My Small Country Living

by Janine McMullen

"Of course I had no idea of radio programs or anything so practical in mind when I first saw the little white farm nestling against the hill, flanked by its long perfection of a barn and guarded by the huge ash tree standing between them. I was in love...with the sheer magic of the valley...." So begins this evocative account of rural life, an account so humorous and warmhearted that it is sure to be likened to James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small . Jeanine McMullen was a BBC producer in London when, some ten years ago, she went to Wales on assignment. There she fell in love--with Wales, its people, and most of all with the farm that, on an impulse, she decided to buy. In this delightful volume she recounts for us the joys and frustrations of living on her small holding. Here you will meet the people who helped her: among them "Mrs. P," her eccentric Australian mother; "The Artist," her less-than-steadfast boyfriend; the vet, Bertie Ellis, with his macabre sense of humor, and her neighbors, Gwyneth Griffiths and Myrddin Party. But above all there are her animals: Doli, the draft horse, who is Jeanine's closest confidante; the wayward goat Whacky; her beloved whippet Merlin; Douglas and Daisy, a pair of "highflying" geese; and assorted other sheep, cattle, pigeons, and cats--even a unicorn--all of whom come vividly to life in these pages.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Richard Newbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded of a much-loved Radio 4 programme "A Small Country Living", in which Jeanine McMullen related the trials, tribulations and joys of her Welsh smallholding, as well as travelling the length and breadth of the land visiting like-minded souls, who in the 1980s seem very much the pioneers of the eco movement, I dug out this book, a sort of companion to the series. It tells the tale of how this London-based journalist and her whippet Merlin, with first her unreliable boyfriend "the Artist" and then her mother, found their small farm, made all the mistakes in the book and some more besides, and came out of it smiling and, probably, not totally insane. Even those not familiar with Jeanine's (who sadly died a few years ago) wonderful radio journalism, will enjoy this gentle page-turner. Some of the anthropomorphism rampant in the book now seems twee, but really just adds to the charm. A great read, though.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational, comical and written with oodles of love, laughter and self deprecation. A middle aged woman moves to the Brecon Beacons whilst juggling her job in London, losing her faithless partner and coping with the harsh reality of country living. The animals on her small farm take centre stage as she paints a vivid picture of their personalities against a backdrop of the personal hardship she faces. Tales of 'things' that live up the chimney and local welsh folklore also permeate this wonderful life affirming book.

[Joan Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever longed to live on a small farm in Great Britain, this is the book for you. Ms. McMullen writes in a way that makes me feel I’m right beside her as she deals with her livestock and the weather. I think she was in her late 30’s when she left BBC radio to buy this small holding in Wales. She wrote three books about her farm and this book was the first. Unfortunately, she died in 2010, just in her early 70’s.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite McMullens lovely writing and interesting story telling, what I mainly took away from this book was that I would never make it as an animal raising farmer, which also meant I often lost interest and skimmed my way through chunks of this worthy piece of writing.

[Illy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, honest, engaging, humorous and heartfelt. An enjoyable read. Will definitely read the follow up book...

[Holly Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book- I love it so.
It is a book of heart, grit, and a homesteader's life. It makes you laugh and it touches your soul.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As it happens, Jeanine McMullen once interviewed James Herriot and he has been kind enough to provide a number of glowing blurbs for the book cover, to lure readers who love his work into reading this one. And yeah, if you like his work you will probably enjoy McMullen, though McMullen is far, far less jolly and far, far less happy about her days struggling to create the perfect country living.

But..you know, she is engaging, and honest. Almost too honest. Lots of death in these pages (she says she learned veterinary science by having her critters die, and, well, I guess one would learn quickly that way, though I can't help thinking..was there not a better way to learn?). Lots of charming and not so charming animals (I was especially fond of the pigs, myself).

There is a sense of lots being left out, and I don't know if that is my fault (was I not reading attentively?) or if in fact there are the great gaps I seemed to discover as I moved from event to event.

I related very well to this, having been a starry eyed young hippie with dreams of supporting my family while living in the woods (and all I grew were roses. Fortunately I had paid employment in town, and even more fortunately I had some editors who wanted to pay me for my quaint essays and poems). Simple living is never as simple as you think it will be when you are gazing romantically at that tumble down place and thinking "oh, how peaceful this will be!"

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dearly loved all these books. She was a bit of a celebrity and left London to buy a stone farmhouse in Wales. This is the first of three books that she wrote, of her struggles to make a go of it, the many animals she raised, and all the people in the area who helped her along. She also ended up having a radio show for which she traveled all over the UK about all the different farm animals and 'country living' that she heard about. Lots and lots of fascinating stories, and the best were about her animals. I really want to read them over again.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took some time to finish this book - it is more like vignettes than a straight narrative - but it was well worth it. It is charming, interesting and informative (I now know if I don't run off to the desert I would like some Belgian Bearded Bantams and Dexter cows). Several times I laughed out loud. I will read her other books and it would be great if I could find some of the radio programs online.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this! Such a lovely funny wonderful woman wrote this. A BBC radio presenter falls in love with a tiny farm on the wonderfully tall hills in rural Wales. Lovely descriptions of the animals on her property that come to live there, her hardships with them (black sheep, spotted pigs, a blue greyhound named Merlyn) and yes, it's just absolutely lovely. Stunning little book, it flew by.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very James Herriot like. A good read for animal lovers.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book - for anyone who loves animals, and hearing stories about people who have lived in the 'fast lane' and chose to step back to living in the countryside.