Copsegrove’s Summer news!
Archie & Martin in the Bull Pen bar
Hello everyone!
June seems to have arrived in a blaze of sunny sweltering glory! From hailstones to heatwave in all but a few days…nothing like the good old British weather to keep us on our toes! Hoping you have all found moments to enjoy the warmth, and soak up some sunshine, and those of you with the job of entertaining children on half term hols, have managed to get out and about with little people, and avert too many hot and bothered moments with the odd ice cream and dunk in a paddling pool here and there. Many moons ago when I had small children dangling off me, I remember the sudden appeal of air conditioned supermarkets during those more challenging late afternoon hours on a 30 degree plus summers day, when everyone was a tad over -warm, over- tired and crabby. I took great pleasure in perusing the aisles casually, in a desperate attempt to make it through those tricky last few hours before bath and bed time, without too many meltdowns!
Derek Blujie’s Great Escape!
The heat did not deter Derek Blujie, (our handsome bull for those of you that have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him!) from heading off on an unplanned adventure around the farm last week! Having been confined to the farm buildings for a wee while for some fattening up ahead of his season of “work” with his ladies, he decided enough was enough. It was indeed a rather alarming sight when Martin and I discovered his pen gates wide open at 7am that morning, with absolutely no idea whether he may be trotting off down to Stroud ready to party.
Wilf was instantly woken out of his slumber with a jolt, poor lad, and the search began…quad bikes and Kubota buggies tearing off with an alarming sense of urgency in all directions, with me trotting behind on foot, personally quietly hoping it was them that found him and not me. The loud enthusiastic collective bellowing of a large group of over-excited cows in the valley, quickly led us all to find Derek ploughing his way through a woodland, making small work of any obstacles or fences that may be in his way, to be joyfully reunited with his hareem after months of separation. They do say absence makes the heart grow fonder…it certainly appeared that way. The lucky campers staying in the valley were treated to the whole spectacle, apparently the highlight of their trip!
Summer Solstice Samba night!
It is of course the perfect weather (if it reappears…?!) for our Summer Solstice Samba Night coming up soon on Saturday 20th June, when we shall celebrate the longest day with some Latin American Carnival vibes in the courtyard! We are really excited to be welcoming the lively and vibrant Stroud based Samba drumming Bloco, “Simbora”, to take to the courtyard for an unforgettable high energy performance! They will play a mix of Rio Samba, Brazilian funk and Samba reggae, all reworked in to their own irresistible arrangements of Afro Brazilian grooves, and this together with music from DJ Jagdish from Stroud Global Beats, may well make it impossible to keep both our feet and our hips still!
There will be some delicious Brazilian streetfood on offer, cooked by Ian on the BBQ, to help keep us all fuelled, and plenty of Caipirinha cocktails available from the Bull Pen bar for those of you that really want to get in the mood!
We have a few tickets left for what promises to be a really special and fun evening, so please do come and join us if you fancy it, and don’t worry, Derek will be otherwise engaged, so there will be no chance of bumping in to him in the dark on the way home ….
Summer Solstice Samba Night street food menu
Joyous June Wellbeing at Copsegrove!
If looking for an opportunity to learn and practise your Brazilian moves ahead of the Solstice here, then we do have a few places left in our one off “Introduction to BaSamba” dance class led by Melanie Woolley on Thursday 4th June in the barn, from 6pm to 7pm with some refreshments at the end in the courtyard. This evening is the first of our 4 “Joyous June Wellbeing” sessions taking place at the barn on Thursday evenings throughout the month, and is a chance to let your hair down to the rhythmic beats of some Brazilian tunes…it should be loads of fun!
Whilst our second session of Tai Chi is fully booked, there are a few spaces remaining for “Strength, Mobility and Breathwork” on Thursday 18th and also “Meditation, Reiki and Mindfulness”, on Thursday 25th. Tickets for each will be £15, with sessions from 6pm- 7.00pm, and simple refreshments at the end and a chance to chat with others for those that enjoy a mingle. With no previous experience required for any of the sessions, they are just an opportunity to take some time out, and come and try something new in both a small group setting, and a very beautiful and peaceful setting.
Wellbeing at Copsegrove
Our first Copsegrove Hay Hoedown!
July is hay making season, an arduous task, involving many long hot and sweaty days in the tractor, and usually several “Basil Fawlty Martin moments”, ( poor long suffering Wilf), as various bits of machinery break invariably at the most critical moment, or the weather suddenly changes and it starts to pour with rain. Left over Winstones ice creams lurking in the freezer from the April family farm event do seem to help save the day, helping to cool fraying tempers, and re- boost diminishing blood sugar levels. Wilf is indeed mastering the art of nailing the exact timing of ice cream provision to keep “Basil” at bay…he is a very multi-talented young man.
What better way to celebrate harvesting what will hopefully be a magnificent abundant crop of sweetly smelling hay, than a good old Country Hoedown in the courtyard!?
On Friday 17th July, brilliantly clashing with Chalfest for the third year running, we will be welcoming Jocelyn Penque, “The Real Texan Cowgirl”, and country musician Leo Live to the courtyard for, in her words, “A proper Boot Scootin’ Boogy”!
So if you have a dusty pair of boots and a hat lurking about in the back of a cupboard somewhere, this could be the moment to dig them out, dust them off, and grab a ticket or two to come and join us for a really fun relaxed and informal night. There will be loads of freshly harvested bales to perch on, whilst sipping a drink, devouring a burger and the opportunity to get lively with some “Shuffles”, “Grapevines” and maybe even a “Stomp and Hitch” on the new (FLAT!) courtyard if you feel the urge…
Ian will be cooking up a Texan storm on the BBQ…menu to follow soon, he promises!
And that’s it ….!
Thank you for taking the time to read my rather elongated scrawl, I do try and be concise, but it never seems to quite work.
Keep enjoying the sunshine whilst we have it, and we hope to see you again at Copsegrove soon. With thanks as always for your interest, and continued support.
Kate
Ian Ballantyne - https://www.thefamilymeal.co.uk/story
Jocelyn Penque - https://www.instagram.com/therealtexascowgirl/
https://www.instagram.com/datingclassroom/
Leo Live https://leolivemusic.com
Melanie Woolley - https://www.facebook.com/melanie.drackett/
www.copsegrovefarm.com