The Beast from the East

It is all my fault!!

Earlier in the week I was going around the farm telling everyone Spring was here, there was warmth in the sun and I could hear the grass growing & there was nearly a bounce in my step!  FML the forecasters got it right they named it The Beast from the East and said it was coming and to give then their due they were right.  There are a few pockets of the British Isles that have been untouched by the snow, they are the fortunate ones.

My heart goes out to all the Farmers who had to let their milk away as the tanker could not reach them, the Farmers who had to dig there sheep out or worse collect their bodies, the Farmers who on top of a difficult long long day had to clear tracks & roads just to get on let alone helping friends, neighbours and perfect strangers, Farmers who’s water froze and were bucketing it to their stock, or were lucky enough to have a hose that would run.

We had enough to make our lives even harder, the sheep are not happy and we are keeping them well fed and checked.  The Milk business has been challenging the last few days.  Our drivers have done an amazing job to get to 99.9% of our customers but when your customer base consist of such rural locations sometimes it is just not possible.  Any of our customers that we can not reach you have to presume they cant get out either so a quick phone call to make sure they are okay and if they need anything extra in the next delivery.

Around us there are many outlets for us to sell our milk too but due to being on procurement contracts, price or just not bothered about having Udderly Moolicious milk we do not stock them, but hang on they have run out of milk as the infrastructure of Britain nearly stops and all of a sudden our phone is ringing of the hook.  All in all our sales have been good but soon enough they will forget and slip back into there ways!

How easily they forget is quite appropriate for the current conditions, i found this we very true poem on my timeline by Jan Millward Poetry i thought was very true:

So many hate the farmers
they don’t like tractors on the roads
especially those with trailers
and a slow and heavy load.

They moan about the cattle
they complain they hear them moo
and phone up to say the bale stack
is blocking up their view.

But when the roads are icy
and then it starts to snow
and they’re stuck on hills and ditches
and can’t get their car to go

The first one that they phone up
is the guy down on the farm
they know he’s got a tractor
and it can’t do any harm

and suddenly he’s a hero
with a tractor and a rope
the first one that they call out
when they cannot cope.

And he always takes the call out
he doesn’t want your money
he’ll do his best to help you
I think it’s rather funny

Because they will soon forget him
when the snow has gone away
and they’re stuck behind his trailer
loaded up with hay.
Jan Millward©

A x