HOLIDAY MEETS 2009

Below are details of the Rolling Meets and THSs to be held in 2009

Rolling Meet

LLANDUDNO AND RUTHIN

Bodafon Farm, Llandudno - MR 116/801822 - 21 May - 26 May 2009

Bodafon Farm Park is just at the end of the Promenade by the Little Orme, with panoramic views of Llandudno. The Farm Park and Bird Centre will appeal to all ages all year round. Dances on Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings - there may be one or two organised walks during the meet.

Tourist Information for Llandudno area

The view from the Campsite at Llandudno looking towards Great Orme.	The beautiful sunset one evening
View of the Campsite taken on a walk up Little Orme. Caravans on green field to the left	We were able to watch the Red Arrows display from the comfort of our caravans

Bathafarn Hall, Ruthin - MR 116/147579 - 26 May - 31 May 2009

Spend time exploring historic market towns like Ruthin, Denbigh and the tiny cathedral city of St Asaph. Discover unspoiled villages with picturesque churches and quaint country inns that abound throughout the vale. Enjoy cycling along quiet country lanes, walking the vast network of bridleways and public footpaths that criss cross the vale or the world famous Offas's Dyke long distance footpath that passes over the Clwydian hills close by Bathafarn Hall. Dance on Thursday and Saturday in the local village hall.

Website for Bathafarn Hall

Tourist Information for Ruthin

Rolling Meet

THORNTON-IN-CRAVEN AND BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND

Thornton Hall Farm, Thornton-in-Craven - MR103/SD904482 -16 July - 21 July 2009

This is a new venue for our section and is in a lovely walking area. It is just on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire and the field that has been booked is actually in Lancashire. Visit the market town of Skipton with its castle and the various East Lancs towns and villages. Also within easy travelling distance of some of the Yorkshire towns and villages. Thornton Hall Farm is a Visitor Centre - see their website for further details. There will be a dance in the barn on site on Friday and Saturday.

Thornton Hall Farm Website

Tourist Information about Thornton-in-Craven

Fooden Farm, Bolton-by-Bowland - 21 July -26 July 2009

Bolton-by-Bowland is a lovely area of the Ribble Valley with nice walks from the site. Visit the market town of Clitheroe and the nearby Pendle Witch villages. Also the Trough of Bowland is within easy reach. There will be a dance on Friday and Saturday in the village hall.

Tourist information for Bolton-by-Bowland

TEMPORARY HOLIDAY SITE

17 July - 09 August

PALL MALL FARM, TYWYN - MR 135/592014

Tourist Information for Tywyn

The North West Section have run a successful THS at Tywyn for over 20 years - in fact next year will be the 30th. The site is close to town, beaches and narrow gauge railway. Regular evening get-togethers are held for a chat and a singaround but normally there is no dance arranged.

Alan and Lilian Davies's grandson Matthew at a music session	Lovely countryside- not always cloudy!
There are get togethers in the tent in the evenings	A view of the site
Another View	Paul and Matthew entertain the campers

TEMPORARY HOLIDAY SITE

August 20 - September 1st

St Cuthbert's Primary School, Halsall, Nr Southport - MR 108/368100

Halsall school website

The Southport Website will give you a lot of information about the area around Halsall, including, of course, Southport which is a traditional English seaside town.

There is a large flat field for camping and hard standing if desired, and we have the use of the school for the full period including a children's playground.There is quite a large hall which we can use for dancing and crafts, a smaller hall for dancing or music workshops, plus kitchen and dining facilities. The Canal is a short walk away with meals being served overlooking the canal at the local pub, from where you can walk along the towpath, watching the canal boats pass.

Halsall is only a few miles from Southport, which is an elegant resort town, with its pavement cafes, tree-lined boulevards and stunning floral displays. Charming Lord Street, with its glass-canopied shops and the stunning Wayfarer’s Arcade, is home to a superb range of specialist shops, high street names and department stores. In addition there are a host of other attractions, both indoor and outside, for you to explore. For a change of pace, explore the 22 miles of beach along Southport’s coastline, with dramatic dunes that are a haven for many rare examples of flora and fauna. The area is also one of Britain’s premier birdwatching locations. Also it is a great opportunity to visit the renowned Southport Flower Show.

There are lots of places to visit within easy travelling distance - concessionary fares were offered on the bus which stops outside to Southport, Liverpool etc., so it could be worth you making sure you have your bus pass.

Martin Mere Wildfowl Trust, Camelot Theme Park, Country Houses and Parks, Knowsley Safari Park, visit Liverpool, the home of The Beatles with its two cathedrals, Albert Dock and either ferry or tunnel to the Wirral, if you like beaches there is Formby Point which is a lovely nature reserve with a gorgeous beach and sand dunes and also Ainsdale beach and sand dunes. The Fylde Coast is worth a drive to visit Blackpool and Lytham, and there is Fleetwood with its Freeport Shopping centre for those attractive bargains and if you like walking the Forest of Bowland and Pendle Witch Country are lovely areas.

For further details telephone Kevin Downing - 07833 921928

Anyone who is considering going to the Southport Flower Show would be better purchasing the ticket beforehand as it is £3 cheaper than purchasing on the day. Prices not yet available.

Tickets can be purchased from Tourist Information Centres and selected Virgin Stores or telephone 0870 44 44 226 (£1.50 transaction fee for credit card/internet bookings) or book on line at www.ticketmaster.co.uk. For details about the flower show have a look at their website - Flower Show Website

PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT HALSALL - VARIOUS YEARS

Nearby Canal

Halsall Village

Another view of the nearby canal

Large flat camping field	Hardstanding if required
There is an Adventure Playground	Playground for supervised children under 8
Margaret Sudlow organised card workshops	Harry Caine organised singing workshops and they did a performance at an evening dance
We even had a breadmaking demonstration from Fred Fearon-see recipe below	Judith Veevers organised Maypole Dancing
Ian and Maureen Revill organised a bear hunt for the children - Guess who is inside the bear outfit?	Tony Sudlow calling with the Band
Card Workshop with Joan	Maureen running a Pergamano Workshop
Children enjoy the dancing as well as adults	Keith and Doreen Nunnerley spreading out for their grandchildren
Here we go round the Mulberry Bush Dance	Bead Craft

IT WAS SUGGESTED WE PUT FRED'S BREAD RECIPE HERE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN TO HIS DEMONSTRATIONS AT HALSALL

Fred's Bread at Halsall This is the promised recipe for Fred's Bread as demonstrated at Halsall when everyone returned to the caravan with some dough to bake their own. Fred has been making bread for breakfast almost daily for many years. It is tasty, easy and varies according to his mood. Everything is from cold. He mixes all the dry ingredients and then takes smaller quantities and adds any liquids. Basically it is as follows:

Take about half a large bag of any flour, cheapest will do or mix different types of flour. At present bread flour is available at some shops for 48p for 1.5 kilo's 1 individual pack of yeast or ½oz from a large packet. (This will freeze) 1 tsp salt. Mix well Take three volumes of dry bread mix to one of water with oil, but have extra bread mix to add. (It usually needs it). Mix well and knead on a floured board. The dough for the breakfast rolls is made just after breakfast the previous day. Leave in the fridge during the day in a poly bag. Then, last thing, before going to bed, pull off enough dough for the number of breakfast rolls needed. Knead, roll and flatten with a dusting of flour then lightly oil with olive oil and place onto a baking tray in a cold oven to raise overnight.* In the morning bake for 12 minutes on gas mark 5. (In our house)200 oC Switch the gas off, turn the bread rolls over on the tray and put back into the hot oven to slowly cool down. (Use as much of that expensive heat as possible) The rolls are cooked when they sound hollow on the base. Timing varies in different ovens and may take longer.

If the rolls are wanted at lunch time mix the first rising at tea time and knock back in the morning. Bread can also be fried. Let the dough rise in the frying pan and cook for about 20 minutes on each side on a very low heat. The main thing bread making is fun and not as complicated as we were led to believe. Dried yeast is very good tempered and will support a small amount or a large amount of flour.

Experiment: Fred's grandchildren tried "Jaffa Cake" bead which was not as exciting as expected. Eventually the Grandchildren, and Fred, made a chocolate coiled bread: Roll the bread dough into a long thin strip. Coat on one side of its length in chocolate spread. Coil it up with the chocolate spread on the inside. Sprinkle with a little sugar. Leave to rise and bake as normal (12 Minutes gas mark 5). It was scrumptious.

A new thing: Dusting the top of the bread rolls with dried milk powder after they have been flattened and light oiled.

*If baked on a Teflon sheet the dough does not stick, purchased from Home Bargains at £1.99 either round or rectangular and useful for so many cooking situations. Supermarkets also sell it.