JANUARY 2004

Another year gone.
Christmas has been and gone in our household full of small and excitable Coakers. (Tell me why a toy aimed firmly at a 3 year old has, writ upon the packaging, 'not suitable for children under 5'?)

Not surprisingly, Ali and I are exhausted and looking forward to 2004 and some semblance of normality.

The Met Office is doubtless about to tell us that it has broken all sorts of obscure records, in unlikely places. Just here, I wouldn't say we've had the hottest summer ever or the mildest winter or the driest 12 months or the least wind, but I would say that 2003 has - as a whole - been the kindest year, in farming terms, that I can recall.

Progressing well: The little Coakers check out the new cowshed

If I could rely on every year being like that I would be a very contented little bunny.

The baled hay and silage is opening beautifully with fragrant odours wafting about (helping to cover the less fragrant ones that usually attach themselves to me).

The new cow shed is progressing well, albeit slower than the cows and I would prefer (it is a big project for a peasant hill farmer).

The roof is taking shape rapidly and the last of the rafters was strapped in place today (by the only three of us who've so far lugged ourselves out of the festive armchairs).

Hopefully more of the lads will re-appear soon, the mill needs to get going again, orders are starting to dribble in (including one for 5 tonnes of flooring ordered on Christmas eve, for delivery in the first week of the new year! Yeah, right, whatever you say!)

Matters Fowl
Monthly proof that farmers aren't completely oblivious to their environs: I'm enjoying the raucous owl noise these winter nights.

I don't know what it is that owls get up to at this time of year, but brother are they noisy whilst they do it!

I had cause to be out and about one night and had at least 3 giving it their best all around the yard.

Barn Owl

I couldn't tell you which type they were, although I definitely 'put up' a barn owl when I turned on the lights in one of the big sheds.

Other avian observations include the regular sightings of nuthatches close to the farmhouse. At the kitchen window in fact .

We've a bird feeder stuck to the glass so the kids can watch the little birdies about the yard and have a pair of nuthatches eating at said feeder.

One of them eats the seed as he/she finds it, the other however, has to pick through the entire pile, throwing out whatever doesn't take its fancy. Fascinating.

Mind you, the feeder was nearly the death of me this morning: I was spending a quite moment enjoying a cuppa over the paper - with the blue tits, nuthatches et al flitting about at the periphery of my vision - when something huge and black thumped up against the glass.

I nearly jumped out the chair, before I focussed on one of Ali's black game cockerels trying his best to perch on the bird feeder!

I'm very fond of the fiery tempered, iridescent fowls, but this wasn't called for!

Anyroad, he soon lost his grip and went fluttering off in a strop.

fowl play.....