The little family arrived from New Zealand late on Saturday. The rest of the world appeared to have arrived at Heathrow as well, and a weary, exhausted trio walked through the arrival gates nearly three hours after their plane had landed.

We drove back to the West Country in the most beautiful ‘setting-sun’ lighting, silhouetting villages nestling in a mosaic of fields, woodlands and gentle undulating hills. It was wonderful to have them with me.
Unfortunately our effervescing excitement at  being together again was short lived as one by one Jess, Joe and Theo succumbed to a virulent ‘plane flu’ with poor little Theo being diagnosed with a strep throat too.
But no matter, they’ll soon be well and at least they are in a peaceful, tranquil place where they can rest and heal.

Life is still moving a pace on the farm. On Sunday we had our winter’s supply of straw delivered.
Straw is scarce and very expensive this year after the all the rain and difficult harvest. I buy wheat straw which is cheaper than the golden barley straw often used for feed. The straw is for bedding only, being an important part of my FYM (farm yard manure).

Ten minutes after we’d finished offloading and stacking the straw, Simon turns up to shear the lambs. Another job ticked off.

On the back of our clear bTB test I can now sell my breeding heifers. We have sixty days to sell and move stock before I have to do a TB retest at my expense. Luckily I have a couple of buyers who have been waiting patiently for the results.

The re-ridging of our thatch roof is coming along beautifully and should be finidhed by the end of the week.

It’s into work in Exeter tomorrow – it hardly seems a blink of an eye since I was there last week…
All in all a busy couple of days.