I'm so sorry!

I have just looked at the date of my last posting - many of you will be forgiven for thinking that I had been taking a well earned (mmm?!) rest but you are wrong! No, I have just been doing all those normal, winter things and had forgotten to write any of it up on here.  Over the last couple of weeks George, Will and Ken have been hard at work getting on with the new entrance and roads. After digging them out themselves (with the help of Dinky the digger)  they had to call in the heavy boys to dig out the stone from our quarry. So enter Dinky's big brother! Luckily, where the thick clay gives way to the rock of the hillside we have some very useful shaley stone, perfect for using as the under layer on the road. Everyone enjoys this as they get to use David's huge tractor, Air con. radio, automatic reverse, dancing girls, it makes life a lot more tolerable than the ancient, open air, no brakes variety that seem to inhabit Fforest Farm!

The new entrance is going to make life so much easier, not just for people arriving but also much quieter for visitors on the site as all the traffic will now go in and out through the middle of the site and not round the top or bottom ends. It effects far less pitches and makes much more sense. When we are able to build the  new loo block it will arrive straight in front of the new reception. As George says he is laying the infrastructure in.  They have created a hardstanding area where the top dog-walk was and we plan to have three more seasonal pitches. Such was our waiting list over the last couple of years that I think they are already taken! They are now putting the top layer of hardcore on and thumping it down to make a stable surface.

I have been busy selling Christmas cards for the Injured Jockeys' Fund. I have my last day tomorrow, at Ludlow. I don't know if any of you ever go racing at this time of year but if you do visit the stand. They are at every racecourse in the couple of months leading up to Christmas and the Fund does the most wonderful job. You can visit their website http://www.ijf.org.uk/ and see the sort of things that we do to help. It is very rewarding. Last year we made over a million selling the cards and other bits and bobs before Christmas, the first time that figure had been reached. George's father, John was one of the co-founders of the charity; he would have been quite astounded and delighted to see how it has progressed over the years.  I know that in many ways there are far more eye-catching charities to give to but racing is such a huge industry in this country and no-one ever remembers a jockey once he is out of the papers.  There off my soap-box!!

Right, off to make soup for tomorrow, it promises to be another freezing day.... In fact, it might be cancelled, which will be a shame, I love Ludlow!

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written by Pat Colgan, December 10, 2008

Katie,
I realised you to be busy at this time of year. The new entrance sounds wonderful.Of course, I still remember my first visit to your site when I had my motorbike. The fear and dread of trying to keep the bike balanced on the stony ground was a heart pounding experience.
I would have given up were it not for the fact that the others were coming to the site.I am so glad I persevered and am now turning up in a car due the accident Tina and I had.
We will of course be getting a bike so that new entrance will definitely be something to look out for.

Be Safe and if I don't get round to it,,,I hope you and George and family have a very happy christmas and a wonderful new year.

Take Care
Pat(Tina)

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written by Bill Nicholls, December 11, 2008

Would be nice to see some photo's of the work as I'm not there to take any.

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written by Katie Barstow, December 11, 2008

I shall be putting up some photographs when they have finished Bill! We are missing our 'official photographer' though but with the mud and mess I think it is better now for people to see the finished article! I will have a look through the ones that have been taken, though, just to see if there is something suitable. Perhaps it would be better to add a new album to our photographs and put quite a few up so people can see the progression from green field site to brown site to road...McAlpine had better look out

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written by Shelley Wesson, December 12, 2008

The new entrance is in just the right spot the improvements may seem like a lot of mess at the moment and my oh my what alot of mud never seen so much lol but it will be so worth it. We cant wait for the season to begin and we never thought we would miss not being at FF so much but we do so keep writing your blog because its keeping us going through these winter months and giving us our FF fix. Have a great xmas and an even better new year. roll on 2009

Muddy dogs
written by carol broomfield, December 14, 2008

Hi Katie
Bet you need a muddy room now for all those little paw's.
Well it's that time of year again so Happy Christmas to you all and a very Happy New Year.We will see you in the spring.Looking forward to seeing all the hard work you are all doing.
Carol xx

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