The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: graham-j on July 22, 2012, 10:55:34 am
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Hi, I am new to the forum.I have a field and an old bramley orchard.I currently keep chickens,ducks and quail behind my house,along with raised beds for vegetables.I also keep geese,a small flock of sheep that I am keen to expand.I have recently just got some turkeys for the first time.
I have looked at several small holding and farming forums and this one seems to be by far the best.
Graham.
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Hello from Glorious Sunny South West Wales ;D :wave:
Whereabout in/around Canterbury are you? That was my stomping ground as a teenager ;) .
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Welcome to the forum Graham :wave: You will find lots of information here and some very helpful people
Sally
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Welcome Graham :wave: from a blowy but thankfully dry north Cumbria. Finished clipping the sheep (commercial flock - Texel, Charollais, North Country Mules and crosses therefrom) yesterday - yay!
We, of course, agree with you that this is the best smallholder forum ;D :thumbsup:
What sort of sheep you got?
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Hi,thanks I live just outside chartham.My sheep are Texel x Suffolk's.I bought some store lambs last summer as a good way of starting with sheep.I have 3 left which I which will be slaughtered as hoggets at the end of summer.They are currently employed keeping someone's grass short.
I am just about to buy another dozen stores to do the same again this year,I am also looking to buy some ewe lambs to start building my own flock.
I sheared my 3 remaining sheep my self last week,a little late I know,but the weather and if I'm honest fear of harming them has been holding me back.Boy that was hard work,I'm now in my mid forty's and I guess the consequences of to much good living is starting to add up.
Graham.
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Hello
from a super sunny and warm Ruckinge, just outside of Ashford, not far from you at all. I used to ride/work in Waltham and my best friend lived on shalmsford street! Small world.
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Hi,I know Ruckinge fairly well a friend used to work at the motorcycle place that was there Brian Valetine Motorcycles.More of a coincidence I also used to ride at Waltham at Merry Mervin's riding school Tuesdays and Saturdays,but that was a long time ago.I would love to take up riding again but I am probably a bit on the stout side for most horses nowadays.I also drank in the Nelson,and compasses pubs and the Duke at Petham.
Graham.
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Chaucer stables! You wouldn't recognise it now. I don't suppose you remember Alison potter who worked at the yard? Mrs mervin had retired by the time I started riding there, but still took a keen interest in how well the yard was swept!
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Hi,Sorry I can remember faces but not names.I can remember the names of three of the horses.Gilpin an old hunter who was so slow he virtually went backwards Honey and Natalie were my favorites two horses.There was a lady who worked there called Ann,I can remember her as we used to go to her place with are poney's for the charity ride at Postling.Mrs.Mervin was extremely strict she certainly knew how put the fear of god in you if you did something wrong.None the less I have some very fond memories of being there.
Graham.
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Hello and welcome from windy Carnoustie :wave:
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Hi and welcome from lovely warm Worcestershire :wave:
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Heavens, Mary Mervin - now there's a blast from the past. Know all the place your guys have mentioned and the pubs ;) . My brother lives in Challock these days but I haven't been back that way for a good few years. Cor.....takes me back hearing about all those places :)
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Hi,and thanks for making me feel welcome,darkbrowneggs I recognize you from some of the poultry forums.What area of Canterbury did you come from Blinkers I know you said your brother lives in Challock,that is same place as Fred Hams the renowned poultry man lives.
Graham.
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Hi Graham - we lived in Ickham......and my first ever job was as a telephonist in the Old Mill in Wickhambreaux, when it was a Animal Feed Merchants. Littlebourne (can't remember the name of the pub) was a favourite haunt in late teens as was Wingham (Red Lion?) Memories aaahhhhh.
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Hi Graham,
We live in Fawkham near Brands Hatch, we have Jacob sheep, Gloucester Old Spot pigs ,Turkeys,Chickens and Chinese Geese.
Kind regards
Michael and Gill
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Hi,a guy I was apprentice to Martin J better not say his full name came from Ickham.I also used to drink in Wingham I had friends at Preston,I used to drink in the Dog the pub right next door to the Red Lion.
I don't think I can remember the old mill actually being a working mill I be that was interesting.
Hi,Montana I would love to have pigs I don't have any land suitable at the moment.What do you do with your Chinese geese,they are total silent I believe.
Graham.
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:wave: Hi and welcome from sunny Shropshire.
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Hello and welcome from Durham :wave:
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Hey, small world guys ! I used to work at Mary Mervins ( she sadly passed away a couple of years ago - probabl still wearing her trademark red headscarf!!) I can't remember exact dates but approx 1983 -1988. I wonder if I taught any of you ? (Helen)
I certainly remember all the horses and people mentioned here.
I used to live in the cottage next door
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I was a touch later than that 1993 to 1999ish. When Clare Johnson had taken over the running of the yard. Mrs M had a little grey pony called Misty, who still worked in the riding school and an old retired mare called Tonte. Another pair of horses came back from a retirement home somewhere but can't remember their names at the mo. You must know Allie, Alison Potter, her and her sister Susan both worked at the yard, they lived at the top of the village. Their mum Maureen worked for Mrs M too in the house.
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Ah Yes I worked with Clare for about a year whilst she was qualifying, I remember travelling to exams with her
. If I remember rightly Clare left , then returned later after I had moved on.
I knew Ali Potter well, and her parents. The horses i remember were Gilpin ( as remembered by Graham), Natasha, merrylegs, Dougal, Carefree, Fancyfree, and Charade , I must look out some old pics sometime - there must be more.
I am still in Kent, near Sandwich
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Carefree and Charade I think came back to the yard, was one bay and the other chestnut?
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Carefree was bay, charade was a very spoilt dun
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:wave: From Neighbouring Essex!
How are you finding the turkeys? Am thinking it over turkeys / geese can't chooooose
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Welcome from wet walsall.. :raining:
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Hi welcome from a wet and windy Dover.
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Just seen your post, I used to work at Chaucer Stables for Mary Mervin and lived in Verne Cottage next door with 3 other girls who also worked on the yard in 1988/89 I remember some of the horses Dougal and Natasha (my favourites) Gilpin, Charade, Cassidy, Adam, Misty, Carefree, Rhythm. I worked with Clare J for a while before she left. Mrs Mervin was a hard task master indeed!