Training the Working Cocker Spaniel, the next 6 months

Poppy has just had her first full day on the shooting field, and I am delighted with her attitude, calm disposition and prodigious ability. Actually, she was praised highly by all who saw her work, and procured instantly two invitations for me and herself to attend shoots in the near future. This pleased me enormously,…

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CHILLI JAM

One of the family’s firm favourites at this time of the year is Chilli Jam made with the copious tomatoes and chillies which abound in my garden just now. Everyone seems to find the combination of Chillies, Ginger, Sugar and Garlic quite addictive. I see no point in making a lily-livered version of this, and…

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Cruising in Scotland, by the Governor’s Great Great Grandaughter

” The heeling of the yacht did not prevent the cooking of a noble stew, to which we did ample justice. Does the reader think there is a good deal in this book about eating and drinking? No faithful record of a yacht cruise is otherwise possible…” So wrote in 1876 my Great, Great Grandfather…

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The Vegetable Garden in July

It was with enormous trepidation that I ventured into the Vegetable Garden on the evening that we returned home after a good three weeks away whilst we were cruising the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland in our yacht Ranger.  The weather whilst we were away had ranged from 30C to torrential downpours and much…

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Canna

It is 30 years since we last anchored here, and it is a real pleasure to be back. After really quite an uncomfortable sail from Muck yesterday, hard on the wind in 25 knots of wind with moderate to rough seas latterly, we hunkered down here in a Northerly gale with horizontal rain, and slept…

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