Oh the logistics of planning a family holiday

[Chasingmytail]

For next year...We are going to Eurocamp/Yelloh! to S France. Either 10 - 14 days. Mid July. But the holiday planning is easy but its the farm and associated things here and Im dreading it already - why should I feel this everyone else manages?

We currently don't have any employees so thats the first issue. Then you've got the veg garden and poly issues. hanging basket, dogs, house security, night time security, moving animals, issues while away, animals sick, house cow milking, chickens, millions of emails, answer phone messages, freezers, house plants endless really.

Only went to Cornwall last year (rained nearly every day so Ive had it with that) took me 2 weeks to make a tick list for a lad that came to pull weeds etc. In the middle of the week man had to drive home early in morning to finish some fencing and move the animals and it was hammering it down then drive back following day.

How does everyone else manage with it all? I want to travel home relaxed not worrying about seeing devastation or simply instructions weren't followed. Another option is to stay 14 days but husband comes home after 9/10?

 

[Zippy768]

You are not the only one. If feel guilty about going on hols, if it wasn't for miss zippy I probably wouldn't. Never sure if the pain of running around before making sure everything is done and ready is really worth the break (it is ). 2 and a bit, of us here, so if it's just you guys, you have my sympathy.

Kudos for planning so far in advance tho.

 

[Bald Rick]

Why do you want a holiday when you've got a farm?

Alternatively if you're hell bent on going away, why not one of you do one week & the other do the other week? You know it makes sense

 

[Goatherderess]

There are smallholding-sitters I believe who will keep everything ticking over - have a look in one of the magazines or on facebook perhaps?

 

[czechmate]

Are you sure you’ll be able to enter Europe after next March?

 

[Thick Farmer]

For next year...We are going to Eurocamp/Yelloh! to S France. Either 10 - 14 days. Mid July. But the holiday planning is easy but its the farm and associated things here and Im dreading it already - why should I feel this everyone else manages?

We currently don't have any employees so thats the first issue. Then you've got the veg garden and poly issues. hanging basket, dogs, house security, night time security, moving animals, issues while away, animals sick, house cow milking, chickens, millions of emails, answer phone messages, freezers, house plants endless really.

Only went to Cornwall last year (rained nearly every day so Ive had it with that) took me 2 weeks to make a tick list for a lad that came to pull weeds etc. In the middle of the week man had to drive home early in morning to finish some fencing and move the animals and it was hammering it down then drive back following day.

How does everyone else manage with it all? I want to travel home relaxed not worrying about seeing devastation or simply instructions weren't followed. Another option is to stay 14 days but husband comes home after 9/10?

I’ve just got back from a fortnight in America. I’ve got around 600 cattle to look after but just made sure they were all up to date with wormers etc and had plenty of grass in front of them.
Asked a mate to drive around them once or twice a week. Nothing went wrong!

Here’s my advice:

Having no employees is a bonus - nobody there f**king things up while you’re away.

Spray the veg and poly tunnels day before you go.
Put dogs in a boarding kennel.
Give animals access to two weeks worth or more of food -it used to be called set stocking.
Ask a friend to feed the chickens every few days.
Dry off the cow.
Lock the house.
House plants? Hanging baskets? Freezers? ...Forget about them.
Turn off phone and don’t worry about emails.
Simples.

 

[beltbreaker]

In the good books for a minute or 2 just booked Norn Irn for 5 days mid July, between a day at Highland Show, Shearing, Pneumonia jags for calves, crop walks, board meetings, silage no wonder my family feel like second class citizens. Got a couple of people to help dad out while I'm off. Never seems like a good time to go on holiday but always feel better for it. Your a long time dead. Wife booked sun in October too, that is always a manic one trying to get the harvest done and wheat in the ground before traipsing off to all inclusive pool and beer. Then its straight in to the winter drudgery! Loved the last 6 weeks of decent weather just have so much energy getting things done I have planned for years.

Happy Hols, BB

 

[DRC]

Just come back from a holiday cruising the Norwegian fjords.
I was a bit worried as first time since dad died, and although he was too old to do anything, he knew what to look for in the event of an emergency. Needn't have worried, as my neighbour kindly checked the cattle and our tenant shut the hens up. Dogs went to family for the week.
It was well worth it, as had a wonderful time.

 

[kiwi pom]

I’ve just got back from a fortnight in America. I’ve got around 600 cattle to look after but just made sure they were all up to date with wormers etc and had plenty of grass in front of them.
Asked a mate to drive around them once or twice a week. Nothing went wrong!

Here’s my advice:

Having no employees is a bonus - nobody there fudgeing things up while you’re away.

Spray the veg and poly tunnels day before you go.
Put dogs in a boarding kennel.
Give animals access to two weeks worth or more of food -it used to be called set stocking.
Ask a friend to feed the chickens every few days.
Dry off the cow.
Lock the house.
House plants? Hanging baskets? Freezers? ...Forget about them.
Turn off phone and don’t worry about emails.
Simples.

I'd agree with most of that, although I don't think there's anything too stressful about reading emails and answering the phone whilst sitting by a pool having a few cold ones
Not sure about the employee thing though, worked on a few farms -mostly dairy- where the boss has gone away for a week or two and things have just carried on as normal, with a few extra dog feeding duties etc thrown in.
Cant remember there being any more or less disasters than when the boss was 'in residence'.
@Chasingmytail do you have a friend or neighbour that can keep an eye on the place for you?

 

[hindmaist]

I'm very lucky.The inlaws come and house sit for us when we go on holiday.

 

[Greenbeast]

Meh we just don't holiday

 

[czechmate]

In the good books for a minute or 2 just booked Norn Irn for 5 days mid July, between a day at Highland Show, Shearing, Pneumonia jags for calves, crop walks, board meetings, silage no wonder my family feel like second class citizens. Got a couple of people to help dad out while I'm off. Never seems like a good time to go on holiday but always feel better for it. Your a long time dead. Wife booked sun in October too, that is always a manic one trying to get the harvest done and wheat in the ground before traipsing off to all inclusive pool and beer. Then its straight in to the winter drudgery! Loved the last 6 weeks of decent weather just have so much energy getting things done I have planned for years.

Happy Hols, BB

There's a very big word in this post.

"Dad"

 

[FonterraFarmer]

I’ve just got back from a fortnight in America. I’ve got around 600 cattle to look after but just made sure they were all up to date with wormers etc and had plenty of grass in front of them.
Asked a mate to drive around them once or twice a week. Nothing went wrong!

Here’s my advice:

Having no employees is a bonus - nobody there fudgeing things up while you’re away.

Spray the veg and poly tunnels day before you go.
Put dogs in a boarding kennel.
Give animals access to two weeks worth or more of food -it used to be called set stocking.
Ask a friend to feed the chickens every few days.
Dry off the cow.
Lock the house.
House plants? Hanging baskets? Freezers? ...Forget about them.
Turn off phone and don’t worry about emails.
Simples.

Snap, but I went to Canada!!!

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Meh we just don't holiday

I did that for 25 years, but realise I was a fool for not going on holiday or seeing the world.

 

[Tim W]

I get neighbors to check stock and do the same for them when they are away
Friend feeds and walks the dogs
When i had a house cow i dried it off/made sure it had a calf or two on it
Everything else can be put on hold ---that's what holidays are about

 

[Paddington]

The North Korean peace talks are nothing compared to the planning when we go on holiday, you'd think the Queen was coming for a visit, preparations start weeks before hand, I'm usually too knackered on the first couple of days on holiday to enjoy it.

 

[Lazy Sod]

When I first saw the thread title, I misread it as "the logistics of family planning on holiday". I was tempted to suggest just packing condoms.

 

[twizzel]

Our friend house sits for us and we have a dog walker come in twice a day to walk the dogs. Friend walks them in the evenings too if he has time. Neighbours to look over the sheep (we help eachother out), chickens' door on an auto timer and they have a 40kg hopper for food. If you really want to go away you'll make it work !

 

[Robt]

You are all missing a trick! A lot of people would happily pay to get into farming...... Rent the ''working farm'' out for a week or two!

 

[czechmate]

You are all missing a trick! A lot of people would happily pay to get into farming...... Rent the ''working farm'' out for a week or two!

Yes, animal ruining good lifers