Whats happening around Kinsclere http://www.kingsclere-estates.co.uk/cms Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:58:38 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.kingsclere-estates.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=88888890 Hi Tim I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help in making Saturday such a success. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and thought the venue was supberb - a hidden gem. My mum still hasn't got over the shock of it all! Please also pass on my thanks to Vicki as the food was wonderful and we have had lots of comments back from our guests to say how much they enjoyed it. I will certainly spread the word about the barn to my friends and colleagues and hope to be able to work with you in the near future. Thank you once again. Kind regards Lynne Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:31:05 +0100 http://www.kingsclere-estates.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=88888890 At last we have the 2008 harvesting campaign yesterday at 5 o’clock we pulled out of the last bit of spring rape we had sitting in the field and turned of the combine for the last time this year. It has been a long and drawn out process and at times the stress of seeing the crops standing out in the fields has been maddening. The older folks on the farm kept saying that it would get done eventually as it always has in the past and they were right. We finished harvest with just about every spare bit of floor being used to store grain this was because the wet grain swells up so much that it takes up more space per dry ton than if it was dry. We also had some good yields which also meant that we needed more space. It has been a huge effort and it has been so good to see all of our team pulling together to make it happen. Dad often recalls to people who ask the night when he was the first one of all of us to go home and that was at 1 30 in the morning the rest of us kept going till 4am, as this wasn’t enough the next day at 9 o’clock the yard was full of people again. It makes you realise how lucky we are to have these people around us. It has also been great to see all the neighbours pitching in to help each other out they all seem to have done this not to make a quick buck but because they knew that we were all in the same boat and if they could help they would. I think that will be the thing I’ll remember most about this harvest. We are now getting on madly with the planting of next years crops I’m going about in the sprayer getting ground ready for the drill to come in, and then following behind with some other sprays and fertiliser. At the same time I’m keeping an eye on the levels of slugs about the fields there hasn’t been too much activity in the past few days however with today’s rain I’m sure I’m going to find a load when I go and have a look this afternoon. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:52:25 +0100 http://www.kingsclere-estates.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=88888890 After a few minor technical issues since the wedding the shaz transporter has now returned to her rightful place as head of the grain carting team. This once ugly duckling of an army green Bedford 4x4 TM was painted up in great style to collect Sharon and I from the church and transport us back to the reception in style. On the way back we stopped of for a few pictures on top of the downs looking back-over Newbury. We have been busy combining grain for the last few days between the rain storms which have kind of hampered harvest some what. We would normally be thinking about cutting our last fields and getting ready for the planting season by now but this year we still have more than half to do but I'm hoping to start planting later in the week. Its all going to be a lot of work for all of the team this year because of the weather putting us back so much. We are lucky that we have such good relations with our neighbouring farmers. It's times like these when it pays to have a close working relationship between us all. Today I moved one neighbours combine harvester over to our farm so that they can help us out. They have finished and have agreed that they could spare some time to help us catch up which will prove really useful. It does mean that I have to for-fit my place in the combine race that I hold with my friend Chis from lincolnshire though. each year we let each other know who is the first to start, and then keep tracks with each other through harvest in a bid to be the first one to finish. the only rule is that we're not allowed to cheat by getting in any other combines. It is surprising how close we normally are, but this year would have been different any way because he went out and got a bigger combine in the first place. If anybody is wandering why they can see a hive of activity going on in the fields day and night its because were in a desperate bid to catch up and get all the crops of and the new ones planted before the autumn weather comes in and stops us from working the ground not because we want to keep the countryside up all night promise! Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:32:39 +0100 http://www.kingsclere-estates.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=88888890 At last there has been some comments made on the blog page from the local community. I'm so happy that someone has written a comment so that we can have a discussion about it. There has been an anonymous comment left on the site about us reinstalling gates on the estate. It is unfortunate that we have had to reinstall the gates around the estate but after a spate of damage caused by vehicles driving trough the crops, as well as fly tipping and poaching the deer and hares we have little other option. We have used a more traditional 5 bar gate in one instance but that has been damaged by vehicles ramming it we therefore have gone for this barrier type of gate which is harder to damage and easier to repair if damaged. This type of barrier is low enough that we can lift the front of the combine over the top of them with out having to take it off when changing fields this means that they only need to be wide enough to fit the machine through so we no longer need to have such wide gate ways. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:22:45 +0100 http://www.kingsclere-estates.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=88888890 Our wedding photo's are now available on Andrew McCall's website http://www.ampimages.co.uk/ (http://www.ampimages.co.uk/) enter the password Tim and Shaz (including the spaces) enjoy!! Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:38:17 +0100