopefully be starting soon on our 'hide'....will keep you posted.

Saturday 20th July 2008

2008-07-21T09:24:00.004+01:00

Had a really busy week this week at 'The Open'. Walked the course on Monday with Garcia, Jimenez & Larrazabal. They were great fun and had my photo taken with each of them.....I'll only bore you with one !!! (I'm the blonde one). Although the weather has been absolutely dire, it hasn't stopped the fans turning out and Southport has been 'buzzing' all week. My guests for the Open have been really impressed with the area and one couple, Jane & Neil from London have decided to stay on for an extra couple of days.

Sunday 13th July 2008

2008-07-13T22:44:00.003+01:00

Just returned from spending the day at Royal Birkdale. http://www.royalbirkdale.com It was great. Weather has been fabulous all day and its such a relaxed atmosphere following the players around as they practice. They seem to be enjoying themelves laughing and joking together as they played. Boo Weekly even stopped to buy his group an ice cream each!

I am acting as a scorer on Thursday & Friday so had to attend a 'teach in' today. Think I'll be Ok but going for a practice tomorrow just to make sure.

Saturday July 12th 2008

2008-07-13T22:23:00.002+01:00

Busy day today getting all three cottages ready for our 'golfing' visitors. Southport and all the surrounding areas are bedecked with 'OPEN' signs....its such a big event for the area.

Sadly we found one of the young 'Little Owls' had drowned in the Geese's water trough. Can only assume that it had been getting a drink and lost its balance! I suppose young owls are a bit like young humans.....very inquisitive, tend to go places they shouldn't and then get out of their depth!

Thursday 3rd July 2008

2008-07-04T11:17:00.002+01:00

Can't believe its July already!. The guests in the Granary have visitors staying for the next few days, had a nice long talk to them today as they were sitting out in the sunshine. They live in Bristol but their daughter and her young family live in Glasgow so, the Granary, is ideal as a 'half way' house

Our regular visitors from Libya are due today. This is their fourth annual visit. They wanted to stay for two weeks but, due to 'The Open' at Royal Birkdale, I can only accommodate them for 9 days.

Saturday June 28th 2008

2008-06-30T20:14:00.003+01:00

Changeover day again ! Its amazing how quick they come around. Mr & Mrs McManus have arrived today all the way from St Ives in Cornwall. They're here for two weeks so I hope the weather is kind to them.

Still waiting for a few more hens to arrive so that we can offer our guests some lovely new laid eggs.

Wednesday June 25th 2008

2008-06-25T10:56:00.004+01:00

The weathers not been too bad this week. Yesterday was warm & sunny so managed to get all the tubs planted up at last! Today its a bit cloudy but still quite warm. Hope it doesn't rain as I'm playing in the Ladies Open at Beacon Park GC.

7.30pm. Pleased to say that the weather did stay fine and the team I was in came 2nd...How about that ! We won a really nice hold-all each, I'll get plenty of use out of that.

Saturday June 14th 2008

2008-06-21T13:51:00.004+01:00

John & Rosemary Horsnall arrived today. They first came to stay in 1990 to celebrate the first Christmas of their grand-daughter Jessica. They have been back many times over the intervening years and are back again today to join in the celebrations for Jessica's 18th birthday.

Friday June 20th 2008

2008-06-21T01:30:00.001+01:00

This afternoon, Alan & I went to the official opening of 'The Farm' http://www.thefarmburscough.co.uk/ The ceremony was performed by Will Sargeant from 'Echo & the Bunnymen'. Our friends Freda & Bill Neale, their daughter Cathy and husband Dan have created this fabulous farm shop and tea rooms. It really is lovely. The produce on sale is all locally produced, much of it by the Neales themselves. Their award winning home made cakes, jams & chutneys are not to be missed.

Its a lovely walk from our cottages down to The Farm and apart from having afternoon tea you can also do their mile long farm walk and see the local flora & fauna at close hand.

Wednesday June 18th 2008

2008-06-18T17:09:00.001+01:00

Absolutely pouring down today. Still, it will save having to water all the garden, baskets, tubs etc.
Last night we took the offending 'egg eater' out of the chicken run and have let her run around with the geese. Consequently, today, we have one lovely fresh egg !! Once we get a few more hens we will be adding new laid eggs to our welcome baskets.

One of our visitors this week is a great guitarist and sits practising outside the cottage. It really is lovely to listen to and I have my lounge windows open so I can hear while I am working.

Saturday June 14th

2008-06-14T18:55:00.000+01:00

Changeover day today and the weather is lovely so I'll be able to get all the sheets etc dried outside. They're so much easier to iron after blowing in the wind and they smell so lovely and fresh as well.

Moved some of the overgrown pots from outside the Granary and the Shippon to make way for the new patio tables and chairs. They look so much better than the old ones and they're big enough to sit and eat outside.

Got 2 new hens last week but one of them is eating the eggs as fast as they are laid. Will have to try some of the old fashioned methods of deterring it otherwise its 'for the pot!'

The geese are waddling around contentedly but the cockerel (that has appeared out of the blue) is really annoying the hens!

Wednesday June 11th 2008

2008-06-12T05:40:00.001+01:00

Tom Howard and his wife from USA left today to travel to the south of England, they've enjoyed their stay in the North West tremendously and hope to return one day. David and Jan plus their lovely daughter Jessica arrived today from Melbourne, Australia. They were very tired when they arrived but its so quiet and peaceful here that they were able to catch up on some much needed sleep.

Sunday June 8th 2008

2008-06-11T21:07:00.000+01:00

Went to buy the hanging baskets today. They're so cheap to buy now that its not worth the trouble of planting them up yourself!

Went down to the Pier Head to take a look at the 'Ark Royal' which is berthed up until Tuesday at the new landing stage in Liverpool. It really is lovely now down there. There's still lots of work to be finished but it will be fantastic when it is complete, pity it wasn't all finished for this year which is of course European Capital of Culture 2008

Saturday 7th June 2008

2008-06-11T20:46:00.000+01:00

Easy day today as theres only one changeover. Weather is glorious again. New guests, from the South of England, arrived for the Dairy. They are visiting an old friend locally who hasn't the room to put them up. A lovely couple from Northern Ireland are in the Granary. They have been here for two weeks and leave on Tuesday. This is their second visit, they've had glorious weather and have already told me that they will be back next year. The young couple who have been in the Shippon were here to visit old haunts from her childhood.

Wednesday May 28th 2008

2008-06-11T20:29:00.000+01:00

Attended Merseyside Tourism awards ceremony as we were on a shortlist of three for 'Best Self Catering' on Merseyside. Unfortunately we were piped at the post by 'Premier Apartments' which is a new concept in accommodation for business men visiting the city......very smart but also very expensive!

Anyway, had a good evening as you can see from the photograph of our table. thats me third from the right.