It’s definitely a greeny colour, I remember it being a bit brighter but perhaps a year or two under cover hasn’t helped. But my office carpet is now clear and the office tidy, apart from a trunk of photos that I am sure the children will be able to do something digital with. I was surprised when I asked for some direction on which room to sort out first in the house, having had 7 years of neglect while I ran around Berry’s, I was hoping to hear “ bathroom or kitchen”, both warm rooms, but there was a resounding agreement it had to be my office.
I should now be sitting in my office with my in-tray neatly placed to one side while I rattle off a blog and several thank you letters, but I am still at the kitchen table having cleared a space.
Anyway, I know you are all desperate to know if it survived and yes it is going strong. Duchess’s little runt is running around oblivious to the fact it looks as though it has nothing in common with its brothers and sisters, I think the fact it has only 9 of them has given him chances.


Youngsters having their first taste of vegetables

Crumpet looking at the vegetables
The porkers are all growing happily while their mothers, Guilty and Auntie are back with Sherlock the boar. Luckily, we have no real characters in the porkers, so it is straight forward and no escapees.
Talking of characters, I had a happy day out on Monday meeting Bramble and Mable, they are 2 donkeys who were potentially coming to Berry’s for a new home. However, they have been so wonderfully looked after by their lovely owner Maggie, I didn’t feel I could in any way replace her, and the donkeys might not agree to being one of a large team! It was a heartbreaking decision and not popular with the family and team here who were looking forward to seeing them.
I realise now why I felt this year was going with a swing, it is the year of the Pig in Chinese Cycles, so all is well, but not apparently if you are Chinese. But onto the Highlands, with some snow on the tops the young highlands have had some hay. I am looking forward to getting to know them better when they come down for the Easter holidays.

Highland young stock tucking in

Anyone spare helps out!
The highland heifer who kicks sideways is being turned into burgers for the cafe, they will be the best burgers ever. The 2 cows and heifer in calf are having a few weeks off being mothers before hopefully calving in time for the Easter holidays, its always such an exciting time, the young highlands are quite the cutest babies on earth.
Hardly the Alps, but the first covering of snow is always very pretty.

Also, the sunrises are always spectacular what ever the season.
Continuing with the pink theme my geraniums have been kept alive through the winter for the first time ever by some green fingered member of the Berry’s team.

I enjoyed finding this branch on my travels, you can see the lovely fir cones and then the cases left from squirrels and birds foraging the minute seeds.


Foraging at Fairhurst’s at Berry’s continues to be an excellent experience, these selections of salad and ham dishes look and taste very appealing and healthy.


With the yurt and lambing season looming, I am continuing to make the most of the quieter days by continuing with my tidying up and sorting out. However, my confidence with recycling has taken a bit of a knock after throwing out some old trousers and finding they were my husband’s winter wardrobe. I had an awkward visit to the charity shop asking for them back. However, I can’t go wrong with the airing cupboard, sorting out dog towels and beach towels from the guest best - Beach towels, that’s got me thinking.
