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Welcome to Nan’s Farm

A simple journal of life – A work in progress 

“The past is my lesson. The present is my gift, The future is my motivation.”

This site features an eclectic range of articles,  from life on a small farm in Yorkshire to glimpses of the medieval.

Medieval Mix

An observation of life, a page or two of fiction and occasional re-blogs from respected WordPress colleagues also feature here.

Having worked in Education for many years, I’m now retired from a position that mostly comprised of managing and teaching computing in an English primary school.

Some years ago, along with my late husband, I escaped suburbia and moved to the country to a small-holding on the edge of a Yorkshire village and where I still live.

IMG_0714First Snow November 12th 2016

Dash- Not me

Lucky Cow

cows from over the lane

© SueW-nansfarm.net 2016

98 thoughts on “Home”

  1. janebasilblog

    I’ve always wanted to visit Yorkshire, but have never made it that far. Your lovely images have rekindled that desire, although I come from Devon, so if I do go, I might need an interpreter( ‘cos down yer, us spakes differnt than wot you does up Norf). 🙂

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply
  2. Dead Donovan

    Handsome cattle — too lovely to eat. It appears those animals are free roaming and well treated. It’s quite different in many parts of America… although the bovine who resides in the White House is spoiled to the core (literally!).

    I enjoyed your photos!

    (PR)

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. Trev Jones

      HI Sue, we have a field of cows by us, British Blues I think they are. When my wife and I go for our walk, the cows always come over to say hello. Such friendly, intelligent animals.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Sue W-Nan's Farm

        Hello Trevor, having seen you on Gerry’s blog for a long while now, it’s so nice to finally meet you.

        They are suchfriendly curious animals.
        I love the way they look after each other’s calves. At the moment we have a few and when they are sleeping in a little heap, the mothers appear to take turns in looking after them. Thank you so much for your comments and for following, it is appreciated 😊

        Liked by 3 people

    1. Sue W-Nan's Farm

      Sounds like you’ve been watching Wuthering Heights! Though that said, it gets pretty windy here. I live quite high up and there are times that the wind howling around the house sounds like we’ve borrowed the sound effects from that film!

      Like

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      1. colonialist

        No, this is Noel Coward. ‘There are Bad Times Just Around the Corner’, and that includes:

        From Colwyn Bay to Kettering
        They’re sobbing themselves to sleep,
        The shrieks and wails
        In the Yorkshire dales
        Have even depressed the sheep.
        In rather vulgar lettering
        A very disgruntled group
        Have posted bills
        On the Cotswold Hills
        To prove that we’re in the soup.
        While begging Kipling’s pardon
        There’s one thing we know for sure
        If England is a garden
        We ought to have more manure.
        Hurray-hurray-hurray!
        Suffering and dismay.

        I see it was shrieks rather than howls. So, sue me. Oh no, waitabit. That won’t do: you are Sue. Sue; you! (I am developing a headache.)

        Liked by 5 people

  5. vhealing

    Hi Sue and G’day from Perth, Western Australia.
    You are a girl after my own heart, hilarious and down to earth, getting friendly with the cows too.
    You have brought back happy memories of our trip back home to the UK and visiting our nephew living in Skipton, Yorkshire.
    Is that Skipton Castle in your photo’s?
    I am looking forward to stalking, oops, I mean watching your adventures and more ‘walkabouts’ and getting amongst the wild life

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Sue W-Nan's Farm

      Hello,

      Thank you so much for your lovely comments.
      You are correct it is Skipton Castle, at least the centre one is. The first is Ripley Castle near Ripon also in North Yorkshire and the last one is Kirkstall Abbey. Thank you for the visit and I look forward to the stalking!

      Like

      Reply
  6. Maureen Helen

    Hi Sue, I can hardly believe how small the world is! I too am from Perth in Western Australia. I read post by Jennifer Wilson No place for sheep. I liked it and clicked randomly on your avatar because you had liked the post, also. And there was a comment from my friend, Vicky Healing!

    What great photos on your blog. Thank you. I visited Skipton Castle with my husband when we visited Yorkshire when my granddaughter was completing a doctorate in medieval studies at the University of York. We were there for two weeks and had a wonderful time.

    You now have a new follower on your blog.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Sue W-Nan's Farm

      Hello Maureen, How lovely to meet you. Even though I’m not Australian and often don’t know the people she’s talking about, I do enjoy Jennifer Wilson’s blog, she’s so bolshie and hers was the first blog I followed.
      Yes you’re right it is a very small world. I’m delighted you enjoyed your stay in Yorkshire, you probably visted most of the places I talk about. Thank you so much for your very kind comments, they are appreciated, and I look forward to visiting yours. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    1. Sue W-Nan's Farm

      Initially, living in a place like this was my late husband’s dream. I found the house and was delighted it had everything that we both wanted. Now, all these years later I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Thank you for your comments B, they are appreciated. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. ivor20

    “Home” is looking beautiful as always, although maybe still a bit cool. We’ve been experiencing some bad bushfires over the weekend, west of here, near Camperdown, only 2 hours away, and we can smell the smoke in the air tonight. Awful for the farmers down that way. 40,000 hectares(100,000acres) burnt out so far

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. pensitivity101

    Great photos Sue. I remember the first time Maggie came face to face with a cow. It was a sort of stand off then it said Moo and she bolted. We were on a camp site and the farmer had said we could exercise her in his field provided his cows weren’t in it and we kept the gate shut. (other dogs had to be kept on a lead and weren’t allowed this priviledge). Neither cow or Maggie were in said field, the cow being on a blind corner in the lane having a munch.
    I should hasten to add here that she has never gone into a field (with or without livestock) on her own. It was one of the things we trained her on as we heard the farmers here shoot first and ask questions later. She soon got known as that ‘well behaved black and white dog’ and a couple of years later people assocated her with us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. SueW

      Thank you very much. We had a few problems with our young beagle. When he was still small enough he squeezed under the gate and chased the sheep, fortunately a few confused ones ran in a circle; Woody thought they were chasing him and soon took off back home!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. pensitivity101

        That’s funny! We imagine a conversation with Maggie and a sheep (she on the road, the sheep in the field behind an electric fence).
        Sheep: I’m a sheep.
        Maggie: So? I’m a sheep dog and could chase you if I wanted.
        Sheep: No you can’t, I’m safe behind this fence.
        Maggie: Yes I could, but why should I? I have all this space to play in, and you just have your field.
        Sheep: Oh.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. SueW

      So nice to meet you, I look forward to visiting you too. The Spanish countryside conjures a lovely image. Farming chestnuts, I’ve not heard of anyone doing that, how interesting. Thank you so much for visiting and for following. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. debbiejonesalwaysamused

    Goodness Sue, you live in an amazing place, how wonderful to wake up to those views every day! And the cows…I’d never get any work done, they’re such beautiful creatures. I can’t wait until they’re back in the fields here! Such lovely photos of other parts of Yorkshire too. I’ve always heard what an incredible area of the UK it is, but have never managed to travel there..hopefully, one day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Sue W

      Thank you very much Debbie. I’m looking forward to having them back here too. My land is now rented to a local farmer and I’m hoping it will be the sheep and new lambs that will come back first.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      2. Sue W

        I haven’t seen any yet! The farmer who rents my land usually starts lambing in early April, so not too long to wait. Happy viewing to you too!

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Woolly Muses

    We visited York in 2016 to catch up with friends who picked me up while hitch hiking on a Motorway in 1976. They had been Down Under in 1998.

    Loved York and would love to revisit again. Still I can always dream. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. SueW

      Yes, So much to explore Laura, I do hope you like it here. Can you understand some of the natives? That accent can be very thick in some areas. which area did you settle in? So glad you found both sites. Thank you! 🙂

      Like

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      1. Laura Bloomsbury

        Getting used to the language and the turns of phrase – finding my way up the snickets! Only just slipped into S. Yorks – on the Nottinghamshire border side – Between Rotherham and Doncaster. I believe you are in the Dales?
        p.s. Love the black and white cows but what apart from the Holstein Friesian are the other two?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. SueW

        They are Jersey.
        I’m just outside of a village near Otley and about a mile from Wharfedale and the North Yorkshire border so just out of the Dales.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. SueW

        I hadn’t removed it from the top menu (no idea why I didn’t) but I could have sworn blind I’d hidden the gallery along with one other! You are the first person to use it in about eighteen months! Thank you Laura.

        Like

      7. SueW

        Oh, Laura, not at all. I thought people would think it was boring, but actually you’ve made me think differently, perhaps I might take another look and do more with it, and I thank you for that 🙂

        Like

  26. neilsonanita

    Hi, I’m glad I came across you via Debbie Jones’ blog. The pictures look gorgeous. What a lovely part of the world to live in. I live in wet, windy west of Scotland, which is so green and peaceful and I thank God each day for living in such a healing environment. Take care, and I look forward to following your exploits. Anita.😊

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. SueW

      Hello Anita, how lovely to meet you and thank you for your kind comments. The benefit of rain (Yorkshire also renowned for a wet climate) is as you say our green and peaceful land. Thank you for your interest and for following. I look forward to visiting you too 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  28. anotherday2paradise

    Many years ago, my sister lived in Ilkley on the moor, with Candy her golden Labrador. I remember visiting her and going to a really amazing fish’n chip shop in the area. Last year, our granddaughter graduated from York St John university . We visited in July. It’s a lovely city. Love your cattle photos. 😍

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. SueW

      What a small world! I live approximately twenty minutes from Ilkley Moor. I’m wondering if the fish and chip shop you refer to was also a large restaurant, perhaps the famous Harry Ramsdens?

      One of my daughters also graduated from St John’s, and oddly enough my son and I are going over to York this very morning! It’s about fifty minutes away from my home and we never tire of visiting.

      I’ve bumped into you often on blogs of mutual ‘friends’ Are you also from the U.K.?
      Thank you for taking the time to say Hello and for following. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. anotherday2paradise

        Yes, it was Harry Ramsdens≥ Thanks for reminding me of the name. I’m from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970 and for the past eight years we’ve been living in Florida USA.

        Liked by 1 person

  29. Dave Pearce

    Hello Sue
    Really enjoy your blog, so thoughtfully written and always interesting. I live in Lincolnshire – about 25 mins from the Humber Bridge, so we often go to God’s own county. Keep up the good work!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. SueW

      Nice to meet you Dave.
      As bloggers go we’re practically neighbours! Thank you very much for your kind comments, they are appreciated.

      Like

      Reply
  33. blindzanygirl

    Hello Sue. I have only just found this and read all about you. Wow! Yorkshire! I lived in Yorkshire as a child – Ripon, Knaresborough, Harrogate and a little village called Hutton Conyers . Wonderful places. Apart from that, I am from Lincolnshire and live there now. Many happy dayse spent on my grandparents’ farm, with the cows! And chickens! And numerous other creatures. I adore cows! It is SO nice to read about you. I am Lorraine.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. SueW

      Lorraine, how lovely to meet you and especially after seeing your username crop up here and there,
      I know these areas well. My children went to school in Harrogate and I am just twenty minutes away from the town. Thank you for reading about me, it’s appreciated. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  34. Vanessa Valeros Calapano

    I am on the other side of the world, your place is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
    By the way, this is my first time to visit your blog. I am a new blogger and I hope you can support me. Just recently, I made a challenge to myself to visit at least 10 blogs in a day and during my visit, I will leave comments. At the same time, I will have you link posted on my blog. Hope you can visit and check it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  36. SueW

    Have you just started a a new blog site?

    I am delighted the ? Works for you. I can’t have done it correctly when I tried.

    I didn’t try it on any of my existing posts because as Classic Editor was already an option for me there seemed nothing to gain.

    I only tried it on brand new blog sites

    and on the first blank post.

    I can’t remember which theme I used, I just went for a free one.

    I wonder what would happen if you replaced the question mark with a forward slash /

    Like

    Reply

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