We’ve become so incredibly fond of this farm; it has seeped into my bones in a way that I haven’t ever felt before.
Everything about it feels perfect, from the view and the atmosphere to the location and the sense of memory and continuity. Max’s gran once owned it, the view opposite has the farm he grew up on,hidden from sight, but there.
Increasingly though, I love the sense of belonging. I love that the owners welcome us like friends – they feel almost like adopted family to me – that they’ve watched the girls grow and now the boy too and they understand his meaning. They’ve known us from our darkest days and they’ve become very dear to me.
This week they’ve given all the kids the chance to ride. It’s a self catering cottage, not a farm that advertises activities, so riding, egg collecting, dog hugging, duck feeding are special extras that are a huge bonus to my city ducklings.
It is possibly the most welcoming place in the world. I have no idea what I will do when we can’t come here any more. Thank you, Susie and James, for making us so welcome at Lower Hookner again. (Although I may not be blessing you so much when Bene starts asking for a pony!)
