What a difference in the weather! A much quieter, and drier few weeks, here, with even a little sunshine in between to lift the spirits, and yet more Rainbows, some landing in unusual parts of the usual fields… all very interesting for an enquiring mind with time to consider. If you meet one of those people, send them our way! The morning of the anniversary of losing Adrian was clear and bright, just as it was a year ago. A beautiful sunrise to remind and inspire us to keep on keeping on.  

Talking of which, the relative quiet of the farm this late in Autumn has given Brendan and Alice chance to formalise their plans for their new enterprise based here on the Farm. If you subscribe to our news you will have already received their invitation to join them at the inaugural “Rush Farm Supper Club” – you know it’s going to be good as there’ll be so many delicious, nutritious foods that would rarely grace Adrian’s plate! If you’d like to know more do drop an email to hello@rush.farm

With the milder temperatures, the grass is still growing, although the ground is very wet. Around the water troughs, in particular, the fields have turned to mud. The animals were moved to new fields for fresh grass – they always let us know when they want to move by rushing across the field when they see us, or they stand around the gateway looking like the proverbial ‘youths on street corners’! 

We were able to sort the ewes for tupping, and this year they are split into two groups and kept in separate fields. The rams have a peaceful time for the majority of the year, but come the 5th of November, Bonfire night, they joined the ewes. The saying “in with a bang and out like fools”, is a helpful guide for when lambing will start, as gestation is on average 147 days, the number of days between Bonfire Night and the 1st of April – April Fool’s Day. Of our three Rams, two have gone in with the Ewe’s. One has a little bit of an attitude problem, and we’ve decided to leave him out of the mix this year. Caught the other day trying to take on three horses and riders as they innocently walked past the Ram’s Field, we decided we’d made the right decision! 

And then came the activity. First came the hearts in mouths 72 hours of TB testing – bringing all the cattle into the barn for the initial testing on Tuesday, and then the Friday results. With great relief we are happy to share that Friday brought good news – we have been given the “all clear” for the whole herd. We are still in the cycle of testing for a while longer because of the reactor two months’ ago, who it’s important to share, was confirmed negative once formally taken away and tested. 

Hearts resettled, then the calves chose to arrive. For a bird’s eye perspective, here’s Brendan’s account: 

“Normally our beautiful traditional Herefords have no trouble at all calving, but perhaps once a year we have to assist. It is normally one of the first-time mothers, who are often taken a little bit by surprise, and this case was no different. Luckily the cattle we already in the barn after the TB test, and had stayed in due to the very wet weather. Tim spotted something was up on his first morning inspection of the cows, and sure enough there was a heifer presenting us with one rear calf hoof (they are supposed to come out front feet first). After securing the poor cow behind a gate to enable us to find out what was going on, Tim managed to attach the calving aid. So far so good. Things got a little bit exciting when the heifer managed to hook one of her horns under the gate and lift it clean off its hinges at exactly the wrong moment. Some quick thinking got the calving aid off before the poor girl damaged it or herself, but by now she was really not sure what was going on with her! After managing to squeeze her in the cattle race, and laying down some straw behind, we had another go with the calving aid, but to no avail – this particular cow had a very mobile head and kept managing to escape from the collar holding her still, until she got herself quite stuck. Realising the race was just making her more anxious, we decided to bring her back to the barn and gave up on the calving aid. With a person heaving away on each leg, and lots of encouraging cries of ‘push!’ to the heifer, out popped a little steer calf – bleary eyed and bow legged from his ordeal. It is very important if a calf is presented backwards to get it out as quickly as you can, because if the umbilical cord breaks, then it will not be able to breathe until it is out.”  

After an understandable period of shock required the heifer to ignore the calf completely, the new mum has bonded, and the little calf was able to suckle. It hasn’t been straightforward for either of them, but we are treating both with homoeopathic remedies and they are responding well.  

The second calf to arrive later that same day made the more ‘usual’ entrance, and all was well. Good news for them, and a relief for us too!  It seems fitting, as we approach Armistice Day during this dreadful time we are witnessing, fortunately for us all through the TV, to be thinking about those lost in current, hideous conflicts; those whose lives have already been lost in the act of protecting democracy and ‘freedoms’; and those dear to us who are now remembered in our hearts. Keeping hope is essential.

Sonnet 30 – Shakespeare 

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste:
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night,
And weep afresh love’s long since cancelled woe,
And moan the expense of many a vanished sight:
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o’er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restor’d and sorrows end.