So how's life on the croft (farm)?

Being house sitters means enjoying a warm, comfortable house with an epic view… for free. But like most things in life there is always a catch. In this instance we are required to mind 23 pets. That sounds scary but so far that has been part of the charm.

With 16 chickens and 6 ducks Richard’s morning starts at the crack of dawn, 9am. The chicken hoppers are filled and their water checked and they are let out of their low rounded hutch – everything here is designed to withstand a gale. The ducks are fed then let out of their enclosure. Their drinking water is topped up by watering can. The can is returned to the tap and refilled so that it does not blow away. We are used to chooks at home but ducks are something else. They live up to their reputation as the comedians of the animal world. They certainly put on a show! Eggs are collected at this stage, but only from the ducks as the chickens in mid-winter do not seem to be earning their keep. The cat gets her morning thyroid tablet which requires Wendy’s assistance. It takes nearly as long to don the wet weather gear and boots as it does to do the work.

As the mid-afternoon light fades (3pm) the chooks get an afternoon mixed grain snack (as is their ritual) and the ducks are bribed out of the paddock into their fenced enclosure for their afternoon tea.

At ‘proper dark’ about 4.45pm Richard again dons his wet weather ensemble (now with head torch) and locks the chooks up for the night. The ducks need a little more convincing to go to bed and don’t like sudden movements. They slowly respond to ‘bed ducks’ and some gentle herding. The cat then gets her second daily tablet and the crofters work is done for another day.

When the weather is fine…it’s a lot of fun. When the wind and rain howls it’s a little more challenging.

A few “The Good Life” chores seem a small price to pay for free room and board for three weeks.