By Ruth Kimber.

Life here is as busy as it gets, with the farm and all the winter routines, feeding, bedding and caring for the animals, not to forget the twice-a-day milking.
The turkey work has been made challenging in the cold weather – water pipes frozen, even the hot water in the farm turkey butchery froze. Water troughs had to be thawed, which demonstrates how cold it’s been – normally the cattle keep them going by use.

The farm shop and internet have been extremely busy – Naomi has been tormented with delayed deliveries as the roads around the country have been slippery and accidents caused various problems. The phone never stops!
Each year we install a life-size Nativity on a trailer we converted into a stable – Jason and Clare from the shop came and friends Jean and Jeremy helped me dress the figures, then Paul and I installed it at the shop. I heard on social media that someone had posted ‘Christmas must be here, the Kimbers have the Nativity up’. This has been a tradition for many years, starting at the old farm shop on the farm.

However, business has been brisk, although we still have some lovely 3-4-5kg bronze turkeys left. We always aim to freeze birds for sale during the year, so turkey can be enjoyed not just at Christmas.
Calving continues with a good number of dairy heifers being born. Being so cold we use calf jackets to keep the calves warm. They are like a padded coat, which I wash after each calf has finished with it. A good investment, they are hard-wearing and well made, they certainly play a part in calf rearing.
Sorry it’s short, just no time!

Kimbers Farm Shop, The Kitchen and Somerset Trading Barn, Linley Farm BA9 8 HD; www.kimbersfarmshop.co.uk
Phone: 01963 33177; open Tuesday-Friday 8.30am-5pm, Saturday 9.30am-4pm.