10th week, arrived in UK April 8 2003. Early impressions

Week 10.
June 9, 2003

Hi,
Last week you could see that we were enjoying fine weather, this week we have returned to the warmest winter garments. The stored-heat radiators are turned off - forgot yesterday that today was going to be COLD, rain and fairly breezy.
Weather conditions here have extremes, so double-glazed windows are used to stop heat loss. In our case, moisture got between the two panes, so the scenery was blurred. Monday the Man from Newent came. 'Nothing to it, Squire' he quipped, in the words of a different TV advertisement.
Old Gloucester breed of cattle

Last weekend we found Speech House, which is the historic centre of the Forest. Preservation of history, it seems often at the cost of safe roads, is a way of life here. The visit has it's page called Coleford

Then we visited Old Ley Court, a farm where we were introduced to two rare breeds of farm animals. The Old Spotted pigs are represented by a half-grown litter which are raised on the whey produced when cheese is made from milk of the Old Gloucester cows. This special breed is noted for the dark red-brown hides highlighted by a white tail and chest.

Max continues to learn French from a book and tape borrowed from the Library. After five weeks of going over and over the lessons, suddenly the tape is easier to understand and the people are talking much slower now.

May God smile on you today,
Elizabeth


The double-glazed windows are replaced. Modular windows (built in a factory) showed their advantages - though we held our breath when one pane needed an extra push to get it into place. The Man from Newent removed the supports, then replaced the pane of glass. The 'after' view clearly shows the Four Sisters in the late afternoon.

Cheesemaking, a local Tourist Attraction

Hygiene is very important, and we willingly dipped the soles of our shoes in a trough of disinfectant before we left the car park area, to begin our visit to this dairy farm.

Old Ley Court, Chapel Lane Birdwood, is run by the Smart family. The black and white Holsteins were curious, and came to listen to our chat. Harriet, the Old Gloucester, was aware of our interest in her, and declined the invitation to come closer.


Cheese is made on Tuesday and Thursday using unpasteurised milk from their own cows, and non-animal rennet. Double Gloucester is made from full cream milk and cured a year, Single Gloucester uses skim milk from the evening milk mixed with the mornings whole milk, then is ready to eat after about 3 months. Diana and her family are using a traditional family recipe, and cure the cheese in moulds holding about 2.5 kgs and small ones of 500gms. Cheese can be brought from Old Ley Court, postcode GL2 8AR, Fax 01 451 75025. The small rounds are on demand as popular gifts.