Townies

We are now residents of Newcastle County Down - Charlie gets his morning walk on the beach, and I get a coffee and breakfast from The Strand Cafe - life in style!

The mountains display all their grandeur in the snow today

These next few days we will spend acclimatising to our new life, and recovering from the move (after 22 years in one place we've forgotten how stressful it is and totally underestimated just how much 'stuff' we had accumulated).

We'll be doing Carlingford Food and Craft Fair on Sunday, the first of the year. This is a great opportunity for us to develop our Turnip House at Large strategy, we will be doing both food and craft at the Fair - Elaine and I will be there (as no-one needs to man The Turnip House Workshop any more) and we will have expanded, freshly cooked food offering - hopefully outside and all our craft products - with a few new things inside. More to follow...

Settling In 28 February 2010

After an unbelievably hectic week of moving out, with the snow against us - it snowed 3 inches or more three times last week, we finally finished moving all our stuff out on Sunday.

Furby Squeak and Tiggy, the cats, moved down with us to our temporary home with our friend in Newcastle As you can see, Furby immediately 'settled in' (big time!)

Making The Best of It

We are moving out this weekand have had plenty of snow to help us on our way (!)

Perhaps someone's trying to tell us something!

The Turnip House is emptying out bit by bit.

On our way to the Recycling centre, Charlie makes the best of it

Video of the Mournes

Saw this beautiful video from Andy Yoong this morning - it beautifully captures the spirit of the western Mournes

Haunting Mournes from Andy Yoong on Vimeo.

Last photos from the Turnip House

Despite the overnight snow , we still had visitors on the last day.

Some very kindly agreed to having their photos taken for us to post on the blog!

Charlie was, as ever, keen to share the lemon drizzle cake!

Here's a selection from the comments in the visitor's book:

'

You've no idea how much we'll miss our walk up to the Turnip House. Please don't be long in opening the Turnip House 2'

'We've enjoyed all our breaks here and we look forward to having soup and cake in your new place'

A lovely end to an era and great sentiments to send us on our way!! Thank you!

21 February 2010 Last Day

Well, we woke up to a magnificent snowfall - about 15cm or so!

The Mountains look Spectacular, but will be hard to get to today!

This is the last day that we will be running the workshop at Turnip House, we move out at the end of next week, and on to pastures new.

Pristine Lane

Charlie waits for visitors!

Felt Making Workshop

Elaine ran another great day felting on Saturday; some really nice people all the way from Larne.

We will still be doing workshops, held in one of the nearby venues.

Here is a sample of the work created:

Sunday 14th - Turnip House

Valentine's Day; the penultimate Sunday at Trassey.

A good busy day, plenty of craic.

Quote of the day, 'If you offer lemon drizzle cake like that. then they'll all follow you to your new place!' - This from a 'first timer,' but hopefully a new convert

Time to settle down for the night now!

We have signed the contract for the sale of Turnip House,
and so will be leaving soon.

Therefore we regret to announce that the last weekend opening of the Turnip House in it's present incarnation will be

Saturday and Sunday
20-21 February 2010

We have exciting plans to develop Turnip House further, based on, and building up from our happy experiences here.

All being well, we will not be too far from the Mournes.

You will still see us at the popular food and craft fairs

- Carlingford food and craft market on 7th March 2010 is our next one

Happy New Year

Wishing you all the best for 2010 - the year begins with a big freeze here as with most of the northern hemisphere!

Winter Snow

Slieve Donard, white with snow, taken from The Mound of Down, Downpatrick

The Mourne Way

We had a welcome visit from Oldham Ramblers this week, and we had great craic!

They were staying at Golf Links House in Newcastle ("A great place to stay!"). They caught the Mourne Rambler Bus up to the Blue Quarry near Spelga, and walked back down to Newcastle.

On their way, they stopped with us for soup, tea & cake. It went down well.

It got me thinking that we should remind people that we are on the Mourne Way, a newly signposted walking route from Newcastle to Rostrevor, all in the majesty of the Mournes, and that we are in a great place to stop: a strategic place. We are the first refreshment stop after Newcastle, and the last before Tollymore Forest (depending in your direction)

August at The Turnip House

We are enjoying a burst of high summer over the last few days - the workshop is busy every day with walkers and vacationers staying in Tollymore and Slievenaman, and the garden is looking spectacular!

Charlie has taken up post outside the kitchen door, waiting to be chief "meeter and greeter" a job to which he has taken like a professional!

The Salmon's Leap in The Mournes

Summer Rain Storm 21st July 2009

We've had a good few inches of rain today - heavy downpours lasting well into the afternoon. It brightened up with hot sunshine later, so we went down to see the Salmon Leap Falls - spectacular!

Charlie get a mention in the Irish Times

Fame at last for Charlie!

We were delighted that Charlie gets a mention in this Irish Times article by Deirdre Davys of 27 June about walking in the the Mournes.

At the end of the article Deirdre says: "Once back at the car park, a delightful finish to your day would be a pot of coffee in the garden of Turnip Cottage with Charley, the friendly giant, lying across your feet.
It’s okay – he’s the dog, not the owner."

Charlie would love to meet you too!

Slieve Binnian viewed form the Silent Valley. Only 6 miles from the Turnip House as the crow flies.

Storms and Rainbows: Turnip House 27 May 2009

Green, White, Gold - and Blue. The colours of Mourne in Spring.

Really spectacular weather has brought our the spring leaves and blossoms. Her is a montage of Hawthorn, blackthorn and whin, taken around Clonachullion Hill this weekend

St Patrick's Day 2009

Started murky with heavy mist, but by lunchtime the sun was shining and the day was good.

Made Colcannon for the workshop for the first time - a great success.

it really felt like spring today - a great portent for the year ahead!

Ancient Field marking exposed in the snow between Bryansford to Hilltown.

September 2008

The sun sets on a beautiful September day, casting a ruby hue over Luke's Mountain, Slievenaglogh and Slieve Bernagh.

Carlingford Lough

Taken from The Flagstaff Viewpoint, near Newry County Down 22 September

Shimna River

Shimna River; Salmon's Leap 20 February 2007

Yesterday the Mournes saw a day of torrential rain 

February Frost

 

witch hazel in bloom

 

 

Turnip House

Turnip House Summer 2006
 

Mourne Mountains

Newcastle, County Down 23 May 2006

A fine morning between the weather fronts!
 

12 May 2006

Looking down towards Clonachullion Hill from Fofanny


 

On The Slopes of Slieve Gullion

Climbed up today with Chocolate the dog, beautifully sunny on the lower slopes, cloud and wind higher up.

The highest passage tomb in Ireland is on the top - 576 m high!

 

Easter 2006

Looking North towards Tullaree Hill