Back Farming

Back in London

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:47:31 +0200

Ok so I was supposed to do this ages ago, my final blog entry. I was thinking about why I have not had time to write this entry, was it the pace of London life? I don't think it is exactly that I think though being back in London means I have a lot more to do there is a greater opportunity here and also I have more daily distractions here.

I wanted to give myself sometime to reflect on the differences between my time at home and in London, although I had not intended that it was this long. With such an awful summer it was impossible to see if my influence made any impact on the farm revenue, which is quite frustrating. Oh and as a minor point we were no. 13 in the Guardian as there were no rankings.

One of the most noticeable things is in space and time; I suppose this is the geographer coming out of me now. London feels very cramped in comparison to Somerset, people, buildings, cars, even planes reminding you that even in the sky, space is restricted. Farm life tends to blend into everything the boundaries are very blurred you never really stop working because work is just outside the window; if it starts to rain you remember you need to move something inside or have a spare 5 minutes in the evening to finish off something you had started in the day. I remember when I was younger after coming home late at night going out to swap the irrigation over only a couple of taps, but it was the first thought. If you visit a farm don't be surprised if you get roped into something and don't wear clothes that you will be upset if something happens to them because it will, the amount of times I have been caught out with the could you just give us a hand for five minutes with this is too many for me to recall. It might be one of the reasons now why I prefer to work a bit later in the office and not take my laptop home.

Time wise it is not like things are not urgent on a farm they often are if a crop is ruining because it is not being harvested or a crop has to be planted or irrigated you can't just ignore it. The atmosphere in London is just a bit more pumped up I think with people competing, whereas on a farm it is much more about having a team target, your invariably working to an external demand. There is also always something going on in London, an event, an evening in the pub, playing squash or rugby. Back in Somerset there would be fewer options which presents you with more time, I would also spend a lot more time on my own doing some times repetitive or simple tasks, so you have more time to think. I personally like having a lot to do but it can be a bit wearing at times.

The noisy quiet theme is definitely one I have always been aware of and there were a couple of nights in Somerset when the silence was pretty deafening when I was trying to get to sleep.

I think grime versus mud is also a good one, with the townies and country folk being pretty put off by the stuff they are less likely to see. Hopefully I will stay adjusted to both.

I have now settled back into London, just about, I would like to have the best of both worlds really so I am trying to spend more time enjoying the countryside these days.

I will leave you with two views one from my London flat, the other from my bedroom on the farm...

Back Farming

Back in London

Guardian Angel

The rainiest rainy day job

The wild west

Goodbye to the cheap tarts

It is still raining...

Irritation in the rain

Back to School

Creating a Buzz

Hot off the Press Part II

Wembley

Covers On

Hot off the press

Change of Menu

Just Landed

Final London Days