Iford Manor Teas awaits new samples

Over in the tea packing department, I'm excitedly awaiting new samples of tea, rather like a child expecting the imminent arrival of Santa Claus - only in my case the 'presents' are delivered by a brown uniformed UPS chap, rather than a red uniformed Laplander.  But the inner child's the same!

These samples are coming from rural Taiwan for a rather upmarket Somerset hotel which has asked me to pop over and see if we can't upgrade the tea they serve.  I'm quite sure we can, so I'm looking forward to that, and just hoping the samples are here in time - you see, it's really all about connoisseurship: not accepting the mediocre, just because it's what happens to be the norm.  Peto knew that too, and you see it through his garden at Iford, so I try to bring this same element to my work with the tea company.

It's always an exciting time of year in the tea world as the first pickings come around in March usually.  More excitement on that front next month!  If you haven't taken a look at our fine teas, you could do worse than to pop over to www.ifordmanorteas.co.uk, and also www.ifordmanor.co.uk/tea_room.html.

Iford Arts looks forward to the season ahead

Judy, the Artistic Director at Iford Arts sent this report (a fortnight ago; I'm just slow!):

"At Iford Arts we fancy ourselves as 'West Coast' Wilts, with a laid back atmosphere and informal approach. Gearing up for this summer’s season we’re already busy with mailshots, auditions, and random propositions and requests from places like Shanghai – I kid you not – and Corfu. The new season’ s brochure is just launched and a mailshot of nearly 4000 stuffed and franked by a team of 11 volunteers who then enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the Green Room upstairs. It was a very jolly occasion much enjoyed by all and oiled by a few bottles of wine left over from last season.

Casting for our two shows, Hansel and Gretel and Rodelinda is going well with some exciting newcomers in significant roles. Ciara Hendrick and Aiofe O’ Sullivan are a dinky and disarming pair as Hansel and Gretel, both very spontaneous and unmannered, lovely at Iford! Our witch, whose eyes are unnervingly sparkly is one third of the Three Welsh Tenors, Alun Rhys-Jenkins. We can’t wait! Rodelinda has the beginnings of a starry line-up with James Laing and Owen Willetts, Doreen Curran, but as yet no Rodelinda…. I know that The Don in Don Giovanni will be the dishy James Cleverton and we’re waiting eagerly to see who else will be conducted in that Opera della Luna production by our latest young maestro – winner of the Leeds conducting competition - Geoffrey Paterson.

Judging by the phone response to the brochure (when we can hear the callers-I am sure our phone line runs through a puddle and is hideously fuzzy right now) we may have caused confusion by getting the renowned jazz diva, Tina May here to sing what is really non-jazz repertoire, ie Edith Piaf, on June 10th. She is a superb vocalist and chanteuse and I believe these poignant songs will be absolutely fabulous in the cloister, even if not strictly jazz repertoire.

But our biggest challenge is to bring off the extension to our programming as we expand our outreach work with Chroma to include a schools’ matinee show of Hansel and Gretel – we are trying for the Pavilion in Bath - but have to raise the cash! A huge challenge but worthwhile. The covers scheme is growing too with a narrated concert style Hansel and Gretel to be sung by the cover singers with the orchestra in the cloister, but we are still seeking a host for one of the cover concerts – the Handel one.

It's all cooking well!"

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Britannia, the waves, and optimistic birdsong

Last night's rains are just now heading rapidly downstream, and the river is flowing jolly fast, not aided by the 30ft tree which fell into it three days ago and has now lodged fast under the bridge.  Britannia is certainly ruling the waves today!

Weatherwise it hasn't been a great start to the year at Iford, indeed recent days have required the judicious placement of buckets under parts of the roof where tiles have slipped over the winter months (surprisingly common as anyone living under a very old stone roof will attest!).

 This morning, by contrast, I was awoken by nature's own alarm clock: birdsong and sunlight.  It reminded me of just how wonderfully infectious is the optimism held by our native songbirds on a bright winter's morning, as they anticipate the arrival over the hill of the warming rays of the sun.

You can't help but think happy thoughts of summer and the year ahead when greeted by such cacophony of joy.

The cats didn't notice, of course, steadfastly remaining in the warmth of the kitchen, protesting at the poor breakfast service from the staff (us).  Below: the matriarch Lily (right) and her son,11 years old but still a mummy's boy, (left).

Snowfall report

Well, after a couple of days cut off from non-essential traffic, we've dug ourselves out and are now accessible once again!  I even managed to do some Christmas shopping in the increasingly well-appointed Bradford-on-Avon whose shops are positively ideal for Christmas gifts, all within easy reach of free car parks.

This recent snowfall wasn't the prettiest example of the white blanket, but here are a few photos from a couple of days ago.  We'll be hunting for a Christmas tree tomorrow, so crossing fingers for a bit of a thaw!

And there were in the same country...

...shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  Or so the story goes.

A recent arrival to the Iford nativity scene came courtesy of our very kind Bavarian cousins; on a recent visit to the Christmas market in Salzburg, and recalling our small collection of traditional, carved wooden figures, they rang up enquiring whether or not there was a pressing need for any characters from the story.  After a little thought, it was considered that the arrival of a shepherd might complement the ox and ass already assembled in the scene, awaiting the arrival of the key protagonists.  And so it was that a parcel arrived in the post a few days ago containing a small flock of beautifully carved sheep, along with their shepherd (to join the sheepdog which for a number of years had been keeping the ox and ass in line).

You might also wonder what the "stable" is formed from - it is in fact a piece of ivy, stripped of its bark, and sand-papered to give a very smooth finish akin to ivory.  Ivy forms the most wonderful shapes, often joining back on itself as it winds around a tree trunk or stump.  In a separate post I'll put up some images of other ivy creations from cuts taken off trees on the estate - anyone can make them (you just need to find some interesting ivy - ask the owner first though!) and they are wonderfully organic, tactile and engaging pieces when finished.

The last vestiges of Autumn

What a damp chill in the air today!  Autumn is most definitely losing its battle against winter's vanguard.  A couple of days ago I was out in the garden with the camera and I was lucky enough to enjoy a half hour's sunshine in the morning.  Light never ceases to amaze me.

[apologies for image quality - something went awry with the compression for web - if anyone's desperate, I can have another try]

Avon Valley Runners - Over the hills race

The public opening season has ended with the passing of October, and every year the valley seems to become a little quieter without the welcome patter of visiting feet and coach parties.  Now, walkers and cyclists, and the odd horse, potter through on lazy afternoons, and fishermen sit in morning mists under chilly willows as they drop their remaining leaves, waiting for that all important bite.

It can make for quite a sudden change of pace, which is why one of the highlights of November is the arrival of the over-the-hills race, organised by the Avon Valley Runners, and which takes its 300 or so competitors over a gruelling eight mile mud-fest, the spectatorial highlight of which (and perhaps the low point for the runners!) is the fording of the river at the Iford bridge.

This is always an interesting affair, and on occasion the river has been too high to allow safe passage.  This year however, the hardy annual runners were greeted by a supporting crowd some thirty strong, and a glorious view of the manor and bridge, with the river still very low through lack of rain.

It is common for one or two to take a dunking, usually through over-optimistic miscalculations of the safe velocity for making the crossing; however for any lucky souls that do make it across with incautious abandon, a steep eight foot climb up the opposite bank and a half mile haul up the Iford carriage drive to the top of the hill wipes away any remaining smug smiles.

It's always a very jolly event, and I understand that the organising club is regularly oversubscribed for entries.  If you'd like to run in the race next year, you'll need to get over to the Avon Valley Runners website for more details.  There's an interactive map with photos of the course.