Our Yorkshire Farm

[sniffingthewax]

Have watched this family for years and read her books. Age is really catching up on Clive, he can hardly bend over now, it is very apparent in this new series. I don't like how the programme is becoming more contrived, it's obvious a lot of it is staged for the camera.

Clive is 66 and Amanda 45. Someone said he was 75!

The family are lovely. yes I'm sure bits are staged but then I can't imagine any family not staging something if having tv crew follow them about. But on a whole pretty genuine warm family, you can tell by how the children speak to each other, they have learnt from their parents how to be patient and encouraging to the younger ones.

As for the criticism of Amanda's appearance? when I first saw an episode I just couldn't get over how young and not weathered she looks, considering having 9! children and working on a hill farm in all climates.

I dreamed of being an amazing enthusiast mum living on a farm and my kids growing up with fresh air running in their veins and learning practical skills through general life.

I'm around the same age as her, and look ten years older I couldn't have had more than 2 children it would have finished me off

So I am in awe of Amanda, to work on a farm and have 9 amazingly lovely children and still look so well. Hats off to her.

I was watching the Christmas episode yesterday. Clive said he was thankful for his new hip. I dip in and out of the series and just watch it when I catch it so could someone tell me how he managed to have a hip operation and recover from that while running a farm? Did they get someone in for a while, to help?

I also can't get over how young and unweathered she looks. Just shows you how fresh air and hard work suits some people. The main thing that surprises me is how the children don't seem to ever get cold! Even in summer it must be freezing swimming in the river. And picnicking in the spring must be cold up there too. I really feel the cold so it wouldn't suit me at all.

A special episode tonight, 5 years of the Owens

@CurlyhairedAssassin

I was watching the Christmas episode yesterday. Clive said he was thankful for his new hip. I dip in and out of the series and just watch it when I catch it so could someone tell me how he managed to have a hip operation and recover from that while running a farm? Did they get someone in for a while, to help?

Family turned to as they always do. He has an adult son who probably took on a lot of his work

Clemmie seems to be a favourite of Amanda's and I wonder if the others are a little left out.

I think it's more that most of the other children are off at school or are older and so more able to occupy themselves.

There are some really nasty judgemental comments about Amanda throughout this thread (and why mainly about her and not Clive? He's their parent too).
Who cares what she wears and why? Who cares if they rent a house out? What does it matter if she's 'in London at least one day a week for radio or tv'? (the horror!) How on earth does that mean 'she is trying to pull the sheep's wool over the public's eyes'? And I don't recall her or Clive ever claiming they lived hand to mouth.
They run what looks like a healthy and efficient farm, very knowledgeably and energetically, and the children are bright, kind, thoughtful, confident, capable and active. I think they're a hugely likeable and impressive bunch.