Author Archives: C Bishop

A quick set of catch-up posts from the post in 2023 to Summer 2024. Art in August GSH and AiR go to art class so I decided to join them one week. It was fun painting our interpretation of a local castle. September Being Batty in October Autumn Break

Nearly every summer in these northern climes is colder than we would wish for, with short growing seasons where it is actually too hot for our crops to thrive, but this year we only had about 6 sunny days spread over 3 months. Here’s a quick recap of May to September: May June July AugustContinue reading “The Summer without Sun”

So we finally took the plunge after many years of being “bide-y ins” and became Geordie Smallholder Husband and Geordie Smallholder Wife, with a marriage certificate and a big party. Here are some photos from the big day, with comments if explanations are required. Here are the Geordie Smallholder men of the family before theContinue reading “The Geordie Smallholder Wedding”

I thought you might like to read about how a smallholder can holiday at home without it being a bus driver’s holiday. So I’ve given a blow-by-blow account of our recent week off. Having survived the June heatwave we thought a holiday at home would be sun, cocktails on the deck, and as little workContinue reading “Smallholder Staycation”

You may already know this, but horses need regular dental checkups as well as we humans. They also have baby teeth which are replaced by adult teeth between the ages of two to five years, and the adult teeth keep growing all their lives. This is where the phrase “long in the tooth” comes from.Continue reading “Dentist Appointment”

It had to happen. Despite our best efforts, GSH and I have contracted the dread lurgy which changed the world three years ago. So I thought I would use the time to go through our photos and tidy out the bad ones. I’ll start with recent events, then if I find pictures worth re-sharing hereContinue reading “Plague House”

Geordie Smallholder was caught red-handed on Friday when I came home from work with a chainsaw in one hand and the pine hedge cut off at the knees lying at his feet. In my defense, said he, you left me alone with the chainsaw. So it’s my fault. The birds were upset that the treesContinue reading “It’s Called Pollarding, Apparently”

Bittersweet post this time, and it’s taken me ages to get to the stage where I can write about this. But let’s update you from the last post and hopefully bring you up to date. We bought a Clydesdale in November!!!! Her passport name is like “My Lady of Aquitaine”, so I was going toContinue reading “Arrival and Departure”

For real this time: Full story: The Assassin had been fighting. We have seen a little black cat going around the place, so we think she might have been seeing off the intruder. She was walking with a limp and holding her paw up. GS caught her and I tried to see if there wasContinue reading “The Assassin Behind Bars”

Last week, we got another dog. Meet SooperDoofus, Doofus’s new pal. The Needy Blonde likes him too. SooperDoof is a 5-month-old black labrador off hunting rather than showing lines, but we all think he is very handsome. He is now Geordie Smallholder’s shadow. Doofus is a bit jealous, but has to admit there are moreContinue reading “The Dog Father”