I try my best to live as a person liberated from fear. I view fear as a method of control, and try hard not to be affected by it, but the last couple of weeks have been brutal. Lots of big-talk about a no deal Brexit, leaked government documents in The Times predicting a dire…
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Living in the country has its benefits. The air is clean and fresh, there is loads of space between houses, and life tends to move at a slower pace. I lived in Glasgow for a few years and really loved it, but I have to say that country life suits me better. But living out…
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I suspected our move to the Real Living Wage and cutting hours with no loss of income for employees hadn’t had a negative effect on productivity. Two weeks ago I met with my account and received the proof that I was correct. In fact, productivity has increased to the point that staff wages are a…
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I’m sorry I don’t have a better photo of this lovely lady. There are only so many hours in the day and my energy is finite – and she will not stay still, not even for a moment. She’s a hybrid hen and super friendly. She lays a really pretty light brown egg. She’s quite…
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I’ve been thinking a lot about the poisoned dialogue directly after and since the EU referendum. ‘You lost. Get over it.’ springs to mind and does nothing to reach out to the 48% who voted against this silly catastrophe. In fact, it pushes us further into the margins of resentment and rage. Not the best…
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This recipe is guaranteed to make you popular. I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t smitten with these after the first bite. They’re the perfect item to take to parties (make lots) and they’re also wonderful as gifts. I give away many kraft tin-tie bags full of these beauties every Christmas. This is a super-simple dish,…
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I’m off sugar at the moment. I say ‘at the moment’ because I’ve done this several times over the years but I’ve never managed to make it stick. I’m an addict. And as someone who successfully quit smoking cold turkey after two tries, that’s saying something. Sugar is impossible. I can’t stay away. Part of…
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There was much excitement in the Fig & Pen household this week when we discovered a plant milk we actually enjoyed. While we regularly use Innocent’s Hazelnut Milk for porridge and cereal, we’ve yet to find a plant milk that can be enjoyed in tea or simply drunk as a beverage. Most of the ones…
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This beautiful lady is a Dutch Barnevelder. She’s a big, sturdy bird who lays beautiful dark brown eggs. She isn’t our friendliest bird, but she’s super entertaining. She occasionally upsets herself with hiccups! If you’ve never heard a chicken hiccupping, I’d dare say you haven’t lived.
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I flung this together when it was too hot to think about cooking. It’s vegetarian, but using vegan mayo will make it suitable for vegans. This recipe makes enough for 3-4 wraps, so feel free to scale up or down. Also, be as generous as you want with the various ingredients. Just remember to leave…
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Leghorns originated from Italy and have traditionally been used as laying hens. They’re supposed to give you at least 280 eggs a year, but ours has spent so much time being broody, she’s barely laid at all this year. She’s also very flighty and doesn’t like humans at all. I’m not sure if our leghorn…
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I’ve decided to semi-retire. I’m not needed at the office the way I was and I can afford to work less, so why not? While my staff works a twenty-three hour week, I now work a twelve. So far I’m enjoying my free time, and I feel a lot less stressed about things. With all…
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When a person reaches their mid-to-late 40s, a strange process begins. Dinner time gets earlier, greenhouses get purchased, pinafores become attractive, and then later, the switch completely flips and one is wearing sensible shoes while coveting everything in the Lakeland catalog. My parents did some boring-ass stuff in their 50s, and I can remember thinking…
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We have two of these beautiful birds, both cuckoo. They’re both big, friendly birds with bags of personality. The one in the photo is a recent addition to our flock. Someone in a nearby village was moving to a house without a garden and needed a home for three hens. Of course, we didn’t hesitate.…
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