Christmas at Stotfold Mill 2010

What a lovely event! It was small but perfectly formed. The organisers did an absolutely superb job. There was a warm and friendly atmosphere and the creativity and attention to detail in the decorations were exceptional, especially in Santa's Enchanted Forest. If ever you are in the area I would definitely recommend visiting the mill. It is a fascinating building, one of the few working water mills left in the country and a testament to good restoration. Please visit the Stotfold Mill website for further details.

http://www.stotfoldmill.com/



Stotfold Water Mill



Polar Bears at Santa's Enchanted Forest

Santa's Cabin

Bobtails' hats and boots




What's a wombat?

You've heard of the brand...

                    ...you've seen the sign...

...but do you know what a wombat actually is?



Wombats are small animals found in South Eastern Australia and Tasmania. They are quite similar in appearance to their close relative the koala bear. Like the koala bear, they are shy but playful and are marsupials. This means that they carry their young in a pouch on their belly but because they burrow, their pouches are different to those of other marsupials such as koalas and kangaroos. The pouches face backwards so that the young are not hit by flying earth when digging. Wombats are not able to climb trees.

There are 3 species of Wombat: the Common Wombat (has a bald nose), the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat. Wombats are an endangered species. The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats are even close to extinction and are very rare.

Wombats can grow to between 70 and 120cm in length and up to 35cm in height. They can weigh between 15 and 35 kg. Wombats are characterised by large heads with rodent-like teeth for burrowing, stocky, muscular bodies and short but powerful legs. Their fur varies in colour from light brown, through grey to black.

Wombats prefer to live in mountains by the coast or by rivers and feed on grass, roots and fungi. They may stray a long way from their burrows while looking for food. Wombats are usually nocturnal but have sometimes been known to sunbathe!

Bobtails' Bush Hat Guide

So you fancy buying yourself a traditional Aussie bush hat. Good onya! We make some ace gear down under.  But watch out, not all the leather hats you see about in the UK are dinky-di. Bodgy imitations will cost you big bikkies and cark it soon as you step out in that weather of yours. You’ll find none of that bull dust here at Bobtails Trading Company. We stock only the highest quality leather bush hats.

At Bobtails Trading Company we have a range of styles and colours so you are bound to find the right one to suit your lifestyle and personality.  All of our bush hats are foldable and come with their own canvas bag, are water repellent and will protect you up to 50 UV but there are several differences in style and finish. Let me talk you through your options.

The Brand

We stock leather hats by Barmah and Wombat Leather. The difference between Barmah and Wombat is the price; Barmah hats normally retail at around £45, whereas Wombat hats retail at £30-£35. It is worth bearing in mind that this difference in price is due to the relative prestige of the companies, rather than the quality of the leather or the workmanship. Barmah has a long-established reputation as the manufacturer of Australia’s original bush hats, whereas Wombat, the challenger-brand was only founded relatively recently.

How important to you are prestige brands? And how much are you willing to spend?

The Leather

All bush hats at Bobtails Trading Company come in one of three kinds of leather: full grain, soft split or suede. Full grain leather has not been altered beyond hair removal. As the leather remains relatively close to its natural state, it is the toughest and most durable kind of leather. What’s more the colours, textures and markings may differ slightly giving a particularly rugged look.

At the tannery leather is often split into layers and then treated with oils. Split leather comes from those layers which are closest to the flesh and thus has a more uniform colour and texture as well as a soft and pliable finish. As it is thinner it is less durable than full-grain hide. Suede is from created from split leather by abrading the surface of the leather with an emery wheel. Due to its texture it is much more susceptible to stains from water damage than either full grain or split leather.

So what kind of wear are you expecting to get out of your bush hat? Will you be wearing it in heavy rain? Do you prefer a more rugged or refined look?

The Style

 

Apart from the Wombat Cowboy which has a shaped brim, all bush hats are a standard classic shape. The Barmah Cooler, however, has mesh sides which allow air, but not water, to pass through, keeping your head cool in warmer climes.

Will you wear your hat all year round or just in summer? Do you travel abroad?

The size …

All leather hats sold at Bobtails Trading Company are made to standard sizes. To find out what size you need, measure your head carefully with a tape measure and compare with the sizes below.

Small – 55 cm

Medium – 56-57 cm

Large – 58-59 cm

X-Large – 60-61 cm

If once you have purchased your hat, it feels a little tight, do not worry. Simply pull over your knee to stretch and the leather will give over time.

Please check out Bobtails Trading Company or visit us at one of our upcoming events to view the full range of bush hats by Barmah and Wombat Leather. The choice of which one to go for should now be a lot easier!

New Wombat boots coming soon!

Keep your eyes peeled for the new Wombat Matilda boots arriving mid-December! Available in chestnut and chocolate, these luxury sheepskin boots feature all the great qualities of the Wombat classic boots but are long for extra warmth. Pre-orders will be taken at Bobtails Trading Company very soon.



Wombat Matilda Boots in Chestnut



Wombat Matilda in Chocolate

Just 2 weeks left to enter!

Just a quick reminder that there are now only 2 weeks left to enter our fantastic competition in association with Wombat Leather. The closing date is Monday 6th December 2010. Go to wombatleather.com/competition and enter your details to be in with a chance of winning a gorgeous pair of Wombat Classic Australian sheepskin boots.

Christmas Gift Ideas from Bobtails Trading Company

With Christmas just around the corner I’m sure many of you have already thought of a few gift ideas for your friends and family. But if you haven’t, or you find yourself stuck for inspiration, here are some great gift ideas for all the family.

Why not splash out on a pair of Wombat Classic boots? These boots are brand new to Bobtails Trading Company and are a fantastic gift for women of all ages. Australian sheepskin boots have become a wardrobe staple for many women and these Wombat Classic boots are no exception. Their simple and classy design makes them a timeless classic and the hard-wearing sole and heel reinforcement ensure that these boots will last for years. Made from soft and luxurious twin-faced sheepskin, Wombat Classic boots are perfect staying warm and comfortable throughout the winter months.

For the special man in your life, how about a leather Vodka Bar Pilot hat from Screamer? Screamer leather bomber hats are a spin-off style of those worn by aviators back in the day and now a hat of choice for skiers and snowboarders. These Screamer hats feature a fastback dome style top, extra long fur lined ear flaps, and wide fur lined front brim for extra warmth.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a foodie, look no further! Our SAVU smoker bags make a fantastic Christmas present. SAVU smoker bags are a simple and mess-free way to cook delicious low-fat and low-calorie meals in minutes. The SAVU Smoker bag is an aluminium foil bag, lined with wood chips hardwood syrup and natural sugars, and can be used for all types of meat and fish. You can even cook your vegetables in the same bag, allowing for a complete meal in a bag. All you need to do is fill the smoker bag with your chosen meat, fish or vegetables and then place it in the oven, under the grill or on the barbeque. SAVU smoker bags come in two delicious flavours: alder and hickory. The Hickory SAVU smoker bags have a stronger flavour and so after many years of use, we have found that they work best with meats such as beef and pork. We have found the more delicately favoured alder smoker bags are better suited to fish. All of our SAVU smoker bags come complete with full cooking instructions and some delicious recipe ideas for you to try.

For the health and fitness conscious, we offer EFX wristbands and bracelets. EFX wristbands and bracelets effectively tune the body, immediately unleashing its full potential for function and performance. EFX’s embedded holographic technology is comprised of algorithms and frequencies that are highly compatible with the body’s bio-electric field on a cellular level. Similar to acupuncture and acupressure, EFX wristbands and bracelets are strategically placed to influence specific energy centres or promote energy flow. Results include instantly increased balance and strength, enhanced flexibility and motion, improved focus and alertness, relief from stress and tension and relief from jet lag and motion sickness.

These replica Australian road signs from The Great Australian Road Sign Company make fantastic stocking filler for teenage boys or students. With warnings such as ‘UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION’ and ‘ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK’, they are great for hanging on bedroom doors. What’s more with each purchase of a road sign you assist in the preservation of Australia's native animals and vegetation as a portion of the proceeds is donated to worthy recipients around Australia. These recipients may be working in the areas of native habitat re-establishment and preservation, animal hospitalisation after accidents, reintroduction of native animals to the environment and any activity that enhances the natural environment for the betterment of our planet.

For your children, we recommend this beautifully soft mummy kangaroo hand puppet with two joey finger puppets in her pouch. This lovely puppet from The Puppet Company is a great educational toy and will be sure to spark your child’s imagination.

Be sure to check out our website for our full range of products. Good luck and happy shopping!

Standalone Farm Christmas Craft & Gift Fair



We have had a good weekend at Standalone Farm in Letchworth. They always organise a lovely craft and gift fair. Shame about the weather though. It's been very cold and wet.

 

The stall

Screamer hats are so warm!



These piglets were only 1 month old.



Here they are with their mummy.



For news of other events please check out our website Bobtails Trading Company - Upcoming Events or follow us on Twitter.

ENTER OUR FANTASTIC COMPETITION!

At Bobtails Trading Company we have teamed up with Wombat Leather to give one lucky entrant the chance to win a pair of these gorgeous Wombat Classic Sheepskin Boots.

The Wombat Classic boots feature a luxurious twin-faced sheepskin lining for comfort and warmth and a practical, durable sole. These boots are a paragon of style, practicality and comfort, perfect for the cold winter months.

• Genuine Australian twin-faced sheepskin lining
• Pattern along rear spin of boot with the Wombat Logo
• Flexible, lightweight and durable sole
• Supplied with a canvas dust bag to keep boots clean
• Available in UK sizes 4-8

To enter, click here.