2008 News
Click here to see our 2009 News.
Up here at Holestone Moor Barns all sorts of exciting things
happen! Below is a selection of our news ... !
We
wish you a merry Christmas!
22 December 2007
We, that's Steve and Vicki Clemerson would like to wish all of our visitors past, present and future a wonderful, merry Christmas and all the very best for 2009!
Postcards
18 December 2008
Guests
in the cottages can now purchase postcards depicting scenes out
and about around Holestone Moor Barns - perfect to send a
"Wish you were here" home.
These gorgeous things cost 50p with profits going to my very favourite charity Treetops Hospice.
I also sell a range of Greetings Cards for raising money for Treetops.
Lotus corniculatus
15 December 2008
I
opened my e-mail inbox today and saw this:
Dear Ms. Clemerson,
My name is Lyndon Valicenti and I work for the City of Chicago's
Department of Environment. I am putting together a public
education piece on local invasive species and would like to use
your beautiful image of the Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus
corniculatus) (which is considered invasive in our neck of the
woods). While we are unable to pay you for the photo, we will
certainly put your name next to the image.
Thank you for your timely response. Your images are beautiful!
Kindest regards, Lyndon
How nice is that!
They found my picture in my Flickr photograph album.
It's all go here!
30 November 2008
First off - Our Quality Assessment:
Quality
in Tourism Assessment Report 2008 (Received on 26th November
2008)
On 11th November 2008, our Quality in Tourism Assessment took place. Following the assessment the Quality Assessment Report ‘executive summary’ states …
“Summary … Holestone Moor Barns achieve a 5 Star rating. A
great deal of time and effort is constantly being put into the
properties to create charm and appeal plus a unique flair with
exceptional quality.
Physical areas … Holestone Moor Barns continue to offer very
high quality accommodation. Constant improvements, upgrading and
maintenance continue to feature ensuring the 5 Star grade is
awarded for a further year.
Management efficiency and cleanliness … the cottages are
personally managed by the on-site owners and the booking system
is well practiced. A very high degree of cleanliness is evident
throughout.”
SCORES ON THE DOORS …
The Stables overall score is 92%
The Barn overall score is 94%
For the third year running, the cottages scored 100% for
cleanliness!
So thanks again go to our housekeepers Louise and June.
QUALITY IN TOURISM
Assessment service explained:
“High quality is seldom achieved by chance. It is almost
invariably the outcome of care, attention to detail and fitness
for purpose intended, allied to a genuine concern for the needs,
comfort and convenience of the user.
An assessment reflects the condition, cleanliness, comfort and
ease of use of these facilities. It also reflects upon the
warmth of the welcome and the atmosphere generated by the staff
during a guest’s experience.
All aspects of an establishment will be given a ‘Quality Score’
during the assessment process.”
In order to participate we (Vicki and Steve) must pay an annual participation fee, and be assessed annually.
Our main source of advertising is Premier Cottages, and to participate we must achieve a 4 or 5 star grading.
HURRAH! We’ve done it again!
Second:
We've been granted conditional permission to put up a wind turbine. We've applied for a grant to help with the cost, but won't know until next April if we will get that or not.
And last, but certainly not least:
Bluebell is home (see below - it'll all become clear!)
Bluebell
1 November 2008
The
story:
Back in June 2008, I saw an advert on the Matlock Freecycle website from a chap wanting to get rid of a 1961 Morris 1000 to a good home. He wanted a 'good' story as to why someone would want a 'Moggy'.
Steve's story - in his university days, he and 3 other chaps bought an old 'Moggy' for £10. It had holes in the floor, so they drank lots of beer, squashed the cans, riveted them together, attached them to the floor of the car, undersealed it, and put carpets inside! The car passed it's MOT in this way!! When they finished University they sold it for £20. Steve has yearned for a moggy since then.
So
we replied to the advert ... and heard nothing ... for about 3
months ... then ... around the start of September, I had an
email from the chap asking if we were still interested? Of
course we were!
Steve arranged for someone with a low loader to pick it up, and for a local garage to do enough to it to enable it to get through an MOT and be driveable. Steve went too, to accompany moggy to the garage.
At the moment 'Bluebell' (as we found she was christened) is being resprayed, but Steve has had wonderful fun sourcing all sorts of bits and pieces for it (sorry, her!) She needs new seats and leather and all sorts of other bits and pieces. She's stood in a car park for 2 years, but prior to that she's been well looked after.
I haven't seen Steve so excited for years!!
New chicks
20 October 2008
To date we have:
Reception Class - ‘Cheep’ - hatched on 27th June, 5 younger
chicks, hatched on 25th July. Four of these are called ‘Jeeves’,
‘Izzie’, ‘Samuel’ and ‘Sonny’.
Of course we won’t know whether they are girls or boys until
they start laying, but the names were chosen by the children of
some of our guests. 3 chicks- hatched on 23rd August.
Special Care Nursery - 5 chicks - 3 black and 2 yellow, hatched
on 2nd October.
After
hatching, all our chicks spend 3 weeks in the 'Special Care
Nursery' under a lamp, which is raised by about 3 inches at the
end of weeks one and two. When the chicks are 3 weeks old, they
go into the 'Nursery', which is in a corner of Steve's shed, and
unheated. When we think they are old enough to take care of
themselves, they go into the 'Reception Class'. The five
youngest chicks will be our last batch this year as it will be
getting too cold in the shed, where there's no heat lamp.
Prince Rupert
15 September 2008
We have a new alpaca. He's called Prince Rupert, though Steve says there's no way he's going to call him 'Prince'! He's a slightly different kind of alpaca - the other 3 are 'huacayas', but Rupert is a 'suri'. He has a smaller head, and his fleece hangs in 'dreadlocks'.
And the hens - we now have 9 chicks in the kindergarten (ages 3 weeks up to about 13 weeks). There are 10 eggs in the incubator, and that will be our last lot for this year. Due to hatch around 3rd October.
Busy times - lots to report
14 August 2008
Sad news first - We had to have our younger dog Dilly put to sleep after she was ill for several weeks - a really hard time.
We have baby chicks - one is almost 6 weeks, 5 are 2 weeks, 10 in an incubator due to hatch in 2 weeks time.
Our 'boys' (Alpacas) were vaccinated against Blue Tongue (or Blue Tooth as Steve calls it) last Saturday. I did that by injection and they will need another dose 3 weeks later.
Climbing
chicks!
7 July 2008
We have a super-duper new climbing frame with ropes and ladders and all!
We also have a new chicken - pictured here just two days old. We now have an incubator, so expect to have more chickens in about 20 days time!
Lost, but now we're found!
27 June 2008
We were in the Matlock Mercury on 26th June, and Radio Derby picked the article up and someone came up to interview Steve the following day (27th!) - typical I was at Treetops!. It was put on the local Radio Derby website and also on the National BBC one!
As a result of that we had a gentleman from Kent who emailed to lend his support, and also someone from France, who sent a letter addressed to - Steve Clemerson, Holestone Moor, Derbyshire! He said it was to prove we did exist! Thank you!
"Shaun" the alpaca!
19 June 2008
Only kidding - but the alpacas have recently been sheared! And we sold some of the fleece (called "roving") to a lovely lady called Katie Hanrott who mentioned us in her blog Oxford Kitchen Yarns.
Plus - found out lots more about the wonderful world of alpacas - check out our updated Alpacas page.
Ice cream!
9 June 2008
You can now pre-order ice cream, and we’ll make sure it’s in the freezer in your cottage prior to your arrival. The ice cream is all made in Derbyshire and available from Kate at the farm next door. The prices range from £3.30 to £3.85 per litre, or 120ml pots with spoons at £1.20.
There
are ‘ordinary’ flavours such as Vanilla, Strawberry and
Chocolate, more exotic sounding ones such as Tiramisu, Honey and
Ginger, Rum and raisin and some with such awe-inspiring names as
Hokey Pokey (we’ll keep the ingredients of that one secret, but
can assure you it’s delicious!). There are lots more flavours,
some of which are available only at certain times of the year,
‘Christmas pudding’ for example.
There are now two miniature Shetland ponies at the farm, named Willow and Merlin. Merlin can be seen with Emily and Finlay is holding Willow in the photograph.
Just giving
1 May 2008
We
have just set up a page at
Just Giving. Those of you whom we have been lucky enough to
meet might know that we are staunch supporters of
Treetops Hospice
in Derbyshire.
If you can spare a couple of minutes you might like to visit the page and donate.
Thank you - Vicki
Sleeping arrangements!
14 April 2008
We have decided to change the sleeping arrangements in The Barn! Please note that from 1st October 2009 the bed numbers will reduce in THE BARN - there will be 1 double room, 3 twins and 1 triple, sleeping a total of 11 people (plus a "Z-bed" and a cot). The Stables will continue to sleep 4 people (and a cot). If both cottages are taken together, they will sleep 15 people, plus a "Z-bed", and 2 cots.
We are sure that guests will appreciate the extra spaciousness! If you have any worries or question please do not hesitate to Contact us.
Chicken Out!
2 April 2008
We
are pleased to say that we have joined the
Chicken Out campaign. To this end we have signed up to the
River Cottage campaign, started buying only free range chickens
from our local supermarket and because the shops won't stock
free range cooked sliced chicken, we've stopped buying it!
Our eggs of course are already free range courtesy of our own brood of free range hens! More ...
Trip Advisor review
31 March 2008
We
were recently super pleased to receive a review on the online
travel guide
Trip
Advisor. The review goes "At least once a year our family
try to get together for a few days break. There are 10 of us
from three years old to 74! So a suitable venue is not easy to
find.
This year's venue was a great success. I found Holestone Moor Barns on the internet and I have to say it lived up to all the claims on the very good web site.
We booked the two cottages, one the barn and the smaller stables. All rooms (in the barn) were en suite. 24 hour heating that we could control and a fabulous log fire in the sitting room ..." More ...
Animal mystery solved!!
14 March 2008
Having teased people for over a month the boys are finally here! We are now the proud owners of 3 male Alpacas! More ...
Holestone
Moor Barns appreciation society!
3 March 2008
We recently received the most wonderful "write-up" from a recent guest (Ste Greenall aged 50!) who celebrated his birthday at Holestone Moor Barns with friends. Ste says there should be a Holestone Moor Barns appreciation society! More ...
Green tourism
18 February 2008
Today, we (finally!! - says Mary our website developer) put the last cross on the T and dot on the I of our Environmental pages (Green tourism and Environmental policy). Have a read ...
Animal mystery ... ?
8 February 2008
Some of our guests are "hopping" around wondering what our new animals could be. Lee (of Lee’s blog, 2007) says he can't think for people "bleating" about what they could be, but in the end they have "neigh" idea. Perhaps they need a "nanny" to show them the way.
They have theories:
- Rabbits - then again with the foxes ...
- Sheep - good for keeping the grass trimmed
- Horses - maybe a bit big?
- Goats - now then, good for the milk and cheese
Sorry, your guesses are wrong. But there will be 3 of them, all boys – Cappucino is 11 years old, Barnaby is 5, and Domino is just 6 months. They should be here by mid March!
Local bookshop voted 10th best in the world
28 January 2008
Congratulations!
to Scarthin Books in Cromford was recently voted 10th best in
The World. It's a fascinating place. It's on about 4 floors and
has lots of rooms with little nooks and crannies, which are
crammed with all sorts of books, both new and second hand. It
has a huge selection of books about Derbyshire, and even
publishes some of its own books.
On the 3rd floor, behind a curved bookshelf/door, there's an excellent cafe serving a selection of homemade whole food items.
Books can be ordered from their website www.scarthinbooksonline.co.uk.
Vicki once spent nearly a whole day there - browsing books, lunch in the cafe, followed by more browsing. Cromford is approximately 5 miles from the cottages.
New animals
14 January 2008
Preparations are under way for some new animals, here at Holestone Moor Barns.
Watch this space!
Great 2008!
1 January 2008
To all our previous, present and future guests, we wish you a great 2008!
Old news - click here to see our 2007 News page.