Visitors and more

Famous at last! Our own wine label.

Two very different parcels of fruit - one from the warm Sierra Foothills and the other from the far north of the Central Valley, Lodi - combine to make this sensational, very typically Californian Zinfandel, with characteristic swathes of raison, damson and plum fruit tempered by the gentle cocoa-like spiciness for which this variety is renowned.

Doesn't sound like Ringwood to me!

Unfortunately we haven't a photo of our first visitors. Graham and Jean came last year and brought torrential rain with them. This time they only brought rain!
Below you see Lyn and Julie (sisters) Julie from South Africa, kindly helped us with local information the last time we went. Lyn and David are ramblers with the New Forest Ramblers and we often meet on a Saturday morning for a jaunt around the forest.

David and Sue

Now for the Portsmouth Mob on their annual pilgrimage to Ringwood. It was good of Sue and Glyn to come all the way from southern Spain (or were they returning anyway!). Joy and Geoff's grand child was without a baby-sitter and Roy and Sybil had to shelve their duties in Hove with their daughter.

Roy, Joy, Stuart and Sue.

Geoff, cheerful as ever, takes charge of the proceedings.

(later - I have just noticed he has two wine glasses!)

Just over a week ago we were near Hightown Common (close to us) when we saw a huge lorry with trailer. The name on the side was Hansa Haus. It looked as though someone had bought a prefabricated house from Germany and this turned out to be true. This is the house after 12 days of fabrication. I know for a fact there were 2 other lorries as well and maybe even more. Not bad for 12 days work.

This is the most constructive I have been recently. Do you remember those trees? Sue and I removed the chippings and garden rubbish. I have been turfing and seeding - spot the new turf it is far better than the original. Peter and Di (next door) have bought a tree to replace the two that have been taken out. It has been in flower already and it was looking very good.

Watch this space - grass growing!