OUR OPEN EVENING, READY OR NOT!!

What a week!

There were fleeting moments when I did wonder if we would be ready in time, but with a colossal effort from everyone we transformed the shed. We built all the kitchens, workshops, two of the beds, and a selection of table and chairs for everyone to see. The walls were adorned by swings and sledges which we suspended from the beams. It was certainly the best makeover I have seen in a long time.

The shop was not excluded, it too received its fair share of pampering. Tables were removed so that guests could circulate more easily, and keep dry if it was a wet night. Toys were moved round so that the new ones that had come in could be easily admired. Goodie bags were filled with toys and either a pen or pencil as well as the leaflets from companies we endorse to be handed out to all the ladies.

Thursday lunch time saw Phil Braithwaite and his team setting up their display. They brought numerous trees, shrubs, cyclamens and some beautiful flower arrangements that could be ordered for Christmas. There was no turning back. By six o'clock all the companies were installed and set up ready for the off , excitement was building. It was setting in for a wet night, would anyone come? Thankfully a little water did not deter those brave, hardy souls who turned out.
Lewis and Coopers quenched our thirst with a choice of six wines, two red, two white, a delightful fizzy one and a dessert wine. There was also Christmas pudding and cake to absorb the alcohol. Roots warmed us with some mulled wine and olives. Nicky had a fantastic array of hats for any occasion. While Anita told us how best to do our makeup, and if we should need our outfit altering Louise was close at hand. In case the stress becomes too much Karen eases us on our way. Finally Jess provided us with stockings for the little ones to hang up.

It was fantastic to see so many new faces, and familiar ones. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the evening a success and we look forward to seeing you all again soon. Julie.

OPEN EVENING THIS THURSDAY!!

Congratulations to New Zealand, Rugby World Cup Winners. Not that I doubted it for a minute, but I was heard to be cheering on the French as they went for their try. You have to encourage the under dogs, and they did put up one hell of a fight. I never expected the score to be so close. Talk of close, our Open Evening is approaching at great speed and all the staff are all beavering away. The weather is so unpredictable that we have rethought the idea of a marquee. No, I'm not saying anything other than you need not worry about your heels getting stuck in the grass and you will not need your thermals!! You'll just have to come along and see.

Coming along on the evening as well as the ones I told you about last week, we have, Roots Farm Shop. They have promised us some festive tasters as well as bringing a selection of festive gift ideas. I hope we have time to nip home for tea first or if you're not there early I can't guarantee there will be many left.

Nicky from Get Ahead Hats, is bringing a selection of hats for us to try as well as a variety of accessories. Dressing up for us instead of the kids!! You never know when you might need one.

Karen Portsmouth, Practitioner of Life Alignment for the past 5 years, and now also a practitioner of Home Alignment. Life Alignment is a means of gently accessing and releasing the effects of unresolved experiences and traumas as well as limiting beliefs and negative programming. She will have her plinth (work bed) with her and will be happy to give short sessions, or to discuss any of the work that I do.Adventure and play are both such vital ingredients in our lives.

We originally had just the six rural businesses coming, but like Topsy it has grown, by half as much again. So we now welcome Louise Drummond, a seamstress. She will do any alterations you want, or make anything from curtains to wedding dresses.

Anita Turnbull is a Beauty Consultant, and has a vast experince working years in the beauty industry. On Thursday she is coming armed with her makeup bag and is happy to do makeovers as well as answering questions. Her husband Howard may be coming along too. He is a joiner and has just set up his own business.

You know where I am going to be on Thursday evening. No excuses, there is nothing of merit on the television, so come and join us. We would love to meet you. A tipple in one hand, a taster in the other, and Christmas presents solved what more could you ask for??

Next week I'll tell you how it all went. Till then I think there will be plenty to do, see you all on Thursday, Julie.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

There has been some debate about my saying the rugby was safe in the hands of the Welsh. Unfortunately we now have a final consisting of the French and New Zealand sides. Wales battled on and very nearly succeeded. There will be the usual lively exchange as to whether the Irish referee, with a French father, should have refered to the fourth referee before sending off the Welsh Captain. Everyone will have their own view, that's what makes us unique. Imagine what it would be like if we all thought the same. Ok, there are those occasions when we can't always make our minds up. For instance when we are faced with the tricky decision of whether to go with a gooey chocolate praline dessert or sticky toffee pudding. Or in the boys case, whether it is a caramel rocky or a penguin. They have had so many they can now guess which joke will be on the packet! Sorry it seems a long time since breakfast!!

In the case of our Open Night it is more likely to be we will try them all, especially Lewis and Coopers wine tasting. There is a rumour that they may just bring some of their prize wining Christmas pudding! So far everything seems to be going to plan. Who else do we have coming? Braithwaite's are a family business based at Leeming Bar......On the evening they will be providing a demonstration of tree grafting, a selection winter baskets and planters, ideas for Christmas door wreaths and Holly wreaths, fresh flower Christmas decorations for tables, a selection of trees, shrubs and roses suitable for gifts and a gardening quiz with prizes! We also have Pink Owl Designs popping in. Jess designs and hand makes a selection of soft furnishings, cards and gifts using unique fabrics. She has just come back from Thailand, and Cambodia weighed down with material, so we can expect something very special and a little different.

Next week I will tell you a little about the other small businesses that are sharing their skills and produce with us. What we all have in common is that we are passionate about what we do. Until then, keep warm and dry, Julie

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Where are the weeks disappearing to? It does not seem five minutes since I was writing last weeks blog. Since then the England rugby team are out of the World Cup and all our hopes are now in the safe hands of the Welsh. Sowing is also finished and our attention has turned to the sheep. The tups (male sheep) have been introduced to the ewes, so hopefully come next spring we will hear the patter of little hooves.
Last Friday the American container arrived bringing a wondrous selection of Little Tikes toys. Some were new things we have not seen before (roll and pop vacuum cleaner), others are firm favourites such as the work benches, table and chairs, and lil wagon. The boys were kept busy for most of the day putting it all away. They certainly didn't have any problem sleeping that night. Today it is a case of remembering where everything is stored. One of the items that is very popular is the original police car complete with light and walkie talkie Talking of which I had better go and prepare one for being dispatched.
Have a good week, until next time, Julie.

PLANS A FOOT

October has arrived, and Harvest Festivals are being celebrated the length and breadth of the Country. We have not quite finished sewing all the fields, but hopefully if the weather stays fine we should not be far from doing so. It does feel strange enjoying temperatures of 28 degrees at this time of the year. Saturday tempted young Alfie-John to have his first visit to the Seaside, I don't think he is up to paddling in the sea or playing in the sand. Rumour has it, his Dad certainly enjoyed tucking into some good old fish and chips! Let's just enjoy the sun, and hope we don't get the snow they are talking about for the end of the month. Talking of the end of the month....

Adventure Toys Open Evening is on Thursday 27th October and plans for it are progressing nicely. We have invited several local businesses who are as passionate about their products as we are about ours, to come along and show you their skills and for you to sample some of their produce. Lewis and Coopers are providing the wine for the wine tasting, and Roots farm shop are promising us some tasters so that should keep body and soul together. W. Braithwaite and Sons are growers of hardy trees, shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants and will be on hand to answer any questions you may have on prickly issues concerning plants. Get ahead hats will solve the problem of where to get a hat for that special occasion or trip to the races. I have it on very good authority that Pink Owl Designs are creating some masterpieces for you to buy on the night, so don't forget your purse. Last but not least we have Advaita life. All this and the opportunity to see some of the new toys we have got in stock. just put it in your diary, 6.30pm until 9.00pm what more could you ask for???

Fliers and posters are being put up this week so I had better get busy laminating. Speak soon, Julie.

THE NEXT TRAIN APPROACHING............

This weekend and the previous one has seen the Hogwarts Express steaming its way up the East Coast mainline. It is quite a majestic site, fire box ablaze and steam billowing. It even had Jeremy Clarkson waxing lyrical when the Top Gear Team took on the challenge of racing a steam train against a humble car from London to Edinburgh. This got me thinking about boys and their toys. Or hopefully in this modern day it is no longer thought of as being entirely male dominated. How many of you ladies out there didn't have brothers and missed out on playing with trains? I doubt I was the only one......

I am now making up for lost time. We have a new table set up in the shop with a Brio display ready for the train enthusiast to rave over. The only way to know what everything does is to play with it, so you will find us on our knees conversing with the three year old Brio experts. We are only fulfilling our job descriptions!

Marbel have taken over Brio. They are a Cornwall‐based toy distributor specialising in bringing wooden, quality, classic, traditional, innovative and educational toys to the UK market. The firm was set up six years ago by husband and wife team Christoph and Rebecca Bettin, who started the company after spending several years working in Munich, Germany, for American multinational General Electric. Ever since 1907, when BRIO first began selling toys, they’ve built a solid reputation for producing safe, high-quality products. Today, their commitment to quality and safety is stronger than ever.

Over the last year Brio have added quite a few new lines and are trying to combine both road and rail as a concept. For the really young you can go round a simple track and then disappear into uncharted territory on the living room floor and negotiate chair legs. For the older aficionado you can build tracks over two or three levels and link this with a road network that takes goods or people to any destination the imagination creates. It certainly is a toy that will grow with your child, expanding their imagination, improving hand eye co ordination and dexterity to name but a few. Beware you will become hooked!

We have just had a delivery of Brio, so I had better go and play, no I mean put it away. Till next time have a good week. Julie

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Just testing how good your memory is, do you remember in one of the first blogs I wrote I said we had 17.5 children among us? Well we now have 18! Rob is a proud Dad. He has a beautiful baby boy, Alfie-John Michael. Weighing in at 6lb 13oz, arriving early, he obviously heard we had some new baby toys in stock and just wanted to check them out. His first stop on leaving hospital was not home, but Adventure Toys.

The other hot news is that we are having an Open Evening on Thursday 27th October, from 6.30pm to 9.00pm. You are all welcome, please come along, bring a friend. We have invited a number of fellow small businesses to come and show you a selection of their produce as in the case of Roots, and Lewis and Cooper are bringing wine for you to taste. We also have some soft furnishings for sale as well as Hats for every occasion. I will keep you posted, or better still keep up to date with us on facebook. You may just be inspired. Better still pop the date on your calender, or in your diary. All being well we will have some new toys in for you to see.

Talking of new toys. Do you remember Ambi? They are ideal baby and toddler toys. Made of plastic, but with a deep shine that just lasts and lasts. They have stood the test of time, many of you will recognise them when you see them. I still have the sunshine smiley faces that my children had and they don't look like they have been played with, they are still as good as new. Instead of being used as a rattle it is now an executive stress toy!! See what you think. Hazel's grandson is certainly going to find one or two in his stocking.

Till next time, Julie.

PRESERVING (CAN'T LET THINGS GO TO WASTE)

I hope you are all in one piece after the gale force winds yesterday. The wind certainly blew the cobwebs away, as well as a lot of fruit off the trees. Several trees were blown over blocking the road in either direction, and they had to be moved before we could get home. A sleep over in a toy shop may be every child's dream, just think what fun could be had. I doubt there would be much sleep!!

We have finished combining and are starting to work the land ready to sew the crops for next year. The hedge rows are laden with berries. We have a lot of windfalls, great for an Apple Pie or Blackberry and Apple Crumble. Makes my mouth water, better hadn't mention custard, cream or ice cream or I may start to drool. Quite a few of us have been busy making jam and fruit Jelly.

As I promised you in an earlier blog, I would persuade our members of staff to share with you some of their favourite recipes. Here is Belinda's. It is also one that many of us have made after persuading her to part with the recipe, and thoroughly enjoy. Even better if you are able to use runner beans that you have grown yourself. She has been making it for years. It is great with cold meats.

RUNNER BEAN CHUTNEY

2 lb runner beans (when trimmed and sliced)

1.5 lb onions (when chopped)

1 heaped tablespoon cornflower

1 tablespoon turmeric

1 heaped tablespoon dry mustard

1 lb Demerara sugar

1 lb soft brown sugar

1.5 pints of vinegar

Prepare vegetables.

Cook sliced beans in well-salted water until tender.

Cook chopped onions in half a pint of vinegar.

Mix dry ingredients to smooth paste with vinegar.

Strain cooked beans, then add to rest of vinegar and cook for ten minutes.

Add sugar and rest of ingredients and boil for a further fifteen minutes.

Bottle and cover.

This chutney keeps really well. All this talk of food reminds me that lunch is calling.

Let me know if you like it. Till next week, Julie

ENDINGS, BEGINNINGS AND ALL INBETWEEN

Our Yorkshire lass just missed out on a gold medal, but like all good things the athletics came to an end. The same could be said for the summer holidays. The little, and not so little ones are back to school, as are our students who have been helping out over the summer. They are back to University for their final year, but for many this is a new start.

There is still a small amount of combining to be finished, hopefully before we get any more rain. The bailer has been working nearly night and day, and we are leading bails at the moment. As soon as this is finished we will be ready to start ploughing, and the cycle begins again.

I appreciate not all of you will have had the opportunity to visit our shop, and will not have seen what we have on display outside for your little ones to try. Unfortunately my photographic skills are limited, but here is a section of our outdoor display.

I was thinking about the shop and how it varies throughout the year. During March we are busy building our display for outside, often in the snow, wind and rain. We're a hardy lot! The Toy fairs are just before this. Usually we go to London and Germany to see what new toys are going to be introduced over the coming year. We are still getting new products in now, an example of this was the Little Tikes Cozy Cab that we got in for the first time a few weeks ago. Between now and dare I say it Christmas (it seems a long way away) we will be having regular deliveries. The sledges will be ordered, and the debate as to whether we can have another winter like last year will go on until the last possible minute. Santa will have visited, a New Year celebrated, stock taking completed and we have come full cycle.

No time to dilly dally, till next time. Julie

The Athletic World Championships are taking place amidst a certain amount of controversy. We have seen some top athletes being disqualified for false starting. The biggest surprise being Usain Bolt, did his fellow team mate twitch enough to set him off?? One thing I do know is that when it comes to getting out of the starting blocks our new hens are dab hands. They are not afraid of a little pushing. Yes they are enjoying plenty of fresh air and freedom. At the end of the day, like Jessica Ennis after day 1 of competition in the heptathlon, they are ready for bed.

Do you remember those school sports days when there was the good old wheelbarrow race?? Well we have a very good wheelbarrow, made by a company called Tolo. We have recently got it in so I thought I would tell you a little about them.

Tolo, have the catch phrase Trust Tolo. They were established in 1985 and are a British owned company. Their head office is in Hong Kong. The company promote fair labour throughout the supply chain as well as being ethically accountable regarding manufacturing and its social and environmental impact. They also hold certificates for consistent superb quality standards.

We have the wheelbarrow and a selection of garden tools in stock. Tolo’s tools are not only just fun and educational, but they are also real gardening tools that have been custom made to suit children. Each design is lightweight and easy to manage but has all the practicality and durability of high-quality adult gardening tools. Children love to be involved in the garden and see things grow, to be responsible for their own little plot. However big this is. Being outdoors teaches them about nature, the different animals and insects that live there. It is hard work so it will tire them out and there is no greater satisfaction than eating something you have sown, nurtured and harvested. A sense of pride. Just what Jess will feel when she stands on the podium to receive her medal.

Here's hoping, Julie