I know I've been quiet on this site recently. With lockdown, not much new has been happening that I can share, until now.
I've bought a smallholding!
The sale was agreed months ago but the final paperwork took four months to complete. That's just the timescale in these days of Covid. I didn't want to tell you, in case it all fell though. But today I picked up the keys. It's officially mine, bought and paid for.
The house is small; it's an old Welsh stone cottage on the side of a mountain in Wales. I only have 3 acres of my own and a few stables and workshops, but I hope to find more ground to rent so that I can keep more sheep. I've had to trim my flock to fit for now. But a dozen sheep, four goats, and both horses are catered for. And of course the dogs.
It's old and solid, but needs some updating inside so it will be a few months before I can move in while the electrics are updated and some walls moved upstairs, and a bit of decorating updated. I hope I'll be in by April as I'm expecting lambs and baby goats by then. And now I have dry stables to lamb in, and a goat house to kid in. Luxury!
After living in tied and rented accommodation for the past 20 years, the mental relief of knowing that no one can show up at your door and tell you that you have to move is priceless. I feel like I can start to put effort and investment into my home and my small farm business.
So, I've reached a new chapter in this blog. A hugely sad one without Mike, but I've now bought the farm that we both wanted to own together. It's an exciting step forward.
Until then, I'm staying safe from Covid, working on the pheasant shoot, and managing the house renovations over the next few months. Happy holidays to you all.
