Bella Hall: Drilling’s been a nightmare
It is hard to imagine that just 10 days ago we hadn’t drilled a single seed of wheat on either farm.
This was an unprecedented situation for Dave, causing him a few sleepless nights to say the least. Never, in his 20 years of farming, had he been unable to even start drilling wheat.
The rain had fallen relentlessly and in such large quantities, making the ground conditions totally unsuitable. Having got the rape in the ground straight after harvest, we had begun preparation for wheat. No sooner had the cultivations been completed than the weather turned wet. Not having a second rubber track made all the difference as we couldn’t drill behind the press.
Many of our neighbours were able to at least get first wheats in like this. Dave will be adding the rubber track to his wishlist. I’m adding it to mine as well. In fact, I might ask for one for Christmas. Anything rather than face another season like this one.
It wasn’t as if any opportunities were missed that caused us to get behind. Being a mixed farm, we had other operations over at Reydon post-harvest that maybe those with straight arable farms don’t have. I think that sometimes we forget this. As always, patience was the only answer. The long-range forecast unfortunately didn’t help Dave’s anxiety. As soon as a small window of dry weather appeared (10 days ago), Dave abandoned the concept of patience. Starting tentatively with our big drill, he established that the wheat would go in OK and then decided he wanted everything in the ground by the end of the week, which was when the next rain was forecast. Two days later, a neighbouring farmer sent his kit along to help and by the third day we had our old combination drill going as well. By five o’clock on Friday afternoon both farms were finished and we all breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Since then we haven’t had any large amounts of rain, but at least everything is in the ground and has a chance to grow while there is still some warmth left in the soil. Most farms in our part of the country have finished drilling at last and will feel pleased to put this year behind them, hoping that this was a “once in a life time” season.
Several of our neighbours expressed some surprise at the speed at which we completed the task this year – five days from start to finish. On this occasion, I couldn’t have been happier that Dave lost his patience with the weather.
The day before we started, it was Charlie’s 5th birthday. He decided he wanted to have a big treasure hunt for his party. I couldn’t persuade him that the local play farm was a good idea and he has a strange aversion to entertainers. Secretly, I was pleased that he wanted to have the party at home and was already planning how I would set up the treasure hunt. This was my kind of party.
The day dawned beautifully bright with not a rain cloud in sight. I had drawn the clues, carefully laminated them and tied them up in the correct order around the garden and farm the day before. It was going to be a good walk leading to a treasure map and eventually to a buried treasure chest in the woods. What more could any five-year-old ask for?
The morning of the party, Evie and a friend went around to each clue placing chocolate gold coins, sweets and plastic gold treasure to be found by the eager treasure hunters.
Each child was given their own bag in which to put their treasure, wellies were put on and the rules were explained. Off we went. They were all really good, didn’t run too fast and everyone seemed to find some treasure along the way (one little girl left her own trail as her bag had developed a hole).
Once in the wood things got a little more complicated as there were plenty of things to fall over, like brambles and logs, and several stinging nettles to contend with. X marked the spot, as every child knows, and the excitement was just too much. The treasure digging turned into a frenzied scrummage. I had to rescue the chest before it was torn to shreds.
Back home, the loot was handed out fairly and everyone was happy. Time for lunch. OK so I cheated a bit with the food by buying a cake (I did make a second one to have with family in the afternoon) and asking a friend to make beautiful cup cakes; and I was still making the sandwiches when the first guests arrived and had to quickly ask a friend to take over. It’s tricky being chief entertainer and food organiser for 20 excited kids. Dave did a valiant job with the teas and coffees. I think Charlie and his friends had a good time, I certainly did.
Dave and I went to an amazing party ourselves that evening, a good friend’s family celebration. Although on a completely different scale, the main ingredients of the party were the same – family, friends and laughter.
Both celebrations were a perfect reminder of what is important in life and a timely antidote to our bare fields.