North Hayne Farm Holiday Cottages
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News from North Hayne Farm
Autumn/Winter News 2011
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Witch Griselda visits again |
Bonfire night at the farm |
A real Nativity |
A relaxed New Year |
News Items for Autumn/Winter
To get all the children in the mood for a visit from Witch Griselda we put on a scary Halloween biscuit making workshop. The children were all given a spooky biscuit and asked to decorate it to make it even more scary in the hope that Witch Griselda might run away.
Biscuit decorating |
Biscuit decorating |
Biscuit decorating |
With biscuits made (and eaten) the Halloween evening was ready for some fun.
On arrival at the farm, each cottage had been given a pumpkin and asked to make it as scary as they could ready for judging by Griselda the Witch on Halloween. With a week of frenzied carving complete all of our guest brought their pumpkins to the games room on the Friday ready for Witch Griselda to judge.
With a great rattling of the door Witch Griselda made her entrance. Now Griselda always likes to asks the children if they want her to be scary or nice; she hopes they will say scary so she can be herself! The children this year asked her to be nice.... yuck.
With a glance around the room (to count the number of tasty children) she made her way to the table laden with pumpkins.
It wasn't an easy decision for Griselda as all entries were absolutely fantastic with some even scaling new heights, but decide she did and here are the two wining pumpkins.
The winning pumpkin |
The runner-up |
More photos from our Halloween event.
Halloween pumpkins |
Halloween pumpkins |
Halloween pumpkins |
Halloween pumpkins |
Judging pumpkins |
Scary or nice |
Bonfire night at North Hayne Farm remains one of our special event in our diary. Once again all of the children start off by helping make the Guy. With lots of laughter, all the children filled his chest, legs, arms and head with straw until he was ready to burst. Finishing touches were made with paints to his head and finally sat upon his chair, he was ready.
A short but enthusiastic walk to the bonfire with the guy sat in a wheel barrow was completed with a cheer as he was placed at the top of the bonfire ready for that evening.
Later once it was dark, everyone gathered in the courtyard for their lantern ready for the torch light precession to the bonfire. The anticipation built as the bonfire was lit and the children waited eagerly for the Guy to meet his ultimate demise.
As we have animals at the farm we only allow sparklers to be used, this has led over the years to the adults become competitive with their creative displays of sparkler writing in the air egged on by the appreciative gazes' of our younger guests.
With free mulled wine and a little food, the evening is completed with satisfied children and grown ups alike.
Making the Guy |
Making the Guy |
En-route |
Been nice knowing you |
There must be an easier way |
No going back |
Keeping warm around the bonfire |
A little bonfire fun |
A little bonfire fun |
Christmas at the farm is a wonderful time of year, made just that bit more special with our very own Nativity which we started for the first time back in 2007. Each year has seen small improvements (some working better than others :-) but all made to ensure that the children all get to have a go (either speak or non speaking parts) with costumes that we provide. An Andrew Lloyd Webber production it's not, but lots of fun it is!
As many of our regulars may know, we make Christmas special for those staying with us by holding our very own nativity down at the barns on Christmas Eve. We welcome help from all of the children staying with us, giving costumes to those who would like to take part.
So that the evening isn't too demanding on the actors we narrate the bulk of the nativity but are happy to give lines to those children who would like to have a go.
With the Nativity complete and carols sung, we ask all of the children to sing jingle bells as loudly as they can so that a special visitor might come. After the second or third rendition, the faint sound of a quad bike can be heard as Farmer Christmas comes down the drive and makes a very special appearance; handing out presents to all the children and wishing them a very happy Christmas he then disappears in to the Christmas Eve night.
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Another New Year and Another Haggis 
With New Year fast approaching we will soon be celebrating the start of 2012. With each cottage celebrating their own New Years eve we always like to bring everyone together in the courtyard just after midnight for a very traditional New Year greeting and conga around the Christmas tree. Well it just wouldn't seem right not to!
Mrs Tiggywinkle to get a Hot Tub
Yes Mrs Tiggywinkle is to get upgraded with it's very own large hot tub.
Work will start on the installation of our 6th private hot tub later in November for Mrs Tiggywinkle. We will extend the decked area for the cottage and place the hot tub near to the cottage for easy access.
Keep checking for further updates and pictures.
Following the relocation of the games room we have been able to reassign space to create a much needed welcoming reception area with small shop. We are often asked for things like extra dishwash tablets, an extra toilet roll or bin bag, so a shop seemed to be the obvious solution.
We expect to stock only non perishable items but will ask for more ideas from our guests as to what would make your holiday as relaxing as possible.
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North Devon 'Family Business' Award
In October we were thrilled to receive a highly commended award for 'North Devon's Best Family Business 2011'. Almost 200 local businesses took part and our thanks to everyone (on Facebook) for your messages of support and congratulations.
2012 bookings are well underway
Easter and whitsun are now fully booked. A few half term and school summer holiday weeks remain.
Don't leave it too late to speak to us about your holiday requirements.
Please contact us for current details.
Winter Breaks
For those of you who love a real fire through the colder months, why not try our Samuel Whiskers cottage which has it's own fabulous wood burner.
Come and escape for a Winter break (20% discount given on full week stays in Samuel Whiskers) and experience North Devon and Exmoor for yourselves. Take in some of the many wonderful walks and sample the areas fine ales and delicious food before returning to your cottage for a cozy night in.
We thank you all
We continue as ever to maintain our cottages to a high standard and to give you a memorable and enjoyable time here at North Hayne Farm. We thank you for all your complimentary comments and positive feedback, including the latest travel review in the Guardian News Paper. We look forward to seeing many of you again this year and also to meeting our new guests who have already booked with us.
Our regular photo gallery of helpers... Sorry if we've missed anyone off; please let us know if we have!
To ensure you get to see your photo on the gallery we keep three months worth of photos on the site. Click on the month that relates to your stay.
September 2011 Photo Gallery
October 2011 Photo Gallery
November 2011 Photo Gallery
Spring 2011 News Archive
Summer 2011 News Archive
We aim to keep our web site up to date, so until next time... Bye for now!