Planning - pre application phase 1

Well I had a very positive meeting with the Planning Officer from East Herts Council on Monday. I was really pleased , as well as quite surprised, at how it went. We've still got a long way to go, but so far so good. There are a couple of issues we need to address and we also need to consult the highways agency, the environmental agency and also rural England.
The field is really coming into its own in this gorgeous weather, the kids and the dog have spent so much time just running around out there. I'm going to leave a couple of acres just by the bridge for them to run around in. I'm still worrying about the grass, the agronomist recommended headland spray which we are putting on it but it now also looks patchy and straggly. Not sure whether to have it cut or wait for the sheep to graze it . . .

Happiness

"Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable.  Happiness is not about making it to the peak of the mountain; happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak". Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD

"Expressing Gratitude.  In research done by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullogh, those who kept a daily gratitude journal - writing down at least five things for which they were grateful - enjoyed higher levels of emotional and physical well-being.

Each night before going to sleep, write down at least five things that made or make you happy - things for which you are grateful.  these can be little or big, from a meal you enjoyed to a project at work.  If you do this exercise regularly you will naturally repeat yourself, which is fine.  The key is to keep the emotions fresh, imagine the experience and what it means to you as you write it down.  Doing this can help you to appreciate the positives in your life rather than take it for granted."Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD

I'm afraid I had a lie in for mothers day this morning and had chance to read some self help happiness book, which I loved and felt compelled to share on here.  For me this links to the whole self sufficiency lifestyle we are building and I may well find self help motivation techniques helpful when struggling to cover costs and getting v dirty and tired on the field!

xx

Spring

The chicks are doing well, they are 3 weeks old now and have got their feathers through.  They are going outside a bit and spending more time scratching and playing . . . .I have bought a rabbit run from amazon, which we covered in chicken wire, to make their home a bit bigger as they had got too big to just live in Jack's dog cage. They will stay in here for another couple of weeks and then move outside when they are fully feathered.

My chitting potatoes and onions seem to be doing OK, I must get them in the ground on the field asap./  I will really try to get round to this today or tomorrow.  I dug a small area on the field for them on Wednesday this week, completely back breaking, I had no idea it was quite so much hard work :-) I must invest in some proper tools, otherwise my market garden will do my back in! I have also planted sweetcorn and chili seeds in the "propagators".  As I haven't got a greenhouse yet, they are also in the garage, along with the chicks.  Who would have thought a double garage would be so useful! I don't really know what I am doing with the veg, so have just tried to follow the instructions on the packets.

I have a meeting with the council on Monday regarding our planning application, so wish me luck.  I am a bit nervous about it, but also pleased that they want to see me.  I am hoping it means that it isn't a straight no and that I can head off at the pass any concerns they have.

I have completed a marketing assignment and also ordered 4 (or maybe 6) ewe lambs, I will post more about them separately.

Over and out

xx