You see these programs on television that show people starting a new life and relocating - well that's exactly what we did, and what a roller-
coaster ride we've had for the last 18 months. We couldn't have done it without the support of our friends and family - many thanks to all of our supporters out there!How did it start? Well 30th
September 2004 we signed the papers for Mopley Farm and prepared to become Livery Owners. Telling ourselves we were prepared and knew what we were taking on, we shook off the worries that our solicitor had -
thanks Mike for the help, and loaded the lorry. With dogs and horses we set off grinning from ear to ear for what would turn out to be a challenging year!
Our first week should have given us some
inkling into what we had taken on! We were woken up by neighbours (thanks Sarah) saying the horses had escaped .... again! Phantom, an aptly named New Forest pony, had a special talent for
testing the fencing, which was held together at that time by bailing twine, and upon finding a weak point, would squeal in delight, alerting the other members of the herd to his find, and then pushing through to sample
the delights of the local neighbourhood.
A quick change of plans into what to do first on the farm resulted in my becoming a "fencing widow" as poor Steve had to spend morning, noon and night, pulling up fencing and
replacing with it with post and rail. He quickly progressed from a dozen posts a day to half a field a day - with the help of a few tools and people - again thanks Andy and Craig.
Our next challenge was
the house, striped bare (and I mean totally cement and brick walls bear!) we attempted to get some heat installed. The first engineer to have a look at the "antique" wood burner, did the obligatory sucking
of teeth and then announced the death knoll - "It's only the second worst one I've seen in my life (he was heading towards 60!) - I wouldn't light that if I were you love, if you're lucky it'll only take half the house
out in the explosion!" Well apparently, the chimney and burner hadn't been swept for a while and the resulting soot and resin had left it's mark - a tinder box dry resin just waiting to explode into
flame. The prospect of going through a winter without heating wasn't pleasant but we kidded ourselves that we were tough - and after all our grandparents had done it!
By November
we decided it was too cold and spoke kindly to our bank manager (thanks Annie) and ordered ourselves a wood burner. How to get the old one out which was the size of a small transit van? Easy,
attach ropes to woodburner and and tractor and pull - two burly men later we had a hole the size of a transit van and could see the stars at night from inside the kitchen (and not through the windows!) The
least said about the cold weeks that followed until the new burner arrived in December the better!
About this time my grandfather decided to pay us a visit - sending us into panic - I mean how could we ask an old man
to deal with temperatures in the negative figures. One quick visit to the DIY shop and Steve yet again set about trying to make the house comfy for the 14th December when Grandad was due. At this
point we need to thank to Mark for fitting the kitchen in super quick time. We now had carpets, heat, hot water and all holes to the outside world plugged - luxury!
Feeling rather proud of ourselves, we
managed to get through to the spring without incident. At this point the extension flat roof decided to give up the ghost and let water in from everywhere. Again Steve valiantly climbed up onto
the roof to survey the damage - it was about this point that I noticed he had also picked up the habit of sucking his teeth as well - funny that! Well, you guessed it a full replacement of the roof was in
order. Bang went my ideas and plans about a lit sandschool!
We managed to have a fairly uneventful summer and autumn, patting ourselves on our backs we prepared for winter knowing that we were fully
prepared this time. Ok spoke too soon! The day started something like my waking up to hear lots of noise - in fact it was a very loud tractor noise for what seemed like ages, then silence - total
and utter silence. Curiosity getting the better of me I ventured out - to be met with the scene of our tractor embedded into the side of an oak tree - "I had an argument with gravity - it won!" said
Steve.
My gallant partner had been trying to tow the muck trailer along the side of a small hillock and had lost the backend somewhat! After much sucking of teeth (again) we unhitched the trailer and
watched it slide gracefully down the hill to rest against the fence - well actually on top of the fence. One Landrover Discovery later we managed to tow the tractor out of the tree. Damage to the
old Zetor - nil, damage to the tree - nil, damage to Steve's pride - well he's a man so less said the better!
The next step involved hitching the tractor and the Landrover to the trailer back axle (the tow hitch was
embedded about 6 inches under ground) and pulled in tandem. After much mud spinning and squelching we finally managed to retrieve the trailer from the clutches of the mud and tow it back up the
hill. Jumping out of the cabs we gave one another a well deserved hug and looked at the now considerable crowd of livery owners, who weren't actually looking in our direction - in fact they were focused on
where we had just pulled the trailer from. Slowly turning around we were met by the sight of a rather large water geyser - the trailer hitch, which had remained underground whilst we had dragged it free, had
caught the water pipe that fed the fields and was now giving a rather good impression of a fireman's hose that someone had let go off. A rather impressive rugby tackle later (you should take it up as a sport
Andy) we had the hose under control and the water turned off.
It was about this time we noticed a rather large cloud of smoke coming from the direction of the farmhouse.... the boiler had caught fire and was
working its way through the chimney and of course we had no water to put it out with! Could we get a replacement boiler in before this Christmas - apparently only just - two days before in fact!
Just as the new boiler went in the old water tanks burst - it never rains - it always pours! Well it ended up that from November last year until February this year we practised boiling water pans for
baths and managed an impressive 30 minute from start to finish. You will be pleased to know we now have a new boiler, water tanks etc and are enjoying the luxury of baths and running hot water
So as
I sit in what is now the kitchen, with the wood burner on, looking out of the window at the fishing lake and reflecting on the past 18 months, I find myself wondering whether we will have a warm comfortable winter next
year or .....
Would we do it again? Absolutely! Would you do it - well if you're at that point in your life where you are considering a life change - make sure you are committed to it first - 400%
then just do it :o)
Come visit us and see for yourself why we persisted, Steve and Judi
