From Seed Drills to Garden Centres.

Friday 19th September 2025

Dad decided this morning that some of the parts on the seed drill needed replacing. He says the new tractor should be arriving next week, and once that happens he’ll want to get going with the drilling. Some of the drill parts still had some wear in them but would need changing before the season ended, so since we’re already a little late starting, he thought it best to swap them out now rather than lose a day later on.

After breakfast he had me take the plough off my tractor so he could hitch up the drill and bring it out of the barn. Once I’d got that done, he sent me off to collect the parts he’d ordered. By the time I got back, he’d already attached the drill to my tractor and was busy setting it up.

Then, to my surprise, he told me to take the rest of the day off and spend some time with Mum. I was hoping to help with replacing the parts. When I went inside, I found mum huffing and puffing over the ironing, declaring (not for the first time) that half her life seems to be spent doing it. I could see then why dad perhaps thought my time was better spent with mum. So I suggested we go out to the garden center and have some lunch. Mum does love garden centers — especially the eating part.

As I was ready before her, I quickly made Dad and Eric some sandwiches to keep them going. Then off we went. Mum had a Mediterranean salad for lunch, I had a big plate of fish and chips! Hardly elegant, but very satisfying. Afterwards, we wandered around the plants and displays. They’d already put up some Christmas decorations, which felt all wrong in September, though they were pretty in their own way.

Back at home, I only meant to change out of my clothes, but I made the mistake of lying down on my bed and promptly fell asleep for an entire hour. I must have needed it.

Since our lunch had been quite filling, Mum and I just had a light dinner later on. That meant we were done nice and early, so I asked if they minded me going out on my bike while there was still a bit of daylight. I love cycling after dinner, though I know there won’t be many more evenings left for it now the nights are drawing in.

All in all, it felt like a good day — a proper mix of farm work, family time, and a little freedom of my own.