Preparations for the winter ahead are well under way on the farm. A spell of warm weather gave our late-drilled crops a chance to grow and catch up. All the wheats have emerged (eventually) and the sprayer is busy with the final recommendations of the autumn.

I always think this stage of the arable year is like tucking all the crops into bed for the winter, ready for their period of hibernation until the spring. I know that Dave has a sense of relief when the sprayer is safely in the shed before Christmas, – with plenty of anti-freeze – so he can relax in the knowledge that for just a couple of months it will stay there and he won’t have to religiously watch the weather every day waiting for that window of opportunity.

Over on the contract farm we have decided to have a go at growing some parsley. While being quite excited at trying something different, there is also an element of trepidation – I have already been warned that I might be hearing an awful lot about this parsley crop next year and that if I have any spare time at all(!) there could be some hand-weeding that needs doing.

What with that and the return of the peas (a new contract has been agreed with a new company), the spring and summer could be interesting to say the least. All the more reason to make the most of the peace and quiet this winter.

The dairy, on the other hand, has got busier as the weather has got cooler. The lorries arrived to bring the cows in off the marshes and I gather the whole operation went smoothly – although our herd manager, Jim, fell foul of a rather sticky, muddy gateway and sat down on the job.

Once the whole herd is inside full time, there is more work for everyone – especially the herd manager and assistant herdsman with all the extra mucking out, feeding and littering. The only advantage is that it’s not so far to walk to check over the herd or oversee a birth.

Speaking of fertility, we had the first set of live triplets that we can ever recall on the farm. This excitement was followed in quick succession by four sets of twins – again very unusual. Sadly we didn’t have much luck with these as, much to Jim’s dismay, the two sets of twin heifer calves died and the other two sets that survived were mixed calves. I am told that with mixed calves it usually means that the heifer will be infertile and so unable to enter the herd.

One of the mothers of the twins was the source of a bit of ribbing. Jim enquired as to whether Dave recognised this particular cow. Sensing he should know the answer, but still unable to identify it, he shrugged his shoulders. Turns out he should have known exactly how to coax this rather stubborn animal as she was called “Bella”.

On top of all this there has been the dairy audit to contend with and various courses and meetings as stipulated in our milk contract. Dave and Jim went on a foot-trimming course recently at a neighbour’s farm, which was more than a little ironic considering the herdsman was himself recovering from a foot injury.

Dave’s mother has also got her foot in plaster as she recovers from an operation to repair some of the bones near her ankle. Ten weeks of incarceration seems like a very long time for someone so active, but gradually the weeks have slipped by, helped along by family and friends. Andrew (Dave’s Dad) has come into his own in the kitchen apparently and I think has actually quite enjoyed his new role.

Here at home we have also been marking the usual occasions that signal the start of winter.

Our pumpkins this year were bigger than ever and it took nearly a whole day to cut and scrape out all three. They looked fantastic guarding the front of the house as we went out for our usual bit of trick or treating. Charlie scared all the cows as he ran through the yard in his ghost outfit. He couldn’t really see where he was going as the hastily cut out eyes kept slipping. Luckily our neighbours are kind enough to humour us every year.

The prospect of snow has also got the children dreaming of days off school, although Dave has promised that he would get the tractor out to take them to school if necessary – a hazard of the job, I’m afraid, kids.

All these little events of the past few weeks mark the end of one season and move us into the next.

The onset of winter brings a mixture of feelings on a farm; the respite as crops go into hibernation, but also the anticipation of problems with the livestock as the harsh weather moves in. I will, of course, not have too much time to reflect. Christmas is coming.