A Farmers Life for Me

I've been watching the BBC2 show A Farmer's Life for Me over the past 7 weeks. It is about 9 would be farmers from all walks of life, all ages and all occupations. They have had one hell of a tough time, but it has all been to see if they are up to the prize which is running their own farm for a year. Jimmy Doherty has been their mentor, guide and judge.

Right from week 1 Himself and I have been shouting for the couple from Sunderland Ray and Jayne to win it, the final is on in about half an hour so I have got my fingers firmly crossed that they win.

As part of my Master Gardener duties I was at the Edible Garden Show at the National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on Saturday, giving away plants to get people started growing their own produce.

So you can imagine I was over the moon to actually meet Ray and Jayne who were attending the show. Himself and I got to chat to them for about half an hour - they really are as nice in person as they are on the TV. They did'nt give us any idea of how they got on, not even a hint - thye were extremely professional, but after meeting them I hope more than ever that they win, they really do deserve it, they have worked so hard at the tasks and well, they just are nice and if you are any thing like me, it would make a change for nice decent people to get a break and make their dreams come true.

Keep your fingers crossed with me and lets hope they do win !!!!


Yes! Yes! Yes! They won !!!!

Just about a year ago, in the midst of spending endless hours sitting in Intensive Care with my beautiful little grandson after another major heart operation, I was lucky enough to be able to do something so close to my heart, it felt wonderful !

I trained with Garden Organic over at Ryton Gardens, to become both a Master Gardener and a Master Composter. What this means in practice (apart from being able to spend time with over people who love gardening as much as I do), is that we get to help and advise other people who want to compost but who maybe are a little wary of it for what ever reason, or we get to spend time with people (or children - I'm currently 'helping' one infant school grow fruit and veg, and two more compost their kitchen and break time 'wastes'), who would like to grow anything from a pot of herbs on the window cill, to a full size allotment.

The people of course are varied (we are all SO different !) and each has different wants, needs and requirements, but somewhere along the line we are all singing off the same song sheet in wanting to grow something.

So far it has been enormous fun and I have met some really wonderful people. The other Master Gardeners and Composters are great and to be with like minded people all doing something that we are SO passionate about , well its just bloody lovely!!

If you aren't already growing something edible for your self, or you need any advice on composting, why not get in touch with Garden Organic, there are schemes running in several areas now and if you aren't in the Warwickshire area, which is where I am, maybe Kate Newman can put you in touch with somebody local to you.

Its just the right time to start sowing seeds for this years crops, so why not give it a go if you havent grown any thing before.

Sad, Horrible People

Somewhere along the line, in the land of invisible internet people, somebody has been so horrible, has said something so awful that they have upset two people very close to my heart.

On Friday Rhonda Jean from Down to Earth blogged about the person who had upset her. But we fellow bloggers rallied round, sent her good wishes and internet hugs and hopefully fingers crossed she will be fine...

However the lovely Froogs from Frugal Queen blog hasn't faired so well and very sadly seems to feel that she can no longer go on blogging. She will be very very much missed by me and so many others for whom she has been such an inspiration and I just hope that one day she will be back on here.

I'll really miss you Froogs xx Hope you are back soon.

Please please read this !

http://hppoppycampaign.moonfruit.com/#

Please please visit this web site and read the story about the girl who was told to take off her poppy whilst at work !

She has set up an on line petition to try to get David Cameron to take action over this and stop people trying to prevent people wearing their poppies with pride.

Please read, sign and post on your own website, blog, or forward on to friends and family.

Love Babs

The light is a little dim...

Just lately it seems to me that it doesn't matter how fast I move to try to get to the light at the end of the tunnel, it seems to be receding into the distance, getting a little dimmer by the day.....

First Day.......

First day in new job went OK I think. But by 3.00 I felt I was ready for a nap and my brain was scrambled trying to take in new faces, new names, new procedures AND rememebr it all.........its only 8.15 but I am off to bed.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Welcome 2011

Well I say 'welcome 2011', slightly fearfully. 2010 presented us as a family with quite a few challenges, some of which were overcome, some of which are carrying forward to this new year. So with hand on heart I am really hoping that this will be a better year all round. I am alternately scared and hopeful, tinged with touches of real hope that this will be a year of change which will enable us to go forward instead of round in circles, or at times quite dramatically, backwards.

I start a new part time job on Tuesday and again, I am looking forward to it, but I'm scared stiff at the same time. I feel I have been out of the 'proper' job market for a some time, and am also conscious of my increasing age....

Himself left his job the week before Xmas - I wont go into the details right now, but if he had'nt left, I honestly think the job would have killed him. And much as we need the money, I do quite like the silly old fart alive and kicking :-)

So with some trepedation but also a periodic feeling of hope, I welcome 2011 into the Little Terraced House and hope and pray we can move forward instead of backwards, can pay our way and maybe make some dent into the debt that is strangling us and Himself can start to feel better and find a job where he is happy and content near to home, instead of always being somewhere else in the country.

I hope that 2011 will be everything that you want it to be too, where ever you are.

Babs xx