Richard Curnock is making a fresh start running a family farm in Worcestershire and enjoys the lighter side of life…
It is New Year’s Day and my resolution is to slow down a little, and before any bright spark chirps up with comments like “is it possible to slow down any more than you already have” then I can only say that bits of my body are telling me I must, or at least organise things better and accept that there are times when help is needed.
Phil and I have worked together now for the last 35 years and in that time we have only employed family members. The last five years have been solely on our own, but the time came at the beginning of December when there were jobs stacking up that needed youth, muscle and flexible limbs. So not to break with tradition, we approached my two lads, Alex and Ash, to see if they could take time out. Both work on arable farms and seem to be scratching their heads this time of year and so Ash came to the rescue.
What an interesting experience for us all. Ok, we have worked together before but usually at harvest time sat in different tractors, which is so different to physically being together doing manual work in the wind and rain, and it was great. Hopefully a taste of something to come in the future.
Should I reflect on the last 12 months and will it serve a purpose if I do?
Not sure on that one. I do know that it is between 25 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit warmer today than this time last year and that the water table is still very low and will take a lot to rectify it - all of which I don’t think I can influence, or if I can I think I will have a new career in the making.
Christmas Day was acted out with military precision and on par with feeding an army. Lesley and I built a table to seat 18 in the dining room (all family - I don’t think we charge enough!). Lesley did me proud.
Two things stood out for me, first, having a 22lb turkey and a big piece of ham equates to over 1.5lbs of meat each, so who had mine? And secondly should I read too much into having so much deodorant as presents?
Best wishes to you all for the New Year.
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