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.

I think Amanda was originally a model for a bit,wasn't she? Probably explains her not 'looking like a farmer' although I'd disagree.

The thing I like most about the family is the positive langue used towards the children, it's so lovely and they in turn use it with one another.

Clive reminds me of my lovely late father in law

And buying a guest house is sensible seeing as Clive won't be able to run the farm indefinitely unless one of the kids takes over.

Amanda was an aspiring model, the only modelling she actually did was farming related. I caught up on the latest episode and can't see Clive lasting another 5 years on the farm. He seems young at heart but his bones certainly aren't.

I love them, really wish my daughter was having that kind of childhood, just without me having to do any of the hard work

I enjoyed the books and the programme, for some reason I find Amanda irritating though. I can't put my finger on what it is but it doesn't detract from my general enjoyment of the programme - what they are doing is interesting.

I loved the first series and couldn’t wait for this one but I’m just not feeling it. The background music is dreadful and really intrusive. It all just seems so contrived, staged and smug.

It's clearly very staged, the dates that the crew are there are obviously planned way in advance, and the activities are scheduled accordingly.

I'm worried about Clive, what if he falls ill or worse? Hope Amanda could carry on without him, maybe with one or more of the children. Maybe she'll get herself a toy boy

Bet her children thank her when they are older for having a stable upbringing. All kids living in the same house with same parents. Dosent come any better.

Children can. and do, have a stable upbringing without having two parents in the house.

All tv documentaries are staged, especially if the programme is set in certain season. Shock horror. Not sure why all the negative comments, as I said before this family is very different to the other very large family who relishes the #ads and massive holidays that are gifted.

Children can. and do, have a stable upbringing without having two parents in the house.
Loads dont today. Loads are part of stepfamilies and or have half sibllings they dont see/dont live with etc. and all the rest of the crap that goes on today.

What a marvellous achievement in itself having 9 kids being married and being with the same man.

I think that's very belittling of you to talk about that as a marvellous achievement for a woman and ignore the part of the man in making the marriage a success or not. The achievement of men and women is far more than making a marriage a success or not - look at all that has been achieved which has made a real difference to the lives of millions?

You seem to be living in the dark ages.

Dotty Amanda isn't old at all Clive is much older and has 2 children from a previous marriage, so in theory they are a blended family. I'm not sure why having 9 (or 11 in his case) kids is a marvellous achievement, even if it is to the same man. What an odd argument.

How I was thinking about the similarities between the Owens and the other #gifted large family and I think they are actually very similar. Lots of tv/media appearances in return for monetary gain, I'm sure lots of tax credits (which they're both entitled to of course) serious overcrowding of housing, the use of older children for childcare, a lack of interest in their schooling, an apparent desire to be in the limelight, high risk pregnancies etc. Of course the Owen's lifestyle appears to be very wholesome which sets them apart and is probably what makes them so palatable. If they were in a same sized council house down the road in Bradford they would be called all the names under the sun.

The kids helping out on the farm and not having many official extra curricular activities is not only standard for a lot of farming family's but lots of rural families. I think townies don't realise how little there is for kids in the countryside in terms of sporting facilities and such things. Especially in the north.

I'm sceptical she usually wears mini skirts so much but other than that and the number of kids it looks typical for a hill farmer.

What cupoftea84 said about the extra curricular activities rings true for me, I didn't grow up on a farm but spent a lot of time helping on farms, especially at sheep dipping or shearing time. When you grow up in a rural village with no public transport there isn't much else to do, I doubt that has changed much.

Well I'm just grateful that I was brought up on a farm. It's stood me in good stead all my
You shouldn't feel one iota of pity for the children on that programme. Most of them will not stay on the farm. There isn't a living for all of them for a start
Once they reach 15 farm children go to the Young Farmers. Before that the rugby club and most farmer's wives ferry their kids to activities just as much as other mothers

cupoftea last night I stumbled into a farming forum where they were sceptical about her dress too. One said they see Amanda out and about and she is never dressed like that, it is for the benefit of the cameras. There was strong suspicion that they are doing product placement for certain farming clothing brands too.
I didn't realise how much publicity she actually does, it seems she's in London at least one day a week for radio or tv. It would appear that she is trying to pull the sheep's wool over the public's eyes regarding their hand to mouth living. Their new place looks lovely though, so I suppose it has all been worthwhile.

Derxa yes I'm sure you're right, I can't see Clive managing the sheep in ten years let alone the next generation.

I remember the original programme from many years ago. Didn't realise she had so many children now.

I too find it all a bit 'reality tv'.

I'm sure she said on the last episode she'd given birth 9 times,poor woman has had a lot of losses if I heard right.

mrs she has nine kids

Oh

I clearly can't count

Sniffingthewax you sound a bit obsessed with them. They seem like a lovely family and are allowed to make a living. Enough said really.