29th September 2019 has seen the first storm of the autumn arrive with overnight torrential rain and gale force winds here. This has not deterred my intrepid guests with 2 of our yurts and the shepherds occupied this weekend.  This weekend has also seen a revival of an ancient tradition of "beating the bounds" - walking the boundaries of Littlehempston parish.  Around 40 intrepid walkers arrived this morning and were shown firstly around the camp and then to follow the line of the boundary through our land and onwards to the neighbouring property and Christmas Tree Field.  Later on we are attending a presentation in Littlehempston Church to formally mark the occasion with the date being added to the parish records.  

September brings cooler evenings and early mornings with early morning dew resting on the grass and getting dark much earlier.  The sunshine still feels very warm in the middle of the day, however you know that winter is coming soon as our swallows have left the stables where they have raised 3 broods this year.  The swallows gather on the telephone wires that cross our fields and over the past couple of days their absence has been noticed.  Its amazing how they complete the trip to Africa and back each year.  This year we had around 6 nests in our stables, with them arriving earlier than usual due to the easterly winds in April.  Our guests are always treated to displays of their aerial acrobatics and they are quite noisy whilst roosting in the stables and feeding their young.  Later this month we are taking part in a "beating of the bounds" ceremony where statesmen of the parish will walk the parish boundaries, which cross our fields.  The records will go on file in the church and there is going to be a presentation in Littlehempston church with tea and cakes.  I love to know that the ancient village traditions are being upheld.