The best of 2018

This is my last blog of 2018! What a year, we have had loads of highs, a few big lows but best of all we have created memories.

To help me write this blog I took a look back over the social media for the year. Below are some of my favourite moments of 2018.

January

11^th I married Rach. I am not going to get all soppy as it is not my style, but she is my sole mate and without her Ballakelly would not be the farm it is today! This was most definitely one of the happiest days of my life, Love you Rach.

14^th– H Boss was 5 we had a low-key family party with his favourite grub – Chocolate Cake. This little chubby man has taught me that things can’t wait until later, do them NOW!

February

7^th– The smallest member of the family with the biggest personality – Tinky was 7!

We also took the Meat heroes out for a night bowling.

March

Lambing – This is mine and Tinky’s time of year, ever since she could walk, she has helped me lambing. We really enjoyed the hug a lamb weekends where we shared the meg lambs with families.

April

This month was sad at Ballakelly as Rachel lost her father, but this man taught us so much about life. The most important thing being to enjoy life now as you never know what is around the corner. Richard also showed us that family is the most important thing you have so enjoy every minute. The same day we lost Richard, Star the foal was born so we believe a part of him is in her, Tinky has announce that she will never be sold!

The farm work carried on, thanks lads for getting the fields sorted.

May

This was a very busy month, all aspects of Ballakelly were full steam ahead. We had 3 wedding functions. Elsa had her puppies. The tractors were busy with the late spring. Then we moved up the Grandstand ready for TT

June

TT Week took over June! All the meat heroes worked their socks off at the Grandstand.

Rach and I took the rest of June to recover! So we took the family to Legoland!

July

Very Hot – Combining went as well as it could considering the weather conditions.

The Southern Show was a blow out but we still had fun.

31^st– My Birthday

August

6^th– Rach’s Birthday, so the Meat Heroes had a party night at Kurries and Steaks

Royal Manx – Very successful show on lots of levels, came home with lots of silver wear.

 4 more wedding functions.

September

This month was packed. All the tractors were busy. Thanks again boys for holding the fort at home. H Boss loves the tractor work, especially if it is with Will in the Fendt!

 The Meat Heroes had functions every weekend.

15^th& 16^thIOM Food and Drink Festival – As usual great weekend.

October

We thought this month would calm down but the corporates wanted us to cater for staff parties!

I managed to fence some fields.

Then we escaped from the rock for some family time and went to Holland for Halloween.

November

This month was busy on the farm getting the cattle in for the winter. The Meat Heroes were busy preparing for Christmas.

I said good bye to my best friend, but then Tinky decided I needed a new best friend so we welcomed a new 4 legged friend into our lives.

We also welcomed Tom to the team – Butcher – we are excited to work together for 2019 to see how we can push Ballakelly to the next level.

December

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas! We had a great Christmas Party!

25^th– Christmas Day – FAMILY TIME – This year we had some extra Dutchies round the family table, so we showed them how we did Christmas in the Isle of Man, they loved their tour of the farm.