How Time Flies 11th Nov 2009

How Time Flies

A fortnight in the life of ....

Sun 25/10   Late home last night as all change at Borough; Lizzie stays up to visit a god-child and her new baby.  Spend 3 hours on the moor to find all the cattle, dispersed by the pony drift earlier, and further disturbed by hounds after the Opening Meet of the season -- late lunch.  Summer time ended -- ugh!

Mon 26/10   4am start to load two bullocks into the lorry and take them to the abbatoir by 6.30. Orders, admin, bills, telephone, and after lunch take Defra satelite field maps to consultant for agreement.  Late onto the moor, to find Eliza in the throes of calving on the fringes of the herd; best to help her at home; so reluctantly, and oh so slowly drive her gently the mile back home(better she carries the calf than I do!).  Once in the barn she lies down and continues, but ineffectively.  Having checked that calf is correctly presented, it is, I slip some soft rope above it's fetlocks, and attach wooden lengths with a half-hitch, enabling Lizzie and me to supplement her contractions.  It is a big calf, but we get it, and once pummelled, and dried we lift her to her mother, who sets to licking it as though her life depended on it; magic.

Tues 27/10   Drive to Blandford Forum for lunch with their branch of the Inner Wheel(Ladies Rotary), and talk to them about sustainable food and Wild Beef.  Home via Torbay out-patients, before an evening meeting of the Chagford Commoners and ESA(envoironmentally sensitive area).

Wed 28/10   6am start to fetch the weeks produce from the cutting rooms, 35miles away; deliveries on the way home.  Some customer friends are staying nearby for half-term, so Mary and Mark, with Jo, Elsie and Ben join us for lunch which is lovely.  Pm on the moor which is now red and seer, and hosting an increasing no. of snipe who whizz off in protest when disturbed; time for the cattle to come home.

Thurs 29/10  6am start for a cattle management meeting at Pewsey at 9am, with our vet in attendance to brief on the tests just done, followed by an inspection of the herd, during which those old cows to be culled are identified -- always a sad occasion.  On to London and deliver eggs to Katherine at Unpackaged, her brilliant little shop in Amwell Street.  Lizzie up from market at Taunton for supper at 9pm.

Fri 30/10   Trading at Borough all day. All change there, both management and major rail works; resultant por trade is exacerbated by half- term absentee-ism.

Sat 31/10  Having set up the stall at Broadway Market, I hand over to my immediate neighbours and go absent myself to watch Perfect Silence run her last race of the season at Newmarket, there joined by my sisters and our aged father, who enjoys a good day out.  Somewhat apprehensive, as she experienced a messy race lat time at Kempton, and didn't like it.  She was however spritely in the paddock, and ran a storming race, leading nearly all the way and beaten just a length.  As she was drawn against the stand rail, and her jockey elected to cross the width of the track to the far rail, she ran further than the amount by which she was beaten!  It does however auger well for next year. 

Sun 1/11  Stayed in Hackney last night, so as to photograph some cow hides for sale.  Andy Sewell, another good find at Broadway, is doing this for me.  He will come to Dartmoor in due course and record some of what we do with a fresh eye.  Back to Devon for supper.  Father unwell after Newmarket's excitements, and taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, where he is comfortable, and attended by my long-suffering sisters.

Mon 2/11  Orders, admin, bills, telephone.  Afternoon, Lizzie, Gillian and I go to the moor to bring the cattle down.  They tend to agree, raising their heads at my call; one begins to walk, then another, then all, then into a trot and a smart clip all the way to the moor-gate, a mile away, with the calves cantering and bucking along. At the gate we shed a few unwanted aliens, and at the farm gate also shed Orphan Annie who is due to calve shortly, before walking the remainder through the lanes to Susan's lovely meadows at Jurston, where a good growth of grass endures. Dark early.

Tues 3/11  Duty Director at Exeter Steeplechases; a pleasant duty, hosting private boxes, sponsors, winning "connections"? and ensuring all bars and restuarants are in good order.  Collect meat afterwards and make a delivery, before home and sorting what is needed for Wells Market tomorrow.  Late to bed.

Wed 4/11  Up early to get to wells by 8.30.  A good day; deliver to Davinia at Swindon, then a pub supper and on to London, not too late.

Thurs 5/11 Deliver to Basildon, on the way to set up for a food and craft fair, back at Newmarket(very different).  Visit father in Addenbrookes in the afternoon; doing well; then back to London for another delivery and stock up for the fair tomorrow.

Fri 6/11  A good day's trading at Newmarket, and back to Hackney for more meat.

Sat 7/11 Prepare Broadway for Sacha to do(which he does well), and off to Newmarket again for another satisfactory day.

Sun 8/11 Newmarket once more with the remainder of the meat and sell it all.  Break down the stall, before calling in on father, now back at home, and cheerful.  Penny is with him, and gives me tea, whiskey and supper, all of it most welcome.  Decide to sleep in Hackney.

Mon 9/11 4am start to get home by 9.  Gillian fetched Dilly back from Lambourn, and good it is to see her.  Now the weather is cold and the cattle need hay or silage, work I always enjoy.