Decisions decisions....

Pilgrimmick

Member
Location
Argyll
@davieh3350 Use your fabrication skills and make these.
normal_701F3730-4D17-4410-8326-E007E318B689.jpeg

There is a market for them, look at Defender2.net. I would have a set!
27563651788_100d7c148d.jpg
 
@davieh3350 Use your fabrication skills and make these.
normal_701F3730-4D17-4410-8326-E007E318B689.jpeg

There is a market for them, look at Defender2.net. I would have a set!
27563651788_100d7c148d.jpg
I've dabbled in landys a little...
image.jpeg
Something you can knock out without needing to run about the country.

image.jpeg
A replica of that is going to be a project. I started a thread in workshop projects a couple of weeks ago.
 
A thread similar to holwellcourtfarms I'm needing to make a choice about staying here and muddling along farming and welding, or packing up and going and doing something somewhere else.

I am a bit late in coming into this thread, but felt I had to post purely on the basis that I decided soon after joining the forum that you were the sort of bloke I would get along with.

Whilst I do not know the actual land you farm, you have provided sufficient information in past posts that I do know your immediate locality. I drove down and back up the A9 and on to Edinburgh every couple of weeks for a few years before moving here. I also really enjoyed those photos of Dalnaspiddal you posted. I will try not to influence you one way or the other with what I post, but cannot guarantee that I will be unbiased. I thought of sending this as a PM, but other posters have suggested they are in a similar dilemma and I hope they might benefit from reading it.

There may not be many other TFF members that are as familiar with your area and so they cannot appreciate the splendour. I accept that some will know it even better than me. It has a reasonable climate compared with most other parts of the world. I know you have experience of foreign parts and do not like the heat. How about the prospect of winters like in Canada? Northern continents are all cold a few hundred miles from the sea. You live where you were born and raised; you have lifelong friends and at least some family nearby; a tenancy of land you can never recover if you leave; and a few more things that would just lengthen the post, but you get the gist.

As you know, I have also farmed around the world more than probably any other TFF member. All very well for folks to tell you what you should and should not do about settling in a foreign land when they have never done it themselves, acknowledging that some posters have done so. My wife and I have bought and farmed two places in Northumberland, one in Australia, one in the far north of Scotland, one in Portugal, and the next in some unknown place. It is exciting to land in a foreign country, buy somewhere and then live on it. It is also, as has been pointed out by others, not always as green as you think it might be. There is still the day to day work to be done, bills to pay, taxes to be found, groceries to buy, household chores and maintenance.

If you are intending to take up employment in a foreign country are you certain you have the required certification to take up the work you want to do? Have you previously had full time work as an employee? Did you like it? I know you have various welding certificates – find out if they would be acceptable in whatever province of Canada you would like to try, or for the whole of Canada. Check out other countries too where you might fancy living. Sometimes wages are high, working conditions good, but the cost of living can be high too so that you are no better off financially. On the other hand Portugal and southern Europe in general is lower wages and much lower cost of living. You have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU. That might end in a few years, but if you are contributing to the country they are unlikely to kick you out.

I like pigs, my favourite animal, but since 1979 there has not been a mart anywhere near me where I could sell them. The only mart that I know of here is about 20 miles away. Once a month and cattle only. An abattoir the same distance will take all stock, but it took me 10 weeks and some hassle to get paid the last time I sent stock there. Previous experience was not a lot better. Reluctant to chance it again. Check out the markets before you go committing yourself to anywhere. You could find they are further away than at present.

It was suggested by @Sweepa that to find out whether you really do want to leave your farm that you try Edinburgh. A good suggestion I think, although my personal choice from where you live would be to try and find work in Inverness. It might be more difficult than you think. It is a quicker travel back to Pitlochry, subject to Drumochter being clear, whenever you feel like it. Any reason not to give it a try before giving up your tenancies? Could be a no-risk option for you.

My wife and I have been married a little short of 50 years, so have travelled the world together. I am certain it is easier for two people than one to settle into somewhere new. It does not have to be a wife/husband. Two mates certainly can give support to each other just as well when settling in. I would not be in too much of a rush to find a wife either. I know of one poster who was your age before he married, and I would be surprised if there are not more who were older.

We have one son (an Astrophysicist with the Jodrell Bank team at Manchester University) and there is no way in the world he is going to take over whatever place we leave when we die or possibly retire. That does not stop us looking ahead to pastures new whilst still endeavouring to make progress on the land we hold at the time.
 
I am a bit late in coming into this thread, but felt I had to post purely on the basis that I decided soon after joining the forum that you were the sort of bloke I would get along with.

Whilst I do not know the actual land you farm, you have provided sufficient information in past posts that I do know your immediate locality. I drove down and back up the A9 and on to Edinburgh every couple of weeks for a few years before moving here. I also really enjoyed those photos of Dalnaspiddal you posted. I will try not to influence you one way or the other with what I post, but cannot guarantee that I will be unbiased. I thought of sending this as a PM, but other posters have suggested they are in a similar dilemma and I hope they might benefit from reading it.

There may not be many other TFF members that are as familiar with your area and so they cannot appreciate the splendour. I accept that some will know it even better than me. It has a reasonable climate compared with most other parts of the world. I know you have experience of foreign parts and do not like the heat. How about the prospect of winters like in Canada? Northern continents are all cold a few hundred miles from the sea. You live where you were born and raised; you have lifelong friends and at least some family nearby; a tenancy of land you can never recover if you leave; and a few more things that would just lengthen the post, but you get the gist.

As you know, I have also farmed around the world more than probably any other TFF member. All very well for folks to tell you what you should and should not do about settling in a foreign land when they have never done it themselves, acknowledging that some posters have done so. My wife and I have bought and farmed two places in Northumberland, one in Australia, one in the far north of Scotland, one in Portugal, and the next in some unknown place. It is exciting to land in a foreign country, buy somewhere and then live on it. It is also, as has been pointed out by others, not always as green as you think it might be. There is still the day to day work to be done, bills to pay, taxes to be found, groceries to buy, household chores and maintenance.

If you are intending to take up employment in a foreign country are you certain you have the required certification to take up the work you want to do? Have you previously had full time work as an employee? Did you like it? I know you have various welding certificates – find out if they would be acceptable in whatever province of Canada you would like to try, or for the whole of Canada. Check out other countries too where you might fancy living. Sometimes wages are high, working conditions good, but the cost of living can be high too so that you are no better off financially. On the other hand Portugal and southern Europe in general is lower wages and much lower cost of living. You have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU. That might end in a few years, but if you are contributing to the country they are unlikely to kick you out.

I like pigs, my favourite animal, but since 1979 there has not been a mart anywhere near me where I could sell them. The only mart that I know of here is about 20 miles away. Once a month and cattle only. An abattoir the same distance will take all stock, but it took me 10 weeks and some hassle to get paid the last time I sent stock there. Previous experience was not a lot better. Reluctant to chance it again. Check out the markets before you go committing yourself to anywhere. You could find they are further away than at present.

It was suggested by @Sweepa that to find out whether you really do want to leave your farm that you try Edinburgh. A good suggestion I think, although my personal choice from where you live would be to try and find work in Inverness. It might be more difficult than you think. It is a quicker travel back to Pitlochry, subject to Drumochter being clear, whenever you feel like it. Any reason not to give it a try before giving up your tenancies? Could be a no-risk option for you.

My wife and I have been married a little short of 50 years, so have travelled the world together. I am certain it is easier for two people than one to settle into somewhere new. It does not have to be a wife/husband. Two mates certainly can give support to each other just as well when settling in. I would not be in too much of a rush to find a wife either. I know of one poster who was your age before he married, and I would be surprised if there are not more who were older.

We have one son (an Astrophysicist with the Jodrell Bank team at Manchester University) and there is no way in the world he is going to take over whatever place we leave when we die or possibly retire. That does not stop us looking ahead to pastures new whilst still endeavouring to make progress on the land we hold at the time.
I will need a bit of sleep before I try reply to that! (y)
 
Now then @Old McDonald a bit fresher so I'll have a crack(y)
Better that you joined in late, than never:) I I thought I'd leave this to go quiet for a while whilst I gave things a think over (done a bit of thinking and acting though, it's not been forgotten) there's a few on here that will gain a lot from reading your views, so it is better everyone gets a read.

The country around here is a challenge... Take a look at the Welcome To Highland Perthshire thread in pics and vids section, dalnaspidal was looking fantastic on Saturday in the evening light with the mountains still covered with drift, unfortunately a flat battery stopped me taking some shots for you.
it's not the quality of the land that's making me restless.

I've decided that as soon as I hear that the older couple staying in the farmhouse on one piece I have are leaving, I'm going to give my two friends (the ex first) a chance to take it on, by putting their name to the owner. If I can get it over to someone who my dad likes it'll ease the guilt of giving it up, as he would HATE it if the other tenant on the estate got it, which would more than likely happen if I just walked away.
I think I could get away with sub letting one 30 acre field out if I did go. The main holding, the bit that I'm most attached to I may be able to let the landlord take back and let him run a few of his animals on for a few years they're pretty understanding of my situation and I think I'd get it back.

I sat down last Thursday night and battered out an email to a welding/engineering company in Portage La Prairie, the town nearest to the farm where I was in Manitoba. I gave them a brief run down on what I could do and my situation about giving up what I had here, and asked them whether they would consider a foreign employee for a 3 month trial period during the winter. I also offered to pay their costs of getting a visa. I got a reply saying it had been passed on to the relevant person for consideration. I won't hold my breath for too long though...
I thought this would be the way to go, a trial period in the harshest of the winter. The cold isn't so much of a problem, but it could be the length of time where it is just plain white that could get monotonous.
I'd like to try being an employee, but I'm not going to just go get a job standing doing repetitive welding jobs, I'd push to get up the ladder and get to the stage where I'm nearly my own boss, but without the hassle of running the whole lot.
I've no desire to move somewhere else in the uk to work. Other parts of Canada, some bits of the US, Germany and even Sardinia, but I thought I'd stick to the area I was familiar with out there first.

Will need to come back to this later.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Now then @Old McDonald a bit fresher so I'll have a crack(y)
Better that you joined in late, than never:) I I thought I'd leave this to go quiet for a while whilst I gave things a think over (done a bit of thinking and acting though, it's not been forgotten) there's a few on here that will gain a lot from reading your views, so it is better everyone gets a read.

The country around here is a challenge... Take a look at the Welcome To Highland Perthshire thread in pics and vids section, dalnaspidal was looking fantastic on Saturday in the evening light with the mountains still covered with drift, unfortunately a flat battery stopped me taking some shots for you.
it's not the quality of the land that's making me restless.

I've decided that as soon as I hear that the older couple staying in the farmhouse on one piece I have are leaving, I'm going to give my two friends (the ex first) a chance to take it on, by putting their name to the owner. If I can get it over to someone who my dad likes it'll ease the guilt of giving it up, as he would HATE it if the other tenant on the estate got it, which would more than likely happen if I just walked away.
I think I could get away with sub letting one 30 acre field out if I did go. The main holding, the bit that I'm most attached to I may be able to let the landlord take back and let him run a few of his animals on for a few years they're pretty understanding of my situation and I think I'd get it back.

I sat down last Thursday night and battered out an email to a welding/engineering company in Portage La Prairie, the town nearest to the farm where I was in Manitoba. I gave them a brief run down on what I could do and my situation about giving up what I had here, and asked them whether they would consider a foreign employee for a 3 month trial period during the winter. I also offered to pay their costs of getting a visa. I got a reply saying it had been passed on to the relevant person for consideration. I won't hold my breath for too long though...
I thought this would be the way to go, a trial period in the harshest of the winter. The cold isn't so much of a problem, but it could be the length of time where it is just plain white that could get monotonous.
I'd like to try being an employee, but I'm not going to just go get a job standing doing repetitive welding jobs, I'd push to get up the ladder and get to the stage where I'm nearly my own boss, but without the hassle of running the whole lot.
I've no desire to move somewhere else in the uk to work. Other parts of Canada, some bits of the US, Germany and even Sardinia, but I thought I'd stick to the area I was familiar with out there first.

Will need to come back to this later.

All the best with your decision and your future. I shall look forward to your updates
 

graham99

Member
A thread similar to holwellcourtfarms I'm needing to make a choice about staying here and muddling along farming and welding, or packing up and going and doing something somewhere else.
The basics... 8 days away from 38. Not married and no kids. No debts and a small amount of cash and a bit off stuff to sell off.

The farm is 3 separate units (all rented) next to each other but split up by hills, a river and trees. I'm not going to say it's a terrible, awkward place and I want better because this isn't the case, but it isn't a very efficient place to have. Most of it I have till I retire, one 30 acre block for another 13 years.
I don't live on the farm, I stay a few miles up the road (only 4 miles, but takes 15 minutes to drive) where I've got sheds I weld and make stuff in. Father who's 70 this year, still stays in the farm house with step mother who's a fair bit younger and who's damned sure she's not moving(n) (to be fair though, the garden is lovely and I'd waste it which would be a shame)


My welding business is ok, mostly smaller jobs which suits me fine, as I can't be farming and concentrating on a big job at the same time.
Handling the steel is a pain as I reload the deliveries onto a hay trailer and take it the last 3 miles by tractor. No decent power supply, a generator powers the bigger machines.
Moving down the glen to another house closer to the farm would mean still having to drive up to the workshop, and I'm not even going to start thinking about building a shed on someone elses ground, done plenty of work on previous places just to end up walking away from it.

All in all... It's a bloody mess of a life. A constant grind without much fun. Always thinking.. I've got to do this.. Got to do that... And at the end of the day not very much to show for it.

I travelled when I was younger and and always wanted to stay for longer in Canada but never did it.
I've been self employed since 16 (with only a few spells working longer term with someone, year and a half at the most) I'm thinking a full time job would be good, it would leave the evenings and weekends for my own projects.

How the hell do you decide what to do(n)(n)(n)

Some views from those who've chucked in businesses, who've gone and never looked back, from those who've stayed and regretted it and the other way round too please.
well here is a view from the other side .
i am trying to get what you have .
when i was 37 i met the woman of my dreams,and while i work hand to mouth .
we are debt free and 90% happy .
go find an old woman who has out growen all this modren bulldust .
life is better WITH the right parterner to share it with
 
well here is a view from the other side .
i am trying to get what you have .
when i was 37 i met the woman of my dreams,and while i work hand to mouth .
we are debt free and 90% happy .
go find an old woman who has out growen all this modren bulldust .
life is better WITH the right parterner to share it with
You are more than likely right, a decent woman would more than likely change things. I had a decent one, the one I'd pass the bit of ground on to if possible, it wasn't going to work due to different opinions on farming and work and machines and horses :whistle:, but yes it was better.
 

GenuineRisk

Member
Location
Somerset
Haven’t read all the responses but here’s one observation.... four miles to work is pretty much sfa! Having been on both sides of a commute, back in the day I would have killed for just four miles ! It’s not great but compared to many, it isn’t a big deal and so that tells me it’s just one more ‘excuse’ for justifying not carrying on your status quo. There are hundreds of thousands of people who travel far longer to work and do similar hours who would read your post and take the view that farmers are always moaning... ! Sorry if that sounds harsh but the commute is a symptom, not the cause, of your dissatisfaction with life right now.

Basically, you don’t seem to be enjoying what’s you do or how you’re living your life. At 38, with no family responsibilities (your Dad at 70, presumably reasonably fit and with a younger wife and not your responsibility right now) means you have an opportunity to change your life if you want to. No one else can tell you whether it’s a good idea or not but you don’t seem to have the elements in life you want (partner, children) where you are so maybe logic should tell you you need to go out and find them elsewhere!
 
Haven’t read all the responses but here’s one observation.... four miles to work is pretty much sfa! Having been on both sides of a commute, back in the day I would have killed for just four miles ! It’s not great but compared to many, it isn’t a big deal and so that tells me it’s just one more ‘excuse’ for justifying not carrying on your status quo. There are hundreds of thousands of people who travel far longer to work and do similar hours who would read your post and take the view that farmers are always moaning... ! Sorry if that sounds harsh but the commute is a symptom, not the cause, of your dissatisfaction with life right now.

Basically, you don’t seem to be enjoying what’s you do or how you’re living your life. At 38, with no family responsibilities (your Dad at 70, presumably reasonably fit and with a younger wife and not your responsibility right now) means you have an opportunity to change your life if you want to. No one else can tell you whether it’s a good idea or not but you don’t seem to have the elements in life you want (partner, children) where you are so maybe logic should tell you you need to go out and find them elsewhere!
It may only be 4 miles, but I loose an hour of my day driving if I'm working at my workshop at home and go down twice,which is about normal. It's not a good road.

I enjoy what I do, just not the way I work, which probably has caused the no partner/kids situation as the smarter kind of lady sees the situation... Nothing to do with the fact I'm scruffy and have shite chat up lines:rolleyes:..

I have a lodger moving in this week, should be able to head off in the winter without having to worry about leaving the house to freeze up
 

simmy_bull

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
It may only be 4 miles, but I loose an hour of my day driving if I'm working at my workshop at home and go down twice,which is about normal. It's not a good road.

I enjoy what I do, just not the way I work, which probably has caused the no partner/kids situation as the smarter kind of lady sees the situation... Nothing to do with the fact I'm scruffy and have shite chat up lines:rolleyes:..

I have a lodger moving in this week, should be able to head off in the winter without having to worry about leaving the house to freeze up
Is she young and single? :whistle:
 
It may only be 4 miles, but I loose an hour of my day driving if I'm working at my workshop at home and go down twice,which is about normal. It's not a good road.

I enjoy what I do, just not the way I work, which probably has caused the no partner/kids situation as the smarter kind of lady sees the situation... Nothing to do with the fact I'm scruffy and have shite chat up lines:rolleyes:..

I have a lodger moving in this week, should be able to head off in the winter without having to worry about leaving the house to freeze up
"Shite chat up lines":rolleyes: ffs some of us have problems even with just that:banghead:
 

bobajob

Member
Location
Sw Scotland
It sounds like you are wanting to change country to get away from the ex, and to stop seeing her so much..

That’s not a criticism in any way. Sometimes you need a bit of distance to clear the mind..
 

Ukjay

Member
Location
Wales!
I am a bit late in coming into this thread, but felt I had to post purely on the basis that I decided soon after joining the forum that you were the sort of bloke I would get along with.

Whilst I do not know the actual land you farm, you have provided sufficient information in past posts that I do know your immediate locality. I drove down and back up the A9 and on to Edinburgh every couple of weeks for a few years before moving here. I also really enjoyed those photos of Dalnaspiddal you posted. I will try not to influence you one way or the other with what I post, but cannot guarantee that I will be unbiased. I thought of sending this as a PM, but other posters have suggested they are in a similar dilemma and I hope they might benefit from reading it.

There may not be many other TFF members that are as familiar with your area and so they cannot appreciate the splendour. I accept that some will know it even better than me. It has a reasonable climate compared with most other parts of the world. I know you have experience of foreign parts and do not like the heat. How about the prospect of winters like in Canada? Northern continents are all cold a few hundred miles from the sea. You live where you were born and raised; you have lifelong friends and at least some family nearby; a tenancy of land you can never recover if you leave; and a few more things that would just lengthen the post, but you get the gist.

As you know, I have also farmed around the world more than probably any other TFF member. All very well for folks to tell you what you should and should not do about settling in a foreign land when they have never done it themselves, acknowledging that some posters have done so. My wife and I have bought and farmed two places in Northumberland, one in Australia, one in the far north of Scotland, one in Portugal, and the next in some unknown place. It is exciting to land in a foreign country, buy somewhere and then live on it. It is also, as has been pointed out by others, not always as green as you think it might be. There is still the day to day work to be done, bills to pay, taxes to be found, groceries to buy, household chores and maintenance.

If you are intending to take up employment in a foreign country are you certain you have the required certification to take up the work you want to do? Have you previously had full time work as an employee? Did you like it? I know you have various welding certificates – find out if they would be acceptable in whatever province of Canada you would like to try, or for the whole of Canada. Check out other countries too where you might fancy living. Sometimes wages are high, working conditions good, but the cost of living can be high too so that you are no better off financially. On the other hand Portugal and southern Europe in general is lower wages and much lower cost of living. You have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU. That might end in a few years, but if you are contributing to the country they are unlikely to kick you out.

I like pigs, my favourite animal, but since 1979 there has not been a mart anywhere near me where I could sell them. The only mart that I know of here is about 20 miles away. Once a month and cattle only. An abattoir the same distance will take all stock, but it took me 10 weeks and some hassle to get paid the last time I sent stock there. Previous experience was not a lot better. Reluctant to chance it again. Check out the markets before you go committing yourself to anywhere. You could find they are further away than at present.

It was suggested by @Sweepa that to find out whether you really do want to leave your farm that you try Edinburgh. A good suggestion I think, although my personal choice from where you live would be to try and find work in Inverness. It might be more difficult than you think. It is a quicker travel back to Pitlochry, subject to Drumochter being clear, whenever you feel like it. Any reason not to give it a try before giving up your tenancies? Could be a no-risk option for you.

My wife and I have been married a little short of 50 years, so have travelled the world together. I am certain it is easier for two people than one to settle into somewhere new. It does not have to be a wife/husband. Two mates certainly can give support to each other just as well when settling in. I would not be in too much of a rush to find a wife either. I know of one poster who was your age before he married, and I would be surprised if there are not more who were older.

We have one son (an Astrophysicist with the Jodrell Bank team at Manchester University) and there is no way in the world he is going to take over whatever place we leave when we die or possibly retire. That does not stop us looking ahead to pastures new whilst still endeavouring to make progress on the land we hold at the time.

This post must be one of the most well balanced, non judgemental views I have seen written for such a long time - and I am in awe of your unbiased views!
You sir, are a gentleman of the highest claibre, and I wish that people reading this will do so openly. What you have written is so true - that it is with regret that many may miss the true vlaue of what is within the wording.

(y)
 
This post must be one of the most well balanced, non judgemental views I have seen written for such a long time - and I am in awe of your unbiased views!
You sir, are a gentleman of the highest claibre, and I wish that people reading this will do so openly. What you have written is so true - that it is with regret that many may miss the true vlaue of what is within the wording.

(y)

Now I feel all embarrassed by your kind words, but thank you anyway.
 
It sounds like you are wanting to change country to get away from the ex, and to stop seeing her so much..

That’s not a criticism in any way. Sometimes you need a bit of distance to clear the mind..
Ha ha.. No, the ex and I get on grand.

Vast open spaces, less tourists and quieter roads. Cold winters (don't mind the summer here) and the chance to be landlord free. That's what's pulling at me.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 75 43.6%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 61 35.5%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 27 15.7%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 3 1.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,283
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top