Something a bit 'different' in Dronfield Woodhouse

If you want to try something 'different' you could go to The Farmhouse Pantry at Dronfield Woodhouse - its on Barnes Lane, just off Stubley Lane (S18 8YE ) - they don't have a web site, they are probably too busy running the shop.

Its run by the Gill family who also have a farm up on the moors behind Chatsworth where they graze their 350 Buffalo. The shop sells their Buffalo meat as well as the more usual beef, lamb, pork, etc.

Their sausages are (IMHO) the best around. Too many butchers add too much seasoning - here you can still taste the meat - and don't expect lots of fat to drain out as you cook them. Our favourite is the Pork and Roast Onion - with the Pork and Tomato a close second.

Their pies are also good - I like the Steak and Stilton - and their Cornish Pasties are well worth a try (they don't just taste of pepper like many do). But the best are the fruit pies - Apple or Apple and Blackberry are both pretty good!!

Oh and expect a queue on Saturdays!

Freecycle - a way to get rid of those things you find in the attic

Over the years we have accumulated all sorts of 'junk' that we don't use, but that is too good to throw away. Lots goes to charity shops, but there are things they won't take such as electrical equipment.

Last week we discovered FreeCycle - or 'Sheffield Freecycle' to be precise at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sheffield-FreeCycle/ . Its a Yahoo Group on which you can post 'Offer' and 'Wanted' messages. When we posted an Offer for an old midi hifi, we had over a dozen emails in about 30 minutes from people willing to take it off our hands. OK it was old but it was 'free' so perhaps it wasn't surprising.

Postings range from bags of straw to car doors!!

Donna Nook Seals

There are already lots of posts on people's Blogs showing pictures of the seals at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire, just down from Cleethorpes. Here are a few more - 4 of the several hundred taken over the week we were there at the end of November. We were staying in a cottage at North Somercoates - Nursery Cottage at Meals Farm - you will pass it if you go to see the seals - we can recommend it!

According to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust web-site, there were 1036 pups at the last count (10 Dec 2006), beating last years record. I think one of the wardens said that last year (or the year before) the last pup was born on Christmas Day. If you are thinking of going to see them, the older pups will now be starting to head out to sea, driven by hunger since their mum's will have abandoned them to their own devices. By mid January the beach will be empty - I'm told its a bit smelly for quite a while.

If you do go, its best to go mid-week - less traffic and people - but even at week-ends there is parking in a farmers field at a small charge. Do look out for the one-way system (straight up to Stonebridge car-park then clockwise round the block) - meeting a 4x4 coming the other way can mean one of you is going 'off road' (and it ain't always the 4x4!). Friday and week-ends do have the advantage of excellent burgers and coffee on sale in the Stonebridge car-park.

Wrap up warm and check the LWT site for dos and don'ts.

(Check out Eating in Cleethorpes for somewhere interesting just up the road.)