28/10/2026
❤️ 18months of hard work, determination and learning what life’s all about… ❤️
I still can’t quite believe that this time last year, our main barn had no floor, pipework or internals started to be fitted, and the old one was demolished in the April!
The first half was completed the week before Christmas 2025, with the finishing touches finally completed during February half term this year, enabling us to get the rest of the herd in it, to make space for our main flock to lamb! Needless to say, things didn’t quite go to plan, and this photo should really have been taken about four months earlier! 😂
It was during February half term that my sisters Molly and Jessica, along with their partners and my dad, came over to visit and see the animals and our new complete barn. It was lovely to show them just how much of a difference it makes, especially during the cold, wet and miserable weather we often get here in Devon. 🌧️🐃🐑
This photo was taken that evening, during the first week of the barn being full of all our animals. It’s such a lovely family picture of the four of us, along with our two faithful farm dogs, Boris and Reggie. 🐕🐕
My amazing sister Molly captured this moment, and for my birthday she has had it printed as a beautiful picture for us to keep. A reminder that all the hard work really does pay off in the end.
Farming has certainly taught us that things don’t always go to plan. Sometimes plan A doesn’t work, neither does plan B, and before you know it, you’re working your way through plans C, D and E! But with a lot of hard work, determination, a little bit of stubbornness and plenty of teamwork, you somehow find a way to make it work. 💪🏼🚜
And I absolutely love the quote Molly has put on the picture:
“While we try to teach our children all about life, the farm teaches us what life’s all about.”
I honestly don’t think there could be a truer quote for us here at Firebeacon Farm.
Farm life isn’t always easy. It’s long days, unpredictable weather, plans changing, challenges we never expected and plenty of hard lessons along the way. But it’s also family, working together, caring for our animals, learning resilience, appreciating the little things and watching our children grow up surrounded by it all.
Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of all the hard work, it’s difficult to see just how far you’ve come. Then a photograph like this comes along and reminds you of everything you’ve achieved, all the challenges you’ve overcome and the people who have been part of the journey.
So here’s to family, to making the best of things when life doesn’t go to plan, and to remembering that the things worth building often take a little longer than expected. ❤️🏡
Firebeacon Farm — where the farm really does teach us what life’s all about. 🌱🐄🐑
fans Marc Hamlett Amy Hamlett Molly Westwood
