Symposium 09.09.2009

Chainsaw Course with Alan Scott

Ben Young, Chisholme's Estate Manager, 

felt that we needed more people qualified to use chainsaws.

This way we can work our own wood supply better and process would bought in as fuel for our new boilers. 

Ben feels strongly that the physical work on the estate and grounds is as valuable as the interior work and serves it, as both are applications of the education provided by the school. 

It is also a great bonding exercise. The four of us, Walt, Alasdair, Dick and Franziska, definitely got to know each other in a completely different context, from the one we usually meet in.

We also had the great pleasure to get to know our instructor Alan Scott (see the shot where we are having tea) and his dog Willow. Thank you Alan, it was a fantastic learning experience! We hope there will be many more chainsaw courses at Chisholme.

Music & Storytelling

A magical evening of music and storytelling...

The Meadhall had the pleasure to listen to a number of gifted musicians and stories told by Alasdair Taylor. 

Amongst the musicians were Rebecca Seatle, singing some of her own songs. Rebecca has been visiting Chisholme while on break from a Music Degree in New York. 

She was accompanied by our own secretary, Anthony Mulligan, who plays the drums. 

Playing the Northumberland Pipes was Rebecca's father Matt Seattle, well known throughout the Borders. Jonathan Spottiswoode, english singer and songwriter, living and working in New York, performed some of his own work to the great delight of the audience. 

Aaron Cass performed Indians, a crowd favourite. Aaron and Vast Earth Orchestra will be performing at the Symposium 9-11th of September, as will the Matt Seattle Band.

Grapes in the Greenhouse

Dick is delighted with the crop of grapes growing in the greenhouse. 

If you are visiting soon, you may be able to sample some.

Rebuilding the Garden Wall

Exciting news! Parts of the Garden Wall will be rebuilt over the next few weeks. Ewan, Ben, Dick and Joseph will be working on the section between the shed and the garden entrance closest to the main lawn. 

You may have seen some of the pictures of the garden wall from the 50s, when it was intact and surrounded the garden completely. Whether this is what we want to return to is under discussion. 

If you are interested in this part of the project, help is welcome. If you would like to be involved, get in touch with Ben.

The Borders

In preparation for the Symposium in September, 

much work has been done in the borders 

over the last few weeks. 

Headed by Dick and Wolfgang, 

a dedicated team of Wwoofers, staff 

and locals has revived the borders and flowerbeds. 

Now there is space for new things to grow.

Fluffy Beauties

 

More beautiful new life on the Estate. 

Muscovy Ducklings

Here are some of the of Merijn's, 

the garden manager's, newest recruits.

The last group already considers the garden their own. 

With this new crowd and more on the way, 

they will soon outnumber the broad beans!

Swallows

Summer is in full swing and everywhere life is abundant and beautiful. 

The baby swallows are not so little anymore. In fact, they now have to perch on a wire for the night.

Wood schleppers

And here are some of the dauntless timber hauliers: Dick Owen from South Wales, Elissa McCulla-Thomas from Austin, Texas, Rae Browne from Oxford, Dot Clark from Auchtermuchty, and some residents, David, Merijn, Anthony, Freya (aged 3) and Maria (hiding).

Orchids in the woods

Walking back from the 'wood schlepping', Wahid pointed out that we have orchids!

In fact, this is a Northern Marsh Orchid or Dactylorhiza Purpurella.

Redecorating the Front Porch

Kerim and Chanda visited for a couple of days, and made a great start on redecorating the entrance pillars, part of getting Chisholme ready for the summer and the Symposium. Hiroko and Angela joined them in the sun.

I went to visit Ben working in Whitrig Wood today. He is milling the stem of a fallen ash tree into workable, and carryable, balks of timber. The area is boggy and inaccessible to tractors, so this Sunday we will all go and work together, lugging and schlepping it to the nearest point of mechanical access. Ben is using an Alaskan mill, designed for just this kind of situation, where the stem cannot be lifted out and taken to a sawmill.

Hakim

Our blog

Hi all,

Latif has kindly set up this blog for us. Almost anything about its appearance etc. can be changed.

I would propose anything from the kitchen, garden, renovation, housekeeping to morning meeting, courses or personal experiences of the day could go into it. 

It can also be open to anyone anywhere in the world that would like to engage in sharing.

If you are overseas and would like to be able to post or comment on this blog, please contact the secretary.

You can upload images, audio and try out different fonts and layouts.

Please have fun playing.

Love

Waliyya