Stuck, ash ‘holes’ and a political jab

At the end of March we decided that it was important that I travel to Australia for two weeks to see my Nanna, who is 93 and not very well. Keith graciously recognised that I needed to spend some time with her, and kindly agreed to hold the fort, look after the kids and manage the farm by himself for two weeks so that I would have the opportunity to do just that………………It would appear, for the time being, that I am now stuck. I don’t use the word stranded, as there are millions of people who are actually stranded with no family, money, means of transport, and I truly appreciate my fortune in being ‘stuck’ with my own family in Australia. Doesn’t make it much easier to deal with when I really need to be back with Keith and the kids (it’s Tristan’s birthday on Wednesday) and Keith is about to start lambing. However that is just how it is, and I will have to deal.

This whole saga has really made me think long and hard about the implications of our food and commodity supply system in the UK. It is something we as food producers have been painfully aware of over the past few years, but it is not something we have shouted very loud about. Perhaps it is time to start shouting. Those of you who are going to the supermarket and seeing emptying shelves will be starting to see how the current policy of import as much as possible just does not work – the system is too fragile – and when it comes down to it, whether it be a natural disaster, or the case that there are food shortages elsewhere in the world (which is going to happen in the future) where does Britain stand as a nation to be able to sustain itself? I think the last week has shown it does not stand in a very good place. There has to be a fundamental shift in both policy and consumer choice to ensure that in the future Britain is food secure. We are currently seeing a situation whereby farmers are going out of production at an alarming rate – the national flock size of sheep, cows and pigs is declining at an alarming rate (look up the census numbers to show the true scale of reduction). We are not in the business of large scale vegetable or feed production, but I am aware that the situation is similar in these sectors.

The title of this post was political jab, not lecture, so I won’t harp on too much – I just think it is very important that people support British producers, and local production AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Failure to do so will mean that in the future, the capacity to feed the nation just won’t be there. And the government needs to rise to the challenge too – feeding their citizens with a secure supply of British produce should be a NUMBER 1 priority – what’s the point in having a successful city trading sector if half the country cannot access food? Food security – any political party not addressing this issue is failing to prepare for the future viability of the country.

So……….whilst stuck in Oz, I have been able to spend some valuable time with my Nanna, and also my family – which has been such a blessing. My brother is a self confessed geek, and spends many hours on his geek forums discussing relevant topics of the day – the topic last night was the new terminolgy developed during this volcanic disruption – ‘ash hole’ – clear areas of sky where planes might be able to travel through. Try as I might (as I found the ash hole terminology slightly crude) I could not come up with a viable alternative………’periodic clearances in atmospheric ash plumes’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it – so ash holes it is!

I believe, for those Monty Halls fans out there, that the new series of Monty Halls Hebridean Escape starts this Wednesday on BBC2. Keith appears in the first episode helping with some fencing, and I am sick that I am not going to get to see it! Martin, the producer, had told us that it was perhaps the funniest fencing sequence ever filmed. I also believe Monty has started filming series 3 in Ireland already. Big love to you Monty, hope it all goes well!

Well, I am off to spend some more time with Nanna. In many ways it is a blessing I am able to spend some more time with her…….until the ash holes unite………I miss Keith and my babies so much, but I’ll be back soon 🙂

Rain and Harvest

Not for some time do I remember an August where it has rained quite so much…..but that is the way of it! Keith has been flat out this past week harvesting the grass crops and bailing it into silage (kind of like fermented wet hay, which the animals like quite alot during the winter). Despite the rain, the bailer breaking and the mower breaking (what is it about machines?!*), it is nearly all bailed and wrapped, and is ready for stacking.

Quite a crop really! The flowers are all out in the garden too and going mad with the rain and warmth…..

We’ve started to harvest the carrots and other veg too. I love this time of year when we can sit down to an entirely home produced meal…….it does give a great sense of satisfaction 🙂 I think it is brilliant that more and more people are using small areas of ground to grow their own veg etc in more built up areas – we should all be doing it! Even if it means only one or two home grown meals, the satisfaction and sense of well being that comes with this is worth it!

I remember vividly as a child wanting to plant vegies in my mum’s garden, and never being allowed to…..I also wanted a menagerie of animals and frequently tried to turn up home with birds, ducks and anything that squawked, barked or meowed……they conceded on some fronts, but it wasn’t until I moved here and we started farming ourselves that the desire was satisfied! Those who know me know that I am the most rubbish gardener ever…….and weeding is my most least favorite thing to do…..but despite that fact, we have still managed to produce beautiful flowers and great food – rubbish gardeners everywhere be encouraged!

So September and October should provide many fruits of our labour, the jobs for this time also include getting things prepared for the winter, as it seems to land on us soon after the leaves start to turn! Tristan’s head is healing nicely, hopefully the scar won’t be too bad – but then it is one of those things with little boys isn’t it!

Smart Sheep??

I was most amused the other morning to look out the window and see the following….

As you can see, it was tipping down….as it has most of the week, and the hogs have taken to standing under the trampoline, and on the law of averages, it would seem that the usually less than smart sheep were exhibiting some form of creative thinking…..all except the one at the front, who kind of missed the point of the purpose for gathering there!

We’re getting ready for the kids going back to school next week – I can’t believe the hols have passed so quickly! And largely without trauma – except for Tristan’s stunt a week ago…….4 stitches later, Tristan is starting t0 understand that James Bond style stunts should not be performed on one’s pushbike, and further, James Bond is probably a fraud!

He got the stitches out on Friday, and all being well has learnt his lesson about how fragile one’s head can actually be. For my part, although I dealt with it all most efficiently  at the time, I then proceeded to have two completely jelly days suffering from what I think must have been trauma.

Happy Days!

PEA – BABIES YAY!!!

Just a quick post to say we’re now the very proud carers for 4 little pea-chicks – three girls and a boy. The Peahen cleverly has had them in a very over grown and sheltered area, and they all seem to be doing really well. The peacock has pretty much stayed out the way, and is spending his days being admired by walkers and visitors to Orbost – he does the looking beautiful thing very well! My misplaced camera was discovered in one of Keith’s coat pockets…hmmmmm….but glad to have it back!  So here is our first pics of the pea babies…..more to come as they grow 🙂

you can't see me!