On the road this morning by just after 9.00am. This was after staff knocking on the door of our room at the Travelodge Hotel in Oxford at 7.30am, because the fire alarm monitor was showing there was smoke in a room somewhere! We were in the process of showering, so when the fire alarm went off about 20 minutes later, it wasn't too difficult to throw everything into the back packs to get out of the place. It was a false alarm and most people took not the slightest notice, when the alarm went off.

It was a good trip on the motorway and we arrived at 'Tiveys Farm' before 11.00am. The sign at the front gate certainly amused us. So much so we backed back for a photo there and then. Everything was happening at 'Tiveys Farm' and we don't think it really is much different most days! But tomorrow a wedding reception is to be held in the barn and on Wednesday night, the chap that was handling all the wedding arrangements, ended up in hospital. So the last 36 hours had been challenging. But to us, it all looked like it was coming together well. Brenda and Clifton had not had to really worry about the planning. They were just providing the barn to a friend. He was a member of 'the shoot' group'. More about the group later!

After a coffee with Brenda, Clifton arrived and we met Brenda's second husband for the first time. It is all go with Clifton! We were soon in his farm vehicle, off to see the farm. My sandals were far from suitable, so a pair of wellies were far more appropriate.

Off we went. First stop the maize paddock and this will be harvested soon. Maybe Peter will add more info here sometime or correct what I am writing! The maize will possibly be put to silage for a year, depending on demand, and then it will go to a factory that turns it into an anaerobic digestion product, which in turn becomes gas to drive electricity. The residual from the process, is then used as fertiliser.

Next stop was the canola which was planted a few weeks ago. Some crops are planted this time of the year, to get them up and established before the winter. The crop lays dormant during the really cold months. This field took us down to the old 'Water Mill'. The building dates back to the 1800's and the water from the river Sense, provided the power to mill corn grain many years ago. It is now a restaurant and Brenda and Clifton did have the Restaurant for a while. 

Then it was to see the pheasants! Brenda got instructions on what she has to do to water them when Clifton goes to Perth in Scotland on Sunday. He is going up there with a group of his 'shoot' mates to shoot grouse.  'The Shoot' is big around here! We learnt more of what happens with these pheasants during our stay. Peter and Brenda did the water run together and ensured Clifton's 'pride and joy' were well looked after.

Then our farm tour took us through a village to some other fields, to show us the potential for future projects. The opportunity has arisen for Clifton and Brenda to buy the land from the Crown. Clifton has tenancy to farm the land for 100 years, but recently the Crown offered to sell the land to the tenants in this part of the country. It is exciting times for the Lampards. On the way back we called on friends Anne and Peter and had a coffee with them. Anne was one of Brenda's bridesmaids, when she and Clifton married in Estonia in 2004.

Back to 'Tiveys Farm' to be shown the big boilers that have been placed in one of the cow sheds. Until five years ago Brenda and Clifton were milking 400 cows. Hard, hard work with very little return. They decided to quit and are now doing other things on the farm and things are turning around for them. The straw from the cropping is baled and one square bale is placed in each of the burners each day. This heats a large insulated tank of water which is kept at a regulated temperature. Gauges show how much energy is being used to produce this hot water and then via another lot of gauges, they are paid by the government, for the amount of energy they use, or rather are not using, because the heating of the water in this way is saving on energy that would normally be needed from the countries grid. Peter and I couldn't get our head around it! But it seems to be a worthwhile enterprise. The heating is used for drying the grain, warming the home and is now being used in the hothouse tunnels, aiding the propagation of plants. This is an enterprise Brenda has recently ventured into. Son Iain is also becoming involved in this new business enterprise.  

After lunch we settled into our room upstairs. Two flights of stairs to carry the cases up and the second one was quite steep. This guest room has recently been done up with its own ensuite. It was lovely. We checked out the barn and the preparation for the wedding reception and then all went to the 'Rising Sun' pub in Shackerstone. Boy what a night! Peter was getting quite concerned at these drinks that were being lined up for me! I have to admit I did feel a little seedy the next day! I think we got back home about nine for some dinner and we met Iain's fiancee Maxine. They are to be married in Ireland on the 28th October. It was an evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Saturday...It was raining! Not a good day at all for the wedding. It was supposed to clear by late morning, but it was still raining when Brenda and Clifton left for the church service at 12.30pm. We did our own thing for the afternoon. I caught up on some blogging and we had a rest. Big night last night! We had been asked to join the party about 8.00pm. It is not easy to go to something like that when you don't know anyone. But Clifton and Brenda insisted and we did enjoy a few dances and talked with a couple of the locals. You purchased your own drinks, so we were happier about that. A couple of bands played for an hour each and then the DJ took over. They had sandwiches and scones mid afternoon, cheeses, bread etc about 7.00pm and then a roasted pig, rolls and salads about 9.00pm. Despite the weather it all went off well.

On Sunday the Clifton and his son Tristom left for Scotland about 10.00am. It was about a 6 or 7 hour drive. Some were flying up in a light aircraft later in the day. Brenda took Peter and I driving. We had a very relaxing afternoon together, ending up at the 'Rising Sun' pub for a bite of lunch, a drink and a walk down along the canal. The 'Ashby Canal' is just over from the pub and there were lots of canal barges moored here. Some are lived in permanently and others used whenever. Certainly not what we expected to see at Shackerstone, which is a small village near Nuneaton in Leicestershire.

During our drive that took us wherever, we drove past Uncle Bill and Aunty Jean's old home in Ashby de la Zouch. This lovely home was where we stayed in 1984. It still looks very much the same as the photos we took during our stay. It is a lovely home. If Aunty Jean was alive, she would have been 90 today. She died in October 2015.

Brenda and I spent the evening comparing our family history research. We were both able to give each other information on family members. We shared birth, marriage and death certificates and really did go to bed with our heads full of Barriballs, Batten's and Ackland's. We both felt extremely satisfied and I was pleased to be able to tell Brenda about Legacy, the software I use, and the app 'Families', which has been so great on this trip. I hope Brenda does get this setup on her iPad and heads off down to Devon and Cornwall for a visit in the not too distant future. With all the research Brenda has done, I know she would really enjoy having such software. She would not have to deal with the frustration of slow internet as her only means of viewing her research.

Thank you Brenda and Clifton for a really great three days at 'Tiveys Farm'. It was really enjoyable and we enjoyed your company and getting to know you very much. Peter particularly enjoyed the 'farm experience'.