[waterhouse]

Investment banking but trying to keep my head down...  I still advise people but the conference calls are more relaxed, for me.  Today one call with twelve people in three countries had me also working on the electric fencing.  This doesn't always work so well: last week a Spanish friend was reduced to hysteria when he called me as I was applying the rubber rings to the lambs' tails: mum was objecting persistently and noisily and we had to postpone the discussion.

[ballingall]

I work full time, fortunately my mum is at home (retired) to see to the animals during the day. I work for a bank too, but the financial reporting side of it. Into year end reporting now- it's hell.

Beth

[knightquest]

Pet shop owner at the moment. Used to be a toolmaker when industry was still viable and would love a small holding somewhere rural but am happy in my garden in Birmingham by the sea   

Ian

[Pebbles]

Farming with my partner 3-4 days a week + Business Manager with L'Oreal 3-4 days a week + evenings running an internet business + company secretary to partner's ventures + I take to do with all the admin, feed ordering, bill paying, advertising/marketing, accounts and VAT for the farm....and the occassional farmers market too!

I used to collect anything to do with pigs when I was younger and can't believe I have a herd of my own it's a wonderful way of life - all the stresses just melt away when you start the day feeding the animals. It's a real privilege to be able to choose this way of life and such a shame that more people don't get a chance to experience it.

Hope to farm full time in the not-too-distant-future and to get me used to the idea I'm taking a 3 month sabbatical from my management job in a few weeks time (hooray!)
   

[manian]

i agree there does seem to be alot of healthcare workers, and other public sector workers........
I'm adding to it
i work full time over 4 days as a specialist nurse (heart failure) thats why i'm doing the charity high altitude trek in september.
OH works on the micro holding when i'm at work, especially in the winter when the days are short.
we only have weaners (x4 going off next monday ...........followed by  ) and chickens as layers.
plan for this year is to have table birds and bees
Mx

[Fowgill Farm]

I work mornings as a shipping clerk for a chemical company, one of  my tasks is ensurnig Royal Mail have enough ink for their printers so next time you see orange dots on your letters thats my ink that i send to them!!
 The rest of the time i'm chief cook bottlewasher gardener and pig keeper. OH is a builder.
Mandy

[OhLaLa]

Right now?

Farmhand, painter, decorator, designer, fencer, handyman, carpenter, reupholsterer, machinist, diplomat, parent, spouse, cleaner, chef, dietitian, shopper, nurse, confidant, gardener, cabbie.......

.......brickie, veterinary assistant, plasterer.......

[bazzais]

I run a few websites as my main occupation - then my next occupation is paperwork.

Ta

Baz

[morri2]

Wow!  Real mix of  jobs here.

Me, well; full time job in a past life was a property conveyancer for a law firm.  Loved the job, hated the legal profession.  Couldn't wait to get my holding.

Now I'm a smallholder with sheep and chickens, try to grow all own veggies and fruit - not quite there yet; a student studying for an MA in History, Mum to two young boys (both with ASD) and full time cook and bottle washer - never get a minute.  Had more spare time when I had a full time job!!  That said, I didn't have kids then either.   

[katie]

Done all sorts - central government, local government, teaching, working in a plant nursery running my own nursery , selling at farmer's markets. Now I'm a full-time smallholder. OH  earns the cash to keep it going but one day it might be self-supporting.

[doganjo]

I hurry home from work now to see the posts!

Thank you Rosemary for coming to my defense!!

I think I will change my name to YankieGirl.

OH?  other half?

My apologies, Yank(ie girl), did not mean to offend, and I don't read all the posts.  That'll teach me!  Wrist hard smacked by the Boss -don't want that to happen again!

[bloomer]

i'm a landscaper and odd job man, just looking into small holding, have chooks in the garden and got eye open for suitable land coming available near me as really want to bring on my own pork!!!

[TheGirlsMum]

Before the girls I was a senior scientific officer with ADAS (MAFF) as was I used to make mud pies according to my OH was actually doing hundreds of soil textures. OH was in the Navy for 33 years he retired from that in June and he now is seasonally a sailing dinghy instructor. So he helps me with the ponies, dogs, quails and chickens. We are just waiting for our CPH number and then hopefully we can have our first weaners. (Fingers crossed)

[plumseverywhere]

I was a ward sister (gynaecology) then retrained as a counsellor (postnatal depression/ postnatal PTSD)...now run a small soap making business (all goats milk soap    )

[Sudanpan]

Osteopath, working part-time in Redruth. At other times acting as the second in command (aka oily rag!) to OH in the company business of installing automatic gates/access systems.

Spent last year building our cottage on our smallholding, are (very!) self sufficient in eggs and pork - as we had 4 pigs last year and only offloaded about 1 pigs worth of meat to friends and family! Hope to add vege growing the to list of smallholding activities.

Originally came from 'the big smoke' where, at various points in the career line, was a chartered surveyor, market research analyst, website analyst and software ptogrammer, motorcycle chauffeur and scuba diving instructor.