The Support Crew
I love my support crew
I have three siblings so when I was growing up in Glasgow the house was always full of noise and activity. There were also always a couple of labradors and cats in the mix along with various rabbits and hamsters that belonged to my sister. (Let’s not mention the stick insects!) I am the oldest so took complete advantage of this by making my sister and brothers get involved in everything that I wanted to do from getting dressed up and performing pantomimes to running a pretend radio station with everything in between. Imagination fuelled our childhood and I can see our imagination and fun has been passed down to my daughter and nieces too. There really never is a dull moment and trying to get us together for a photo is like herding cats!
What I especially love about having a younger sister and twin brothers is that we are still there for each other come what may. Whatever the weather and whatever the ask. We step up to the mark and are there. However, Fiona is in Orkney, Kenneth is in Tobermory and Dougie in London so we are pretty spread out. When it comes to my support crew on the farm I have Duggie, Daisy, mum and dad who are always there to help me if I am nervous with a new horse or if I need a hug. However, Daisy is off ploughing her own way in life at University now which is absolutely bloody brilliant and I am so proud of her. Duggie is off tomorrow to start building our house in Tiree for three weeks which again is bloody marvellous but it will just be me and the parentals rattling around the farm! What could possibly go wrong…
This is where I know that even though the boys, Fiona, Duggie and Daisy will always be at the end of the phone and I have mum and dad living on the farm - I have my four legged support crew. Harry and Ella are my two dogs who follow me around wherever I go. Harry more so as he is getting deaf in his old age so likes to keep me close by so he doesn’t get left behind! Ella sees the entire farm as her garden and wanders off to see what the cows are eating but is still there for me and always appears at high speed with a big smile when we are heading off on a hack! Lovely Brodie my Highland pony is so stoic especially after we lost his best friend only a few days ago. He has the longest mane that I cuddle into and on occasion hang onto when I am riding him! Harry, Ella and Brodie will be my crew for the next three weeks when I need to be brave and do things on the farm that I don’t want to do on my own. I guess this is where my imagination and fun side will come in. Probably a large nightly gin and tonic too of course!
We also have a new member of the crew that started last week. The beautiful Betsy. She is a chestnut mare with one white sock. She is known as a legend and so far she is living up to her name. She is over here on loan to do lots of hacking, a wee bit of schooling and to be loved. I think we are doing OK so far for her. I will be eternally grateful to her owners for loaning her to us as Brodie would be so stressed being on his own now that Freddie has gone. This is where I have to be brave. Hacking out all over the farm on a pony that you know well is easy but a new one takes a wee bit of time so I prefer to hack with another horse or have someone walking along with us. This is where the four legged support crew come in. I am going to rely on Harry and Ella to lead the way for me and Betsy. I have the feeling there may be some adventures ahead!
I am very lucky that my mum and dad also live on the farm now so are part of the support crew in the form of moral support, delicious dinners, wine and gins. Dad is brilliant at helping me when I am left to feed the deer and cows as it is always handy to have someone jump out and hold the gate so nothing escapes! I have persuaded my dad to come for some walks with me and Betsy in the future so hopefully that will happen as mum has a gammy knee and can’t keep up which is no fun for her! I will certainly not be lonely over the next few weeks. That is for sure but I will definitely appreciate my lovely crew around me x
