Devonshire October November 16

The diary of lady farmer, Janet East
Sheep on the move
Mary... Oh my goodness!
I love talking. In fact it is
sometimes very hard to shut
me up. Looking back through
some of my early school reports
there are, throughout the years,
many comments such as “would
do so much better if she could
stop talking and listen”. How
little they knew. Cast your eyes
around any coffee shop, any
street, any shop, in fact any
private dining room or lounge
and conversation is a thing of
the past – everyone has their
neck bent at a 45 degree angle,
hands at 90 degrees from their
waist up, and thumbs working
ten to the dozen as technology
has taken over their life. So
eat your words my learned
teachers…… I now get paid to
talk!
I talk to wonderful groups
all over Devon and into
neighbouring Counties, such as
W.I’s, University of the 3rd Age
(U3A), Probus Clubs and many
more, my topic being the Trials
and Tribulations of running a
small rural farm and Bed and
Breakfast – an amusing tale
even though I say it myself.
But there is a serious message
to my talk – the critical
need to ensure the survival
of small farms such as ours
(only 45 acres), as they are so
important to local communities,
to agriculture itself, and to
education. When we first
moved to Yellingham Farm
there were 4 or 5 small farms
like us – not any more. They
are all slowly disappearing.
I was preparing to get myself
ready for a talk to a wonderful
group of elderly people when
one of my rather “special”
female B and B guests was
most intrigued to hear more
about my talking exploits.
Mary was a vibrant large, well
Lilly basking in the evening sun
proportioned lady, in her late
20’s, some 6ft tall, who was
dressed to the nines, made
up with lipstick brighter than
the colour of my blood, eye
lashes so long and black they
could have brushed my dog,
and foundation that would
have supported a new house!
That’s without a fake tan that
my Samoan friend would be
proud of. I thought I could talk
but she was good competition
for me chatting away in her
wonderful northern accent. But
there was something very kind
about Mary. I couldn’t put my
finger on it, but it was there
under the surface. I liked her - a
lot. Any rate, I was packing
up all my beautiful woollen
goods produced from my flock
of Jacob sheep which I take to
show my audience as part of
my talk when Mary burst in. I
really couldn’t believe that this
out and out city girl had any
interest at all about me talking
to a group of elderly women,
but seriously, she couldn’t
stop asking me questions. She
honestly didn’t believe such
events took place. Her life, as
she explained was shopping,
television, more shopping, Ibiza,
gin and clubbing – she wasn’t at
all ashamed about that – it was
her way of life and she loved it.
What happened next was a
complete surprise.
“Janet, when is your talk?”
“Tomorrow morning”
“Can I come with you?”
I truly couldn’t believe what I
was hearing and to be honest
I am not sure it would be her
scene, in fact I was slightly
concerned about the reaction
of my audience to this rather
vivacious, lady. To hell with it.
“Mary I would be delighted if
you came along, I am sure you
will love the morning”.
Oh my goodness, what had I
just signed up to? I rang the
88
Countryside, History, Walks, the Arts, Events & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk