December 2004

Funny where conversation takes you...

A friend was visiting and asked if we knew anyone who wanted dry stone walling done. Not a lot of that going on on our farm... or nearby! However, it turned out that she knew someone who had just had a big contract cancelled and was looking at a pretty bleak winter. We needed a helping hand with building a brick wall, painting a room in the barn and some general, odd jobs and Keith arrived one morning and got to it. Not quite the same as stone walling, we are so grateful for the extra pair of hands which have helped with some jobs we just weren't getting around to!

Mark collected 6 more little pigs to join our herd. They are from 2 different litters and 2 of them are VERY small. They can even escape through the mesh of the stock wire we've put up across the gates... as we found at 7pm, when they are holding an audience with the cows in the middle of the front yard! We herded them back to the warmth and shelter of their pen... blocked the hole they went through with a brick and went back in the house... only to discover them, once again, communing with the cows at 11pm! Must have been an important conversation, but we were very concerned they would catch their death of cold... it was raining and cold.

The big story on the farm for December is always Christmas turkeys.

This year Lorraine planned life a little easier and did not take any work off the farm for the month. Christmas markets were busier than usual but we set aside enough time to dispatch the turkeys that remained after our various visits from the fox. The cold room was a real boon and we found good homes for all 38 of our birds. The immediate feedback is that they're even better than last years!

As we reach the end of the year, we are haunted by the silence on our farm where there used to be the giggling and chattering of turkeys. Whilst this silence is strangely uncomfortable, at least it was planned, unlike the eery quiet there must be in Asia in the wake of the Tsunami on Boxing Day. Our thoughts are with those who are living through the horror of this devastation.

Blessed Be.