Introducing our correspondent
I'm Denise Smith and I grew up in Plymouth, training as a nurse before joining the pharmaceutical industry as sales representative, then training manager.
We moved to a Grade II listed building set in two acres of rural South Gloucestershire when Colin left the Royal Navy. This home I share with Colin, my husband of many years who balances being a full-time engineer and a beekeeper, my son Austen, daughter Bryony and two Springer Spaniels - Nutmeg (six), who we have had from a puppy and Paddi,(five), who we rescued when he was three.
Being a ‘housewife’ involves juggling a single shift as a staff nurse with maintaining the home and garden, running the on-site holiday let and caring for the dogs and flock of approximately 50 chickens. To relax I attend one lesson of tap dancing and as a student of Taekwondo manage to fit in at least two hours of training a week. Denise Smith 2012
Denise writes:
My son was on his way to sample the delights of possum pie in New Zealand when he was knocked off his motorbike by the seemingly universal menace of ‘a woman in a Chelsea Tractor’.
Thankfully he was ok but he was disappointed to miss the chance to eat a meal made out of local vermin. Yes despite their cute looks, farmers like to take pot shots at them as my brother-in-law will testify. It struck me as somewhat enterprising to dispose of them by cooking them and selling the produce to tourists. It reminded me of an episode of Blackadder in which the offer of a frozen rat on a stick was made as a supposed ‘treat’ for those in the trenches. I have been contemplating what I could do therefore with the rodents that have been invading the feed shed.
Curious that we have stored chicken feed there for several years without trouble and then as soon as I started to keep dog food in there a tsunami of the little pests moved in. Their consumption of duck and rice has probably negated any cost savings I might have made buying in bulk! Nutmeg and Paddi thought it great fun when I cleared the shed out as the mice had scattered dog food everywhere and I ended up doing a routine that would have won points on ‘Strictly’ trying to wield the broom around the dogs who were stuffing themselves.
More ‘boiler bother’ ensued, this time in the main house, and we had to huddle around the AGA for warmth. Perhaps rashly I took the dogs with me on the 100-mile round trip to fetch the new 7cm piece of pipe needed to ensure all was warm and cosy again. On reaching the shop I discovered Paddi had thrown up and I couldn’t find the part I had brought with me to ensure I got the right bit.
Still we did manage a lovely walk along the canal and both dogs were really well behaved, especially Paddi who walked along without too much pulling. This came as some relief as I had visions of being dragged into the canal going on past performance whilst on outings.
We made it home, the boiler is back in action, the insurance claim is being settled and my son is on track to widen his gastronomic experiences with possum pie. As for me I am going to try out my new saucepan, bought for the purpose of melting the refined wax so that I can pour it into the various moulds I have assembled. Keep a keen eye out for the next blog as it will mean that I have managed to test my home made candles without burning the house down.
- Alan and Mary Smith - 16/02/2012
Enjoyed reading your blog again - re candle-making...keep the fire extinguisher handy! Haven't tried possumn pie, but the fur is lovely and soft, and the wool makes socks to keep your feet warm!