We are so busy with a huge range of guests who seem so delighted to have landed in this beautiful part of the world for their holiday.
What an eye opener life was arriving at Yellingham Farm! It all starts with the opening of the farm gates, a wide smile from me and a wave of the arms to park anywhere they like in the large yard. My mistake No.1 as they park skew whiff under the kitchen windows where they can view the madness occurring in the busiest, most chaotic room of the house, with Edward cooking, the laundry airing over the Aga, the kitchen table piled high with pending administration to name but a few.
Mistake No.2 is that I ask them how their journey was……. “How on earth do you cope with the lanes,
we realIy hope we don’t meet anything as reversing will be a nightmare”. I try to comfort them by saying that all the locals are very good at reversing so don’t worry.
With the welcoming experience over, a lovely cream tea, a walk around the garden and the orchard, my guests start to relax. You can sense that precious moment when the beauty of the farm and their surroundings sinks in, and they are transported into something quite special – life on a unique small rural farm.
Breakfast of course is always a highlight of the day and one where we try to shine. This year we have had many more families staying which is always lovely but getting the children to come and sit for breakfast is a challenge as all they want to do is look for eggs for Edward to cook or play with the dogs.
One family spring to mind who were a delight. They had twin boys aged 4 and another boy aged 5 – good planning? …or perhaps no planning! At breakfast the first morning, the boys’ manners were impeccable. Henry the 5 year old wanted coco pops and 2 sausages. When I popped up to the dining room to clear the main course, Henry had only eaten one sausage and was looking
slightly distraught. I said it was perfectly OK as he would have 4 wonderful friends who would help him out – the dogs of course. His little face lit up and all was fine. The next morning, I was taking the order and it was Henrys turn to choose….” 5 sausages please Janet”. His mum was astounded, then Henry explained “one for me please and one for each of the dogs”. We all laughed, and Henry smiled. Precious moments which make it all worth while.
Janet
