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Great Chalfield is owned by the National Trust.
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Bath Opera present
Mozart’s Don Giovanni in an english version by Olivier Award winner Robin Norton Hale
Music director Peter Blackwood, Director Jane Clark
In the Great Hall at Great Chalfield Friday 28th Saturday 29th June at 7.30pm
Tickets £35 each, please call 01225 782239 or email patsy@greatchalfield.co.uk
Picnics welcome in the gardens or under cover from 5pm
I am still recovering from the Plant Fair. What a gorgeous day we all had and us doggies had the best time, not only meeting and greeting over 1000 fans but just making sure that the stable yard was clear of any little bit of hog roast that Neil H might just drop to the ground.
I don’t think Molly left his side all day but I was too busy being the social dog that I am . 
Neil B whom I sometimes help in the garden had his coffee wagon all set up which was a wonderful scene and very jolly. I met my daughter who thought she was pretty cool but I put her back in her place. 
She has had all her coat shorn off in a very modern way which I don’t really feel is how I want to be living in the country: especially as it now feels like Winter again and Patsy has had to light our fire for us.
The blue bells are finally arriving in the woods – sometimes Robert and Patsy take us for a stroll but I try to keep to the path as there are those horrible little stinging nettles which just reach up to my bare tummy and have to be avoided. Last Saturday I had a great start to my day by killing a King Rat ; I yelped with excitement in the process and Mollie came to help but she was too late…..maybe just as well as there are all sorts of rules nowadays that might even apply to the down to earth business of ratting. There’s no telling what they will dream up in Westminster next. Robert went canvassing for the local Elections and met my old Mum who was in good form but Senior now, he missed seeing my chatty daughter Tiggy as her mistress was away.. let’s hope for summer sun shine now.
My biggest day of the year is not long away. On Sunday 5th May we have our annual PLANT FAIR and this year it is with JAMIE’S FARM - Please all come along and see not only me that day but meet all these wonderful friends of mine. You could even come and help us by emailing Katie@jamiesfarm.org.uk. I will be very busy meeting and greeting all the children who will come in for free. This year there is going to be a hog roast cooked by the famous Neil Hooper who I will befriend for the day as he will need Molly and me to pick up all those little bits that might escape to the ground.
Here I am on Steve’s tractor with some of the children who have come from far away city places that I know I would not find easy to live in.
At last we have some spring sunshine. I just love being in the garden checking out all my wild little friends as they scurry through the grass. I never catch them but it is fun to watch them and pounce after them.
I am very upset with 4 geese that just arrived on the moat and frightened away my friendly ducks. How dare they not obey me when I tell them, to go away – I thought about swimming across to them but they are rather bigger than me and Molly declined. They must be from a very disobedient family.
I had my first swim in the brook the other day after one of our social walks to the village. It felt so good and I came out of the clear, clear water with such a clean fluffy coat. Sadly the little stream in the garden is just not quite deep enough for me to swim but I enjoy playing with the children when they go paddling
GREAT CHALFIELD PLANT FAIR 5TH MAY 2013Great Chalfield Manor, MELKSHAM,Wiltshire SN12 8NH
Tel: Robert & Patsy Floyd 01225 782239; email patsy@greatchalfield.co.uk
Friends of Great Chalfield is an Association of 100 local members who support maintenance and development of the gardens at Great Chalfield with events
We look forward to welcoming you at our Annual Plant Fair on Sunday 5th May 2013 10.30 am to 4p.m. We have 25 specialist nurseries and plant stalls so this is the best opportunity to stock up your garden and plant collections. Admission is £3 including National Trust members, children come free. This year our Plant Fair is shared with Jamie’s Farm Registered charity number 1129544.
Jamie’s Farm charity based in Box, Wiltshire helps children to flourish in education, at home and in the community: by providing ‘farming, family and therapy’ to vulnerable children through one week residential visits.
Jamie’s Farm will offer delicious soups, a home grown hog roast, giant cake stall with tea and coffee at the event, where you can find out more about the charity. www.jamiesfarm.org.uk
This has been such a very cold month for us doggies and I do feel my age. Thankfully the fire has been lit for us each day and we do have a warm room to sleep in with a variety of sofas to sit on!! Even walks have not been so much fun as the North wind goes straight through me.
Poppy the pony would like to make friends with me but I am still scared of her when she puts her nose right in my face.
I thought I could help eat up some of her carrots that the children had given her but it was not such a good idea.
My old friend Marley now has a ramp to go up into his car so yesterday I tried to show him how to skip the ramp and jump in but I nearly did not make it. I have to say I then used the ramp too as we are both feeling our age.
Yesterday we opened the house and garden for the first time this year and My Oh My! was I pleased to see all the visitors arriving through the gates to see me. I spent all afternoon meeting and greeting and showing off our wonderful garden. I shall look forward to seeing you all come and visit us during the next few months.
Ming Blog for February 2013
Most of our days are spent planting trees with Robert in his new wood.
I quite enjoy this project as I get to go in the old jeep and have plenty of time to roam about and sniff out any goodies. If it is wet I can always jump back in the jeep and keep dry and warm. Even Patsy came up one day to plant a tree with Molly but neither of them are so keen as Robert and I. We do manage to encourage some helpers to come along on a nice day but things like rugby seem to get in their way at this time of year.
We had our snow drop day for Dorothy house last week-end which I am usually in my element meeting and greeting, but this year it was so wet and cold that I rather stuck to the tea room and chatted up all the ladies who were selling amazing cakes. Even the Wiltshire Times newspaper did not feature me which was a huge disappointment as I love a bite of publicity.
Of course now as you can see the snowdrops are looking wonderful and Patsy says that anyone who wants to come and see them should come along, see me and put a donation in our Church box.
Come and enjoy snowdrops around the medieval fishpond on Sunday 10th Feb.
Donations for Dorothy House £4 per person including from NT members. Tea and cakes provided in the Motor House by Dorothy House volunteers : the beautiful parish church of All Saints’ Great Chalfield will be open, the manor is closed for the winter.
Directions : please approach from the NORTH either from B3107 from Melksham or Holt via Broughton Gifford Common, or from B3109 from Wildcross following signs for Stonar [Cross Roads] and Broughton Gifford. The lanes from the south past Holt Manor and from Leigh Road are very narrow.
Ming Blog January 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all
I felt quite tired after Christmas For about 3 weeks I spent a huge amount of time running from the kitchen area to the great hall making sure I did not miss out on a party. So many friends to see and greet. Sadly I missed out on the food fayre in December as there were too many feet that I might get tangled up in so us doggies were firmly told to stay in the playroom However Patsy was very pleased with the result and we did manage to get some treats for not making a noise. Most of the time the big fire in the hall was lit so I could curl up in front of it and keep very warm with the children running around and having a very happy time.
On our many walks across the fields to collect the daily newspaper we meet up with the horses having breakfast with Gangus the guinea fowl joining in. Sadly all his friends and family were killed by the fox and he now thinks that the horses are his family so he joins in on breakfast with Harvey.
This week-end has been fun with the children from next door. I love bouncing around in the snow and going on a sledge was amazing. It is so good to be able to return to our warm playroom with the fire burning to warm us up. Molly enjoyed playing in the snow and we had a good rag.
Ming Blog for November – December 2012
What a strange month we have all had. One moment I am having to swim across the fields and the next we are sitting amongst the roses having lunch out side enjoying a snooze in the sun.
We have had lots of gardening days as Di who comes to visit me once a week and Patsy have been planting lots and lots of bulbs in the orchard which I rather enjoy as I am a very good digger, sometimes this is a bonus and sometimes not!!!
You must all come and admire our work in the Spring.
Just in case I am too busy to talk to you all before Christmas just think of me in front of a roaring fire, surrounded by the family being thoroughly spoilt.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Please join us for last minute shopping for delicious food and gifts : Tattie’s Quails Eggs , Charlotte’s pates, Rowland Read’s sausages and Lick the Spoon chocolates among many others, or buy one or more of Richard Bill’s delightful pictures ; a draft excluder ( most useful) and Jane’s gifts : enjoy the Xmas tree in the Hall.