Farm Diary (16)

All that rain on Sunday has meant that the streams are all full of water.

28th April

It's been lovely weather again. Three lambs born early this morning, and now only three sheep left to lamb. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will get away this wekend. It's James's birthday on Saturday. I've told him that I'm taking him out for an eve of birthday dinner on Friday. I haven't told him that I've arranged for Paul to look after the animals, and Mary will be home for the weekend, and I've booked a room in a bed and breakfst on the coast for three nights - only 45 minutes away, just in case Big A is calving, but hopefully far enough away for a proper break.

It's lovely going down the farm to check the animals. The primroses and bluebells are smelling so sweet.

Here's Jess romping through the primroses.

The lambs in the field are growing fast. W2 was trying to climb on his mother's back.

We took the calves down to join the other young ones and moved them all to the Ham by the river.
We had to leave one calf with the 'grown-ups', as he is the only one of last year's crop to be officially organic, and though the Ham has never ever had anything put on it it isn't officially organic yet, only 'in conversion'. (It's the sort of thing that puts me off the organic organisations, but we can't afford not to be 'certified').

I enjoyed taking the calves down. There were a few diversions, but they were mostly quite good.

Enzo, as usual, was the last to cross the leat

Then he took a long time to join the others.

It's lovely (I've noticed that I do rather overuse that word) down there, always a little warmer than further up the farm. I saw 4 different butterflies, including a tiny, bright blue one. The smell of bluebells gave way in places to the wild garlic.

I had a nice wander down by the river, whilst James went to fetch some fencing stuff.

Violets and celandines

.I was sitting happily on a fallen tree, when I noticed the time and started to run up the hill. I'm not very good at runing up hill, but it was 2.45 and a man from the tourist board was coming at 3.00 to inspect the barn. Fortunately, I met James with the Landrover and got back up in time.

The inspection went well, and the man kept exclaiming as he walked around. He'd never seen anything like it. Later, in his report, he wrote ' the room has a wonderful 'Wow' factor on entry.
I know what he means. I love being there when people come to the barn for the first time; there's always a gasp when they come in.

We've now got '5 keys, highly commended' and if we tidy up the Mowhay (pronounced mooey) behind the barn we'll probably be 'de-luxe'. I'm not sure that I want to be though. It might put off the sort of people I want to have staying here. The Barn is comfortable and beautiful but it is also a very friendly place, and somehow deluxe doesn't sound friendly. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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From 9th April 1999