
Taking love and essentials to Romania
This month we will head to a poor village near Calarasi in Romania to take some love and essentials to the local children.
Fifty children will receive a ‘bag for life’ type bag containing hat, gloves, scarf, pencil case, colouring pencils, pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, toy car, cuddly toy, small toys/games including yo-yo’s etc, notepad, washbag, flannel, soap bar, comb, toothbrush and toothpaste. Sweets will also be given together with a snuggle blanket to help keep these dear children warm in the bitter Romanian winters. In addition, all children will receive an item of jewellery and the girls will get some make-up and hair accessories. We will also be taking some footwear with us for other children to keep the perishing cold from their little toes.
We’d like to thank our friends and guests who’ve donated towards the items, it is hugely appreciated.
Our own children will sing traditional Christmas carols to the children and elderly in the village in the hope of bringing some Christmas cheer to those living in abject poverty. Calarasi is an area where employment is irregular and low paid, with the average salary for a day of work at just ten Euros.
Keep an eye out here for photographs to follow. It’s sure to be a wonderful trip!

A regular passerby now at Marston Farm
We are delighted to see the new high speed Intercity Express trains whizzing past us regularly. With 20% more seats, all ergonomically designed, greater legroom, air-conditioning in all areas and window blinds throughout, it’s a great ride. There are also more tables and a plug socket and WiFi for everyone. Overhead racks are deeper. There’s extra floor storage, and more stacks at the ends of carriages. GWR have also made it easier to store your bike; with spaces in dedicated carriages, and ceiling-mounted hooks to keep things safe.
There is great news for wheelchair users too with at least two wheelchair spaces available, with full access to a disabled toilet. On longer trains, they provide four spaces. It’s not ideal but it’s a start. Toilets now have baby changing facilities too!
Why not come and stay with us and sit in our purpose built shelter which looks down the line giving you the perfect opportunity to watch and photograph all passers by?
Photograph courtesy of John Walton (one of our lovely guests)

Oktoberfest comes to Swindon

Our first harvest of juicy pears 08.10.17
It was with sheer delight that we wondered into the orchard to find that our ‘pair of pear trees’ had produced their first harvest, after three years in the making. Our bees have clearly been busy working as some of the pears are whoppers! The taste is exquisite so it’s pears all round for us and our guests this month. A great way to welcome Autumn to the farm.

Swindon Railway Festival 2017 – this weekend!
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Murphy sends £20 to Romanian Animal Rescue Shelter
Fagaras Animal Rescue Shelter in Romania will receive a further £20 from Marston Farm Accommodation thanks to Murphy, the mini pinscher. Murphy stayed in The Beehive with his delightful owners, Amy & Darren, and the charge made for the canine to stay has been sent to Romania. It was the second time Murphy has stayed at Marston Farm and boy oh boy do we love him! He is full of love, energy and loveliness. What a smashing guest! Cuteness factor is off the richter scale.

Supporting Fagaras Animal Rescue Shelter in Romania
A new animal rescue shelter is currently under construction in Fagaras, Romania which will remove around 120 dogs from a public kill shelter and provide them with love, safety, food and the opportunity of a ‘furever’ home. The project is being supported by West Yorkshire Animals in Need together with volunteers from across the UK. We are delighted to have donated £70 to them this week and plan to support them this month and during September. There are so many worthy causes that it’s hard to know who to help. The guts and determination of Romanian born Georgiana, who has turned a dream into reality, has helped us to make our decision. Go for it Georgiana and team, you can do it! The image is of Sampson, an adorable dog who stayed with us for a week (together with his lovely owners!). When they made the booking with us, it was via a site which does not have the facility to charge for pets, so we asked them to donate £50 towards the Fagaras shelter project.

Follyfest starting in two days!
Faringdon’s annual music & entertainment festival starts this Friday. With live music Friday evening, all day Saturday and all day Sunday, it’s an event which features firmly on the calendars of many locals and people from the surrounding areas. Emerging artists can be enjoyed free of charge as the festival is sponsored by local estate agents Perry Bishop. The line up of bands is better than ever and the weather looks good so why not get yourself to Faringdon for a guaranteed weekend of brilliant music?

Auto & Retro Festival – this Saturday at Lydiard Park
Classic cars, modern supercars, retro trade exhibitors, live entertainment and more (10:30-am-4:00pm)
The Auto & Retro Festival showcases the heritage of classic vintage sports car legends and looks to the future with the latest automotive icons.
Set in the beautiful historic estate of Lydiard House in over 260 acres of parkland on the western fringes of Swindon, its the ideal location to get up close and personal with the cars and the enthusiasts from Austin Healey to Porsche there really is something for everyone.
Children’s entertainment, play area, champagne bar, vintage tea room, automobilia, super and classic car display, club stands and retro trade exhibitors mean it’s sure to be a great family day out.
Tickets: £9.00 Adults, £3.00 Children

Ready to welcome an 8 year old Birthday Boy!
We will greet our youngest Birthday Boy guest today. Freddie, whose Mum has bought him a stay in The Railway Carriage and a ticket to the Royal International Air Tattoo, to celebrate his 8th birthday, will check in later. It was exciting to put up the birthday bunting and pop a birthday card on the sofa. We hope he has a wonderful weekend!
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