The rain has been biblical out there – sure, even Noah would be concerned. But then, Noah never had to worry about getting the slurry out before the October deadline. We have ours all mixed; tractor and tank ready to go – we just need a few dry days to get it out.

It’s weirdly satisfying, watching the slurry being mixed up. We have a big, open-air lagoon. There are thousands of litres of slurry in there, and when you get the propeller going, you watch it go from a hard top layer to a liquid lake – it swirls around like the biggest mix of brownie batter you’ve ever seen. Then you know it’s at the right consistency to pour through the narrow tubes and go out to the fields. I know I shouldn’t mix food and slurry metaphors – it’s uncouth – but it’s what comes to mind at the time.

Earlier this month, we finally got our second cut of silage done and dusted, all in the space of eight hours. There were no major problems, just a few small things that were easily fixed. The following day, I had great help to cover the pit. My brother and sisters were lured over with the promise of a hot meal, only to spend the afternoon holding down sheets of plastic and throwing tires around the place. I know deep down they enjoyed it; no matter how soaked and smelly they got in the process. We did feed them, eventually – after all the work was done. Now, I can look on and admire another good crop of grub for the animals this coming winter.

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The cows are slowing down a bit – both in their movements and with their milk yields. It’s the natural cycle of a spring calving herd. They are getting fatter as their calves grow and their milk decreases as you get closer to dry-off time over the winter. It’s also harder to get around in these wet and windy conditions. At this time of year, if they had the choice, they’d probably prefer to hang out in a nice, cosy shed and have their food brought out to them rather than face the trek to fresh grass.

Though, I’d rather a kick from a cow than the kicks I currently get from my wife when I’m snoring

At times, I can sense their displeasure as they aim the odd kick at my face in the milking parlour. I try to be patient and give them a bit more time to move around. Having watched my wife go through several pregnancies, I think in some way, helps me empathise with the cows each year. Though, I’d rather a kick from a cow than the kicks I currently get from my wife when I’m snoring.

If you think I’m sounding more zen than usual, it’s true – I’ve been trying a bit of the aul’ meditation there, lately. It’s not something I’ve ever done before, but I heard it’s great for clearing the mind and helping you de-stress. The only problem I have is I can’t find a quiet place in my house to try it out. There is always someone calling or the kids are making noise. I decided the best place for it is down in the fields when I’m bringing up the cows.

Now, I’m not following the typical image most people associate with meditation – I’m not in some wonky lotus position in my wellies, rocking back and forth in the grass (the neighbours would have me committed).

I decided just to find 10 minutes a day sitting in my jeep listening to the app on my phone. It feels really silly at first – you close your eyes and focus on your breathing. I stuck with it, though, just to try to clear the head and honestly I felt pretty good after. I’m always rushing around trying to get jobs done. It’s good to slow down, watch the swallows fly by, feel the sun on your face and all that lark. I’ve been sticking to my 10 minutes for the past week and it’s been helping a lot.

Those good feelings ended pretty abruptly when I got into the yard yesterday, though, and realised I forgot to leave the gate open to the milking yard. The cows were running riot and were nearly on top of the silage pit; the father was frantically trying to round them up and was shouting “Where the hell were you?!”

Under my breath, I simply whispered “Namaste,” whistled for the dog and got back to work. I am going to take a leaf out of the cows’ book and slow down a bit as we head into winter.