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To be jealous of Amanda Owen (Yorkshire Shepherdess)

320 replies

AliceAbsolum · 19/11/2021 19:04

Her life just looks amazing. Yes obviously hard at times and not perfect. But 9 lovely children, she's gorgeous, kind husband, successful career, meaningful job and being able to spend time outdoors with her family. All the animals and space.
What I'd give for that life!

OP posts:
LittleDandelionClock · 19/11/2021 20:53

@Tal45

I grew up on a farm, it's fine as a child but relentless as an adult. I could never feel remotely jealous.
This. ^ Lots of children have 'fun' lives on farms. Taylor Swift had a wonderful life (she said,) on her parents Christmas Tree Farm. For adults however, it's a different kettle of fish!

I live rurally and am surrounded by farms, and I know several farmers. I see how hard they work, how brutal and physical it is, how their livelihood is very weather dependent, how many of them barely break even financially, and how they are out from dawn til dusk in Spring, Summer, and Autumn. (16-17 hour days.) They still work 10-12 hour days in winter. As I said, many barely break even financially, and don't even own the farm and the land - they rent it.

Planting and sowing, and reaping and harvesting goes on all year round, not just the traditional Harvest Festival time. (September- October.) It's a 365 days a year job! They also have a lot of work on their hands looking after their animals too, and there is also a lot of admin involved with buying and selling their animals, and their farm goods (milk/hay/eggs/meat etc...) And the farm machinery is eye-wateringly expensive. £50,000 to £70,000 for a new tractor alone!

When Jeremy Clarkson started a farm not long back, he was visibly shocked and taken aback by how expensive everything was, how much work was involved, and how difficult some tasks were that he thought would be easy (ie, using a plough/operating a tractor!)

Life as a farmer is bloody hard work, and they are very underrated and under appreciated. But I would never EVER want to be one. And would never envy them. It's is NOT an easy life.

WheelieBinPrincess · 19/11/2021 20:55

@Chichichiwawa sure but the actual day of school starting? Wouldn’t you have addressed the fact she might not be ready before that? They clearly thought she was so why not just see how she got on?

GoGoGretaDoll · 19/11/2021 21:00

Oooh I should avoid these threads but... I don't watch her show because she's vocal about the evils of screens/social media/the mod'ren world - while pimping her kids and lifestyle out on screens and social media to the mod'ren world. I think that's hypocritical, at least.

ivykaty44 · 19/11/2021 21:01

Her children don't go to school, do they? Not for me. Children need GCSEs!

what a bizarre comment!

DumplingsAndStew · 19/11/2021 21:07

@itssquidstella

Her children don't go to school, do they? Not for me. Children need GCSEs!
Gosh, I know. Imagine all these poor kids in almost every single other country of the world that isn't England.

GCSEs > everything!

LillianGish · 19/11/2021 21:09

Upland farmers income is on average around £20,000 per annum. They earn much, much less than minimum wage - and there you have it in a nutshell. Their "idyllic" life - with nine children to support - is simply not viable without all the extra money she makes from her books, tv appearances, instagram account, advertising contracts etc etc. And yet surprise, surprise all this attention has put their marriage under pressure (and ironically destroyed the very isolation and life-style which people wanted to read about and watch in the first place). Advertising lamb from Morrisons was probably the final straw for me - especially when she tried to make us believe a single leg could make three or four different meals for all 11 of them.
I think Raven is at York St John university studying bio-medicine.

billycat321 · 19/11/2021 21:09

The seven youngest all go to school. The oldest girl is at university and the oldest boy is an apprentice mechanic

NotonMyHighSt · 19/11/2021 21:14

@AliceAbsolum Allegedly, she has moved out of their farm house and into a large cottage nearby as they have split up. The cottage used to be let out as a holiday rental but now the website says it's closed owing to covid. That is rather odd as it may have been ages back but holiday accommodation has been up and running for ages.
She has also supposedly bought another farm up the valley for herself as an alternative income source if they divorce as the current farm is tenanted in her H's name and if there is a divorce, she would have to leave the business.

I simply can't get my head round anyone having 9 kids- and the impact on a woman's body. Luckily she is 6 ft 2, so she's built for breeding.

Couchbettato · 19/11/2021 21:16

@Feelingofftoday

9 kids? Fuck that!
Ive got just the one and I often say fuck that.

Fuck knows how any one does 9 kids.

I have to wear tena lady in case I piss myself when I sneeze because of pelvic prolapse.

NotonMyHighSt · 19/11/2021 21:17

@ivykaty44

Her children don't go to school, do they? Not for me. Children need GCSEs!

what a bizarre comment!

The kids go to school in Kirby Lonsdale. and get the school bus every day.
Couchbettato · 19/11/2021 21:17

And I had a c section to add

NotonMyHighSt · 19/11/2021 21:20

she's made over £1million from her brand. It includes stationery, articles in local newspapers, talks, across the country, book, and of course the TV.

They are tenant farmers. They get free housing and earn from their livestock. No one goes into tenant farming to be rich.

AliceAbsolum · 19/11/2021 21:20

[quote NotonMyHighSt]@AliceAbsolum Allegedly, she has moved out of their farm house and into a large cottage nearby as they have split up. The cottage used to be let out as a holiday rental but now the website says it's closed owing to covid. That is rather odd as it may have been ages back but holiday accommodation has been up and running for ages.
She has also supposedly bought another farm up the valley for herself as an alternative income source if they divorce as the current farm is tenanted in her H's name and if there is a divorce, she would have to leave the business.

I simply can't get my head round anyone having 9 kids- and the impact on a woman's body. Luckily she is 6 ft 2, so she's built for breeding.[/quote]
Ah interesting!
Do taller women have an easier time with child bearing?

OP posts:
expatmigrant · 19/11/2021 21:21

Couldn't think of anything worse. I'm a city girl...country side is somewhere I go for the weekend...at a push. And with 2 DC's that's 2 more than I had planned for Wink

NotonMyHighSt · 19/11/2021 21:21

Kirkby Lonsdale - small market town where kids go to school- over towards the Lakes.

NotonMyHighSt · 19/11/2021 21:23

Dunno about being tall per se @AliceAbsolum but she's got a much sturdier build to cope with all the strain of giving birth and presumably a cast iron pelvic floor.

AliceAbsolum · 19/11/2021 21:29

Makes sense

OP posts:
Dentistlakes · 19/11/2021 21:36

There’s always more to these things than we see in the programmes. I agree it seems idyllic, but I imagine it’s not all hearts and roses. It’s feel good telly, edited to make a show, not an true reflection of her life.

Whitefire · 19/11/2021 21:36

I have never even had the desire to watch the show, let alone be envious of her life.

TupTupGimmer · 19/11/2021 21:40

@NotonMyHighSt

Kirkby Lonsdale - small market town where kids go to school- over towards the Lakes.
The older ones go to Kirkby Stephen (Kirkby Lonsdale is somewhere else entirely but right County at least)

The younger ones go to a primary school about half an hour away (although it will be longer by school transport).

I've met Clive a few times in the course of business. He's as seen on TV.

It's well known locally what their domestic arrangements currently are and has been for a while.

Kevinishot · 19/11/2021 21:40

I always thought she seems a bit odd. Can’t warm to her at all.

TupTupGimmer · 19/11/2021 21:41

They are tenant farmers. They get free housing and earn from their livestock. No one goes into tenant farming to be rich

Free housing for tenant farmers? Better tell my landlords!

Eastridingclub · 19/11/2021 21:44

It must be difficult with her husband going through a painful ageing process and openly admitting he's difficult to be around. She probably feels under a lot of pressure to earn.

And they're probably always cold.

But yes I think she's living her best life and no I don't think her children have been remotely shortchanged on balance. Lovely children, lovely childhood.

Thatsplentyjack · 19/11/2021 21:45

No the one I'm jealous of was the woman on one of the farming programmes, I think it was This farming life, and she was an expert sheepdog trainer. She bred and trained pups and sold them for a fortune. I think she bought the farm on her own at quite a young age.

Eastridingclub · 19/11/2021 21:47

remember an episode where a little girl was feeling nervous about her first day at school…she was all ready to go, just a bit quiet! They talked her out of going and kept her at home! She’d have been right as rain with a bit of encouragement.

She had thought she wanted to start early and her parents, although reluctant, were completely led by her. Very sensitive parenting. She went the following year. Who on earth could have a problem with that