Longhope Diary October 2015

4/10/2015

Have just turned to October on my George Clooney calendar, I cannot believe how quickly this year is flying past. Farming makes you so aware of seasons; Harvest festival time already. We now have the barley field ploughed and Mike is drilling as I type. I love the huge harvest moon and even managed to get up at 3.00 am to see the lunar eclipse (then was overtired and grumpy next day!) but glad I did. Decided that as I would be old/not here for next one it was worth the effort. The rest of the family declined my wake up call …I would love to add ‘with thanks’ but that would be a lie!

We took our little old tractor to the Speech House vintage show. Mike & Johnny had a brilliant day. The general consensus of opinion was ‘do not renovate’. Leave it alone, which is politely referred to as ‘barn condition’.

Two little boys looked over at the tractor, one said “I love it, old things are great” the other said “I have never seen such a pile of ****”. Ah well, just glad the second child was not one of mine, feel sorry for anybody who could be like that at six years old.

I managed a feat that is ‘no big deal’ to horsey people but quite a milestone for me. I had to take off an under rug and leave the top one on. I applied the same technique as removing a bra without removing t-shirt. Have since been told this is not a good idea….rug not bra!

I am thinking of getting a hot tub for the cottage when funds permit. Sharon (my right hand woman with aspirations to be a hotel inspector) and I will have to test it occasionally to ensure all is in working order. I have been told it is very desirable in a holiday let, what do you think?

Armstrong Equine had a terrible upset with Fable, Charlotte’s eventing horse, going lame. We were all so proud of her going to Gatcombe and a mention in Horse & Hound. Fable came here as a foal, it’s so sad.

My son Nye did a modification for an on-line game (hope he doesn’t read this as I don’t understand it at all!) but he had 750,000 people worldwide using it at its height. Just as I was planning to demolish the farmhouse and replace it with a castle (plus reminding him who gave him the gift of life (full emotional blackmail) he informed me that it was not paid.

We have a lovely new Australian lodger called Noel who sings and makes music. Since he arrived it’s been dry, sunny and beautiful with hedgerows full of fruit. I have to say I am not sure what Noel will make of the British winter? Has he has ever heard of thermal underwear?

A lovely family in the holiday cottage were in the middle of watching the rugby (England v Wales?) when the TV died. Considering the disappointment I was amazed at how understanding they were. I did a mercy dash to replace it, but alas too late, the game was over.

When I relayed this story to our ‘rugby mad’ apprentice he made a face as if I had run over his dog, equaled only by the face he made when I told him I fell asleep during a James Bond film.

I promise this farm can be as lovely in Winter as any other time and the holiday cottage prices are good value.

Flicking through the diary I found a letter (obviously written last year in December), a ‘self-nag’ reminding me of the horror of not being ready for Christmas, including an accident and stitches from rushing with power tools. While fresh in my mind I set forth and purchased a turkey and have made the cake. I just have to hand-paint the card which seems to now be expected by family and friends and I too can be as smug as my friend Rachel whose card is the first to hit the mat in December.