going bananas

I have just seen an advert for turkeys for Christmas - free range apparently (the legal definition).  Our turkeys are driving us bonkers at the moment.  They are very free range and fly amazingly well.  We were woken by the dogs barking.  On shining a torch out the window we could just make out sillouettes of the birds balancing on the ridge tiles of the old stable. It was snowing gently, there was fresh, untouched straw inside their shed but these daft birds insisted on balancing precariously on a steep slippy roof.  As the dogs were going mad wondering what was going on above their heads we decided to throw my old shoes to scare them off.  I got dressed and armed with a stick tried to herd them back to their shed. They chose the tiniest saplings to roost on, the trees bending almost to the ground with the weight of these birds - anything but their warm, cosy shed.  I gave up.  Next morning it was clear from the muck left behind that they had spent the night on the greenhouse roof.   They have a .lovely life though, at the moment they feast on windfall apples and walnuts.  Dodge,the donkey's favourite is ... bananas!  He eats up the whole lot, skin as well.  My website is being updated at the moment so sorry for any glitches.  Next concert with Eddie Lawler on 23rd November, 7pm.  Tickets £8 from us 01535 642581or on the door - in aid of the roof at venue - Oxen hope Community Centre-

sam hain

For the first time ever we lit our bonfire last night - the festival of Sam Main.  (The computer now insists on spelling it with a 'm' instead of a 'h' ... grrrrr.  Anyway we got a beautiful evening.  This morning on checking the hens, they were surrounded by burnt out rockets stuck in the ground.  Eggs as normal though so no worries.  We are in the middle of recording at the moment.  So far we have picked up every noise imagine able ... but no 'clean' recording yet.  We will keep trying as once we have a proven method there will be no stopping us!  Dave composes ever more amazing melodies to go with his books - and we are only 2 books into a trilogy.  TheBook of Caris is at Oxen hope Community Centre on 23rd November and The Book of Anon is at Poppies Cafe in Settle on 6th December.

whispering voices

The rain is coming down the walls ... on the inside! Just in a couple of places! We are renovating fast so this is just a tiny blip. For the first time in years the windows are painted a d the heating works, so much so that the harps are playing up (whoops, didn't mean that pun). When the temperature drops strings break. As I have over 30 harps this means quite a flurry of work at this time of year. I love Autumn and found literally hundreds of beautiful large red and white spotty toadstools hiding in the woods just behind a wall next to a busy footpath. I have never seen anything like it before in such quantity. Last night I tried to finish off the latest CD to go with Dave's new book. I took the memory card up to Dave to listen with him. At the beginning of one track, running over the start of the music, was a whispery woman-s voice. It was difficult to hear but seemed to say she wanted me to wait until she sat down as she was tired... incredible! This is the third time we have recorded something.