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The Funny Farm: The Laughter and Tears of One Woman's Farm in Cumbria
How often have you thought you might like to chuck it all in, leave the steaming metropolis and its noise and dirt behind and make for pastures new, to begin your life again?
We often talk about it but people rarely do it. Jackie Moffat is one of those who did. In 1982 she and her family - armed with a bucketload of optimism, stout boots and a highly developed sense of the ridiculous - upped sticks from London (where she'd lived all her life) and went North, to Cumbria. Their destination was the Eden Valley, and a small stock-rearing and dairy farm called Rowfoot, and there they have spent the past twenty years getting to grips with the practice of running a working farm, keeping sheep, cattle, pigs and horses, becoming part of the (often eccentric) community, coping with the ups and downs (Foot and Mouth devastated them) of farming life.
For the past ten years, the author's written a regular column for the Cumbria and Lake District Life magazine, and it was this that inspired her to write about her life in rural England and the trials, tribulations and pleasures of running a farm.
We often talk about it but people rarely do it. Jackie Moffat is one of those who did. In 1982 she and her family - armed with a bucketload of optimism, stout boots and a highly developed sense of the ridiculous - upped sticks from London (where she'd lived all her life) and went North, to Cumbria. Their destination was the Eden Valley, and a small stock-rearing and dairy farm called Rowfoot, and there they have spent the past twenty years getting to grips with the practice of running a working farm, keeping sheep, cattle, pigs and horses, becoming part of the (often eccentric) community, coping with the ups and downs (Foot and Mouth devastated them) of farming life.
For the past ten years, the author's written a regular column for the Cumbria and Lake District Life magazine, and it was this that inspired her to write about her life in rural England and the trials, tribulations and pleasures of running a farm.
- GenresMemoir
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2002
23 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 8, 2017
It was a nice read, being Jackie's columns from when she wrote for a magazine in Cumbria, each one preceded by a short introduction. However, it felt that it was a bit cheaply done in that an edit of the columns would have helped them to link more seamlessly. It seemed to start a bit abruptly too, at least I felt it took me a while to get to know the characters - although regular readers of her column wouldn't have had this problem.
The article about the effects of the Foot and Mouth disease was tremendous - very sad but really communicated the turmoil and frustration experienced by farming families all over the country.
The article about the effects of the Foot and Mouth disease was tremendous - very sad but really communicated the turmoil and frustration experienced by farming families all over the country.
September 28, 2024
Jackie writes with the skill of a hilarious comedian. This book was just what you need to lift your spirits and give you a real good chuckle. LOVE Jackie's good humour, descriptions of her animals, bravery, sheer hard work and the ability to soldier on during the bad times.
August 11, 2018
A collection of articles compiled into a book about farm life. A little dated.
November 26, 2020
A series of articles about life on a small Cumbrian farm. Jaunty writing style with witting and amusing content.
January 31, 2021
A selection of interesting and sometimes humorous stories about farming life.
October 13, 2025
Nott a bad tale but I would have thought it could have been made funnier. Nott unpleasant though.
May 1, 2012
I LOVE Jackie Moffat's style of writing! She is able to write about serious topics (hoof and mouth disease) with style and a sense of hope. J. Moffat uses a wonderful vocabulary that kept me on my toes! Her wry sense of humor and the experiences she describes have endeared her to me! When I next visit England, I believe I will travel to Rowfoot to see the actual farm! This was a very good read!
May 15, 2012
Enjoyed this book very much. Learned many British-isms and lots about shepherding sheep and goats. The foot and mouth disaster was absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways. Cumbria and the Eden Valley sound gorgeous. Would love to visit there someday. Will definitely read her second book, Sheepwrecked.
April 16, 2012
There were a lot of UK terms which is a bit confusing for a reader from the USA and the humor is lost on me in some chapters. So I had to rate this kinda low as my understanding of it was lost half of the time I was reading it.
February 9, 2020
Really struggled getting through this. Was excited to get stuck into it but didn’t flow, didn’t find it that well written and the stories weren’t as good or funny as I thought they were going to be. I try not to give up on books as often that get better but unfortunately this one didn’t.
March 9, 2009
Hilarious true stories set on a Cumbrian Farm.
April 8, 2012
I enjoyed this book, as it was a nice easy read. I love the authors sense of humor and she had me laughing out loud on several occasions. I have her next book, which I'm looking forward to reading.
May 7, 2013
Love Jackie Moffat and love her monthly column in Cumbria Life. I've had this book for ages and don't know why its taken me so long to get round to reading it. Looking forward to Sheepwrecked now.
January 1, 2014
Very humorous in parts. She has a way of wording things which made me chuckle.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews