Hello everybody,

I wasn’t planning to start blogging again during these new abroad/placement experience but I changed my mind. All because I think it’s really worth it to tell you this area is absolutely beautiful. It’s my second day at Ragman’s Lane Farm and I slept very well in my own private yurt last night. I arrived yesterday afternoon after a long trip by plane, train, bus, and car but all went smooth. Just to give you an impression: when I open my yurt-door (how do you call that because it’s actually not a door) I look out over the green hills of Wye Valley with some cows and afar a few little cottages and typical British churches that you might recognise from episodes of Downtown Abbey or something. I don’t hear any other sounds than birds and sometimes a car passing by.

This morning I got the idea to explore the area a bit so I put on my walking shoes and walked towards the road. Soon I recognized there was no pedestrian path (later I found out there were some but they looked like no one have used them ever since so I thought that was not very safe). There was no other option than to walk along the high way. Again soon I found out that was not a very good idea because cars drive really (I mean really) fast and it seemed they were not very used to people walking along that road. Anyway, I had no other choice than to continue my journey uphill and after half an hour I reached Ruardean. Ruardean was quiet because it was Sunday so I left quite fast as well because there was not much to see. However, it's a sweet little village where I found a pub (of course), a church with a big graveyard, a butcher, and a filling station. This is the end of the story because Ruardean is the only village to reach easily without a bike or car.

My first working day will start tomorrow morning and I am looking forward to it because the farm managers are so friendly and warm and the Young Organic Growers are nice too. These are 4 people from almost the same age as I am. They rent some plots of land and grown their own veggies and herbs and sell it on local markets. Yesterday I had some salad from their garden which was really delicious. See, organic food is so much more tastier and healthier! There is small pond here as well with some geese. Very nice. And a hot tub.

I think this is all I wanted to share with you so far. Looking forward what coming weeks will bring me. I will try to upload some pictures as well, if I have time (means: if I feel to do so). The weather is fine by the way, cloudy but no rain (for the ones interested in the weather conditions here).

Much love, Yanthe