High Quality Accommodation for the discerning guest

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Brian and Barbara Palmer

Overwood - Woodcote Lane - Woodcote Green - Bromsgrove - Worcestershire - B61 9EE

Telephone: +44 (0)1562 777193 Mobile: +44(0)7941 188652 info@overwood.net 

Just about managed to get a picture of the full house before it was whipped away and enjoyed by Rob  

Havard, the son of another of our local Farm Stay members, who rears mutton which is absolutely

delicious, including mutton sausages.

11 December 2009  Food glorious food

I spent an enjoyable day at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC on Thursday 26 November

performing a demonstration of the Great British Breakfast, with my friend Helen, another Bed and

Breakfast proprietor nearby.  We had a lovely audience, not quite the same numbers as in the Celebrity

Theatre, but they were very appreciative.

13 January 2010 

Our first walk of the year with our friends on 3 January was a beautiful sunny, but very cold day.  We started

off at Hanbury Woods and made our way across the fields to Tardebigge Flight, the longest stretch of locks in the

country on Worcester and Birmingham Canal.  The canal was already frozen over in many places, except under

the bridges, so the ducks and swans were alternately skating and swimming.  A brief stop at the Boat and

Railway pub for a drink and then we were on our way completing the circular route of 7 miles.   Just the ticket

to deal with the excesses of Christmas and New Year.  Two days later the snow arrived and here it is again today.

Watching the antics of the varied birdlife as they consume the contents of the bird feeders in record time has

become our daily entertainment.  Despite the fact that we have feeding stations spread about they still

squabble incessantly.  The fox has become a more frequent visitor looking for food so we have to keep a careful

eye on the hens, although they are very reluctant to venture far from their hen house in this weather, but still

manage to lay a few eggs each day.

6 February  Time for tea

I have been experimenting with a tea bread recipe containing All Bran given to me by our good friend,

and guest of nearly 8 years, Elaine, who stays with us most weeks.  I’ve modified it to use Oat Bran, soak

the fruit in apple juice or tea, and as it contains no fat or eggs it is ideal for people with some diet issues. 

The next step is to use gluten and wheat free flour and it may even suit a Vegan, but I will have to check

that.  Some friends came to visit so I quickly made some scones and had to take a photo very quickly

before it all disappeared. 

Nearly finished making this year’s marmalade.  I make a few different sorts and this year have sent a

couple of jars off to Dalemain House at Penrith as an entry in The World’s Original Marmalade Festival

which raises funds for Hospice at Home.  Quite a few of my colleagues around the country in Farm Stay 

have submitted entries and the judging is on 14 February, but I’m not holding my breath for a prize.  the

first snowdrops are poking their heads out, a welcome sight after the recent nasty weather.

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6 March  Spring is Sprung

Primroses are beginning to push their heads through, the rhubarb is already sprouting and the rabbits

are doing what they do best

Wonderful news.  We gained a Silver Award and the recently introduced Breakfast Award in our recent

Quality Assessment by Enjoy England.  Both a rewarding acknowledgement of our hard work to promote

the high quality of Bed and Breakfast, and the homemade and locally sourced food we serve our guests.

To put the icing on the cake a few days later I received a Silver certificate from the Marmalade festival

for my Dark and Chunky Seville Orange Marmalade - quite unexpected.