Wuthering ...

We have had no heating for a week and it is so cold. To make matters worse we had just decided to strip and renovate the sitting room - where the wood burning stove is! It all started just over 3 weeks ago when I walked through the sitting room and heard a noise. Next second the ceiling came down on top of me. I ran (the wrong way as it happens) and it followed me, knocking the cornice from the top of the old bacon cupboard which also hit me on the head. We had a plasterer do the whole ceiling and we started stripping the old wallpaper off. As we did huge chunks of plaster fell off the chimney breast so Dave had to plasterboard it and re-plaster that! Just as we got back to basics again the boiler broke. We have lit the stove and it has 4 radiators connected to it but it barely makes a difference. It is now snowing outside! The good news is that the engineer has just rung to say we are his next job today. Fingers crossed that it is easy to fix ... I am giving lectures in Harrogate and Ripon this week on my husband's book 'The Book of Caris' and its music. It starts 2,000 years ago in Aethiopia and the story and music travels across to Britannia. The history is fascinating, the story beautiful, the words Eternal and the music (which reflects the differing styles) gorgeous. Now too cold to type!

Of Love and Harp Music

I am playing at a Valentine Dinner at SCARTOP RESTAURANT - starts at 7 for 7.30 I shall be playing background music throughout the 3 course meal and then will give a presentation on 'Love' with music afterwards. Tickets are available from Mark of Maxine on 0744 950 9423

Old Year's Night

I mentioned the title today and the reception was surprising. No-one had heard the expression for years apparantly! The reason for my mention was a sad one. We lost Flossy the donkey. She was only 6 but Dave rescued her and the vets wanted to put her out of her suffering straight away. He had to persuade them to keep her alive. She was expecting and gave birth to a very healthy jet black male donkey who we call Dodge. She fed him and looked after him and did a splendid job. He pined terribly for a while and we looked for another donkey but in the end circumstances put us in touch with a pigmy goat called Dennis. He was visibly terrified at first when we introduced them but Dodge was so gentle with him. Dennis has his own corner to hide away in the stable when they are inside and Dodge looks and steps so carefully so as not to harm him by mistake. They are now inseparable and run around eachother when they are in the field. They even share a bucket of food. It happenned by mistake at first and we worried that Dennis wouldn't get enough food. He is very smart however - Dodge is the perfect gentleman and takes some food and then gives Dennis a chance. Not so Dennis. Once he sticks his head in the bucket his horns reach up the rim and Dodge looks on bemused as he lowers his head and gets his nose pricked!

not dead

Well. I successfully converted the harp, Big Al, into a Christmas Tree! It took an embroidery hoop and a hoola hoop and some washing line. I had to keep the lights away from the strings somehow. Soomebody hacked into Dave's Facebook last night and informed everybody (very tastefully) that he had 'passed away' in the night. It took us to lunchtime, when the phone started ringing, until we realised. We are all set to have a lovely Christmas. Bizarrely all the turkeys are inside the barn. Somebody stole 2 in October. I went to the wood to feed them and spotted a chap just about to climb the fence. As soon as he spotted me he scarpered! I filed an email report to the police thinking I would never hear from them again when I got a call - delighted they were! My description fitted someone they knew and they were very grateful for my email. We decided not to take any more risk and have wintered the turkeys inside. They can go out in 2 day's time again! They are needed for breeding stock this Spring. Have a lovely Christmas from us all here.

Witches

In the old days I would have had a rough time. Everytime I take my dog, Colin, for a walk the cat comes too. He follows me everywhere, he is jet black with 4 white half-paws and a bib, he has never grown to full size and has no road sense at all. I cringe as people screech to a halt and ask me angrily if its my cat. 'No, never seen him before' I always reply. Well today I am promised a day at home to 'get ready for christmas'. Dave doesn't understand this. 'Why is it different?' he asks. Simple answer - finding room to place a tree in amongst 33 harps and loads of ventriloquist dolls is no easy feat. My new hobby is proving very enjoyable. I have made a doll in the memory of Dad, with top hat, wool overcoat, silk waistcoat, Dad's old monacle etc. He has proper gold cufflinks and I have made proper boots with buckles. The next doll is a genie - Kaffa djinn. I even pierced his ear and he has pearls and diamonds on his turban and a guinea fowl feather. I sewed beads on his little shoes with curled up toes and painted them gold. The next project is Beryl - think 'Ab Fab' in the 50s. I am also making Jacques - led the Ninth 2,000 yrs ago (read Dave's book 'The Book of Caris' - now available on Amazon). Anyway nothing will get done whilst I'm sat typing ... some exciting concerts planned for next year incorporating loads of new music from The Book of Caris and soon-to-be-published The Book of Anon - exquisite music from Persia.

-6 at Lunchtime

A few people have actually asked me to write this again ... wow! Anyway here I am - it's not for want of trying alas - just one of those years! It was -6 inside the porch this lunchtime - we don't mind because at least the mud and floods are frozen, albeit in foot-high ridges which is so difficult to walk around on, but still easier than the neverending mud! We are fed up with it - this year has been the worst ever but I suppose if you live somewhere called ... Marsh ... you've got to expect it! It got so cold that last night at this time (11 pm) I set off to make the donkey a rug out of an old picnic blanket. I set off down the field to search for her at midnight with a torch and hay. I didn't hold out much hope as donkeys are not the most patient of animals. As I tried to put it on she bent down on her knees, everso gracefully, until her front end was on the ground. I carried on and fastened it on her. It was a good fit surprisingly. However I have just found it, ditched half way down the field! She seems happy enough so I will leave well alone! Dave's present of a harp for me is coming on well - it is in one piece and being sanded today ready for the first layer of paint. I have had to empty the petshop which will be used as the spray shop as its warmer than the barn (and no cobwebs). I was truly AMAZED to find out today that some of my music was used at the closing ceremony of the olympics!!!! WOW! (again)

Long time no Blog!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been a while since managed to post any news on the blog and the truth is that we have been extrememly busy following all the rain on the farm we had to put in new drains and also move the Turkeys. All have been moved now and done I have tried to post the odd comment or two on our facebook page which can be found by looking up Fiona Katie Roberts on the site. We have continued to promote "The Book of Caris" and I am pleased to say that Dave has made a good start on his new book which i am told is about Anon Following a trip to Rome in October , we have taken inspiration from the box makers in Sorrento and Dave commissioned some wood inlays for a super harp which the construction has started on more news later