Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Ray on March 19, 2008, 08:28:09 pm
Title: I'm New Too!
Post by: Ray on March 19, 2008, 08:28:09 pm
Hi, I'm Ray. An Irish man with an English wife living in West Wales with children who sometimes get confused!
I too had a dream of a smallholding for years, and finally, 61/2 years ago, we took the plunge. We have four acres with a further ten acres that we rent locally in the summer. We have a Jersey cow who is refusing to be put in calf, 7 ewes and a ram, we have just started lambing, three weaners, all the other pigs are in the freezers, some chickens and bees.
I have been taking part in a forum in the USA for some little while and came across TAS by accident. I'm looking forward to a good time as you all seem to be enjoying it.
Ray
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: mad dogs and us two on March 19, 2008, 08:49:06 pm
Hi Ray We've just posted our introduction too. Although we (Steve and Jill) now live in France, would like to know where in west Wales you are as I (Jill) used to live in Pembrokeshire where I first lived on an part of a "stately pile" with a four acre victorian walled garden. A very helpful forum. Good luck with your venture.
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Rosemary on March 19, 2008, 09:17:24 pm
Hi, Ray
Welcome to the TAS forums - hope you enjoy them. I am full of Jersey-envy (although not the problems of not getting in calf).
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: stephen on March 19, 2008, 09:28:42 pm
hey and welcome :)
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: pigsatlesrues on March 19, 2008, 10:37:33 pm
Welcome from Normandy as well!
Kate
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Pebbles on March 20, 2008, 09:46:47 am
Hello & welcome.
Looking forward to hearing all your news.
Pebbles
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: ducky2108 on March 20, 2008, 10:01:32 am
Hi there.
I've always been intrigued by beekeeping, I must say. Do you get much honey from them?
Paul
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Hilbillie on March 20, 2008, 10:39:13 am
I love honey and its supposed to be good for hayfever sufferers (I'm one) to eat honey from local bees. Unfortunately I'm petrified of anything that buzzes! :-[ Welcome Ray!
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Hilarysmum on March 20, 2008, 01:08:01 pm
Welcome
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Rosey on March 20, 2008, 02:46:41 pm
Welcome from Lincolnshire. Danndans from Wales too, currently busy with lambing. I meanwhile am waiting for mine to start, they look close but so far nothing!!! :'(
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: carole on March 20, 2008, 02:49:32 pm
Hello and welcome to this great site, where in west wales? as a child I spent all holidays on my grandparents farm about 10 miles from Aberystwyth, ha maybe thats where all this animal madness came from.
Carole
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Blinkers on March 20, 2008, 03:33:15 pm
Hello and Welcome - currently West Sussex, but moving to West Wales in........fingers crossed.....possibly about 6 weeks ;D
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: danndans on March 20, 2008, 03:39:16 pm
hiya ;D yep me from from west wales to :D right on the coast ;D
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Ray on March 20, 2008, 10:16:24 pm
Thanks for all the welcomes. we are actually living in a little village about 4 miles north of Newcastle Emlyn, or to give it its proper name, Castell Newyedd Emlyn.
Yes Jersey cows will always get my vote, the one we have volunteered to mind all the lambs for their mums, and this included feeding them! Quite a sight.
Bees I have had for over 20 years, and the amount of honey you get depends on where you are and what sort of summer you get. In a good area in a good year I have had 150 pounds from a hive. Last year, we got 80 pounds from 6 hives.
I ommitted to mention that we also have 6 young Jersey bulls that we are rearing for meat.
No doubt there will be lots more to say over the coming weeks.
Ray
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: danndans on March 20, 2008, 10:24:04 pm
whats the meat like of a jersey, is it marbled ect?
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on March 21, 2008, 06:12:43 pm
hiya from fws (i lived in south east wales but live in central scotland now ) but their is another 'foreigner' in the house who is from North Wales. REALLY fun when Wales v's Scotland lol 2 against 2 lol
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Ray on March 24, 2008, 09:39:53 pm
Jersey meat is beautiful. Yes, there is some marbling. I get the calves free from a friend with a Jersey herd, and they give me their spare milk to feed them! Yep, its a winner.
Ray
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Blinkers on March 24, 2008, 09:46:09 pm
FREE !!! You jammy whotsit ( am I jealous..............................................you bet) Good on yer.
Hmmm....actually, Newcastle Emlyn is not going to be THAT far away from us ;)
Do you fancy swapping some of your beef for some pork??? ....in about July ? :)
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: danndans on March 24, 2008, 10:54:44 pm
your already into the welsh bartering system and your not here yet ;D
Ok i'll swap lamb for pig! :D
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Blinkers on March 25, 2008, 08:11:25 am
Deal Danndans. ;D
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: danndans on March 25, 2008, 10:26:46 am
But you dont get the baa with it ;D
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Ray on March 25, 2008, 05:52:04 pm
Sorry, I have just realised that somewhere along the line some of my postings aren't arriving. Presumably they are hanging around somewhere and will pop up and bite me when I am least expecting them.
Jersey beef is beautiful, a bit of marbling and very tender. Melt in your mouth stuff.
Ray
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Blinkers on March 25, 2008, 09:32:38 pm
Mmmmm......so milk and meat ?
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Ray on March 26, 2008, 10:07:50 am
Sorry blinkers, but I rear all my own Beef Lamb and Pork. You would still be very welcome to call on us though. We are that sort of household, the kettle is rarely cold!
Ray
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Blinkers on March 26, 2008, 10:32:58 am
Marvellous.
Black coffee, no sugar - strong as you like ;D
Title: Re: I'm New Too!
Post by: Ray on March 31, 2008, 09:35:02 pm