Sep 14, 2012

Frankie Dettori to unveil St Leger Memorial in Firbeck

Robert / Horse racing, Local Area, Our news / Doncaster, Horse racing, News, Places to visit / 1 Comment

We’ve had a busy few days at Throapham with many of our guests attending the St Leger Festival taking place at nearby Doncaster Racecourse this week. Over breakfast I’ve been telling some of the local history associated with the oldest of Britain’s five classic horse-races and it now seems that Frankie Dettori will be in nearby Firbeck on Saturday morning ahead of this year’s race to unveil a plaque to commemorate Anthony St Leger’s connections with our area.

A more detailed article about this is in the Rotherham Advertiser.

May 21, 2012

Chatsworth House on BBC TV

Robert / Heritage and museums, Local Area / Chatsworth House, News, Places to visit / 0 Comment

Last Monday saw the first of three programmes following a year in the life of Chatsworth House. When I watch excellent programmes like this on our great historic houses I’m reminded that Ann and I have a responsibility to future generations to treat our far more modest home with a bit of TLC.

If you missed it you can catch up here BBC iPlayer – Chatsworth House – Episode 1.

As the Duke of Devonshire says, it’s a “most amazing place” and we’ve got to agree!

May 11, 2012

Rockin’ the park 2012

Robert / Highly recommended, Performing and visual arts / Concert, Events, Music / 0 Comment

Rockin' The Park 2012

Take a look at this great line up for Rockin’ The Park 2012 on Friday 17th August at Clumber Park. I’m looking forward to getting a few friends together for what looks like a trip down memory lane for all of us. Curved Air and Emerson Lake and Palmer (ELP) were a couple of early favourites with Keith Emerson and Francis Monkman (not forgetting Brian Eno and Rick Wakeman) being responsible for my interest in electronic music. I last saw Curved Air play live at Folkestone in 1975 while Hawkwind brings back memories of a very crowded balcony at Sheffield City Hall. Add to this mix Focus, The Strawbs and Brit Floyd & it all looks like a good night out.

Just hope the weather is better than it is now – I still remember the Buxton Rock festival in 1973!

Feb 27, 2012

‘The Dales’ back on ITV on Mondays

Ann / Highly recommended, Walking / Scenery, The Dales, Walking / 0 Comment

The wonderful programme ‘The Dales‘ is back on our screens for a second series, thanks in part to Welcome to Yorkshire and hosted by Adrian Edmondson. For a taste of ‘The Dales’ country life, the characters who live there and the spectacular scenery be sure not to miss it on Monday nights at 8pm on ITV.

Jan 31, 2012

Fantastic Events at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

Ann / Performing and visual arts / Arena, Comedy, Concert, Music, Sheffield / 0 Comment

Fabulous artists appearing at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena in the coming months include, JLS, Olly Murs, Noel Gallagher, Westlife, Dancing on Ice, Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor, Michael McIntyre, John Bishop and Mrs Brown Rides Again!! Our bed and breakfast is approximately 20 minutes away from the Arena and would make an ideal place to stay.

Oct 2, 2011

John Reilly’s new album launch at Letwell

Ann / Performing and visual arts / Concert, Events, Music / 0 Comment

John Reilly (Boy on a Dolphin) is once again performing at the wonderful intimate venue, Letwell Village Hall on Tuesday 11 October where he is celebrating the launch of his new album ‘Zebulon’ which is due to be released 24 hours before the show. Email Andy & Steph (andyswift@letwell.plus.com) or telephone 01909 540694 for tickets. Also performing in October are ‘The Old Dance School’ and in November a firm favourite at Letwell, the ‘Happy Cats’ led by singer/instrumentalist ex-Lindisfarne front man Marty Craggs. Make sure you are not dissappointed and get your tickets now as they sell out quickly.

Sep 15, 2011

National Trust Events Nearby

Ann / Heritage and museums / Events / 0 Comment

An Elizabethan weekend takes place on September 24th and 25th at Hardwick Hall giving an insight into the Tudor period. Hardwick Hall is approximately 15 miles away from us.

An exclusive tour of ‘Mr Straw’s House‘ near Worksop takes place on 6th and 13th October which includes seeing some areas not normally open, however, you would need to book for this event on 01909 482380.

Jul 10, 2011

Coledale Horseshoe revisited

Robert / Our interests, Walking / Lake District, Photography, Walking / 0 Comment

After a busy spring at Throapham House Ann let me take a short break from cooking breakfasts in June to visit the Derwent Water area of the Lake District with a group of school friends from Dinnington High School. Our earlier walking trips have taken us to the Isle of Skye and the Yorkshire Dales.

The ‘fitter’ members of our group dragged me up Grisedale Pike last year at the start of the Coledale Horseshoe walk, only for us to be forced down before reaching Causey Pike due to bad weather. This year on the last day of our break the weather cleared and we were able to complete the original walk.

Instead of hauling my camera bag up the fells this year I took Ann’s little weatherproof Olympus camera. I’ve been playing around recently with stitching together some photos for Throapham House and decided to experiment with a 360 degree panoramic view from Scar Crags and Causey Pike. . Click on the picture to view – this is a QuickTimeVR file so you may need to download Apple QuickTime to your computer.

This was hand held but the results are quite pleasing and the interactive panorama gives a good impression of the view from the top. I’ll figure out how to get the wraparound over Bassenthwaite Lake a bit neater if I get chance. Now I know roughly what I’m doing I want to put some similar things together for walks around our local area.

Robert

Jul 8, 2011

A fun day out at Tropical Butterfly House

Ann / Highly recommended, Our news, Things to do / Places to visit / 0 Comment

A few days ago I went to the Butterfly House with my daughter and two grandsons and had a wonderful time. We just missed the birth of two goats by minutes. It is amazing how they manage to stand up within a few minutes of being born. Also a first for me – I held a snake and a stick insect!! I only plucked up courage because a young girl held them first and then I was asked if I wanted to hold them. I could hardly say no, “I daren’t” could I? – Ann

Jun 6, 2011

Boy On A Dolphin at Letwell Village Hall

Robert / Things to do / Concert, Events / 0 Comment

Sheffield band Boy On A Dolphin are playing at Letwell Village Hall on 28th and 29th June.

This is an intimate venue just a mile or so down the road from Throapham House. I went to see Phil Cool and Ken Nicol there last year and had a really nice evening – and some nice red wine! Quite amazing who performs here and I look forward to going along to a few more of these events.

For more details contact the organisers on 01909 731626 or 540694.