Well I said in my post that I thought my weekday hours were quite manageable. Being critical (and we need to be) I also said I thought I should be taking more time off, but I also said it was up to me to organise that through freeing up more time for myself.
I'm not long back from a short trip away with 30 other dairy farmers. Can't recall anyone complaining about working hours, or the poor profitability for that matter. Mood positive and everyone happy to be away from the farm for a couple of days. I think you are being a bit negative about our industry. We are entitled to have a chat about these things without doing it in a complaining manner, as perhaps something good can come from it with renewed focus or a better perspective.
We do get money from the government, but it's not quite free, and we certainly don't get to keep all of it. Also, any time we take off is technically unpaid. I could happily argue that those drinking mates get free money for not turning up to work six weeks a year.
Do you think there would have been the same positive mood had you been on the trip a year ago? Easier to be positive when milk prices are improving.