Tag Archives: Somerset

One welcome back and one sad farewell…..

This is our second spring here at The White House in Dulcote and this week we have welcomed back our stunning red poppies.

Just take a look at them in all their glory…..

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But this also brings me to a very sad farewell, to my lovely joules wellie boots bought as a gift by friends and colleagues when I left London.  So well loved, and worn almost every day since our move to Somerset,  they have now been relegated to the dustbin in the sky.  After a much too enthusiastic try to lift a stone that had fallen into the small drainage stream at the entrance to The White House, a huge rip tore into the side.  Farewell good friend……. or is that friends?????

Glastonbury is buzzing and its not even June…………….

We all know the importance of bees to sustain and protect our environment and so it was good to read in The Wells Journal this week that Micheal Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury festival, is planning to introduce three colonies of Black Honey Bees to Worthy Farm.

The dangers of colony collapse has been in the news for some time now; we have already lost 3 of our 27 bee species here in the UK and more are under threat; and so its up to all of us to do all we can to help protect and nurture these lovely little pollinators. We’ve done our bit here at The White House by planting lots of flowers and plants known to attract  bees and our new orchard will also do a little bit more to attract and sustain them.  Unfortunately we can’t host a colony as Rod has been stung one too many times and is now allergic.

The Wells Journal puts the estimated value of Europe’s insect pllinators at £14.2 billion a year, and so colony collapse is economically significant in a county dependent on agricultural crops.

So – think about what you can do to help, if we all do a little then we can perhaps reverse the collapse.

 

 

 

 

 

Walking in Somerset

We’ve enjoyed some fabulous spring weather here in Dulcote over the past couple of weeks with many of our guests enjoying the Quantocks over the Easter period.  After reading of some great Easter walks in The Times at the weekend, I decided to do a little research and found a great website.  I’ve provided the link below but as well as the levels and the Mendips, there is much more including canal and river walks as well as activitie for those who like a little more strenuous exercise.

http://movingsomersetforward.co.uk/walking/where-walk/day-walks-somerset

 

 

 

Wassail Celebrations

Annual Wassail celebrations took place in Somerset last week with the nearest to Dulcote being held in Godney.

Tradition demands that a shotgun is fired into the oldest tree in the orchard to ward off evil spirits accompanied by song and all present drink, of course, hot mulled cider, all taking place under the watchful eye of the Green Man

Hopefully we will have another good harvest in 2016

Christmas Shopping in Wells

Now that Carnival is over we are all getting into the festive spirit here at The White House.  My daughter Lucy spent yesterday afternoon wrapping her gifts (wish I was as organised……) and we are all looking forward to going into Wells for a little late night shopping on the 3rd December.

As well as Mulled Cider and Street Food, more than 80 traders will stay open for the event with lots of them offering discounts on their usual prices.

Wells Carnival

The Carnival is almost on us and we all have our fingers crossed that today’s downpour stop in time!

Taking the children to school this morning the A371 from Wells back up to Dulcote is already closed and the enormous floats are already lined up.  The result was a school traffic jam that emulated Fulham, but the floats look fantastic.

Such a shame that I’ll miss it this year (business trip to Brighton) but I’m sure the rest of The White House will be there to enjoy it.

Wells Carnival

I can’t believe its been a year since we attended our first Carnival and yet the 20th November is now looming large.

For those of you who haven’t yet experienced a Somerset carnival, I would definitely recommend you come along.  It is a huge event with enormous floats (a mix of dancing and tableaux) and interspersed with street performers all winding their way slowly through the medieval streets of Wells.  Costumes are amazing and the amount of effort that goes into each float is unbelievable.  All for charity, make sure you bring along plenty of pennies to throw into the collection vehicles and to find out more and see a video of last year’s carnival, visit http://www.wellssomerset.com/search/entry1045_somerset_carnivals_the_wells_carnival.html

Unfortunately The White House Bed and Breakfast is full for the event but please don’t let that stop you……..

 

Frome Independent and Country File

Just found out that the Countryfile team recently filmed at the Frome Food Assembly to highlight local food in the town. 

The Food Assembly, which has over 800 members, and over 20 food producers delivering food to the local community each week, has also won the Best British Food Initiative at the BBC Food and Farming Awards this year.

I’ve spoken about Frome Independent in the past and it remains a favorite day out for us all at The White House.  The street food is delicious, and the market is superb.

The next event is on 6th December, (find out more at http://www.thefromeindependent.org.uk/), just in time to collect all of our favourite treats in time for Christmas and the Countryfile episode will be aired on 15th November.

Swopping Somerset for London

My timing hasn’t been great this weekend when I, for reasons attached to what I still call “my paid job”, swopped the peaceful surroundings of Dulcote for a busy City life in London during probably one of the most fantastic sunny spells we have had all summer!

Its been great to catch up with friends in the evening and to also see “War Horse” in Drury Lane (well recommended to anyone visiting London) but I’m already pining for The White House and country living.  Can’t wait to return on Monday evening and breathe in the fresh air, re-join my family and  enjoy an enthusiastic welcome from Bob.

 

Wells Food Festival

Wells Food Festival returns on Sunday 11th October. This annual event grows every year and last year attracted 7,500 visitors to Wells.

This year, with over 100 producers and street food vendors, the Festival includes an Artisan Market, street food stalls and a family marquee as well as activities; debate; and “The Soup” in Bishops Barn; and a pop up tea room in the Town Hall.

Here at The White House we can’t really get our heads around the fact that a full year has gone by, it seems only a short while ago that we were wandering around the delights of the Festival last year.

Definately worth a visit and I’d be delighted to hear from any of you who have visited the Festival in the past.