16
Jun
Hey there!
Due to popular demand the Blog is back!!
Apologise for the silence, after lambing I had a 6 week sabbatical from social media to gather my thoughts. Only took a day but then I thought I would have a few reading weeks to catch up on my classic tractor and farmers weekly and make the most of the time out 😉
I realised last week that I had switched off from the outside world and was worried I had lost my writing Mo Jo, so I turned to Tinky for inspiration!! I asked her for 5 things we need to work on to improve Ballakelly Farm!
Hmmmm Ballakelly Farm is home dad we don’t really need to change much, you just need to think what you want to change to make you smile more! Wow – so I decided to use Father’s day as my inspiration!
Father’s Day, a time to thank our fathers & grandfathers for the things they have taught us and the knowledge they have passed on.’
This morning on the way to Ballasteen, we walked the long way via the cemetery to put some flowers on my dad (Billy) and Rachels dad (Richard) graves. It goes without saying that we miss them terribly however their legacy still lives on at Ballakelly and they are thought of and reminisced about all the time.
Back to Tinky – I asked her – Am I good Dad? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (much longer this time) your pretty cool, strong, use too many swears, fart a lot and spend too much time working not playing but yep I love you!!
Farther – Definition good father
A good father is a person who leads by example, shows a balance side of being comforting and nurturing, yet masculine. He is honest, open and willing to defend his family. He balances his needs and his families, to insure family is as reasonably happy and thriving as can be.
The most amazing thing that he taught me was how to laugh, don’t panic, ‘never missed a harvest yet!’!
This week I have been cutting silage, the weather has been in our favour this year with a mixture of rain and sunshine, we have managed to harvest a good first cut and things are looking good for another cut in the coming weeks. Myself & H-Boss have been out wrapping bales whilst a team of other helpers are cutting and carting, without them it would make life a lot more stressful and I can’t thank them enough!
It’s always good to spend time with H-Boss & Tink, not only does it keep me in my youth (I’m heading for the wrong side of 40!) but it takes me back to when I would spend the summer with my dad on the tractors and we would have yarn, share a flask of tea and work into the sunset. Look at Rach’s 360’s on our Facebook Page
This does make me think about my own relationship with my kids, the father son relationship is usually key in a farming family, when I first discovered H boss was autistic I was sad to think we may never get to share things like I did with my dad. But H has taught me to look for the silver lining in every situation. H lives in the NOW which once you let go and join him is great fun!!
Tinky – well there is a blog topic in itself, special treat next week I have recorded her doing her public speaking about the Farm, once Callum has worked his magic we will let you listen!
Whether you’re a dad, step-dad or grandad. We should always teach our kids the rights and wrongs in life and let them make their own mistakes. I recently googled: What Makes A Good Dad and the answers are as follows:
- Love your children’s mother – not going into this topic but I love Rach!
- Love them unconditionally – this is natural
- Grow up – this I am still working on!
- Be there – I am there for emergencies but need to learn to be there just because.
- Provide – usually why I’m not there, I am on the farm!
- Discipline – Rach is good at this one, I like being good cop 😊
- Value education – Rachel does this one too I never liked school!
- Raise them to leave – awesome at this one, they can look after themselves, drive cars already 😊feral I have heard it referred as, but really just farm kid
- Teach them to take responsibility – this is Ma Ma Ranson that helps here, good old teacher telling works a treat!
- Teach them to love this life – I think this is what my kids teach me
The last one I found the most important, a happy home has happy kids, as Tinky said – Ballakelly is home dad. We spend too much time looking for happiness, when sometimes it is right in front of us. I’m lucky to have Rachel, Tinky and H-Boss. Parenting is a steep learning curve, and we all make mistakes and learn from them. Sometimes I wonder whether I’ve taught Tinky too much, she has definitely inherited my whit and quirky comebacks! H-Boss is very cheeky, reminds me of my dad, he loves to makes you smile. I had my cards read (another blog topic) but he said that when we hear H laughing away as if to himself it is with his Grandad (made me well up)
Alice has summoned me to help with her maths homework, there really is no rest for the wicked. No 7 above, better do my bit today!
Have a good weekend and enjoy the sunshine!
Farmer Al
Lovely words Farmer Al!