CAUTION: THIS POST IS FOR WOMEN ONLY
It’s THAT time of year again. Scantily clad, sun-kissed, broad-shouldered men tenderly handling innocent and trusting creatures AKA ***shearing time*** đđđ€Ș
Tel: 01845 587544
Mobile: 07785 763738
Morndyke House, Brickyard Farm, Busby Stoop, Thirsk, YO7 4EH
Tel: 01845 587544
Mobile: 07785 763738
Morndyke House, Brickyard Farm, Busby Stoop, Thirsk, YO7 4EH
Alanâs Big Hole
Filed in: Stories
There are certain things every boy loves, not least, holes. They love digging and moving shed loads of soil – but not by hand, I hasten to add. Give a boy a digger and he is happy. One of the curious aspects of life is that boys never change. Their needs and desires stay straight and steady from cradle to grave. Alan is no exception.
Talking Turkey
Filed in: Stories
Amongst the collection of retired and competition horses, graze the small flock of sheep that were once destined for the meal table. The free range hens and turkeys that started their lives in factory farms strut and cluck in busy contemplation in the safety of their run.
The Sheep Collector
Filed in: Stories
There is nothing more Yorkshire than the Nidderdale Show. Set in the beautiful dales village of Pateley Bridge, it serves as a pilgrimage the the regions sheep farmers, and is followed shortly after by Masham sheep fair (which borders on the caricature, it is so Yorkshire).
I swear we are related to the Durrells.
Filed in: Stories
I swear we are related to the Durrells. Is it only us that constantly end up being ‘found’ by things? The latest find is Bramble Jack.
The Twilight Zone
Filed in: Stories
They say that a change is as good as a rest. The jury is out, to put it mildly. It feels more like purgatory. But at least I think I’ve earned some browny points on the ‘Being a Good Mother’ front.
The Mystery of the Missing Hair Bands
Filed in: Stories
It’s a strange one. At night, my routine doesn’t alter much – being a woman of a certain age, I climb into bed and take my watch off and take the hair band off my wrist that I’d put there earlier from my ponytail.
Daisyâs ExPLODition
Filed in: Stories
The world is full of remarkable people – sometimes it’s hard to see, but they are out there, hiding amongst the ordinary.
Mice
Filed in: Stories
Life at Morndyke has just got a bit more entertaining . We’ve had an influx – of mice!đ Fat ones, thin ones, pale ones, dark ones, shy ones, brazen ones, even slightly disabled looking ones… they’re everywhere!
Harvest time is here again
Filed in: Stories
Its that time of year again: Pete’s old combine has been dusted off, its rat-chewed wires have been taped up with a bit of duck tape (incredibly versatile stuff) to stop the old girl firing.
Damsels in distress at Morndyke Shepherdsâ Huts
Filed in: Stories
One of the great things about running a glamping site is meeting the clients. All kinds of people come through our gates bringing with them all sorts of personalities and stories. I love it.
Auction of Promises at the Buck Inn in Maunby
Filed in: Stories
When it comes to your kids, (2 legged or 4 legged, bald, furred or feathered, aka human or otherwise), nothing matters more. They bring heart ache, pleasure, pain and stress in fairly equal measures.
I was going to go to Breckenbrough Horse Trials
Filed in: Stories
Today I was going to compete at Breckenbrough Horse Trials, but it’s rained. Then rained some more. I’d need flippers and a snorkel and I don’t look great in a bikini, so inevitably it’s been cancelled.
Chaotic cow day on the farm
Filed in: Stories
It’s that time of year again – chuck out time. The weekend closest to May 1st is when all our herd are turned out for their summer grazing.
Kew Gardens at Morndyke
Filed in: Stories
On Saturday I went somewhere I’d always wanted to go: Kew Gardens in London. This iconic place where every species of plant is either grown or saved, where trees stand tall and plants flourish.
Barbels to basking sharks. Fishing at Morndyke
Filed in: Stories
One of the good things about our shepherds’ huts are that they are right next to our lake – perfect if you like fishing.
Horses, Health and Heroes
Filed in: Stories
I think I’m onto something.
Trust me, this is worth a read. For all of you out there whose bodies are in pain or don’t work properly, or are injured, this is for you.
Trust me, this is worth a read. For all of you out there whose bodies are in pain or don’t work properly, or are injured, this is for you.
The chaos of the cows continues
Filed in: Stories
So the cows have been turned out for the summer grazing, and all was well with the world. That is until Alan rang me. Apparently one of ‘them red heifers’ (who incidentally haven’t been heifers for a couple of years, but the name stuck) had calved at Robin’s
We are Siamese (cats) if you please
Filed in: Stories
It has come to my attention that I have failed to share with you my shadows. So I think I need to introduce you to two of my best mates: Kiki and Khufu- the Siamese cats.
Wedding Anniversary ⊠with a differenceâŠ
Filed in: Stories
It was my wedding anniversary last Monday. It goes without saying that Alan forgot. He’s a Yorkshire farmer after all.
Spring has sprung off
Filed in: Stories
Did I blink and miss it? Spring that is…
I swear it was warm on Tuesday – I distinctly remember taking off my coat.
I swear it was warm on Tuesday – I distinctly remember taking off my coat.
Auction Virgin
Filed in: Stories
I went to my first ever auction on Tuesday. I found some old pots that I thought would look fab on the glamping site, so I decided to bid.
The Morndyke Mini Shop
Filed in: Stories
So excited! I’ve opened a shop! The Morndyke Mini Shop to be precise.
The tale of a goose named Lucy
Filed in: Stories
Lucy, dear little Lucy – the amount of stress and grief you have given me is immeasurable.
5 Star Accommodation Ratings
Filed in: Stories
What a great week it has been at Morndyke – full house here on the glamping site. It was so exciting to welcome our very first ‘proper’ glampers: Morag and Reg Taylor, with their gorgeous springer spaniel Gigha.
William Wordsworth at Morndyke Shepherdsâ Huts
Filed in: Stories
I reckon Wordsworth must have known a thing or two about daffodils, and possibly a thing or two about Morndyke. Our daffodils here are spectacular and well worth a viewing. The birds in the dawn chorus are just beautiful too.
The Buck Inn at Maunby â our favourite pub.
Filed in: Stories
One of the (many) good things about our farm is that we are never too far away from a good eating place. Today the choice was The Buck Inn at Maunby.
Capote gets wet. Again.
Filed in: Stories
What a difference a day makes. HEAT. The date is April 20th 2018. Has Spring arrived? Is this a temporary respite from the winter deluges? Capote certainly hopes so. I think he has shrunk from too many soakings.
Our lake is cold. And deepâŠ.
Filed in: Stories
Our lake is cold. And deep. And has a chequered past. I’d love to know it’s full history. It started life as a clay pit for making bricks hundreds of years ago. Just after the war the council tipped their rubbish in it and it shrank from 4 acres to 2.
Ducklings at Springtime. Spring has sprung
Filed in: Stories
Spring has sprung at Morndyke. It’s certainly the time of year for new life – it’s springing up every where! The countryside is flooded with babies. It’s about this time when the ducklings hatch – I love the quote from a favourite childhood book of my kids: ‘All the Places to Love’, that describes ducklings as ‘tiny tumbles of leaves’.
Yorkshireâs best kept secret â the Morndyke Mini Shop
Filed in: Stories
Football just isn’t my bag. I managed about 10 seconds – was marginally amused by the name of one Brazilian player, so made a few un pc comments to myself that made me giggle, then was bored. Apparently I have the sense of humour of a 13 year old boy… according to my adult 12 year old daughter….
Iâve Got a Brand New Combine Harvester and Iâll Give You The Key
Filed in: Stories
The world is full of rich and diverse cultures, each with its own language and idioms. This stretches to the weird and wonderful world of Yorkshire farmers. I have, out of necessity, become a cunning linguist and now pride myself on speaking ‘farmer’.
Hen Party
Filed in: Stories
Hens are funny things. They provide hours of entertainment just by being hens. My little brood of ladies consist of the ‘princesses’ – an ancient collection of ‘Welsummers’, that are very prim and correct and do not mix too well with the ‘ex-bats’.
Baa Baa Black Sheep, Have You Any Wool?
Filed in: Stories
I love summer – hazy, warm days with blue skies and warm breezes; endless hours of sunshine and glory with that promise of more to come. There is another reason I love summer. It brings with it the shearers.
To Mull and Back
Filed in: Stories
Once in a while, or so they tell me, it’s good for the soul to take a holiday. This year, our annual pilgrimage took us up to the beautiful Scottish island of Mull. When I say us, I had better clarify.
Farriers, Physios, Fangs and Fame
Filed in: Stories
I have a weakness. Horses. Since I took my first breath, these became my nemesis. The amount of money spent, hardship felt, and both physical and mental pain fashioned by these creatures is insurmountable.
Help for Heroes
Filed in: Stories
Who are your heroes? I have a few. Up there at the top must be Sir David Attenborough – he is a God in my eyes whom I worship reverently.
Snowberry, Willow and Buckthorn
Filed in: Stories
I have three cows, namely Snowberry, Willow and Buckthorn. Alan would contest the ownership status. However, he was foolish enough to ‘lend’ me these three bovines quite a number of years ago when they were each a mere 6 months old.
And so it begins
Filed in: Stories
I’ve done the deed. After 24 years at the chalk face, I have decided to leave teaching and set up my own business in glamping – well, Shepherds’ huts glamping to be precise.
