It’s back to work today after a week off with the family. To inspire my writing I decided to use a tactic from my debating days, the dictionary.

I typed in “holiday” to be told “an extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in travelling. Eg: “I spent my summer holidays on a farm.” Obviously a non-farmer!

I still cannot figure out why some farmers don’t take holidays. The feeling seems to be that no-one else could manage the farm in their absence. I remember as a child, when we used to holiday in a caravan in a field that a neighbour, whose land bounded a beach, offered for parking. The suggestion being that Dad could then easily return home to sort out the daily crisis.

Likewise another farmer, knowing the tourist resort we live in, asked if we had to “go away inland” to have a change of scenery. There obviously could be no pleasure in continuing to look at the sea.

Going through my farm accounts with a financial expert in the late ‘90s, I was advised that I couldn’t be taking two week holidays in Florida. I told him I didn’t plan on getting married a second time. The same guy took regular golf weekends on top of Christmas, Easter, etc.

All missed the point that everybody has to take a step back from work, no matter how much you love the job. I did leave the mobile on so as to be available if there was a crisis, but I made a point of not looking for progress reports.

I also limited my social media to checking news and any direct contacts. For security too, I didn’t advertise the fact the house was vacant due to potential unwelcome visitors by posting loads of holiday snaps.

I know that with two boys in tow I wouldn’t be getting much relaxation. Family farming does mean seeing your family every day, but it is a work environment and a holiday is the only way a farm family can get to know each other properly.

Think of it the same way as any group of co-workers, and no, it is not as a team building exercise. There will be plenty of time for work for the rest of the year.