I had car trouble yesterday. What should have been a half an hour job at the garage has turned into a 4 day affair costing nearly £1000! The car was stuck and I needed to get back quickly as I had a kid off colour and two sheep about to lamb so the very kind workshop manager offered to run me home. He didn’t even blink when I told him it was 13 miles away!

It turned out he was, like me, a Londoner born and bred and on route  we got chatting. Twenty years down here in rural Devon had not really impacted on him at all I suppose because of his line of work. We joked about the strange paths life takes us on and how farming was the last thing I had ever thought to do. We joked too about the narrow lanes although it gradually dawned on me that, despite living here for so long, he had not ventured very much off the main routes. Living and working in two of the main towns in the area he had no need to and the country  was not only a closed book but even a slightly hostile environment.

I remember that feeling well; travelling through the countryside, wondering a) what that farmer in the tractor was actually doing b) what those huge piles of plastic wrapped bales were and c) what were the names of the different crops. As an “outsider” I had no way of finding out.

As we approached the farm he was clearly stunned by the beauty of the place. “You live here?” he asked. “And all this is yours?”  “Yes!” I replied, not sure if I should apologise for having so much. “Crikey!” was the response. “What a fantastic place!”

The goats came in to view up on the hill. I had a sudden thought. “Would you like to see the animals?”

“Love to!” he said much to my surprise. We parked at the house and walked to the fence. I called the goats and 150 came over at the trot to see what I wanted.  They stopped short as they realised I had unfamiliar company.

“They just come when you call?” he asked, hardly able to believe his eyes.

“Unless they are out of earshot – in which case I send the dog!”

“Oh now you are really joking!” he said, laughing. I was surprised for a moment and then realised he meant it. So, Belle was hauled out of an afternoon nap and asked to go and prove herself! She is currently having to tread on eggshells round the goats with their kids so as not to upset the mums and get a horn in her flank for her trouble but she performed flawlessly and brought the goats close to the fence for him to see.

“Cor!” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that!”

We then made a trip to the barn to see the youngest kids, the lambs and the general set up. He cuddled a little Boer male and spent ages talking to and stroking my very cuddly Angoras. He was clearly totally besotted and actually had tears in his eyes!!

Finally we returned to the house and it was time for him to go. “Should have been back ages ago! “he said laughing. “Don’t care though. I’ve had a brilliant time. Thank you so much! Can I bring my wife and kids to see this?”

I said yes of course. I’m always happy to share this place and its animals with people who appreciate it. He went off a very happy man  perhaps knowing just a little more about the strange land which lies just off the main roads of Devon.

I went off reflecting yet again just how much we need Farm Sunday and similar initiatives.