It seems like no time at all since I set up the out of office auto reply on the work e-mails and signed off on my ‘annual’ annual leave, for two weeks, for lambing.

Now I am relaxing and reflecting following my final day of annual leave, another Deep Heat bath, and a glass of red wine.

I cannot comprehend how quickly the two weeks have gone, in fact I am sure some days were missing from the middle.

Time is precious.

Lambing has been a bit slow, a few challenges, as lambing brings, but so far, touch wood, ok. I have enjoyed it all, highs and lows. This year, I have done the thing that all farm parents tell their children not to do….”do not name the pet lambs, we will be adopting them soon…” so my pet this year is a Charollais x Lleyn ewe lamb, called Ruby. Named so after the song “Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby, dah dah da da da dahhhh” ( are you singing it??) because she is loud, proper set of lungs on it 😂.

I am reflecting on why I have enjoyed this time and how I now feel about various topics and things.

One of the main reasons of enjoyment? I like sheep, and lambs, and lambing time is my favourite part of the farming calendar. I think I may have mentioned this before mind 😂

Another reason? There are a few😂

Firstly, it is time at home with my parents, I think we work well together and so it is really enjoyable ( don’t get me wrong, we have the odd disagreement, occasionally😃) and this really is valuable time spent well.

Secondly, I have been happier, morning and evening. This is not to say I am unhappy in day to day life, but the first week in particular I was really happy….and I am sure one of the main reasons for this is that I didn’t hear any news, read any news, and I didn’t watch any news. Life changing! I haven’t been an avid news watcher since Covid, I mean I do like to know what is going on, but stepping out of the world for a while, away from the Dads Army “We’re all doomed” thought process, to work outside, with animals, I feel has been a blessing (even those first time lambers🙈).

There is a song I have on my playlist called ‘Knee Deep’ by the Zac Brown band, featuring Jimmy Buffet, have a listen, if only life were that simple.

Well I say that now, but…..I like to mix with people, go to events, work with teams of people and have good discussions, which would be limited if I was on annual leave talking to sheep all the time. I also enjoy a good holiday, so need to bear that in mind too🌅

So following my two weeks of stepping away, and getting involved in the very first stages of producing good food for (I was going to say our Nation but so much is exported) whoever wishes to purchase it, I see things in a slightly different light.

There is a bit of a glow in my mind, glimmers of hope, inspirational light bulbs and flashes of ideas of how to do things differently (love change😂) and a feeling of planning ahead again.

Perhaps all that was needed was a break, a step out of day to day routines and away from the doom and gloom of the news. I am tired and stiff and achey (my usual work is sat at a desk) , but feel fresh and ready to go again.

Sometimes a relaxing holiday is what you need, but sometimes you have time to think then and it can be harder to switch off. Having said that we had a weekend in Paris before Christmas, busy busy and switched off straight away, fully immersed in Parisien culture( by culture I mean food and drink of course).

Back to the lambing leave though, for me, in this case, yes….a change really is as good as a rest…..if not even better!

My advice to you, take some time out, do something different, don’t watch the news, even for a day. Go away from a problem and come back to it again with fresher eyes and a clearer mind.

If you want to have this experience in particular, farmers are always looking for lambing help!

Thank you for reading, enjoy the pics below x