Linda Watson

Hi,

First of all, let me make you aware that you can see the Ladies and meet Richard and myself in our video which was part of the television program The Dales Diary in 2007.

I had lived all my life in the same small village in South Yorkshire. I had a good career as a primary school teacher and enjoyed every minute until I got ill and had to retire. Then life became quite dull and uninteresting. Once I was better I was ready for a new challenge. However, I had no idea just how many challenges were coming my way!

In 2002, my partner, Richard, and I bought a small piece of Scotland called Low Arvie. It was nominally a farm. but in reality just a wet and boggy piece of marshland. Already in our fifties we set about creating our new life on this plot and now we have built a small but successful business and a satisfying life for ourselves.

How did we do it? By a lot of hard work and a lot of help from the community we moved amongst.

So just how did twenty-four Black Galloway cows become 'The Ladies of Low Arvie'?

How did we change the wet and boggy land into some kind of nourishing food for them?

How did we cope with second hand machinery that didn't work properly?

Why did we hire the only bull in Scotland that didn't know what to do when faced with our beautiful 'Ladies'?

How did I fulfil my promise to my 90 year old mother that I would always look after her?

You can read it all in my book 'The Ladies of Low Arvie' and see just how a dull and boring life can change.

Because The Ladies of Low Arvie was so well received by those that read it, and many asked for more, I continued our story in Life with the Ladies of Low Arvie written in 2010.

This second book tells more stories of the ladies also how I fitted in studying for a BSc degree with the Open University with life at the farm and with caring for my Mother as her life drew to a close.

WATCH OUR VIDEO AT http://youtu.be/CR3q8I3ad14 when the TV programme The Dales Diary came to Low Arvie to film us as part of their countryside program. It was shown on local television in 2007 .