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Fletcher's Family Farm Season 03 Episode 08
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00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:08Can you keep this?
00:11Right, Milo, let's get some jobs done.
00:14Farming's a breeze, compared to having four kids.
00:19We're surrounded by the spectacular peat district.
00:23As far as an office goes, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands...
00:30What about Dad there?
00:32..and rolling hills as their playground.
00:35Ready?
00:37This year, we've big plans to increase our flock...
00:42No, Mum!
00:45..and herd.
00:47Can I ride on him?
00:49Oh, you can't ride on him, no.
00:51..whilst continuing to diversify.
00:53What about if we created some sort of farm musical?
00:57Kevin, we've got enough to do without creating a farm, I'm sorry.
01:00..and we're excited about what our next chapter might hold.
01:04I can't think of something that would beat this for me.
01:06This is my version of a happy, full life.
01:09Right, let's get some cup of tea, then.
01:11This week on our farm...
01:21..Operation Wedding Barn is in full swing.
01:24Jemima's kindly invited the children and I said, are you sure?
01:28Are you doing a smoochy kiss?
01:30Are we going to do a smoochy kiss?
01:32Yes.
01:33Not in front of you, no.
01:36Liz and I attempt to relocate a rather delicate ornament.
01:40I hope this isn't a Del Trotter moment.
01:43I know.
01:45So do I, I'm up a ladder.
01:47And it looks as though the farm will soon be welcoming
01:50its newest family member.
01:52All eyes on the cows now.
01:54We're all so excited, it'll never happen any minute.
01:57Fingers crossed for a smooth, smooth calving.
02:02And fingers crossed, we get half a calf.
02:13Smell it, smell it.
02:15Oh my goodness!
02:23Since the fire at the farmhouse,
02:25we've been living in temporary accommodation.
02:27But our mornings haven't slowed down one bit.
02:30Getting breakfast ready for a family of six
02:32is still as hectic as ever.
02:34Right, who wants marmalade?
02:37Me!
02:42These are not our eggs.
02:44On the farm you just go into the garden and get your eggs.
02:47But we've been giving our eggs to the guests in the cottage.
02:50Whoever's in the cottage have had the best scrambled eggs.
02:53And we've had to settle for some, some eggs bought in.
02:58So, that's it.
03:00Can I mix them?
03:02Oh, I need to bring it.
03:07Here you go.
03:08It's on all you think.
03:09Would anyone be liking the scrambled eggs?
03:11Before I eat it all?
03:13No, thanks.
03:14No?
03:15Renovations to the farmhouse are still yet to start.
03:18But we're desperate to get back on the farm.
03:20So, Liz and I are now on a mission to find a solution.
03:24Think about the farm every minute of every day.
03:27It's just weird not being there.
03:31There's a worry, there's a...
03:33Oh, you're a demon!
03:34It just doesn't feel the same.
03:36You've got to make up!
03:37Have you?
03:38Yeah.
03:39Can I help you?
03:40Yeah.
03:41I knew.
03:42I was thinking.
03:43It won't be long before I've got a...
03:46A little munchkin sat on my knee making all my food.
03:50The twins are three now and I've not finished a meal in three years.
03:59Why is that?
04:00Well, I mean, you wish to have three boys.
04:05What always surprises me is when the twins say they miss the farm
04:10because I was never sure that they fully understood where they lived
04:14but they do, they always just want to be there.
04:17It was a funny time for everyone, really.
04:19I've just had to go through it as it's happened, I guess.
04:22Max, do you miss the farm?
04:25Do you know what happened to our house?
04:27Burned down a jacket, burn it down.
04:32And what are we going to do now?
04:34Fix it, Daddy go fix it, and I go fix it with Daddy.
04:40Yay!
04:41This is just a chance on the life.
04:43And I'm just so grateful that we get to have temporary accommodation
04:48and the plan is to rebuild the house, be back in, and it'll just be a story to tell.
04:54Liz and I want to see if there's a way we can create a temporary home on the farm.
04:59That'll work for us as a family until the farmhouse renovation is complete.
05:04We'll have breakfast, we'll get straight over to the farm and we're there all day
05:08and we don't come back until late for tea.
05:10There's no kitchen or anything now at the farm, obviously, nothing works.
05:13You know, there's no base for us really at the farm.
05:15We're outside all day.
05:17So it's a case of packed lunches every day.
05:20Which, I have to say, aren't my foresay.
05:23Erm, I do my best.
05:25Try my hardest.
05:31Come on, go get your shoes on so that we can just get going.
05:34Daddy, I got spin.
05:37You got spin.
05:38Come on.
05:39I'll just climb it.
05:40Wait.
05:41Who's going in the front?
05:48I.
05:57Our lovely ladies, Cherry and Ruby, are both in calf and maternity leave is fast approaching.
06:03So while they're out enjoying the spring grass, it's the perfect excuse to give the cow shed a proper spring clean.
06:10After all, every expectant mum deserves a clean, peaceful space to go into labour and give birth.
06:18This is the job I quite enjoy, actually.
06:22We've basically got to get this shed mucked out, get it as clean as possible and then get it all disinfected as well.
06:28Obviously, we've had the cows in here so they've made quite a bit of mess, but we're going to bring Cherry back in
06:33because she's due to calf kind of any day now, really.
06:36So we want to get her inside, get her comfortable and just so we can kind of keep our eye on her, really.
06:44Ruby isn't due her calf for a couple more months, but we'll bring her in to keep Cherry company.
06:50So the shed's going to be full, we're going to have the boys down at one end and then at the other end,
06:54the girls will be anywhere due to calf.
06:56A maternity suite, that's what we can call it, a nice maternity suite.
06:59And then hopefully any day now, we can expect a calf.
07:04You get a lot of job satisfaction from this type of work.
07:07So we just get all the muck out now, we're going to scrape the middle out and then we'll scrape the beds out,
07:12get them all in the muck heap.
07:14Then we'll get the sweeper on it and then we'll get it all re-bedded up, ready for Cherry.
07:21And it's not just the barn that's getting us spruce today.
07:24Next door in the old stables, the bride-to-be Jemima has joined Liz and the kids to start preparations ahead of the big day.
07:33Can you do it? Do you want to get up the ladder more?
07:35Are you cleaning the ladder?
07:41You can come up the ladder more.
07:43There you go.
07:46I'll hold on to you.
07:47There you go.
07:50Is that good?
07:51Yeah.
07:52Is it fun?
07:54There you go, good job.
07:57There's a lot going on today.
07:58It's all hands on deck.
07:59We're just cleaning the walls, getting everything, you know.
08:02This has been a stables for a long time.
08:05There's a lot of cobwebs.
08:06It needs a good brush down.
08:08Making it nice and clean, still with that rustic feel.
08:11We don't want any cobwebs on the day.
08:13So we'll get them all cleaned up, get the walls cleaned up, washed down.
08:16And then we can slowly start bringing the decorations in.
08:22In a few weeks' time, this dust-laden barn will be hosting the first wedding on the farm.
08:28And it's made Liz and I realise that this space has got so much potential for other events too.
08:33And it's all thanks to friends of the family who saw the potential in this space before we did.
08:41Jemima and Christian always wanted to get married in a barn.
08:44And as our gift to them, we've said, would you like to do it here?
08:48So our very first wedding on the farm, it's very romantic.
08:52And they're just getting stuck in.
08:54Stuck into making this how they want it to be.
08:56I like the fact that we've got our own touch on it.
08:59We've picked the food and everything and we've picked the bars.
09:04So it's a bit more personal than a normal venue.
09:06Yeah.
09:07And yeah, it's just really exciting.
09:08And to get us stuck in like this, you don't get to normally do that.
09:11So it's nice.
09:12Yeah, exactly. You get from start to finish, don't you?
09:14Yeah.
09:16The groom's not here today, but his mum Gloria is.
09:19And we've known each other for so many years that it feels like a real family affair.
09:23Gloria's worked with us for about, is it three years now?
09:27Yeah, three years.
09:28And whenever we do events, anything, Gloria is the decoration queen.
09:33You've got such an eye for everything.
09:35She's amazing at cooking, amazing at decorating.
09:37You are!
09:38You're talented at everything!
09:40She's like family to us now.
09:42We couldn't live without Gloria.
09:43We're really, really honoured that her son and her daughter-in-law
09:46are going to get married here.
09:48Jemima and Christian can't wait to put their own stamp on the barn.
09:52And with the help of even the youngest members of the Fletcher family,
09:55this space will be looking good in no time.
09:58Do you think it's going to look good?
10:00Yeah.
10:01Are you excited?
10:02Yeah.
10:03Are you going to dance?
10:04Yeah.
10:05Are you going to be on the dance floor?
10:06Yeah.
10:07The kids are huge fans of Gloria, so they, whenever she's around, they're always like clinging
10:12to her legs and just wanting to get involved with her.
10:15So it's really nice to see them getting involved and helping out cleaning.
10:19They wouldn't do that for me, you know.
10:20But for Gloria, they'll do anything.
10:22Next door, I'm making good progress cleaning out the barn.
10:30This job is oddly satisfying, although not without its drawbacks, the main one being
10:36the pong.
10:37As far as smells go, I mean, yeah, it's, you get a whiff.
10:42I must have that stench now.
10:43I must have that farmer stench, especially when you've been mucking the cows out.
10:46You must smell of it.
10:48I just have to make sure on the school run I don't stand next to any parents.
10:51But it's a smell I've become very familiar with and, dare I say, I quite like it, but
10:58I just, you know, it's familiar.
11:01It reminds me of Dome.
11:06Like many jobs on the farm, it's dirty work.
11:12But every pile has a purpose.
11:15It's all part of the natural cycle that keeps the farm and life thriving.
11:26This muck is actually crucial to our farm.
11:30Because the muck that we have here is what we use to feed the grass.
11:34And we spread this on the fields.
11:36So yeah, in that sense, this is liquid gold.
11:40The amount of nitrogen and all the stuff that plants and grass needs to grow,
11:45it's pretty much all in here.
11:46It's the waste product of the animal.
11:48Nothing's wasted.
11:50Every poo is used.
11:53I do love a tidy farm.
12:01So while I've got the chance, I'm going to break out all the tools.
12:05A quick change into my overalls and time to make this shed glisten.
12:10That's the thing with cows, claws and sheep.
12:13Cows just seem to poo everywhere.
12:15All at the side of the walls, on the gates.
12:17And it's just one of those things that...
12:20A job you look kind of thing.
12:23I need to do that soon.
12:24Before you know it, it's everywhere.
12:26This job does have its perks though,
12:29as it gives me the chance to use one of my favourite bits of kit.
12:33This is our little yard sweeper.
12:35It was actually a birthday present from my parents from my 40th.
12:40That's the type of stuff they kind of buy me now.
12:42Probably a bit big for the job we need it for,
12:44but it can't be any bit of convenience, can you?
12:47It's even got a family name on it.
12:53She's alive.
12:55Let's go sweeping.
12:57I feel like I look for a council here.
12:59Might go and do a little bit on the highways.
13:01There we go.
13:08From racing cars in the British GT Championship
13:11to sweeping barns in the Cheshire countryside,
13:14it's been quite the gear change.
13:16Might as well do a quick sweep up in here, haven't we?
13:25Yeah.
13:26Yeah.
13:27Yeah.
13:28Yeah.
13:29Yeah.
13:30Yeah.
13:31Yeah.
13:32Yeah.
13:34Yeah.
13:35Yeah.
13:36Yeah.
13:37Shed cleaned out, jet washed, disinfected, ready for two pregnant cows.
13:43and, hopefully, some newborn calves.
13:49As I move on to my next job,
13:52Liz and the kids are still hard at work with their cleaning.
13:56Oh, my God, it's spotless already.
14:01Glory, you've done a great... You guys have done a great job.
14:05I'm getting...
14:05Were you excited to clean this?
14:08I'm more excited to decorate, but, yeah.
14:10What is your thought? What is your plan?
14:11Um, so, it's quite informal, I suppose,
14:16and rustic, cos of it being a barn.
14:18We're going to have the top table here,
14:20that's why we're cleaning this wall, ready to paint,
14:22and we're going to have fairy lights and flowers all over and bunting,
14:26and I've got some lanterns as well.
14:27We've got Kelvin's gin bar and then another bar maybe there,
14:31and we're going to have the hay bales in the corner
14:32as, like, a cosy, chilled place to sit.
14:35Nice. We've got a lot of kids coming.
14:37How drunk do you think you're going to get with two bars?
14:40Yeah, everyone's going to be very drunk.
14:42Are you going to do a smoochy kiss?
14:43Are we going to do a smoochy kiss?
14:47Yeah.
14:47Not in front of you, no.
14:49Jemima's kindly invited the children,
14:51and I said, are you sure?
14:53Are you sure?
14:54Yeah, because the wedding is really, like, a celebration.
14:57It's not really, you know, sitting down.
15:00Yeah, we're not doing, like, a formal sit-down meal.
15:03It's going to be quite relaxed.
15:04So it's like a party.
15:06Yeah, it's like a big party.
15:07Do you want to put that on, Milo?
15:10Do you want to blast the cobwebs?
15:12Yeah.
15:14Not at people, Milo, not at people.
15:17No!
15:18Not at people.
15:19It's the cobwebs.
15:20Go there.
15:23That's it.
15:27There, look.
15:29Right, that's enough now.
15:30I think we'll make any worse.
15:32Good job, Milo.
15:33That looks better, doesn't it?
15:34There you go, do you have that cloth?
15:36Yeah, that's it.
15:37Get it nice and wet.
15:38Oh, there we go.
15:40Wow.
15:42You want to get up, Mum?
15:43The bucket.
15:44You want the bucket?
15:45Hang on.
15:46There you go.
15:48Get it in.
15:49Ooh.
15:50With a wedding just over a month away,
15:53it's fantastic to see everyone doing their bit.
15:57That looks better.
15:57To make sure the bride and groom's big day is a special one.
16:02We've not got a lot of time.
16:04There is a deadline.
16:05So we do need to get cracking.
16:07But I think we can do it.
16:08We love a deadline.
16:09It makes us work harder.
16:11We won't miss it.
16:12We've never missed a deadline yet.
16:13We won't do for this, I'm sure.
16:45Inhabitable since the fire,
16:47Liz and I wanted to get some advice
16:48on whether there's an option to have a temporary home
16:51on the farm instead.
16:53My hair's not a fan of the rain,
16:54so we'll get under shelter.
16:56This is nice.
16:57This is cosy.
16:58Oh, look at this.
16:59We're a nice little barbecue area, this.
17:01We couldn't just put walls in here and live in here, couldn't we?
17:03Yeah, put hot something.
17:04Yeah, yeah.
17:04Yes!
17:05Very good.
17:06That's the thing.
17:07There's always a spot for something round here.
17:10Paul is part of a team who builds lodges and cabins,
17:13and he's come to help us figure out
17:15if our plans to build a temporary lodge on the farm
17:17while renovations get underway is even possible.
17:21So, Paul, with us having the fire on site,
17:25we desperately need to be here
17:27just to look after the animals
17:29and make sure everything's ticking over.
17:31And we thought, if we could get a lodge,
17:32the best place for us,
17:33the flattest place that we could think of,
17:35is the menage.
17:37Yes.
17:37Now, ground-wise,
17:38could we put a lodge on that?
17:40Cos it's not, obviously, concrete, but...
17:42It's not the concrete,
17:43but we, obviously, could look at doing the ground screws with you.
17:46So that can go in,
17:46and, obviously, with that,
17:48you're not putting something which is permanent,
17:50because, obviously, you're using it as temporary accommodation as well.
17:53So they can be moved when the lodge is moved afterwards.
17:56Oh, brilliant.
17:57So then it doesn't affect the ground.
17:59Oh, great.
18:00So you could do that.
18:00But, yeah, this is a good location to do it as well,
18:03cos it's close enough.
18:03We'll hopefully be getting...
18:05We'll still have a bit of summer to...
18:06I know it doesn't feel like summer today,
18:07but, hopefully, when we've got some good weather,
18:10it's in a good spot that you can actually...
18:12You've got the views to sit there and sit out and enjoy it.
18:14Yeah, it'll look pretty idyllic, won't it?
18:16Absolutely.
18:17Yeah.
18:17If it's there, you know,
18:18you're going to have your own space away from everything,
18:21because it's just that little bit away from everywhere, isn't it, as well?
18:24Hidden.
18:25What, are you suggesting that I can just come and...
18:27Enjoy yourself?
18:27Either way?
18:28What, and leave Liz and kids all in the farm?
18:31Sounds like a good idea.
18:32Yeah, yeah, with a nice book, a cup of tea.
18:34We'll put you in a nice little man cave in.
18:36Oh, that'll be good, yeah.
18:37Hey, that would be good.
18:38Well, what I'm imagining you, honestly,
18:40is sat on the decking, cos he'll be so close to his sheep now...
18:42I was going to say, I could just be checking on our sheep, couldn't I?
18:44You will just be, like...
18:45I could be sat having a cup of tea...
18:4624-7 sheep watch.
18:47Just checking everything.
18:48I could get a walkie-talkie to you.
18:51It's just, you know, sort of...
18:52You'd be doing house reno.
18:54Yeah.
18:54And then I could just be here checking on the sheep.
18:56So you're checking on the builders, and I'm here checking on the sheep.
18:59It's your dream spot, isn't it?
19:00Yeah, it is, actually, yeah.
19:02After months of uncertainty,
19:03it's exciting to be making plans to get the family back on the farm.
19:07And for me, the lodge can't come soon enough.
19:11What do you think the time frame is from us deciding, kind of,
19:13what the layout, what the interior is, the size?
19:16What do you think the time frame is on that?
19:18Once you've got that signed off and you're 100% happy with everything,
19:23we could, you know, two to three months at, like, the timeline on that
19:26to get everything done, built in, deliver to site.
19:29Wow.
19:31That's quick.
19:34Real.
19:36Yeah.
19:37Paul, brilliant. Thank you for that.
19:39Can we get it sorted and make the way better?
19:40Hey, and it's stopped raining.
19:42It has, yeah.
19:42It's stopped raining.
19:43That was a sign.
19:47It definitely feels like there's light at the end of the tunnel
19:51and the countdown to being back on the farm can begin.
19:54The work on the farmhouse is yet to start,
20:08but we have been given the green light to salvage what we can
20:11and this is music to Liz's creative ears.
20:16Kelvin.
20:18Yeah?
20:18I've got, er, a little job, but a big job for you.
20:24If, er, you don't mind.
20:27Come on.
20:27You know the, the bronzy chandelier we've got in the house?
20:31Yeah.
20:31I want to try and salvage it and put it in the...
20:35Barn.
20:35In the barn, so it's like the...
20:38We've saved something from the house to go into the stables.
20:41All right.
20:42What do you think?
20:44Yeah.
20:44I'm just mindful that it's very high up in the house.
20:48Well, I've got ladders.
20:49I've got a rope.
20:50Yeah.
20:51I'm not an electrician.
20:53I'll get the electrician to put it up.
20:55You just get it down.
20:58Got that?
20:58Yeah.
21:05Right.
21:06You look a bit too nicely dressed for this job.
21:10Shirt and trouser?
21:12Looking smart today.
21:12We'll need a qualified electrician to install it in the barn, but with the power switched
21:18off, I just have the small task of getting it down in one piece.
21:23Yeah, it's heavy.
21:25I'd say it's...
21:2725, 30 kilo.
21:32Er...
21:33But I've got a plan.
21:36Right.
21:36First things first.
21:37I'm just going to connect the rope.
21:41So if you could pass me the rope.
21:44Just as a secondary hoist.
21:50So this rope is going to hold the chandelier up.
21:53OK.
21:54When I think of these jobs, they're not as big...
21:57They're not as big in my head as they are when you come to do it.
22:01No job, what you ever think of, Liz, is big in your head.
22:05I'll tell you this all the time.
22:08Because anything's possible.
22:09The smoke damage from the fire has left everything in the house ruined.
22:13But we're determined to salvage whatever we can, especially items that have been here
22:18longer than us.
22:19It's so disheartening to see the house like this.
22:21And it just...
22:22What isn't burnt is completely smoke-damaged.
22:26And the smell in here is so strong that after a bit, it'll just give you a headache.
22:31But although things probably can't be used, you know, the sofas are just...
22:37Everything smells so strongly of smoke.
22:38But this chandelier was left in the house when we bought it.
22:43Probably because the owner didn't want to do this.
22:45And I've loved it ever since.
22:47And if we can salvage this and put it in the stables, then it'll just feel like a piece
22:52of the house has still been used.
22:55Get rid of the rope, babe.
22:57I'm going to undo it in a minute.
22:59I hope this isn't a Del Trotter moment.
23:02I know.
23:04So do I.
23:05I'm up a ladder.
23:06He who dares wins, Liz.
23:08Right, are you ready?
23:10Yeah.
23:10The full weight of the chandelier...
23:12Yeah, but...
23:13..is on the rope.
23:14Kelvin never fails to impress me.
23:17Like, he can literally do any job.
23:19He's never done this before and he's just...
23:21I mean, he's lassoing a chandelier.
23:27I've never been regarded as being a handyman.
23:30I'm not that handy around the house.
23:31I'm not somebody you would call a DIYer.
23:33How do you know to do all this stuff when you've been an actor for 20 years?
23:37Well, that's why I used to say I'm not an actor, I'm just a lad that can act.
23:40LAUGHTER
23:41That's what I always used to say.
23:46I feel like there should be a choir singing.
23:48Oh!
23:51Hey!
23:52Look at that!
23:55Oh!
23:57Beautiful!
23:57Beautiful!
24:02Wow, Kelvin, I'm so impressed.
24:05Good.
24:06There we go.
24:07Mate, look how stunning this is.
24:13Done.
24:14Amazing.
24:15It's all intact, so all it needs now is just...
24:17I've left the connectors on.
24:20So, in theory, that full piece can be hung.
24:25It'll just go straight up.
24:25Straight up, yeah.
24:27And it's no point even cleaning it.
24:29Oh, I'll give it a little look after.
24:31That's part of the look, isn't it?
24:32Just check all the bulbs.
24:33They work.
24:34Well, they did do.
24:35How do you know?
24:36Well, when we left the house before it set on fire, everything worked.
24:39Why do you think they'll have blown?
24:42Erm...
24:42No, you can see, they'll be all right, then.
24:45We've never seen it this close,
24:47so Liz has certainly never seen it this close,
24:49because it's never been cleaned.
24:50That's never seen a duster, has it?
24:52But it will do now.
24:54And it'll be pride and joy in the centre of the stables.
24:57I feel like you should have been a workman, babe, and not an actor.
25:04That's great.
25:05I feel like you enjoy being a really neat tradesman.
25:10Do you?
25:11Yeah.
25:11Like, even the way you carry the ladder,
25:13I know that you'll purposely not hit anything in the door.
25:16Right, I'll see you, love.
25:18I'll send you an invoice in post.
25:20See you later, Mum.
25:25Thanks for coming.
25:26Thanks for that, Brut, that I didn't get.
25:27LAUGHTER
25:28After some mixed weather, the sun is back, and so are the kids,
25:45all finding fun and mischief on the farm.
25:48It can't be all work and no play,
25:55and the kids never have to go far to find things to do.
25:58I love my dad more than I can see.
26:02I love just, like, being with my dad.
26:05I love that he does acting and dancing and strictly and singing,
26:14and I love watching his videos from Emmerdale.
26:17But on the farm, I love about my daddy is because he just gets stuck in,
26:23and I love how he just, he has no fear in anything.
26:28And if, like, somebody said,
26:29oh, can you get down that drain?
26:30Yeah, sure, I'll get down that drain.
26:32He literally just gets straight into it.
26:35He makes everything dead fun.
26:37So does my mum.
26:38What's your favourite animal on the farm?
26:40Um, poo.
26:42Poo?
26:42Tell me nicely, what's your favourite animal on the farm?
26:46Lamb.
26:48Lambs.
26:49It's just so beautiful to see them working out this farm life
26:54and just being kids and outside and messy, and I love it.
26:58Marnie and Milo lived in Oldham with us before we moved to the farm,
27:02but the twins have known no different.
27:04This is, this is all they know.
27:07And actually, it's really hard to be indoors with them
27:10because they're just desperate to get outside.
27:14And when trying to then run the farm,
27:16now that they've got their freedom,
27:18they kind of follow me on the bikes or their little go-karts.
27:21They're now picking up on the jobs that we do,
27:25and they do them, like, they love feeding the animals,
27:28and that's where you think, wow, it's so special.
27:33Mummy, what are they?
27:35They're mushrooms.
27:37But they're mushrooms?
27:39They're not mushrooms that you eat.
27:40This is more like a fungus.
27:42Come on.
27:43Come on, Matthias.
27:47So, I've finished it, and it says,
27:52I love my dad more than that I can see.
27:58What's this?
27:59I wrote a note.
28:00Is it for me?
28:01It says,
28:03I love my dad more than that I can see.
28:11We are always here for you.
28:13Kiss, kiss, kiss.
28:14And then my love, kiss, kiss, kiss.
28:17And then it gives love from Marnie.
28:21Love heart here.
28:22And then...
28:23Well, there's a lot of kisses and a lot of love hearts, isn't there?
28:26Oh.
28:26Eh?
28:28Oh, thanks.
28:29I love little messages like that.
28:31Should I add to it a little bit?
28:33You can add at the top.
28:34Should I add at the top?
28:35I'll close my eyes.
28:37Marnie can be so thoughtful at times,
28:39and I often find little handwritten notes for me and Mummy
28:42left by her around the farm.
28:45Today's canvas is just a little bit bigger.
28:47Marnie, don't tell Mummy, but you're my favourite.
28:52Don't tell Mummy, but you are my favourite girl.
28:58Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.
29:00Daddy.
29:01Being parents of four kids, Liz and I know a thing or two
29:16about waiting for a baby to arrive.
29:18And with both cows in calf,
29:20Liz especially likes to keep a close eye on them
29:23as they reach their due date.
29:24Every pregnant woman out there knows
29:28that that last two weeks of pregnancy
29:30feels longer than the nine months.
29:33And you're just waiting, and you think,
29:35when is it going to come?
29:36And when it happens, you're like,
29:37oh, no, I'm not ready.
29:39After cleaning out the barn, Ruby,
29:45who's not due for a couple of months,
29:46is being nurse mate to Cherry,
29:48whose calf is due any day.
29:51I think there's three main things,
29:52three main things to look out for
29:53when she's about to calf.
29:56One, she'll start to bag up,
29:58where her other literally starts to fill with milk
30:00and the kind of hip bones somewhat
30:04will just start to sink.
30:06Just kind of here, they'll start to drop here now.
30:08So all the signs are telling us
30:11that Cherry is ready to give birth,
30:13but it's still a waiting game.
30:15I don't know if we're 24 hours away,
30:17if we're five hours away, if we're an hour away.
30:20She's with a friend, she's got a bit of company.
30:22She seems, you know, she seems pretty calm.
30:25That's the important thing, not to stress her out.
30:28I'm just really excited.
30:31I'd love if she calf today.
30:34For the twins to be here and watch it, it'd just be.
30:37When the babies eat it.
30:40Yeah, then they feed the baby in their belly.
30:43Just like when you were in my belly.
30:45I was, your baby was getting big.
30:49It was game.
30:50Bigger, because you two monkeys were in there, weren't you?
30:54Yeah.
30:55Do you remember being in there?
30:56What was it like?
30:58A ball.
30:59A ball.
31:01Oh, you're so cute.
31:03So different.
31:04The last time we calf, it was panic.
31:07You know, we'd caught the calf.
31:10We thought we'd lost the calf.
31:12The calf was stuck and, bless her, Ruby had been struggling all night.
31:18And it was, you know, it was a sunrise and it came to us still asleep and me and Liz were just instinctively pulling the calf out.
31:27And, you know, it was a success, but it was really quite traumatic, especially for the cow and calf.
31:33Hopefully this time round, it's a little bit more plain sailing.
31:36But we're not leaving anything to chance.
31:40And as we're still not living on the farm because of the fire, I want to make sure we don't miss a thing.
31:46What I might do is put up our little camera anyway, just so we've got a bit of reassurance.
31:51Yeah.
31:51By putting up these CCTV cameras, we can keep an eye on Cherry any time, day or night.
31:59Still looking really calm, really relaxed, which is good.
32:04So it's still a waiting game, really.
32:07Could be in the middle of the night.
32:09So having something like this camera just gives you a little bit of reassurance, really, that you're not going to miss anything.
32:16So we just keep checking this as much as we can through the night.
32:19All eyes on the cows now.
32:23It's exciting, though.
32:25And weirdly, I think we're so used to no sleep now that it's not a problem.
32:31We're so used to it.
32:34And the adrenaline kind of kicks in because it's what I've been waiting for for so long.
32:39We're all so excited now. It could happen any minute.
32:41So just on standby.
32:43The good thing is, is that Cherry has calved before, so this is not a first.
32:49Her first calf.
32:51So she's experienced. She knows what to expect.
32:54It's a nice, calm setting.
32:57She's looking in really good condition.
33:00Fingers crossed for a smooth, smooth calving.
33:05And fingers crossed we get a heifer calf.
33:08We want a female calf.
33:09We want to have some of our own breeding stock, which would be great.
33:14Alongside our growing herd, our flock are looking great after spending time out in the summer sunshine,
33:30filling up on the fresh grass.
33:32But they are also looking ready for their annual trip to the barbers.
33:35We shared our tups last year, me and Liz, and it was, we said never again.
33:44Never, ever again.
33:46We've only done two and a half sheep.
33:49Oh, God.
33:51It looks like someone's been murdered.
33:53I'm absolutely fuming.
33:55I don't want to laugh or cry.
33:58These boys make it look easy.
34:00Unless you actually have a go, you don't realise the physicality and how taxing it is.
34:04Obviously, the technique is there, but the strength and that stamina is...
34:10And you don't see them stopping for a tea break every two minutes like us actors do.
34:13We like to have a tea break.
34:14James and Sam have helped keep our flock trimmed since we bought our very first sheep.
34:20And while they take care of the shearing, it's down to me to make sure the flock form an orderly queue.
34:27Sheep shearing day on the farm is always a big family favourite,
34:31so Liz and the kids are on their way to help too.
34:34Why do we shear the sheep, Matthias?
34:36So we shear the sheep because they get too hot in summer.
34:39And then what do we do with the wool?
34:43Make comfort.
34:43Make covers, we make blankets, yeah!
34:49So that's like taking their coat off.
34:52And they'll be like, oh, finally!
34:55I've cooled down.
34:56Do you feel it?
34:57Like that in your fingers, what does it feel like?
35:00Does it feel soft?
35:02This is an exciting part of farming.
35:05It's when we finally get to shear the sheep.
35:08It's a fascinating tradition, really, when you think about it.
35:11Like these guys are so skilled and it is, you know, it's a slog, it's a big, it's a tough job.
35:18And they do it and they're passionate about it and they love it and it's really fascinating to watch.
35:22I never get bored of watching it.
35:27Ooh, four down.
35:2950 to go.
35:30And our best shepherdess, Marnie, is keen to get stuck in.
35:34Marnie, what you can try and do is when the fleece is done, fold the fleece up and put it in the bag.
35:39Do you want to try and do that job?
35:42Yeah, this is just, you know, there's a lot to do.
35:44Somebody bringing the sheep in, sorting the sheep out, just giving the shearers less to do, really.
35:48They've got enough to do, shearing all these sheep without having to kind of sort them out and everything like that, so.
35:54But I've got Marnie here, my little helper, so she's on fleece duty at the minute.
35:58So as soon as the fleece are off the sheep, she folds it up and puts it in the bag.
36:02This is the best wool, black and white, like, look at it.
36:05So last year, we managed to take our wool to a mill that's in Oldham, where we grew up.
36:14And we managed to turn that wool into blankets and we did really, really well with it.
36:18I mean, look at that.
36:19That.
36:21Just gorgeous.
36:25And we can actually do something with it.
36:27And we sold out a lot.
36:28The whole stuff went.
36:30So this time, we've got the core colours.
36:33I've kind of, this time I've worked with the mill a little bit more.
36:35I've actually looked at what's on trend.
36:38I mean, get me.
36:39I've actually looked at what colours are coming out this season, what's happening at the fashion shows.
36:45It's been really exciting.
36:47It's been amazing looking at different colour fabrics, colour swatches.
36:51Selling the blankets started as a side hustle,
36:54but it's fast becoming another important income to the farm.
36:58Get a few hundred blankets out of this.
37:00We're going to need a bigger bag.
37:01The next process for this is so exciting and interesting.
37:06Like, this will get washed, it'll get dyed, it'll get spawned, it'll get weak.
37:11It's just so fascinating that that becomes something else.
37:15How many we got, Lear?
37:17Four or five more, is there?
37:19There's a lot of blankets there.
37:20That's what you've got to keep thinking of.
37:22It'll be worth it.
37:23This is good, though.
37:24This is the bit I enjoy, the farming that I enjoy, is, you know, when you're a bit of hard work, physical.
37:29And even though I'll never make a decent sheep shearer, I can't resist having another go.
37:34This time, under the guidance of the pros.
37:37So, I'll roll that way, will I?
37:39Yeah.
37:39Keep the head this way, all?
37:40The head this way, yeah.
37:42And going down that way?
37:43Down here.
37:44Oh, that feels well, mate.
37:47So, when, till there?
37:49Yeah, if you're full of the skin.
37:51It's a family field skin.
37:53Yeah, it's always good to learn, and at least attempt the skill, just in case.
38:01But, um, that's precious wool, you know.
38:04I don't want it coming off in a little bit, because I like it to come off as a full belief.
38:09Have some faith, Liz.
38:10I'm doing my best.
38:12That is the trick.
38:13When they shear, they have to shear the wool in such a way that it comes off almost in one piece.
38:21And that is the skill.
38:23I mean, the fact that you've got to hold the sheep as well, which is really strong.
38:29Make sure that they're safe and not moving.
38:31And then make sure the police comes off as one.
38:34There's a lot of things going on at once.
38:36And they do brilliantly at it.
38:38I must admit, this is not easy.
38:41And I've got even more respect for James and Sam being able to shear our full flock so quickly.
38:46It's difficult.
38:49It's a feeling, really.
38:50You just feel like you're going to nip it every time.
38:52You've just got the confidence to be right on the skin, really.
38:56What did you start shearing, James?
38:59About 16.
39:01Are you talking to your dad?
39:02Yeah.
39:03There you go.
39:04How did you get on with that last one?
39:08I missed it.
39:09I was terrible.
39:10Oh, right.
39:10I won't give up my day of jobs.
39:12James will always ring you then every year.
39:14I'd always said our excuse last year was because we didn't have the proper kit, but...
39:18I had the proper kit and it's still hard.
39:20James, you've been with us since day one now, haven't you?
39:22I know.
39:22I've shown every year since then.
39:24You have, haven't you?
39:24Have you?
39:25James has been with us since we had ten sheep.
39:28All of them costwards.
39:29Two of them costwards, yeah, yeah.
39:31The price has gone up.
39:35Job well done, I think, yeah.
39:37They're all shared.
39:39They'll all feel a lot more comfortable now as it starts to heat up.
39:43Lambs are looking great.
39:44All in all, a good day.
39:46And, more importantly, lots of blankets.
39:51You better get busy with designing some new colours.
39:53I've already done it.
39:54What colours are we on?
39:55Wait and see.
39:57Let me know if you want to put an order in.
39:59Right, come on, well done, guys.
40:01Thank you for that.
40:03We'll see you down there.
40:05The flock are looking fresh.
40:08The bags are bursting with wool.
40:10And we're all excited to see it come to life and be used for something truly special.
40:24With Cherry's Calf expected any day now, I've been on night watch via the CCTV cameras we installed in the barn.
40:37And at 5am this morning, our latest addition to the farm arrived without a hitch.
40:50And Cherry's maternal instincts kicked in immediately.
41:03Hello.
41:04You've always got to keep the calf in between you and the cow.
41:21So that the cow can see its calf and obviously see you as well.
41:26What you don't want to do is stand between the cow and the calf.
41:30It's really important.
41:32You're a beautiful little thing, aren't you?
41:34You've produced a gorgeous little calf, haven't you, Cherry?
41:49That's just...
41:51What an absolute privilege this is.
41:55I'd never have thought ever would this be my life.
42:04How good is nature?
42:06It's just unbelievable, isn't it?
42:07Cherry had done amazing.
42:09She'd calved herself.
42:10I think the most important thing as well, the calf looks good.
42:14And instinctively, they then go and look for a feed.
42:16That first few hours, just like a lamb, it's absolutely crucial for the survival of the calf, really.
42:24And Cherry's just been so calm.
42:26You've got to be really careful when you...
42:27You know, it's a newborn calf.
42:29You've got to respect the animal.
42:31And she's just been so calm.
42:33And she's allowed me to check the calf.
42:36I've given her a little stroke, a little cuddle to say, well done.
42:40And they just look so happy together.
42:43Every birth on the farm is special.
42:46And this young bull calf will grow up to play his part in expanding our herd too.
42:55Baby cow?
42:56Yeah, a baby cow.
42:59Are you ready?
43:01Oh, a baby cow!
43:04What do you think?
43:05Good.
43:06Why can't it not stand up?
43:08It's only just being born.
43:10It's just...
43:11You know, when you were first born, you didn't stand up straight away, did you?
43:15No.
43:15You had to be picked up.
43:17So look.
43:19He stood up.
43:21And guess what it is?
43:22It's a boy.
43:23Yeah, a baby boy.
43:24It's a little boy.
43:26It's a friend.
43:28Aww.
43:29And she did it on her own.
43:30All by herself.
43:32She's a great cow, isn't she?
43:34So another bull, another boy.
43:36Another boy.
43:37We're not doing well with these girls, are we?
43:39We can see what we're doing with.
43:41The female.
43:41The female.
43:42As Cherish seems relaxed having me in the pen, I can weigh the car so we can track his growth
43:50over the next few months.
43:51It's okay.
43:56It's okay, Cherish.
44:01Come on.
44:04Come on, it's okay.
44:0547.
44:07I said 45.
44:0947.
44:10I said 45.
44:1147.
44:12Wow.
44:13Come on.
44:14Amazing.
44:15Well done.
44:16Well done.
44:17Well done, girl.
44:18Well done.
44:19Well done.
44:20Look at that beautiful little calf.
44:22That's your baby.
44:23Look at him.
44:24Good girl.
44:25Well done.
44:26Well done.
44:27Well done.
44:28Well done.
44:29Look at that beautiful little calf.
44:32That's your baby.
44:33Look at him.
44:36Good girl.
44:38Well, 47 kilo bull calf.
44:44That's a cracking little calf, that.
44:46Now we just need to think of a name.
44:48Baby Barry.
44:49Barry the bull.
44:50I mean, Barry's a good strong name, isn't he?
44:53Barry the bull.
44:55Oh, the cow just loves me when...
45:02Let's go see your granddad.
45:04Come on, Ginger.
45:07I think it's safe to say the name is undecided.
45:10But I'm just thrilled to have another healthy calf join the herd.
45:18Next week on our farm.
45:20It's naming day for our new bull calf.
45:23The Milo first.
45:24Wolf king.
45:25Wolf king.
45:26Wolf king.
45:27Wolf king.
45:28Liz gets creative in the cottage.
45:30Have I gone delusional?
45:32Or is that amazing?
45:35And we get one step closer to living back on the farm full time.
45:39We didn't choose a caravan life.
45:40The caravan life chose us.
45:41We didn't choose a caravan life.
45:42The caravan life chose us.
45:43The caravan life chose us.
45:44We did shows up the young animals.
45:45We can't whew.
45:46Until we get into the house.
45:47We got the new adults.
45:48We can't see you.
45:49We are.
45:50We're.
45:51We're.
45:52We have.
45:53We have a new home.
45:54We're.
45:55We're.
45:56We are a new house.
45:57We're.
45:58We're.
45:59We're.
46:01We're.
46:02We're.
46:03We do.
46:04We're.
46:05We're.
46:06We're.
46:07We're.
46:08We're.
46:10We're.
46:11We're.
46:12You
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