Black gold

This weekend saw the arrival of a mountain of dung and bark, my first tractor driving lesson, and several hours spent barrowing the black gold onto my borders.

Mab Dogs & Kids Out In The Midday Sun

You could be forgiven for thinking it was the summer holidays, as we hit the dizzy heights of 24°C, so a walk to the stream with the dogs was the adventure embarked upon.  James decided that the dog ball throwing device would double up as a lightsaber.  

James & Jenny both had fun with the camera.  

Pippa by James.

Jenny took this landscape scene.   It was then home for fun in the paddling pool, water slide and a BBQ,  which actually never happened as we spent too much time playing before bedtime.

Bye bye Daveys

Thank you Ivor and Bex for a lovely weekend, topped off with a stunning walk in the Kentish hills, bathed in glorious spring sunshine.  Sadness has now descended on the Burgess household as our children mourn the loss of their playmates (there were tears before bedtime).  But very much looking forward to catching up again in Kimmeridge! 

Bank holiday bike ride

This was our longest bike ride yet, 10.7 miles from Tonbridge Castle to Penshurst Place and back.  Smiley faces all round, and four tired children who will sleep well tonight.  Thank you Daveys for a lovely Easter weekend.

Easter weekend fun with the Daveys

Whilst Mabs was honing his burger flipping skills feeding the visitors at Four Winds Farm's lambing weekend, the kids had some cuddle time with the lambs.

Getting ready for the mammoth sunnyside easter egg hunt...

 ...and enjoying the spoils!

Blessed with a lovely sunny Easter Sunday, we have spent the whole day outside, playing in the garden until bedtime, just because we can.

"I'm not Kate Humble"

Who would be a sheep?  Made to give birth while crowds of onlookers gather round, watching eagerly with cameras poised.  It wasn't the quiet and unintrusive affair located in a beautiful old stone barn that we see on Lambing Live, and Mark Burgess is definitely not Kate Humble, as he announced to today's visitors.  I don't think many of them suspected that he was Kate Humble, but always good to be clear about these things.  After a short wait, we saw two lambs safely delivered, then celebrated with ice cream because the weather wasn't quite cold enough today.  Well done farmer Mabs, you did a fab job today despite not being Kate Humble.

Harrisons Rocks

After a dull Saturday in which Mab spent most of the day swearing whilst attempting to replace the bathroom radiator (finally achieved several thousand miles of plumbing tape later, having drained the central heating system for the seventh time), we thought we should make it up to the kids by giving them a fun Sunday out.  This was their first trip to Harrison's Rocks, and what we hope will be one of many.  As we walked up the footpath and I cast my eyes upon this sandstone outcrop, a warm fuzzy feeling washed over me.  It's a good few years since I have been here, and many a happy day has been spent climbing these rocks with good friends.  Today was a rope free event, the kids scrambled up and down the accessible routes declaring this the most epic place they have ever been.  These days, "epicness" is measured by whether or not Dan and Boo would enjoy the place or thing in question.  Clearly this place was a winner and we look forward to some more fun days here with the Northern clan.