Life on a family farm is always full of its ups and downs, but when the grandchildren decide it is time to learn the ropes, the days seem even fuller than ever.
Best-selling author and Texel breeder Sue Andrews’ third memoir of life on her Cotswold farm will be a familiar story for many.
She commented: “I have wanted all three books to illustrate family farming life and the grandchildren now add a new dimension, which is wonderful.”
“I think any form of interest in outdoor life and animals is an important escape from iPads and computer games.”
“They all have their place, but looking back at the fun I had myself as a child, it would be sad if my grandchildren did not have the same chance to enjoy outdoor activities.”
Their adventures include a new young sheepdog puppy, night-time lambing with husband Aubrey, and son Mark turning their lambing sheds and stables into a pig nursery on a regular basis.
“I am delighted that Mark, having built his own computer company, is now enjoying running his own farm with his wife, Kate.”
Online marts
Sue’s latest book Sheep For All Seasons, began its life as a diary, sometimes on Sue’s phone, sometimes in the lambing book late at night in the sheep shed, occasionally in a real diary – just basic notes that would go on to jog Sue’s memory of the situation.
“I felt there was a story to tell about farming during the Covid pandemic, showing how it impacted our lives in very unusual ways.”
“This included the sudden transition of livestock sales into online auctions – and the stress of finding the website had frozen in the final stages of a sale.”
“We also found that the general public suddenly realised they could buy excellent food direct from farms. Lockdown was a challenging time for all of us, but farming, of course, never stops.”
Sheep farming
Sue and Aubrey are perhaps best known as breeders of pedigree white Texels, but in this book, Sue admits that her true passion is Blue Texels.
“I love the Blues. They have always been mine, as Aub always said when we first bought some, it was my flock. They are so friendly and inquisitive. And now we have added Badgerface Texels to the flock. I know they are going to be just as special.”
Her 260-page Sheep For All Seasons is the third memoir from Sue Andrews, continuing the story begun in Amazon bestsellers If Clouds Were Sheep and Jumping Over Clouds.
All three books are available now in paperback and ebook and are published by Crumps Barn Studio.
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