Page 39 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Back in the farmhouse, she made a couple of calls and had two building companies lined up to visit within the week to give a quote for the basic renovation work.

The good news was that grants and rural schemes were available for this kind of diversification, but on reading the small print, what was worrying was that most grants needed a good solid investment from the farmer themselves and could take several months to come through should they even be agreed. Hmm, quite where that kind of financial investment would come from was beyond her at this stage. But that wasn’t going to stop Rachel’s plans and dreams just yet – she’d get some quotes to start and cross that bridge when she came to it.

She lost herself in research and all too soon it was time to go and collect Maisy from the school bus. As it was drizzling, she nipped to the lane end in the Land Rover – Moss leaping in the back to join in. She just had time for a quick hello and catch-up with Eve, when the school bus came into view and pulled up. The first off was Maisy, bouncing down the steps in her royal-blue school uniform, rucksack swinging off one shoulder, one sock up and one down, and a beam of a smile on her face. She ran over to give Rachel a big hug.

Maisy was full of chat about Eleanor’s mum bringing in her two gerbils Bubble and Squeak for show and tell.

She started giggling as she said, ‘Aw, they were so cute and naughty. Do you know what Bubble did?’

‘No?’

Maisy and Amelia then collapsed with infectious, sunny laughter. ‘He pooed … all over Mrs Watson’s hand.’

‘Oops.’ Rachel couldn’t help but smile, imagining the classroom scenario.

‘Oops, poops,’ said Maisy cheekily, giggling again.

‘Come on then, let’s head home. Bye, Eve, bye, Amelia.’ Rachel gave them a wave as she got back in the Land Rover.

Maisy rubbed Moss’s shaggy coat affectionately as he came to greet her with a lick as she took up her seat beside Rachel. ‘Hey, Mossy boy.’

‘Let’s go then.’

‘Can we have hot chocolate when we get in?’

‘Well that depends, have you been a good girl at school?’

‘Of course, I was the best!’

‘The best? Well, I suppose that’s deserving of a nice cup of cocoa.’

‘By-ee!’ Maisy called to Amelia and her mum, as they moved off.

Back at the farmhouse soon afterwards, they had their hot chocolates – Grandma-Jill-style with whipped cream and mini marshmallows on the top – and then later they tucked into a supper of cheese and ham omelettes with salad.

‘Right Maisy, I’m going out to check on the sheep. Do you want to come and see how Pete’s getting on out in the field? He’s a big boy with all the others now.’

‘Oh, wow. Does he like it? I bet he’s made some new friends.’

‘He probably has, and by the way he was gambolling around like a loony this morning, I think he was very happy, and enjoying the fresh grass to eat.’

Rachel and Maisy popped their coats on. Though the rains had passed and it was a pleasant evening it would soon cool, and it was often nippy when riding on the open-air quad which was easier to use in the fields. Rachel gave a quick whistle to Moss who was up like a shot from his prone position in the porch. He was sadly banished from the kitchen for health and safety reasons just now with the pudding business underway, but he sneaked as close as he could, bless him. Rachel made sure she still gave him lots of attention though, and he was her companion on the farm for most of the day, sat happily in the back of the quad.

The sheep and lambs were spread over two large fields, with the latest arrivals and the newly turned out pet lambs being in the one nearest the farmyard. Pete came running up to the quad, seemingly excited, and Maisy got down to give him a pat and a cob of sheep nut which made him very happy.

‘Hi there, Petie, do you like your new field?’ Maisy was chatting away with her four-legged friend and he baaed his response. They both then gave him a good rub on the back – Rachel had to admit she was fond of him too – before moving on to see the others. Rachel spotted a ewe that was limping and needed her foot trimming. She dealt with it and finished with a douse of antiseptic. Then they drove up to the top of the hill and sat side by side on the grass, sharing one of Jill’s melt-in-the-mouth chocolate brownies and looking out at the view before them: rolling green fields, rising moorland near to Doddington Hill and away on the horizon the dark blue glimpse of the sea. It was so calm up here, quiet, other than the odd baa of a sheep and tweet of a bird. A place to chat in comfort about their day, a place to catch up and just breathe.

‘All fine at school today, Maisy?’

‘Yeah, good. I played with a new girl today, Bethany. She was nice … but not as nice as Amelia. But Mrs Watson said we had to let her join in our game.’

‘Well, that’s a kind thing to do. And I expect she was a bit shy. It’s hard when you’re the new one.’

‘A bit like Pete in the field, I suppose.’

‘Yes, a bit like Pete.’

‘He’s making friends. I saw him playing with those other lambs.’

‘Yes, and I’m sure Bethany will too, as long as you are all friendly to her.’

It was a lovely mum and daughter moment, sat chatting as the sun began to fade in the sky, their sheep and cattle content in the fields below. The farmhouse light was a welcoming glow in the valley, where Grandma Jill would be getting some milk warmed on the Aga soon, ready for Maisy’s bedtime. Their valley was peaceful and, despite its problems, the farm, their home, was such a comfort.