Bye Bye Porch

Exiting time ahead - work on replacing the roof of the Main House starts soon.

It was planned for mid September, but a busy builder and full schedule on our part has lead to a bit of slippage.

So we start in a week or so. Let's hope October's weather is better than September's!

The poor old house has been the neglected 'elephant in the room' since we moved here 3 years ago, not much has been done apart from clearing and archiving the treasures contained within.

Now that we are installed in the Workshop and Gallery, we can begin the main task - preserving an historic vernacular farmhouse, built in the 1800's.

#1 job is to replace the roof - which has many holes, and is the main reason why the house is deteriorating.

Firstly, the old porch has to go - it is rather unsightly, not part of the original building, and is falling down anyway

magnificent - but that porch has to go!

crumbling down - but good slates and bricks

about 90% of the slates are saved - a good job, 

very unstable

half a roof - better than none at all? I don't think so!

that's the timber off, a great relief

the old whitewash finish visible again

mostly easy to demolish

that lintel looks stubborn

nothing a poke with a large stick won't resolve!

in the frame!

note the construction method - large stones for footings, then bricks and lime mortar, then very thick concrete render

gone

a very nice pile of bricks

looking a bit surreal now

thank goodness I had a helper for all that clearing up!

high - and dry!

A Very Special Weekend

Hard to believe, this weekend was the last in September.

We took it out with a bang! 

The Big Birthday Party for Eleanor and John, 

A family reunion with Kate & Eleanor and James and Lauren, 

And catering for Lacken Cottage Farm's Permaculture event, 

Turnip House kitchens pulled out all the stops, making over the weekend:

• 60 servings of soup
• 11 loaves of bread
• 50 evening meals
• 4 cakes

Whew!

the birthday girl

Eleanor and friend

checking out the new yarn delivery

Eleanor and James

Lauren James and Charlie

fun at Newcastle play park

Eleanor & Kate

Helping with the chocolate cake!

making sure to get the last bit!

testing the merchandise

proceeds from the catering went a long way to buying our Wind Turbine - like this one at Lacken Cottage Farm - thanks!

The Scott Motorcycle comes to call

We had a rare treat today with a visit by 9 Scott motorcycle enthusiasts - and their bikes! 

After gathering at Scott enthusiast Kenneth's house near Dromara, a spectacular run through the hills culminated in soup, cake and tea at the Turnip House.

It was a delight to see these magnificent machines - some almost 100 years old, in such great condition, and under tender care.

Here's an extract from the Scott Owners' Club website:

The Scott Legend
Say the word ‘Scott’ to a vintage motorcyclist and watch his or her response: it will be either that of enthusiasm or loathing. The Scott Motorcycle never has been mediocre ! During the 1920’s and 1930’s, when Scott Motorcycles were at their peak, a dedicated throng of enthusiasts ensured these motorcycles gained an almost cult like status: the icons of this cult were the legendary Squirrels, Super Squirrels and Flying Squirrels.
Alfred Angus ScottThe Scott machine was the product of an engineering genius called Alfred Angas Scott (1874 - 1923). His first motorcycle was built using a homemade twin cylinder engine installed into the steering head of a modified bicycle. He went on to produce a motorcycle which, on paper at least, would not look out of place in a modern motorcycle catalogue: his machine incorporated water cooling, telescopic forks, low slung weight and a lightweight duplex frame giving superb road holding. This was the Scott of 1908 (90 years ago!) and these features were to remain an integral part of the Scott motorcycle for the next 70 years.

thanks to http://www.scottownersclub.org/

Brilliant!

sold by A Wood &; Sons, Donnybrook Dublin - in 1924!

a beauty

twin cylinder

Engine no. Y7237

quite a line up

gathering Scotts

chrome radiator

air intake - no filter!

Scott of Shipley, Yorkshire

battery in need of charge!

old - and new

admirers, all the way from Minnesota

the precursor to SatNav!

group shot; after soup tea and cake

Red Kite Update

Red Kite and Mourne Mountains

It's been a mixed few months for our beautiful and magnificent Red Kites, with 5 suspicious deaths, and 14 fledglings.


The RSPB who do magnificent work with these creatures have released their Summer Newsletter which updates the situation.

You can download a free copy via our website turniphouse.com

John & Charlie's Day Off

When I was 5, we moved to England when my father got a job as radio technician in RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire. I grew up looking forward to the annual Air Show - a little boy's dream.

So when I heard that an old favorite the Vulcan, would be flying at this year's Newcastle Airshow, I could not resist the chance to re-visit the joys of simpler times.

So I booked the day off (my boss is very kind!) and Charlie and I walked from Dolly's Brae outside Leitrim, through Castlewellan Forest Park, along The Newcastle Trail into town to enjoy the Show.

Here's a pictorial record of the day:

starting point: the car park at the top of Dolly's Brae

the lovely windy path in Castlewellan Forest Park

following the Newcastle Way

one of the enticing new cycle paths 

Castlewellan Lake, with Bearnagh looming behind

mature oaks and beech

Janus stone by Tasos Goikas

the glorious view from the Castle

picture perfect

the campsite is full

out of the park into town

Castlewellan on a busy Saturday

a brief detour to look at Drumadonnell Cross

a bit of road walking now

out of town, down to the sea

stunning views of the Mournes from the green lanes below Castlewellan

Charlie enjoying the walk

it's a rare treat around here to walk along country lanes

straight on to the road, left for more green lanes

interesting insect on the buddleia

the bridleway to Maghera

field with a view!

on reaching the main road - these are the queues leading into Newcastle

meanwhile, on our route, the view from Wildflower Lane

Charlie getting a much needed drink

and onto the road again

into the fray

Coast Guard helicopter and bird

resting in Newcastle

towards the crowds

reward, in The Anchor Bar

simpler times - on Castlewellan Lake