Who needs Holidays?

As we head for home, we start to list reasons we can’t stay for longer. Ian Walker the owner of our lovely holiday gite was really pleased that he had quite a few 3 week bookings. Most of these bookings seemed to be school teachers, but even a 2 week holiday seems to be something that we may save like mad to achieve, but organising would be very near impossible. After getting our first farm we never left the place together for 5 years, eventually we took the kids on a weekend trip to Woolacombe to stay in a caravan that was all of 30 miles away, what a revelation and what fun. The children had our undivided attention and we could relax. As Nevil could quickly return to sort any problems out we were able to leave our very capable French agricultural student in charge.

With the children getting older and employing full time staff as well as students, last year was the first time we attempted a full week holiday. Of course now with mobile phones and many holiday accommodation having wi-fi you can pretty much keep in touch constantly and we have been able to keep an eye on the day to day running of the poultry business and even update this blog! However, farming by internet is pretty impossible and to get away Nevil had to work non-stop before we left and had to pay to leave someone reliable in charge.

So is it worth it? Although the hassle of travelling with 5 children is a little desperate (I’m writing this on the ferry, help!) Nevil and I are coming back refreshed and with hopefully a clearer direction and new ideas. The children are healthy and brown, their swimming has improved and they have an appreciation of French. They have been out for very traditional French meals and behaved themselves (mostly), been and bought bread and sweets on their own at the boulangier, cultivating with a young French farmer in a John Deere and played French Pokeman. More importantly we have all spent time together as a family.

So yes, a Nuffield experience most definitely broadens the horizons, not just for us but the children as well. Growing up on the farm can be fantastic but could become isolating; hopefully we are equipping them with skills to grow up into confident adults, not frightened to push the boundaries.

So how does a new entrant step back, assess their business and take a rest. Pretty near impossible but from our experience it should compulsory! Those farms where the parents are on hand no problem, but first generation farmers the cost and worry of taking a break at prohibitive. A while back I was talking to a local representative for Farm Crisis Network that was popping in each day to check on the relief milker so a young farmer was having a chance of a worry free family holiday. Maybe preventing a Crisis is a network the farming community should be organising themselves and offering the young a chance for a rest.

Meanwhile, I must prevent a crisis with a seven year old who really is not coping well with the sea, may be next year we will try Cornwall.