Happy Birthday Tess.

Tess is one year old today so I thought I would 

post a selection of pictures showing her first year with us.

This is pretty much how she arrived.

Catching up on some sleep with Uncle Tommy.

Her first bath time. This came about when 

someone spilled a pot of cream on her.

On the big dogs walk.

One day I will be bigger than me toys!

It wasn't me!

A day at the seaside.

Hard at work apple tasting.

Watching dad working on the rose borders.

Richard Western Trailer.

Last night the first job was to go over to the farm store and buy myself a new trailer. I decided to go for a 'Richard Western' Trailer, http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/56/18129. I chose this one because basically I liked the look of it. It works okay in the game except for when tipping the contents which appear to be missing the hole but the load is registering as having gone in the right place and there is no heap left behind when you move off so that's not to bad. I posed a question yesterday about attaching the green trailer to my Ford and would the same thing happen with all the trailers but it appears to be the green trailer that it doesn't like as this new one hooks up okay whereas the green one leaps about ten feet off the ground for some reason which looks a bit strange but as I said yesterday, once it's landed back on it's wheels it functions as intended.

Below is a video of the Richard Western trailer.

Also last night I loaded a new map and I think this is the one I'm mostly going to call home. This is the link to the map which is called Wellbrook Farms. http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/5/17281  The surprising thing about this map is that of all the maps I've tried this is the first one where you start off with some decent machinery. I haven't explored it to any great extent but it seems a big map with three farms and more fields than you can hope for, probably way to many for one person to work but if I understand it right you can just work what you want to and forget the rest. The map is very authentic of the UK countryside with various shapes to the fields and undulating landscape. The farms have a good range of buildings arranged in a way to make using the game great fun. I've been using the East Peak Farms map most of the time and I will keep that game going as it's a nice map to use but I think I will forget about any of the others and make Wellbrook my main game from now on. On most of the maps that I have tried the satnav thingy on the PDA that shows you where you are doesn't work in that respect but on the Wellbrook map it works fine. I wish there was a plan of the whole farm so as to get a better understanding of where everything is in relation to each other. I guess in time you figure out which is the quickest way to the mill from where you are. You can drive round and round until you don't have a clue as to which way is back to the farm

I had a go at harvesting some Barley on the East Peak Farms map last night (See the above video) which is where I bought the new trailer for, it's proving to be quite a slow job with the old combine harvester that I have so I'm looking in to buying a new one when I have saved up some cash. I want something with a bigger cut mainly as I'm going round and round and hardly getting anywhere.

I also mentioned yesterday that I couldn't work out what the PgUp/PgDn button was for, well it appears to turn off the notifications on the screen so that's put another one to rest.

Richard Western Trailer.

Last night the first job was to go over to the farm store and buy myself a new trailer. I decided to go for a 'Richard Western' Trailer, http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/56/18129. I chose this one because basically I liked the look of it. It works okay in the game except for when tipping the contents which appear to be missing the hole but the load is registering as having gone in the right place and there is no heap left behind when you move off so that's not to bad. I posed a question yesterday about attaching the green trailer to my Ford and would the same thing happen with all the trailers but it appears to be the green trailer that it doesn't like as this new one hooks up okay whereas the green one leaps about ten feet off the ground for some reason which looks a bit strange but as I said yesterday, once it's landed back on it's wheels it functions as intended.

Below is a video of the Richard Western trailer.

Also last night I loaded a new map and I think this is the one I'm mostly going to call home. This is the link to the map which is called Wellbrook Farms. http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/5/17281  The surprising thing about this map is that of all the maps I've tried this is the first one where you start off with some decent machinery. I haven't explored it to any great extent but it seems a big map with three farms and more fields than you can hope for, probably way to many for one person to work but if I understand it right you can just work what you want to and forget the rest. The map is very authentic of the UK countryside with various shapes to the fields and undulating landscape. The farms have a good range of buildings arranged in a way to make using the game great fun. I've been using the East Peak Farms map most of the time and I will keep that game going as it's a nice map to use but I think I will forget about any of the others and make Wellbrook my main game from now on. On most of the maps that I have tried the satnav thingy on the PDA that shows you where you are doesn't work in that respect but on the Wellbrook map it works fine. I wish there was a plan of the whole farm so as to get a better understanding of where everything is in relation to each other. I guess in time you figure out which is the quickest way to the mill from where you are. You can drive round and round until you don't have a clue as to which way is back to the farm

I had a go at harvesting some Barley on the East Peak Farms map last night (See the above video) which is where I bought the new trailer for, it's proving to be quite a slow job with the old combine harvester that I have so I'm looking in to buying a new one when I have saved up some cash. I want something with a bigger cut mainly as I'm going round and round and hardly getting anywhere.

I also mentioned yesterday that I couldn't work out what the PgUp/PgDn button was for, well it appears to turn off the notifications on the screen so that's put another one to rest.

New Ford TW25.

Ford TW25

Yesterday as stated in my last post I took delivery of my new tractor. In real terms it's not actually a modern day tractor but I don't think that matters to much when it comes to playing the game, you need a tractor that's up to the job but a lot is down to person preference. I chose this particular model because I used to drive one on occasion. The tractors you start your career with are old and not very powerful and not really the sort of tractor you want to be seen driving around on. I wanted something bigger than the start up models so I can add better and bigger machinery. That doesn't mean to say you want the biggest tractor going because sometimes it isn't possible to fit in to some places with them if they're to big. Anyway this tractor has turned out to be a good choice because not only does it fit the bill it's also pretty cheap to buy at 20,000 dollars. When you first start your career you only have a limited amount of cash to spend. I don't remember exactly and I can't check now but I think this tractor is something like a third of a price of something equivalent on sale at the farming shop, so I'm pleased with it. I think it looks okay and sounds good and work very well although there is some kind of issue when coupling up the trailer. I don't know if this happens with anything other than the trailer provided but it doesn't affect the game at all so I can live with that. It also comes with a set of dual wheels, the front set and rear set can be added and removed separately, press 9 on the keyboard to add/remove the rear set of wheels and 8 to add/remove the front set. Pressing 7 adds or removes the front weights, 6 operates the rear working lights and 5 starts the tractor which had me baffled for a while because the normal key for starting the machines is the letter E. As it turns out I was being dumb though because if you look at the display on the corner pillar of the cab there is a key symbol with a 5 by the side of it. Anyway we got that figured out okay in the end. When you start your career you have a certain amount of cash in the bank and there are some 'Fruits' as they are called, i.e. Wheat, Barley etc. that can be carted off the farm to be sold in various places so you can use these funds to buy your new toys, I chose to sell the old yellow combine as there was already a green one so I figured I didn't need two so I sold that to pay for the new tractor and also have some cast left over. Today I am going to look in to buying at least one new trailer as the one provided isn't really enough but more about that another time.

There is another function on the display in the cab of the tractor and this is operated by pressing the 'PgUp and PgDn' keys on the keyboard but as yet I can't see what they do so if you know can you let me know please.

This tractor is what is known as a 'Mod'. You won't find it at the farming shop without you first download it from here http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads It's easy enough to install if you follow the instructions, it should go to your 'Downloads' from where you either extract it to a folder in 'Documents' called 'My Games' in which there should be your 'Farming Simulator' folder. Once you have it in that folder the game just finds it when you play. On some of the 'Mods' you can just double click on the downloaded folder and everything is done for you without unzipping anything, it depends on which file you download. But as I say it's all explained and really simple.

I will leave you with a video of the picking up of the new tractor and the drive back to the farm. By the way I apologise if you were the driver of the car that passed me as I was on the way to the barn, I'm not used to you all driving on the wrong side of the road!!

New Ford TW25.

Ford TW25

Yesterday as stated in my last post I took delivery of my new tractor. In real terms it's not actually a modern day tractor but I don't think that matters to much when it comes to playing the game, you need a tractor that's up to the job but a lot is down to person preference. I chose this particular model because I used to drive one on occasion. The tractors you start your career with are old and not very powerful and not really the sort of tractor you want to be seen driving around on. I wanted something bigger than the start up models so I can add better and bigger machinery. That doesn't mean to say you want the biggest tractor going because sometimes it isn't possible to fit in to some places with them if they're to big. Anyway this tractor has turned out to be a good choice because not only does it fit the bill it's also pretty cheap to buy at 20,000 dollars. When you first start your career you only have a limited amount of cash to spend. I don't remember exactly and I can't check now but I think this tractor is something like a third of a price of something equivalent on sale at the farming shop, so I'm pleased with it. I think it looks okay and sounds good and work very well although there is some kind of issue when coupling up the trailer. I don't know if this happens with anything other than the trailer provided but it doesn't affect the game at all so I can live with that. It also comes with a set of dual wheels, the front set and rear set can be added and removed separately, press 9 on the keyboard to add/remove the rear set of wheels and 8 to add/remove the front set. Pressing 7 adds or removes the front weights, 6 operates the rear working lights and 5 starts the tractor which had me baffled for a while because the normal key for starting the machines is the letter E. As it turns out I was being dumb though because if you look at the display on the corner pillar of the cab there is a key symbol with a 5 by the side of it. Anyway we got that figured out okay in the end. When you start your career you have a certain amount of cash in the bank and there are some 'Fruits' as they are called, i.e. Wheat, Barley etc. that can be carted off the farm to be sold in various places so you can use these funds to buy your new toys, I chose to sell the old yellow combine as there was already a green one so I figured I didn't need two so I sold that to pay for the new tractor and also have some cast left over. Today I am going to look in to buying at least one new trailer as the one provided isn't really enough but more about that another time.

There is another function on the display in the cab of the tractor and this is operated by pressing the 'PgUp and PgDn' keys on the keyboard but as yet I can't see what they do so if you know can you let me know please.

This tractor is what is known as a 'Mod'. You won't find it at the farming shop without you first download it from here http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads It's easy enough to install if you follow the instructions, it should go to your 'Downloads' from where you either extract it to a folder in 'Documents' called 'My Games' in which there should be your 'Farming Simulator' folder. Once you have it in that folder the game just finds it when you play. On some of the 'Mods' you can just double click on the downloaded folder and everything is done for you without unzipping anything, it depends on which file you download. But as I say it's all explained and really simple.

I will leave you with a video of the picking up of the new tractor and the drive back to the farm. By the way I apologise if you were the driver of the car that passed me as I was on the way to the barn, I'm not used to you all driving on the wrong side of the road!!

Damson tree in bloom.

The Damson tree by the lily pond is coming into full bloom so I'm hope the frosts don't return and spoil things for later in the year.

-- Sent from my HP Pre3

In The beginning.

First of all thank you for taking a look at my blog. This is a bit of a departure from my usual blog topics but I'm a great believer that a change is as good as a rest so I thought why not give it a go.

As with a lot of things in life this all came about by accident when one night last week I was at a lose end so decided to look up some tractor video's on Youtube. I've always liked tractors since I first became of the world around me but unfortunately these days I have no opportunity to play with them so I usually just look and remember bygone times. After viewing several video's and as one does on Youtube I got sidetracked and eventually came upon some video's posted of fun people were having with this game from Giants Software called Farming Simulator 2011. It doesn't replace the real boys toys but it looked good enough to tempt me to the Giants Software website in search of more information. Once there I downloaded a trial version of the game, this was mainly to see if it would actually work on my PC, these things often have a way of disappointing you but on this occasion everything worked as it should which encouraged me to place an order with Amazon for the fully functioning version, this arrived by post on the 24th March.

Since I started playing the game I've mostly worked my way through some of the missions. These are a bit tedious but worth doing as they help you to get used to how things work and where different things are and what they do. The highest award I managed was bronze but that's okay I'm doing it for fun rather than high scores. Also when I was doing the missions I was still getting to grips with the controls so no doubt if I go back to them in the future I should do better.

Since the missions I have been checking out different maps, the one that comes with the game is okay but I've seen a few other maps that look a bit less flat with fields that aren't all square. One I quite like is http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/5/22819 and the other is http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/5/22502
not that I have really settled for either of them yet but I do like the look of them. If anyone can recommend any good ones let me know. I want to try and find one that I'm happy with before I embark on my career proper.

I think that will do for today, I will leave you with a video of a walk round at East Peak Farms.

When you first start a career you get some run down old equipment for free, included among this are a couple of old combine harvesters so tonight I am selling on of these so I can buy a half decent tractor as the ones that come with the game aren't very good ones.

In The beginning.

First of all thank you for taking a look at my blog. This is a bit of a departure from my usual blog topics but I'm a great believer that a change is as good as a rest so I thought why not give it a go.

As with a lot of things in life this all came about by accident when one night last week I was at a lose end so decided to look up some tractor video's on Youtube. I've always liked tractors since I first became of the world around me but unfortunately these days I have no opportunity to play with them so I usually just look and remember bygone times. After viewing several video's and as one does on Youtube I got sidetracked and eventually came upon some video's posted of fun people were having with this game from Giants Software called Farming Simulator 2011. It doesn't replace the real boys toys but it looked good enough to tempt me to the Giants Software website in search of more information. Once there I downloaded a trial version of the game, this was mainly to see if it would actually work on my PC, these things often have a way of disappointing you but on this occasion everything worked as it should which encouraged me to place an order with Amazon for the fully functioning version, this arrived by post on the 24th March.

Since I started playing the game I've mostly worked my way through some of the missions. These are a bit tedious but worth doing as they help you to get used to how things work and where different things are and what they do. The highest award I managed was bronze but that's okay I'm doing it for fun rather than high scores. Also when I was doing the missions I was still getting to grips with the controls so no doubt if I go back to them in the future I should do better.

Since the missions I have been checking out different maps, the one that comes with the game is okay but I've seen a few other maps that look a bit less flat with fields that aren't all square. One I quite like is http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/5/22819 and the other is http://www.ls-uk.info/downloads/5/22502
not that I have really settled for either of them yet but I do like the look of them. If anyone can recommend any good ones let me know. I want to try and find one that I'm happy with before I embark on my career proper.

I think that will do for today, I will leave you with a video of a walk round at East Peak Farms.

When you first start a career you get some run down old equipment for free, included among this are a couple of old combine harvesters so tonight I am selling on of these so I can buy a half decent tractor as the ones that come with the game aren't very good ones.

More Border Work.

MY PICTURE FOR TODAY

The new lambs

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep

  08:30-08:45 

(Field) 

Checked and counted the sheep.

Remove the fleece

  08:45-08:50 

(West Wall)

Remove the fleece from the Peach tree.

See to the greenhouses

  08:50-09:55 

Checked and watered round.

Tied up some Chrysanths.

Moved some plants from the hot house to the conservatory.

Set up the watering tray in order to water the seedlings from below rather than risk them getting burnt off from having wet leaves.

Pick up rubbish

  09:55-10:30 

(North Front) 

I had to leave some weeds that I pulled from the rose beds yesterday, so went with the wheel barrow to pick them up.

Also took a plant to the dowager house yard on my way.

Break time

10:30-10:50 

(Home)

Edging

  10:50-12:45 

Edged all the grass edges to the inner beds in the walled garden and Front Garden.

Lunch time

12:45-13:30 

(Home)

Forking

  13:30-15:15 

(Memorial Gardens) 

After sucking up any leaves with the Billy Goat I top dress the rose beds with rose fertiliser and forked over taking out any weeds along the way.

The 'Billy Goat' a hose attaches to the front which allows you to suck up leaves from borders.

Tidying up

  15:15-16:15 

(Lily Pond) 

Took out any weeds and dead stalks and top dressed with pelleted chicken manure.

Feed the apricot

  16:15-16:25 

top dressed chicken manure pellets.

Watering

  16:25-16:35 

(South Front) 

Watered the plants in the round wall border.

Clean and put away the tools

  16:35-16:45 

(Potting shed) 

Clean, oil and put away any tools used today, also tidy the potting shed.

See to the greenhouses

  16:45-16:55 

Check round and close the air vents.

Cover the Peach tree

  16:55-17:00 

(West Wall)

Cover the Peach tree to guard against any frost damage to the flowers.

Warmest day so far.

Today has been the warmest day of the year so far with 17C/62F in the shade. The thermometer is on a north facing wall.

-- Sent from my HP Pre3

Cool Dog.

The deputy head gardener has found a nice place out of the sun.

-- Sent from my HP Pre3

Top Dressing

MY WORK BOOK

Office work

  08:20-09:00 (Home) 

Sorted out my calendar for this week. Arranged jobs that need to be done the week if possible.

See to the sheep

  09:00-09:20 (Field) 

1) Took across some hay.

2) Put out some minerals.

3) Checked and counted the sheep. The first lambs were born yesterday.

Remove the fleece

  09:20-09:25 (West Wall) 

Remove the fleece from the Peach tree.

See to the greenhouses

  09:25-10:20 

Checked and watered round.

Watering

10:20-10:30 (Dowager House)

Watered the window boxes

Break time

10:30-10:50 (Home) 

Strimming

  10:50-11:45 (Public Gardens) 

Strimmed round where I can't get with the mowers.

Tidy up the gravel

  11:45-12:35 (Courtyard) 

We had some bikers round yesterday causing havoc skiding up the gravel and speeding around the place so I need to clear it off the grass and level it all out.

See to the greenhouses

  12:35-12:45 

Did some damping down as it was quite warm today.

Lunch time

12:45-13:30 (Home) 

Add more plants to the stone trough

  13:30-14:00 

North Front

Put in some blue primula's

Top dress the Hosta's

14:00-14:20 (Church Gate) 

Top dressed with chicken manure pellets and worked in with the hoe.

Planting

14:20-14:45 (North Front)

Planted some Polyanthus by the rock garden steps.

Top dress the roses

14:45-16:45 (North Front)

Top dressed the big bed with rose fertiliser and the rest with chicken manure pellets.

Clean and put away the tools

  16:45-16:55 (Potting shed) 

Clean, oil and put away any tools used today, also tidy the potting shed.

Cover the Peach tree

  16:55-17:00 (West Wall) 

Cover the Peach tree to guard against any frost damage to the flowers.

See to the greenhouses

  17:00-17:05 

Check round and close the air vents.

Mum's Birthday.

Today is my mum's birthday so me and Vicki have driven down to Chesterfield to meet up with the family and have a Chinese meal.

Unfortunately I have come down with a cold but I'm not going to let it get me down.

-- Sent from my HP Pre3

Lawn Mowing Day.

MY PICTURE FOR TODAY

WATER, HOT & COLD

There has been 0mm of rain

in the past 24 hours,

15C is the max

5C was the coldest point.

Max for March is 17C

the min is 0C,

there has been 22mm of rain so far this month.

Robs Work Book Hall Gardens 

08:30 - 08:45

See to the sheep -- Field

Checked and counted the sheep. 

The sheep that I was concerned about yesterday was chewing its cud this morning. 

08:45 - 08:50

Remove the fleece -- West Wall

Remove the fleece from the Peach tree. 

08:50 - 09:05

See to the greenhouses

Checked and watered round. 

09:05 - 10:00

Mowing -- Courtyard

Cut all the lawns in the Courtyard.

Took off half a box full of grass.

10:00 - 10:30

Mowing -- North Front

Cut the North Front lawn.

10:30 - 10:50

Break time -- Home

10:50 - 12:45

Mowing -- Lawns

Cut all the lawns in the Front Garden.

Took off one and a half box full of grass.

12:45 - 13:30

Lunch time -- Home

13:30 - 16:15

Mowing -- Lawns

Cut all the lawns in the walled garden. Took off five box full off grass. 

16:15 - 17:00

Mowing -- The Greens

Cut three of the greens with the tractor. 

17:00 - 17:10

Clean and put away the tools -- Potting shed

17:10 - 17:15

See to the greenhouses

Check round. 

17:15 - 17:20

Cover the Peach tree -- West Wall

Cover the Peach tree to guard against any frost damage to the flowers. 

Sheep update.

The sheep that I was concerned about yesterday seems to be going on ok. It still attracts my attention but it's chewing its cud this morning which is supposes to be a good sign.

Its the first full mowing day of the season today so got to get a move on or I won't get done.

-- Sent from my HP Pre3

Roof Shelf

This morning I have put up the roof shelf in the cool greenhouse. Eventually this will have strawberry plants on it but for the time being its a good place to put the seedlings before they get pricked out. They don't get eaten by slugs when up there.

-- Sent from my HP Pre3

help!

MY PICTURE FOR TODAY

WATER, HOT & COLD

There has been 0mm of rain

in the past 24 hours,

17C is the max

7C was the coldest point.

Max for March is 17C

the min is 0C,

there has been 22mm of rain so far this month.

Robs Work Book Hall Gardens

08:30 - 09:00

See to the sheep -- Field

Checked and counted the sheep.

I stayed in the field with them for a while as one of them didn't seem quite right. I will check on it again later.

09:00 - 09:05

Remove the fleece -- West Wall

Remove the fleece from the Peach tree.

09:05 - 10:00

See to the greenhouses

Checked and watered round.

Took off some dead leaves.

Set up the hardening off tolley and moved the early sweet pea on to it.

Put up the roof shelf in the cool house for the seedlings as they germinate.

The hardening off trolley.

10:00 - 10:30

Task: Servicing -- Barn

Greased round.

Checked under the covers for worn belts etc.

10:30 - 10:50

Break time -- Home

10:50 - 12:00

Strimming -- All the walled garden

Had to change the head before I could start as it was fitted with the blade and I needed the cord head for cutting round the walls.

12:00 - 12:30

Tidy up around the lily pond

Pruned the roses in the beds.

12:30 - 12:45

Sees to the sheep -- Field

Went to check on the sheep that I was concerned about earlier. I spoke to

the farmer about it and he said to keep an eye on it.

12:45 - 13:30

Lunch time -- Home

13:30 - 16:40

Tidy up around the lily pond

Pruned the roses growing up the wall.

Raked up the old leaves that were congregating in the corners and other

places.

Swept off the paving around the beds.

Tied in the fan trained Damson tree.

Removed blanket weed from the lily pond.

The deputy head gardener removing blanket weed from the pond.

16:40 - 16:50

Clean and put away the tools -- Potting shed

Clean, oil and put away any tools used today, also tidy the potting shed.

16:50 - 17:00

See to the greenhouses

Check round and close the air vents.

17:00 - 17:05

Cover the Peach tree -- West Wall

Cover the Peach tree to guard against any frost damage to the flowers.

Playing Stickie.

MY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Tess playing stickie

WATER, HOT & COLD

There has been 0mm of rain 

in the past 24 hours,

12C is the max

2C was the coldest point.

Max for March is 17C

the min is 0C,

there has been 22mm of rain so far this month.

Robs Work Book Hall Gardens

19 March 2012 

08:30 - 08:40 Checking today schedule -- Home

Went through today jobs to make sure were everything fitted in and what has to be done. 

08:40 - 09:00 See to the sheep -- Field

Checked and counted the sheep. Took across some hay. 

Put out some minerals. 

08:50 - 09:20 See to the greenhouses

Checked and watered round. 

Moved a plant from the cool house to the conservatory. 

09:00 - 09:05 Remove the fleece -- West Wall

Remove the fleece from the Peach tree. 

09:20 - 10:20 Cut back Franks Honeysuckle -- Front Passage

I was asked a while ago to remove the Honeysuckle from Franks wall and

as I was reminded again today I thought I had better strike while the iron is

hot.

10:20 - 10:30 Watering -- Dowager House

Watered window boxes and pots.

10:30 - 10:50 Break time -- Home

10:50 - 11:50 Edging -- Public Gardens

Clipped all the lawn edges in the courtyard and North Front.

11:50 - 12:45 Pruning -- North Front

Pruned all the roses

12:45 - 13:30 Lunch time -- Home

13:30 - 16:35 Tidy the rock garden -- North Front

Finished pruning the shrubs in the back border. 

Pruned the roses and other shrubs in the rock garden. 

Raked up any leaves  and other rubbish lying around on the path or borders. 

16:35 - 16:45 Clean and put away the tools -- Potting shed

Clean, oil and put away any tools used today, also tidy the potting shed. 

16:45 - 16:55 See to the greenhouses

Check round and close the air vents.

16:55 - 17:00 Cover the Peach tree -- West Wall

Cover the Peach tree to guard against any frost damage to the flowers.