Suzi home from skiing with a rather bruised leg. She lasted two hours before being knocked over good an proper and spend the rest of the time in bed reading and sleeping. Three groups of very happy guests left this morning so all quiet before full house this coming weekend! Hope the water does not run short. Must remind kids to limit the baths! Front path step mended by John M who then moved on with bush cutter to tackle back of pool building.

House Warming +

6th February already and lots to write down. First up is house warming. Upwards of 200 turned up to truly warm Great Gutton on Saturday 30th January. What a night with the house really showing us what it was built for. One of the guest commented that the house is unlikely to have seen so many people inside it at any one time before. But in 400+ years who knows!. The organisation worked a treat with car parking, drink and food all "just" meeting requirements. The few cars that needed pushing out form the field left a mark but nothing that time will not heal. A full compliment of Hallets on show with my brother Andrew his wife Ali (aka the terrier) and Sister Sarah and husband Jonathan + kids also in attendance. The party was followed by a good catch up week with S and AJ with Suzi departing for four days skiing mid week (subsequently heard that she only managed two hours before being taken out by someone else and ending up in hospital with a damaged, but not broken, leg).

Meanwhile plans are taking shape for the development of the final wing of the house. It looks likely that Neil (the previous owner and architect of such a lot at GG) will take on the project. Plans include a couple more bathrooms as well as a new sitting room.

The Saturday of the party also saw the last of the Chilton Cross Syndicates shoots for the year. My day so I got to choose the guests (Simon and Dave Munday) Jim and John St Cyres also came along for what turned out to be a good day which both started and finished at the Lamb Inn. Not a big bag but it did include one Snipe.

Final thing to report is that Hurfie and I tackled the pruning in the second of the three orchards last Friday. A job I really love and it was great to share it with a friend of quite a few years now. She was surprised to hear of Barneys pruning policy that being to leave a central leader. Apparently the alternative method (more common for domestic trees) is to do the opposite. Proof of pudding will be in the summer when we do or do not I suppose get any apples.

Still feeling tired so early night after picking Molly up from final night of School show. She plays a poppy amongst other things.