[Jackie]

Everyday I read this forum and enjoy the information and banter that goes on here.  I have even enjoyed playing Devils Advocate a few times!

I am learning humungous amounts about animals and because of this forum and the people who post I now know which breed of each animal I want to have, I know where to buy the equipment I need and even where to buy the animals and how much roughly to pay for them. I know how to fence the animals, how to feed them, how to transport them, which deseases to look out for and what the symptoms are.

Give yourselves a round of applause Guys. 

BUT I am so, so jealous of you all because despite trying since last October I still havent managed to buy my smallholding!!! 

[Hilarysmum]

We waited far longer than that, moved to France to achieve our desires.  It was worth every long second of the wait.  Yours will come, just make sure you find the right land for what you want to do

Good luck and it will be worth the wait.

[sandy]

It will happen one day, I a BIG believer in what is meant to be will be. We were buying somewhere else in Devon and it fell through twice and I saw this place for sale ages before we sold.....we decided to move to Scotland after the house kept falling through, I had a job etc, so we move to Scotland, no job, this house came back onto the market, I thought it was sold any way, we started B&B without giving it much tonight at all but we have not stopped since we started 3 years ago...the smallholding would be nice but no way of earning an income for me, we just have Chickens and a Duck and Drake, and of course our Labradors.....I just love this life, far better than the old life, work all week and try to pack everything into 2 days at the weekend!!!! I have swapped one lot of S**te for another and LOVE IT!!!!!

[doganjo]

We had the chance years ago but instead kept our full time jobs and rented the land out to a neighbour.  Wish we hadn't but you can't go back so now I'm down here I do what i can with much less land.  If I could buy more land I would as I have cash left over from the sale but none seems to be available in central Scotland.

[Wizard]

So nice of you to say such things about us Jackie.I will have a word with him up there to see if he will help I hope he does George 

[doganjo]

Him up where? Not helped me much.

[juliag]

Ummm Thanks, I will remember that when my wellies get caught in the mud this evening when I am putting everything away, of course thats before I discover the ponies have jumped out of their paddocks and spent the last couple of hours careering around my husbands 'lawn' (he tries to keep 3/4 of an acre looking decent so he can impress our friends!!! lol) before squeezing through the door (breaking it in the process) of the polytunnel where they knock over and eat the chicken food before pooing at the far end just to rub salt into the wound. On their way out they knock over the shelves of pots and seed trays scattering a few dozen which get in their way.
I will remember when the wind is sooo bitter that my hands are numb and I cannot feel the wheelbarrow handles that someone somewhere is actually jealous of my life style!
Oh well the grass is alway greener on the other side but I couldnt half do with a day off................ or even just an evening off........... please anyone?

[little blue]

Your time will come! dont look too hard, and it'll happen when you least expect it!
thankyou for your nice comments.... my o/h would say "everyone knows a better way to do it!" but we have all learnt loads from each other, im sure

[Roxy]

I count myself as very  fortunate, in that I bought some land many years ago, before prices rocketed.  For many years I travelled back and forth, 8 miles each way, to feed the livestock, before and after work .  My dream was always to have a house nearer the land, but prices here are so high, it seemed impossible.

Now, we have a derelict farmhouse, and land, two minutes down the farm track from my original land, which I still have.  I also have a very large mortgage of course!!

Sometimes the grass does seem greener on the other side ......its only when you live on the other side, you see it as it really is!!  There are problems, sometimes worse problems than you have if you do not have a smallholding.  The arguments over rights of way, boundary fences, who is responsible for building the walls, you or next door farm?  Dogs allowed loose in your field, after the livestock, people walking where they should not and leaving gates open ......then there is the expense of fencing etc.  There is always something to spend your money on.  Its quite a  shock for people when they realise just how much post and rail, and sheep netting actually cost when you have to go and buiy it.

And the livestock, the horrendous vet bills when they are sick, the massive food bills, the long winter, with mud all over the place, and no grass.

Get the picture?!!!

Yes, it can be idyllic, but really its just like any other life, full of problems and money worries!!!

Sometimes, I must admit that I dream of sitting in a house eating my tea at a normal time, and being warm and cosy, instead of standing in the middle of a field with my welly stuck in the mud, and fingers frozen to buckets!!!

[Hilarysmum]

Frozen fingers trying to get the ice out of buckets.  Dragging a wheelie full of water containers as the pipes are frozen.  Worrying myself sick about how to pay the pig food bill, the outgoings being far higher than the incomings at this time of year.  I dream of a warm summer day before September, and remember the bungalow and the warm office and dream of central heating and working only 5 days per week.

Then there are moments as the sun hits the clouds first thing, or one of the pigs makes a greeting noise, or the boar comes over for a fuss, when it all comes right again.

It is a very hard life, regardless of whether you do it for a living or perhaps even harder if you have a full time job (although if that pays for central heating perhaps it has its compensations).  Its not one I would change though.

[shetlandpaul]

don't listern to them even with frozen fingers they love it. the nice bits make up for the less enjoyable ones. even thr horrible things are a lesarning curve.

[Wizard]

Annie Dear It was be kind to Jackie and encourage her day. I cannot say he has been to kind to the Baker's what with my COPD problems The eldest son being killed on his motor bike The youngest son with Terminal Cancer Muther all crippled up with arthritis in her hands.Thank God I'm an atheist ?

[Jackie]

Thank you George I do appreciate your kind thoughts, more so now I know what you are facing in your life.

 Im so sorry you are going through all this, you have heartfelt good wishes.

Lol I know you all love what you do or you wouldnt do it.

I dont have rose coloured specs on I do know how pshyically tough its going to be but I have 1 grown up son and a grown up daughter and a son in law plus my mum coming with us. Hubby is continueing his career so we wont be trapped for cash. I know Im lucky.
Hubby and son i-l are both contractors so they are away a lot, hubby power generation and son i-l large plant operator WITH HIS OWN DIGGERS AND TRACTORS!!!! Yay!!!

I am fightened to death of anything equine (just give me any breed of dog Ill be fine) and dont fancy having anything like it but daughters in laws breed horses and have got my grandson a pony complete with trap so as soon as he is old enough to ride thats being transported to my smallholding so Im told!!!

[Hilarysmum]

don't listern to them even with frozen fingers they love it. the nice bits make up for the less enjoyable ones. even thr horrible things are a lesarning curve.

  So true, so very true 

[Hilarysmum]

I will have a word with him up there to see if he will help I hope he does George 

HIM???  HIM  ? Surely you mean HER