Current Weather at Strickley

Saturday 25 August 2007

Surely it's not the end of Summer?

A long time ago when we had proper weather and real summers August Bank Holiday was at the beginning of the month and heralded in four weeks of non stop sunshine, days at the beach, picnic and ice creams - and no need to think about school for ages. But now the Bank Holiday is at the end of the month, and seems to just remind us of what we have missed. It's no longer a time to look forward to summer, but a signal that it's rapidly disappearing. Shops are full of school uniforms and pencil cases; parents and teachers are counting the days till the start of term.

And the next Bank Holiday? Christmas!

Maybe I'm just a bit fed up as instead of making the most of the weather (which is actually quite good) I'm stuck in a cold air-conditioned office.

Back at home the farmers have been busy all week. As part of our Organic Conversion we have taken The Lots back in hand. The parcel of land away from Strickley has been let out on a grazing licence for a few years, while we rented in some fields that joined onto ours. We may have continued with this for a few more years, as it is very handy for stock, but the landowner doesn't want to be involved in our conversion plans and we will be giving it up at the end of November. So this week Henry and James (with help from young farmer Robert) have been on The Lots tidying up wall gaps, moving sheep pens etc - getting ready for the contractor to plough two of the fields. We're reseeding about 30 acres this year, with the sort of mix that suits our organic plans.

And there's no time off this morning either - one of the ACR's in the parlour is playing up, so that's to be sorted before tonight's milking.

Maybe I do have the best of it in a nice cool office.

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