This doesn't take very long and to fill up the evening Big WI ask 3 members to talk about something interesting in their lives, somehow I agreed to take part this year and decided to talk about how we kept moving and renovating houses so that we could buy a smallholding.
To make it a bit more interesting I printed out some photos that could be handed round as I spoke.
The other two ladies had had careers, one as a podiatrist and entrepreneur and the other first as a nurse and then working with clinical trials for new drugs. They had both written down what they would say and read their bits but I decide to go freestyle and printed out photos of some interesting pictures from the house we renovated and then at the smallholding and used those as prompts to talk about our life of moving up the housing ladder from a two up two down end terrace with garden to 5 acres. I wasn't nervous but found my voice going all shaky - not like me at all! at least my knees didn't knock!
The first 3 photos are of the house we brought from being "unfit for human habitation" to a lovely home in 1984/5. Taking 2 children under 4 to live in a caravan while the work was done. Mostly by Colin in the evenings and weekends.
Then I had 2 photos of what a mess the smallholding was when we bought it in 1992, that was 7 years and two more houses later than Appletree Cottage above
A photocopy from the newspaper when we were interviewed to promote the Suffolk Smallholders Society in 1998
How the smallholding garden and campsite looked in 2013. After 21 years of fun and much hard work.
Then I had a couple of photos that were taken for my old blog of the stall we had at the front gate with some of the things we grew to sell and a photo of some of the fruit we grew. Raspberries, redcurrants and apricots.
I think all the ladies enjoyed hearing our house moving story and seeing the photos......... They said they did or maybe they were just being polite!
Thank you to everyone for comments about the colours of the trees up the lane and around my meadow. The tree that I didn't know down the lane in a neighbours garden is definitely not a Goat Willow, I have one of those at the end of the garden and we had several at the smallholding. I went back down the lane and zoomed in for a better look and have decided that looking at the leaves with their red stems that it's a type of ornamental cherry, one that gets very big!
Welcome to some more followers, hope you enjoy reading
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I'd have loved to have been at the WI and heard your talk. I'm sure the ladies will have enjoyed it. The before/after pictures are great. And a fine tribute to Colin and the hard work you both put in to building home and family.
ReplyDeleteWish I'd been there too Sue. I am sure the ladies all found it interesting - not many people have achieved what you and Col did, after all. I know the hard work involved in "doing up a dump" and take my hat off to you!
ReplyDeleteI am sure the ladies enjoyed your talk, particularly with your visual aids. I reckon 2013 is about the year that the farmer and I came to visit you both. I remember it all just like thay - you really should be so proud of what you achieved.
ReplyDeletePossibly prunus serotina, or black cherry apparently edible fruit.
ReplyDeleteCongratulates on giving a very good talk to the WI. About 30 years ago when I was first joined the WI I was very shy and had been asked if I would be craft secretary (the previous lady had died and they knew I loved craft) I was so nervous of standing up to talk that I would write what I need to say and pass it on to the secretary to say it for me. After I few months I was fine and I went on be a craft judge and was lucky to be at The Royal Windsor Show an spoke to Princess Anne I saw some beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
It must have been good to have been a craft judge. Being a cookery judge must be good too if you get to sample the entries!
DeleteAmazing to look back at all you and Colin achieved over the years with sheer grit, determination and a lot of hard work. |Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI bet your talk went down very well, especially with the photos to show what you were talking about. A lot more interesting than some of the subjects that are chosen .... I would definitely have stayed awake for that :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the newspaper clipping of you and Col. It's nice to have things like that to look back on. We have quite a few magazine clippings and articles that featured us at our first farm ... and of course there's that episode of Escape to the Country that keeps being re-shown, recently in Scotland as we got an email from our niece to say 'Uncle Alan you're on tele again with those pigs'!
I've missed that episode, must have been a few years ago now.
Deletedo you know if it's on youtube anywhere
I don't know I've never looked, it was way back in 2012.
DeleteIt would have been a talk that I am sure I would have enjoyed. Its amazing when you look back just how much you and Colin achieved over the years.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a lovely talk. Looking at the pictures the two of you did so very much work. I know Harvey and I could not have done what you both did. We had a hard enough time getting this house into shape (and we are still working on it).
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That sounds like a wonderfully interesting talk and I’m sure all the ladies really enjoyed it. I was amazed to see how you and Colin restored Appletree Cottage from a complete shell, and in your spare time too. It must have made living in the caravan worthwhile, although I can’t imaging how claustrophobic that must have been with 2 small children. It’s a wonder you weren’t climbing the walls!
ReplyDeleteI would have found your presentation very interesting! We have eggs coming out of our ears right now.. lol. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you gave a talk and I bet it was a favorite one among the ladies. You are much braver than I would be and should be proud to have shared such helpful and encouraging information. Having the photos and news clipping must have helped quite a bit as well. I remember seeing the news clippings on your previous blog and I enjoyed seeing part of them again! You are so knowledgeable on so much - have you ever considered writing a book on the subject?
ReplyDeleteWell done, would have loved to hear your talk.
ReplyDeleteWow! I bet that was a great talk! What lovely photos and great memories.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to have heard your talk also. I'm in awe of all the work you did to transform those homes - while raising a family no less! What an achievement.
ReplyDeleteWish I could have heard it and seen the photos 'live'. I'm sure it was absolutewly fascinating and wouldn't be surprised if you get asked to repeat the talk in other places.
ReplyDeletexx
I would've loved to be there, listening to your talk, Sue, and well done for getting up there and doing it! Not sure I would've been brace enough. The transformation of your properties are amazing, so much hard work! But something very special to look back on :)
ReplyDelete