Gelynos: NOT A PROPER HILL FARM

I’ve written a small silly book about growing up on a farm in Mid Wales. I’ve had around 50 copies printed which I’ve distributed to friends and family. Found it interesting the people that have got something out of the book and enjoyed, some of those don’t have a background in farming, and don’t know my family.

My plan is to publish the first couple of chapters on this blog. If you would like a copy please get in touch. After finishing it around December 2024 I have taken 6 months before sitting down re-reading and trying to work out what it is.

Gelynos: Not a proper hill farm

Introduction

The following was written as a distraction piece, in principle for the three to four readers but in reality for the writer. 

We weren’t a book family growing up. When I was 9 years old I remember having New Years Eve with Dad’s friend Neil and his wife Caroline and when asked if she had seen the new Bridget Jones’ Diary film Caroline replied “No, but I have read the book”. To this we all let out a collective “ooohhh, you’ve read the book” which does well to sum up our relationship with the craft. 

On the surface it’s about farming, the uniqueness of this upbringing and the simple stories it leaves with you that make you see the world through a slightly different lens. 

As dad is central to the farm he inevitably becomes central to the book. A quick story to introduce him. Despite having two indoor toilets in our farm house he chooses to poo outside regardless of the weather, in what we would call a Ty Bach. It is perfectly functional, no heating, but flushes. It was built around 15 year ago when a pipeline was passing through the valley dad saw an opportunity to allow a couple of the digger drivers to stay in a caravan above the house.  

Following his morning movement outside he comes back inside for a coffee before beginning his day.  On a recent return he began discussing the Swallows that had chosen to nest on the beam above his head. Some people would be annoyed at the bird muck that ends up on the floor of his ensuite but he enjoys their company. 

He then began to explain how he watches their lives progress each day as they look upon each other with trust and affection, he climbs up to check for eggs, once rescuing a young chick that had fallen to the ground, watching them watch him as these young chicks leave the nest and work their way across the beam staring down during his morning movement, as he tells me this story he ends by explaining he is annoyed that they have now flown away and don’t return to see him in the morning, I’m unsure what this book is really about but I’m confident it’s to do with this. 

There will be people who question my retelling of stories, my interpretation of the strategy of the Gelynos farm. To those people I  say  if you aren’t happy with it, Dad, write your own book. 

Also it contains swears.