Tales from The Shire

themadvix

Not a R1verford veg box by any chance, was it? Cardoons are Guy Singh-Watson's (the founder) favourite... I'm not sure many of the customers appreciate them though (went on a walk around the farm our veg comes from on Wednesday - was very interesting ).

Hope you have a recuperative weekend!

Fortune_Smiles

teapot2 wrote: »

Pants are always good on a big business trip I suspect

Had to g@@gle Cardoons, I'll be interested to hear how they are cooked.

Enjoy your weekend and hope you get a bit of chill out time :cool:

Although who would know Teapot

I had to g@@gle Cardoons too. Fortunately mine have arrived with the spikes and leaves already cut off so I think I just have to de-rib them with a peeler. I'll let you know how I get on.

Hope you have a great weekend too.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

themadvix wrote: »

Not a R1verford veg box by any chance, was it? Cardoons are Guy Singh-Watson's (the founder) favourite... I'm not sure many of the customers appreciate them though (went on a walk around the farm our veg comes from on Wednesday - was very interesting ).

Hope you have a recuperative weekend!

Yes it is R1v3rf@rd Madvix. Have you tried them? They look fabulously architectural as a plant and the bees love them apparently. I might try to grow them even if I don't like the taste.

Hope your weekend's off to a good start.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

I'm killing a bit of time until my paying guests arrive and I can get out in the garden.

I'm a bit worried as my last (and first) guests turned out to be a bit less perfect than they first seemed I've discovered they bought tea light candles into the Annex and put them directly onto the furniture in the bedroom. They left white heat marks on the furniture and wax on the floor. I've managed to repair the damage to an extent but who brings candles into a 150 year old, timber framed building?!

Mr F also found about 10 cigarette ends by the entrance porch even though we state that it's a no smoking property.

Plus, apart from washing up, they didn't clean up after themselves at all and left the oven dirty and chocolate and cake crumbs over the coffee tables and floors. We don't charge a cleaning fee on condition that guests leave the place as they find it. But maybe my expectations are a little high here

I've updated our listing to specifically exclude candles or any naked flames and be more explicit about not smoking anywhere on the property inside or out. I've also made a list of things to mention when guests arrive at the annex in case they haven't read our listing in full or don't pick up the handbook we've left for them.

Other than that I'm not sure what else to do. I don't want to put people off or make an uncomfortable atmosphere but I also don't want any fire risk on site :eek:

News Flash!

Today's guests have arrived and seem lovely. They are older, possibly retired, think WI, Ramblers, National Trust Members and, hopefully, not candle lighters :rotfl: Time will tell but they gave me a good vibe.

Finger crossed

Fortune x

Busy_Mee1

How spooky. I had to google cardoons too and suddenly realise that I was given two of these plants a couple of weeks ago by a friend. He grows lots of plants and often sends us home with a gift.

I wait with interest to see how you get on with cooking them and will certainly be having a try myself.

Who takes candles with them anywhere on holiday ???

Fortune_Smiles

Busy_Mee1 wrote: »

How spooky. I had to google cardoons too and suddenly realise that I was given two of these plants a couple of weeks ago by a friend. He grows lots of plants and often sends us home with a gift.

I wait with interest to see how you get on with cooking them and will certainly be having a try myself.

Who takes candles with them anywhere on holiday ???

They were a young couple and I think looking for a 'romantic' break We are thinking of renaming our Annex 'Rumpy Pumpy Cottage' :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Mr F and I achieved a great deal in the garden today and I'm starting to feel that we've broken the back of it. The broad beans we planted are showing their heads, as are the onions. My gifted rhubarb crown is showing promise although we won't be able to harvest any this year as it will need time to establish. The cut and come again lettuce is sprouting. No sign of the potatoes yet though.

In the fruit cage it appears we have a second currant bush although I'm not sure what colour. I think the birds must have eaten all the fruit off it last year as I don't remember seeing any at all. It's absolutely covered in flowers as is the redcurrant so I'm hoping that's a good sign.

The fennel I planted under the fruit trees has been nibbled (I think by the wood pigeons) so I have invested in some harmless but unpalatable spray to dissuade them. Hope it works. Other herbs are thriving and it's lovely to be able to pick them fresh for recipes.

We had ham and cheese toasties for lunch to use up some ham I had leftover from last weekend. Supper will be Cauliflower, Paneer & Pea Curry to use up the cauliflower in this week's veg box.

We're still planning a day out to the seaside tomorrow It will be our first trip to the coast since we moved here.

Hope you're enjoying the long weekend

Fortune x

beanielou

Have a lovely weekend

Busy_Mee1

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

They were a young couple and I think looking for a 'romantic' break We are thinking of renaming our Annex 'Rumpy Pumpy Cottage' :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Fortune x

Ah that explains it...I clearly have forgotten what that is like:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

themadvix

:eek: to the candles and lack of cleaning! Hope this weekend's guests are better behaved (if only you could advertise for NT/WI/Ramblers types only!

We've never had cardoons, I think because they aren't grown at the farm near us. Not sure I'd have a clue what to do with them if we did! I do think they look lovely though.