December With Hannah Russell, Little Alf & Friends

Each day seems to fly past and just like that it’s December. I love Christmas it’s such a special time as it was the festive season when Little Alf came to live with me. That was ten years ago – how fast time has flown; who knew then what was to come?

It’s our first Christmas in the new house at Swinton Green, Masham and I’m really looking forward to the new year on the farm with all the animals. I've never had so many animals and looking back at the past few months I can’t believe how much my furry family has grown.

Last month ‘Ivan’ the Valais Blacknose tup came to live here. He is on loan for a few weeks, currently spending time with Izzy & Ida. I’m hoping for some lambs in Spring 2023, although at the moment there's not much activity happening so it might not be successful this year. It’s one of the harsh things you learn having a small holding and animals, sometimes things go right, sometimes they don’t. As long as my animals are happy and healthy that is the main thing.

Pip, the wire haired dachshund, is on the road to a full recovery after eating a stone a couple of months ago. Out of all my animals, Pip causes me the most trouble and money. Writing about dogs, Winston the latest addition to the family, a black flat coated retriever, is now 16 weeks old. He is likely to become quite huge as he is already bigger than Pip and Elvis the springer spaniel. His temperament is lovely and so far, he’s so well behaved.

At Swinton Green I’m keen to get the decorations up, although with a new puppy under my feet I’m going to hold off until closer to Christmas, but it doesn’t stop the daily playing of Christmas music and warming mince pies.

Little Alf has been in the office with me as I am busy packing up Christmas orders. I feel so lucky that we found each other because without him I often wonder what journey I would be on.