A journalist who swapped a desk job in England for a cow-milking career in Northern Ireland has released a book about her adventures.
Holly Crawford (36) moved from her homeland two years ago after marrying Paul Crawford, a vet and sheep farmer from Northern Ireland.
Mrs Crawford’s new book, Stuck In The Middle With Ewe: Or How I found my flock and lost my heart in Northern Ireland, details how she went from city journalist to cow milker, freelance writer and foster mum to many lambs.
Journalist
“In my former role as a newspaper and magazine reporter, I was constantly chasing stories and meeting deadlines; now, I chase sheep and meet cows!” Mrs Crawford says.
Mrs Crawford first met her now-husband, Paul, when she interviewed him in her capacity as a journalist at a veterinary conference, after he won an award for services to the veterinary sphere.
“We hit it off straight away, and it was all very romantic. Paul proposed in 2019 in the conference room in which we first met,” Mrs Crawford recalls.
“I said ‘yes’ straight away, and we planned our wedding for May 2020. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as it happens!”
Despite Covid-19 causing chaos, the couple eventually tied the knot and Mrs Crawford moved in with her husband and his 200 sheep in Northern Ireland.
“Ours is a traditional love story, really, just with added cows and sheep,” she explains.
“I quickly realised that being able to take a shorthand note or report on a news story was not too helpful when standing in the middle of a field surrounded by ewes. So, I learned to deliver lambs and went to milk cows, and I love it.”
Crawford began penning her adventures for her family and friends in England and, before she knew it, had the makings of a book.
“I wrote everything down, from learning how to milk cows to delivering my first lamb, which was an amazing but very surreal experience.
“I hope my story makes people smile and reminds them that it is never too late to make a fresh start, find true love or learn to lamb!”
Order book
Stuck In The Middle With Ewe: Or How I found my flock and lost my heart in Northern Ireland (The Conrad Press – £9.99) is available from a growing number of high street bookshops and online.
Signed copies are available. Email – [email protected] – to get yours.
