H&C

“Whoops, I can’t believe it’s four weeks since I wrote anything for my Horse & Country blog – shame on me. Apart from Christmas, which is everyone’s excuse for not doing things, I have a better one. We’re flitting (that’s Scottish for moving house)! We only have an acre here and although we make it work hard, we’ve hankered after some additional acres for some time. Dan also wanted to live by the sea. I told him that the chances of both happening were remote – but not, apparently, impossible. Sometime from May, we will be moving to a 12-acre holding near Carnoustie on the Angus coast – acres plus sea! Golfers amongst you will know that Carnoustie has a championship golf course (plus another three courses), and hosted the British Open in 2007. This relocation opens up lots of opportunities for us, smallholding-wise. The farm is beautiful, with lovely shelterbelts, level ground and good fencing. Plans include a house cow, a long-time “want” of mine – I have worked on a dairy farm, albeit many years ago, and I like cows. I’m not quite sure HOW I’m going to fulfil the plan, but you’ll read all about it here. I also want to increase my flock of Ryelands to twelve breeding ewes – not many by commercial standards, but plenty for me to manage. Of course, we’ll be taking my Highland pony, plus an as yet unidentified companion. I intend to get Smokey back in harness and managing his own grassland, with harrow and roller. Time he did more than just fill the muckheap, useful as that is. The actual removals will be a challenge – I’m already working on that in my head. I’ve bought a notebook so that I can jot things down as they flash through the old grey matter, especially in the early hours of the morning when the kittens wake me for a cuddle. Our ewes are all successfully mated. All were covered for the first time within ten days of going out with the tup and none seem to have come back into season, so they will be home soon. We’ll have them scanned after the festive period, although with only three, I can’t really feed differently for twins and singles. I just like to know how many I’m looking for, come lambing time. Harry and Bertie are very well and enjoying the present wrapping – lots of things to chew and mess with. Felix (Great Uncle Felix) loves his boys and regularly plays with them and grooms them, although tonight he’s curled up in front of the stove, waiting for spring. Can’t say I blame him, as it’s bitterly cold here, and damp too. So, I’m of to join him. See you next week!”