Beach Hut Party

It started with a tweet when it was snowing. I was sick of hearing about the weather so popped a tweet in which said Should I have 30 or 60 to a Beach Hut Party. I had actually meant for Jack's birthday.But then we have Susie Brindley offering to bring Pimms and Beki from Robin Hood Caravan Park with nibbles.Katrina Gray with crab sandwiches and so it continued.Annie Stirk of Absolutely Food said what a great PR it was and it was Jane from Trail Trials who brought the Yorkshire flag We settled for 30 to be held on the 30th April so celebrate a 30th birthday. We would have liked 90 degree weather but settled for a 180 degree view of the sea and a 360 degree of success. The thank you list is too long to relay as all who came made fantastic contributions to the day. Jasmin Underwood, a young lady I had staying with me from Germany, made the bunting and had gone home before the party so would like to say a big thank you to her. I hope everyone found a "new friend or 2" and extended their business circles. I am so glad Rosemary of Just Puds was able to bring her mum,Val Anderson from Ainderby Myers. Our friendship spans over 30 years. My newest friend being Vicky Dixon who came with Tricia from Real Staithes. Vicky runs Whitby Sea Fish Co who between them astounded me with the seafood they brought. I am sure everyone was equally impressed who sampled it. An easy and delightful idea to have if you are wanting to organise a hassle free work free party -just get Vicky and Tricia to sort it for you.

When New York comes to Yorkshire

We were very excited when we heard Karen Schaler a TV celebrity from New York came on a whistle stop tour of Yorkshire. She has a programme called Travel Therapy which is followed by 10 million plus people over the pond in America. She tucked into breakfast before going outside to try out one the new cycles we have recently bought. These are English made by Dawes and are available free for guests to use when staying with us. Last year guests had to pay £15 a day to hire cycles and had to travel 14 miles to get them. Karen was happy to fly the flag for Yorkshire to celebrate that Le Tour de France is coming to Yorkshire in 2014

Happy Easter

Good Friday Morning - to you all and Happy Easter. As we are busy with lambing all we ask for is some sunshine and we have got it . I think it is all across North Yorkshire this morning . Still nippy but sunny and dry. The hens are on overdrive - I think it more about the time of year than Easter. As we seem to have eggs by the dozen multiplies trice a day .Shame they don't lay chocolate ones this week. The birds are singing away and all seem right in the world here at Carr House Farm any way. Our little Labrador pups are tucking into the first week of meals with weetabix.

and then for lunch

Well Christine and I were going to lunch and treat ourselves at Harvey Nicks 2 years since I was last in Leeds.then Caroline joined us and then we meet Rosemary in teh street and then someone else turned up .So there ended up being 5 of us to please. One with a wheat intolerance so why would we go to an Italian .All pastas and pizzas you say. The lady who owns it has been there since the year dot. I hear from good sources even thought they do delightful sauces that she will burst into song and give her diners a taste of the Italian Opera will they eat. Unfortunately she did not,maybe next time . We were so impressed by her ever so charming son who was very accommodating to our wheat free needy friend as he is too .he offer her chip wedges with a tomato sauce ,which went down very well. Orange juice was the proper stuff as I watched him squeeze the oranges himself. A delightful place and certainly one to recommend. Sorry we don't know your name but will ask next time.So we will for now call them Mamma Opera and her bambino. When I look at the photos the girls are all in convict stripes. The restaurant has lots of flags up and music playing and a lovely feel to the place.

Leeds Market

My Dad had always talked about going to Leeds market .They used to go for a walk around when they went to see the pantomime. Now I guess this was at least 70 years ago. So when I got home he quite understood my enthusiasm for what we saw at the market. With it being very multicultural there were fruit,flowers,fish and meat I had never seen before. I managed to track down some sweetbreads which you rarely see now a days. Willie McCauley was so envious when I told him that I had found some I promised him on my next trip to buy him some.On the same stall there were hens feet,halves of pigs heads and even lungs -not sure what the latter are used for. Moving to the fish avenue the show was amazing.From Whitby and Cornwall to far away places like Mexico. The fruit was amazing too lots of exotics as well as spices and then to finish we went to the flower stalls.It makes you want to have a big party just to share it with everyone you know. Everything was so clean and the stall holder so friendly I will certainly be going again. Guests can either drive or get the train in just over an hour to Leeds. I guess they will be amazed too.

#Y13 with Welcome to Yorkshire

Had to travel intercity like the men do on Thursday,I caught the 8.30am train to Leeds and meet up with Christine Ryder. Y13 was held at the West Yorkshire Play House. Gary Verity and his full team of staff had worked hard to pull it altogether and we had an insight into what will be happening this coming year in the tourist industry. In the foyer there was Louise and her brother doing a sterling job supplying the multitudes with their different types of Swaledale Cheese. There was Jackson bread there too . A barley combination bread was some of the tastiest I had every had. Seabrook crisps are produced in Yorkshire and besides them printing on in Yorkshire on the packets we all got a bag each to bring home. There was the Le Tour de France boss, golden girl Hannah Cockroft and a young Olympic cyclist there too. A highlight was to listen to Alistair Griffin singing a song he had written after he had watched the Olympics. All too soon the conference was over. We then headed across the road to the market...[cont]

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Today. Jasmin who is staying with us from Berlin, and I went to bils&rye gallery in Nunnington. It is 6 miles from here and as well as this contemporary 3d gallery. Nick and Kate Bentley own it. Kate is the artist of the family. On winters days there a great log burner stove so a warm retreat from the cold air outside. My favourite is the little dogs made of felt shown at the beginning of the video. There is Nunnington Hall to visit too ,which is a National Trust property. This makes for an ideal afternoon out. You could come in from the opposite directions to and visit the Star At Harome for lunch.