Harrop Fold Farm

One thing that always makes my toes curl is drawing attention to our newspaper coverage – don’t take me wrong…we are always first in line at the newsagent on the day of publication to buy enough copies to read, keep and give to family! However, I seem to remember as a child being told not to boast! But due to pressure from certain guests (and you know who you are!) here goes:
Thanks for all the lovely comments from our eagle eyed guests who spotted the wonderful half page article in The Guardian. We had the treat to host Sally Shalam of the Guardian Travel to an artistic break prior to Christmas. A beautiful photograph accompanied the article, which pleased young Alice!

Sally loved her visit to Harrop Fold where she enjoyed dinner, bed and breakfast and a day painting with Mike. 'I’m utterly absorbed and hours go by in a flash. This is such fun. …it’s my brushwork and I love it.’ She also makes mention of our delicious food ‘I’ve done my best to squirrel away Cheshire Smokehouse cod with freshly laid egg, and toast with home-made gooseberry jam …naturally, I stuffed myself at dinner the previous night – Canapés, Delamere Dairy goat’s cheese and dressed leaves, then lovely beef from the Stevensons’ own herd’.

Also with Sally was Sophie Hazan of the Yorkshire Post who fell in love with Lottie the spaniel or did Lottie fall in love with Sophie? They were never far apart, including when Lottie sneaked her way onto Sophie’s walk, I received a phone call from Bollington – ‘Please can you come and collect Lottie, we haven’t got a lead!’ We are looking forward to reading Sophie’s piece as soon as it is published.

January saw a full page on Leah in YQ Magazine, Talent Scout – Leah Stevenson, Chef. As a very proud Mother I loved it and I think we have a magazine in each room of the house!

The Sunday Times Travel in February placed us within the World’s 20 Cool Pads! How fab is that? Cool it certainly was in February but this morning I woke to a beautiful sunny morning that actually tempted me to jump out of bed and put a spring in my step. Just as well really as we have a residential art weekend running this weekend and I think I will require a lot of spring! Leah is at the helm on the food front and I think I have just spotted Mike with an armful of paintbrushes going through to set up the studio.

Must nip off now and check the cakes in the Aga…Speak again soon,
Love, Sue x