Flippin Heck!

Back to school this week, but I was only there for 3 days because I had 2 school trips in the same week. I went on a Business Studies trip to Cadbury World on Thursday and that was really fun, the marketing lecture was really interesting and there was lots of free chocholate which kept us motivated! The day before I was part of a group of people who were representing our school in a regional competition to promote eco-friendly living. Unfortunately my group did not win, but nevertheless I still won a £10 HMV voucher and a coolbag!

After school on Tuesday I was meant to have Italian lessons but the teacher was ill so it was cancelled. At 7o'clock my parents and I went back to school for the French Trip Meeting. In two weeks I am going on a french trip to Paris for 4 days. You can be sure of a long blog when I return. Tuesday was also Shrove Tuesday, referred to many as Pancake Day. My family and I went to my Grandma's for a feast of pancakes, I stayed later than the rest of them to watch the football! Today however I made my own pancakes for the very first time, I was completly unsure of what to put into the mixture, and I was complety unsure about how much of which ingredient. So I chucked half a bowl of flour, a glass of milk, a duck egg and a pinch of salt together gave it a wisk and hoped for the best. I certainly got better than what I expected! They were delicious but slightly salty. Here are a couple of my picutres.

Today was carling cup final day, but instead of writing a report I'm going to leave you some pictures in order. You will see what happened!




















Goodnight,
Martin

Almost at an end, but I feel I've only just started.

Half Term is what I am refering to in the title. Sean and I go back to school on Monday, after just over a week break. It will be shattering to get up at 7am again, and not 11o'clock which I feel I am getting used to! Thankfully, I haven't had any major homework to complete over the period, just a bit of Technology coursework, but that's it, so I suppose I'm quite lucky, even though I haven't even done that yet. It's due for Wednesday, so I may either do it all tomorrow or do a bit each day.
Today I was up at 7.30 am to get ready for the local farmers market. My friend Mat slept at my house last night and he decided he would like to come too, however he was very scared (understatement) about meeting my friends from the Omlet Forum. They're all lovely, informative people. I'm so glad I have met them through the forum. Today was an extra special day because Buffie had come all the way from Buckinghamshire to visit, it's always nice to see Buffie, Mikey and Jazz, just like the rest of them, really. I had breakfast with them all, in the usual cafe, I had my usual omelette and cappucino. The good thing about this Cafe is that all of the food and drink are ORGANIC! The cafe is run by several fairly young people, and they are always very welcoming. After much chatter and natter, we finally proceeded onwards to the market. I bought some Water Buffalo Steak for my Dad and I, I bought some buffalo burgers last time and they were delicious, a really unusual but delicious taste, I can't wait to tuck into the steak. I also bought some Traditional Pork, apple and cider sausages, from one of the many local pig farmers in the area. They were a very good price too, which is even better. My Dad and I are going to have them for breakfast tomorrow with one of the duck eggs I bought from Lesley. Talking of purchases from Lesley, I also bought some coloured egg boxes. They look fantastic, they certainly make a box of eggs more interesting. I'm thinking of designing some labels and sticking them on the top, with a fact, suggestion or tip stuck onto the inside lid of the box. I'll let you know how it goes with that. I bought 20! 6 x Yellow, 6 x Green, 4 x Blue, 4 x Pink. Here's a quick picture that I have just been to take.

I am now able to sell 1/2 a dozen eggs, I'm going to be selling 6 eggs for £1.60 and 4 eggs for £1.20. I have 14 hen eggs in storage at the moment, so I'm ready for my 1/2 dozen sale. I'm hoping my nan will buy some tomorrow, and hopefully my auntie, because it's my cousins birthday party, so we're going for a meal at a local pub/restaurant near Evesham, which shall be fun!
Today I also managed to packet up the potting shed seed swap ready for postage. I'm really sorry to those who are waiting, it is unfortunate that I was ill for a while since I've had it and then up to my ears in coursework!
Talking of pots and seeds, today I also learnt how to make a pot out of paper, I'm really proud, and I'm going to plant something in it when I get chance.

Well, thanks for visiting. I bet you weren't expecting a posting so soon after the last one!

Thanks for reading,
Martin

Almost a month! Not quite!

I suppose I owe you all a lovely post all about the happenings here on the farm.

I've been up to so much, I've been sorting out my seeds ready for the new growing season. I hope to get my allotment in April, which I am really looking forward to, so I hope there is room for me on the site. As I'm not up the lottie yet, I'm going to have a bash at growing small vegetables such as, minitaure carrots, raddish, herbs and spring onions in things such as jam jars, butter tubs, yoghurt pots! It will be quite interesting to see the results!

Lesley and Carly are fabulous! They've really been enjoying themselves recently, gobbling corn and destroying the garden. Lesley has been a non-stop laying machine recently, supplying plenty of eggs for making curds, cakes or just scrambled egg on toast! Whereas, on the other hand there is Carly, who untill today hadn't laid in a few weeks! Carly eats the most corn, the most grass, and does the most damage and gives nothing in return! Typical! Good job that we love her!

Last Thursday was SNOW DAY, this meant a day off school, just before the beggining of Half Term anyway! Sean and I had fun in the snow all day, building two huge snowmen, making snow angles and of course the unbeatable snow ball fights. The animals weren't too impressed with the snow, but on the Friday, when the sun was still at large, I lured the chickens out of the eglu and into the snow to play, using a few handfuls of corn as bait! They fall for it every bedtime too, chickens aren't very intelligent if I'm honest! :D
Here are a few of the pictures that my father or I took whilst we were in the snow.

The first snowman was the smallest.

This is Sean and I supporting the second ball onto the first ball.

]Strange footprints in the snow. I swear my shoes don't look like this...

So this explains it, a gingernut and a pepperpot eating corn in the sand.

Today Grandma, Grandad, Paul, Sean and I had planned to visit the RAF Museum at Cosford in the West Midlands. They've just opened a new exhibition about the cold war and we were looking forward to going there, when we arrived the gates were shut. The people in front of us were being told something but we didn't know what, then that car turned around so we anticipated the worst, the illuminous figure aproached the car and told us that the museum was closed due to a technical failure, IT'S ONLY BEEN OPEN A FEW DAYS! So that was our day spoilt, we then went to Telford Shopping Centre and had lunch, and I also bought a football magazine! When we returned home, I watched the episode of "Grow your own Veg", from Carol Klein's latest series, I find it very interesting and unfortunately it was the last in the series! However talking of Television I'm very much looking forward to "Dragon's Den" tomorrow on BBC2 at 8o'clock. It's a programme where budding entrepenaurs take their ideas to the "Dragons" (successfull entrepenaurs. Duncan Bannontyne, Richard Farley, Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones) trying to secure funding to expand their business, with the Dragons obtaining a certain percentage of shares. It's a good watch and I would highly reccomend it! :D

Well that's all, Sean's pestering me over my shoulder, so I better go. Take care of yourselves and I'll hopefully log on soon. I'm in the process of a website, so hopefully that will keep us more in touch.

Best Wishes,
Martin