The Cheese Making Has Started!
We’re making cheese again after almost three months of down-time!!
Started last Monday (with ewes milk for those interested), and it was so emotional for all of us here. It felt like such a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I was finally able to relax a little. And what better way to relax then to go to our local pub to celebrate?! Thankfully I don’t have any pictures of our pub antics, but I do have some wonderful snaps of the cheese being made…
Many of you may not realise but three years ago my husband, David, passed away suddenly. As you can imagine this was devastating for me, our kids, and really anyone who’d had the good fortune to know him. We had set up the company in 1987, and so for 18 years we worked side-by-side, helping each other through the growth of the business. Since I lost David, it’d been incredibly tough having to suddenly work alone, and the flood at Christmas was nearly the end of Swaledale Cheese. But we stuck at it and I’m so glad we did. I’ve not felt this happy in a very long while, and I sincerely doubt that you’d find anyone more excited to see some curds and whey as I was the other day…
In true Swaledale Cheese fashion, however, the excitement was tempered a bit when last week our pasteuriser went and blew up. As you can imagine, this put a slight spanner in the works and I would’ve quite happily taken a mallet to that machine. If you’re a fan of that new programme ‘Willie’s Wonky Chocolate Factory’ (I’m addicted), then try and recall that scene where after months of searching for his chocolate grinder, he finds the perfect one, only to blooming drop it. Swap ‘Willie’ for ‘Mandy’, grinder for pasteuriser, chocolate for cheese, and ‘dropping’ for ‘just plain rubbish’ and you’ve got my situation in one! Thankfully, it was fixed at the end of last week, but it still cost the price of a car to do so. Oh well, all’s fair in love and cheese eh?!
Anyway, before I have to get off and check that none of my other pieces of equipment (or workforce!) have conked out on me, I just wanted to say thank you for all who’ve been reading my blog. I had a look at my hits the other day (yes, I’m learning the techno lingo now) and it appears quite a few people have been wandering my way! If you do have a moment after you’ve read my yarns though, please leave a message on here, or some feedback, as I’d love to hear what people think. I think I’m finally getting into this internet malarkey…
Mandy
P.S. Here’s an ‘exclusive’ glimpse of the first batch of cheese, just for you lovely people….
(These little gems should be ready in a just over a month!)
I m very pleased with your blog,i howp you will update it soon
You did it! …How did you do it?