Celebrating in the snow
Even the harshest of weather can’t stop the celebrations at Amanda Owen’s Yorkshire hilltop home Amanda Owen, 42, lives with her husband Clive, 62, on a 2,000-acre farm high in the Yorkshire Dales. They have nine children, 1,000 sheep, 40 cows, as well
There is a different feeling in the air when it’s Christmas Day here, even though in lots of ways our lives go on much as they always do. We get up at six in the morning, have a cup of tea, wish everyone a Happy Christmas and then we all have a job to do – one of the older children will light the fire, another will look after the cows in the barn, and Clive and I go out to feed the sheep.
Our home is two ancient cottages put together. I have a diary from past owners dating back to 1820 that complains of the leaky roof – that hasn’t changed!
It’s certainly no show-home and there are usually socks and bits of Lego everywhere, but it’s clean and cosy. We have a big farmhouse kitchen with a flagstone floor, which is practical when you have lots of people coming in and out with muddy boots. There’s a fire burning in the hearth, clothes drying, plus a couple of mischievous terriers who always seem to get their heads caught in the gaps in the fireplace’s fender.
My husband is from Doncaster and I grew up in Huddersfield, so neither of us is from this background. My dream wasn’t about having a perfect house, but being able to shepherd sheep and live in this landscape. With a big family, everyone has to muck in. Whether it’s finding the eggs in the hay to make Yorkshire puddings – we always have an argument as to whether Yorkshires belong with a Christmas dinner – or lugging in the wood for the fire, chores need to be done. The children have horses to ride and acres to explore. There’s a lot of freedom, but with that comes responsibility and a need for common sense. They learn that if they sit in front of the fire and watch it go out, there won’t be any hot water for a bath.
Every Christmas, I start with great
‘I have a traditional Yorkshire range, a Rayburn and a Rangemaster, so that’s a total of five ovens at my disposal’
AMANDA OWEN
intentions of having a minimalist tree with a colour theme, but end up with baubles from down the years, pine cones and homemade Santas covered in cotton wool. We also decorate the barn with holly and make sure that all of the cows and sheep get a festive present of a salt-lick.
As we’re very remote here, I tend to collect presents for the children throughout the year. There’s no shortage of hiding places with all the barns! We’re on a budget, so the gift might be something upcycled. One year, for the younger ones, we bought car seats and dressed them up as reindeer. Another year they each got a pet rabbit, which is what they wanted even though there are hundreds running wild around the farm! I do get Clive a present, but it’s usually something I want. Last year, he got a new fork and I got a wheelbarrow that he had his eye on.
We get snow every year, so a white Christmas is quite likely. The kids like to go out on their skis or have snowball fights, but if it drifts it makes looking after the sheep really hard. We’ve had years when there’s been no water or electricity. That’s all right if it’s just for a couple of days, because we always have a fire and I have a pantry that’s stocked up, but beyond that, it’s not fun.
Shopping is tricky because it’s an hour by road to the nearest supermarket, with other shops further afield, but in general the Christmas dinner isn’t such a big deal for me as I’m so used to cooking on a grand scale. I have a traditional Yorkshire range, a Rayburn and a Rangemaster, so that’s a total of five ovens at my disposal. I might try and do some preparation the day before, but as there’s always something to do on the farm, it doesn’t always happen.
On Christmas Day itself, I put a white cloth on our old table and, invariably, within three seconds someone spills cranberry sauce or wine on it. The table will be heaving with food and we eat turkey for about a week afterwards. The children all love Christmas dinner, including sprouts. Some do prefer the Boxing Day meal, though – cold turkey, good gravy and homemade twice-cooked chips.
I wouldn’t say I’m particularly religious, but being so close to nature does affect you. We’re working with the animals in the same way people did hundreds of years ago and you feel a connection with the past that makes it more meaningful. Although I have a mountain of things to do, I still throw an extra hand of straw into the manger.
We have traditions that help to make the time special. There’s a parish party a few days before Christmas, and a community carol service. The local Silver Band plays at all of the neighbouring farms on Christmas Eve. It starts at the highest farm – that’s us – and makes its way back down to the Dale. In The
Bleak Midwinter ringing out from a huge band in your living room is quite something.
Also, on Christmas Eve, our children insist we wake them up at midnight to go out and see if the horses are kneeling down in the stable in honour of ‘He who was in a stable born’ – it might happen one year, but only because the horse is arthritic. Seeing them sleepily streaming out to the barn in the dark with the stars shining over us is lovely.
If any friends are stuck for something to do on Christmas Day, we tell them to come over, because the day is all about people.
I put on a bit of make-up, even if I’m only going to see Clive, the children and the sheep. As with the whole of Christmas, it’s about making the effort and having fun.
l Amanda’s book A Year In The Life of The Yorkshire Shepherdess (£7.99, Pan Macmillan) is on sale now