Following on from yesterday's photo and story on Field Day about our Britain's Sexiest Farmer competition, it's all over the national press today.
Those nice people at The Daily Telegraph have written a piece on it, as has The Daily Express. It's even been picked up by The Sun. Now that's what you call a good opening line for a story: Wey, hay, hay!
We've now got the shortlist of 10 in the Farmers Weekly Britain's Sexiest Farmer competition.
Christmas tree news.
It might have been 6ft when they planted it out in the garden, but one family's Christmas tree is now 50ft tall. See pictures in The Daily Telegraph (click on the word 'next' above the photo to see successive pictures).
And apparently there's a Christmas tree installation at Tate Britain which, according to The Guardian, is "unpretentious, melancholy and exact". Maybe I'm missing something here - but it just sounds like a Christmas tree to me.
And while we're on the subject of rural services - here's a story in The Daily Mirror about a school with more teachers than pupils.
Don't you just love the names of British villages?
The Times has collated some photos of amusing ones.
Five country pubs have been shortlisted for the Country Pub of the Year Award, which aims to encourage pubs to be more community-focused, rewarding hostelries that provide good, locally sourced food and bring people together. They are:
* The Pigs, Edgefield, Norfolk
"The Pigs has shown great enterprise during the recession. It has encouraged the locals to swap everything from meat, vegetables, fish and fruit for pints!"
* The Thomas Lord, West Meon, Hampshire
"Renowned for its friendly atmosphere and classic village pub ambience, The Thomas Lord celebrates its affiliation with the founder of Lord's cricket ground and former resident of West Meon."
* The Peat Spade, Stockbridge, Hampshire
"Offering a desirable combination of good food, quality wine and sport, The Peat Spade is located in the fly-fishing capital of the world and really makes the most of its position overlooking the River Test. It has its own fishing shop and arranges fly-fishing and shooting for local people."
* The King's Head Inn, Laxfield, Suffolk
"Recognised for its tradition of serving beer straight from the cask, The Kings Head, dating back to the 16th century, also serves home-cooked food."
* The Mason's Arms in Cartmel Fell, Cumbria
"A pub that exudes individual character with low black beams and wooden tables on polished flagstones. It boasts spectacular views of the Winster Valley and has been recently refurbished."
The winners will be announced in the 11 November issue of Country Life.
The Withnail farmhouse has ended up going to a new buyer, after the £265,000 acution deal fell through.
Kent based architect Tim Ellis has snapped up Sleddale Hall and hopes to transform the ramshackle building (more photos of which are here) into a house.
Mr Ellis, an under-bidder at the auction, hasn't decided on his exact plans but, as a fan of the film, "would like to restore the building in a way that other fans could approve of".
Forget finding love on the telly - a big rural romantic event, which has been held for more than 150 years, is under way in Ireland.
The legendary Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, which runs to October 4, attracts singletons from around the world to County Clare.
The get-together became known for attracting bachelor farmers who were in search of a bride (sounds like perfect material for William Trevor).
Visitors can register with the resident matchmaker, Willie Daly, who helps with introductions...
Listen to what Radio 4's Today programme had to say about it.
Matthew Naylor has once again been making digs on his blog about the often whimsical content of Tim's blog.
In Tim's absence I thought I'd prove to ol' Gob of the Wash that Field Day can carry sensible content about rural life. And here it is.
Who says beekeeping is only for those in rural areas - it seems it's becoming popular with town and city dwellers, too.
Just come across this - a piece by blogger Exmoor Jane taking Liz Jones, a national newspaper columnist, to task over her comments about Exmoor. It's nicely put!
Thanks to Trevor Wilson for getting in touch to tell me about the Mere Brow Giant Pumpkin competition.
It's run by a group of farmers and growers who nurture these giants for a hobby - they can range from 100lb to nearly 1000lb in weight.
This year the competition will be held at Gravel Farm, Banks, near Preston on Saturday October 17 at 2pm. It'll raise money for the North West Air Ambulance. More details here.
I said yesterday you don't see a Chinese man being carried aloft through the lanes of rural Yorkshire very often.
Well here's something you see equally as infrequently: a tractor towing a dinosaur.
Yesterday, we heard of the bride who went to church on a Case IH Magnum 310 - today it's contractor and farmer Paul George from Tresillian in Cornwall whose best man ensured the groom arrived in style in a new Deutz-Fahr Agrotron tractor loaned to him by local dealer Paul Jeffery.
He's seen here outside Truro Methodist Church in Cornwall where he married Tracey Moran. Thanks to Steve Michell for sending us the photo.
As you know, I'm interested in weird rural festivals.
Tar barrel racing is a great one, but it's Galmpton Gooseberry Pie Fair in Devon that's in the news today.
It's come to light that there were complaints about the noise at this year's event in Devon. Organisers have been told to turn the sound down in future years after members of the public complained to the Environmental Health department about sound levels from live music.
The fair, which raises money for local charities, is thought to have been first held in 1873, and the centrepiece is a giant gooseberry pie which is carried through the village, travelling in procession to the village's Manor Inn.
Forget the noise. That's a diversion. The big question here is: How on earth did this tradition originate?
More rural romance.
Angela Turney recently got married on the Rousham Estate in Oxfordshire and decided to arrive on a Case IH Magnum 310.
