People are often intrigued by the life of a farmer, I think it has something to do with being at one with nature, working outside, a sort of hunter-gather type thing.

A lot of people say it's a profession that appeals to them, but it's more of a lifestyle than a job. Andy was born to it, and I can't imagine him doing anything else.

My life as a farmer's wife is not a traditional role. I don't help on the farm on a daily basis, I'm not 'hands on'. The farm is arable so luckily we have no animals to tend to. I say luckily because it means he gets at least one day off a year. Christmas Day is the only day I can guarantee he won't try to head out to work, but I'm sure he would if he thought he could get away with it.

I've spoken about harvest on here before, and I often mention that we don't get a lot of time to spend together, but I do think that because of that, the time we do have together is really special. It's hard to take something for granted when it doesn't happen very often.

What being a farmer's wife means, for me, is that I take on the responsibility for everything in the home. I do the decorating, gardening, and sort out things like having a water softener installed, or arranging for cavity wall insulation to be installed (fitted? put it? what do you do with cavity wall insulation?).

My role is sorting out all the life stuff that Andy doesn't have time for, it might sound very 1950s housewife, but I see it as important as it helps Andy to focus on what he needs to do. Farming is becoming increasingly difficult, there is so much to do, all the time, everyday. It's relentless, and if I can help him by making sure his clothes are clean, there is food to eat, and I remember to send birthday cards to his extended family, then it's the least I can do. We might go about our days separately but we're a team.

I do end up doing a lot of things alone because Andy is working. Evenings out, weddings, dinner parties, family events. It can be a solitary life, but I'm comfortable in my own company so it works for us.

I would like to see a little more of him though, it has to be said.

I help on the farm in small (very small) ways, I taxi him between farms, and I am an escort driver when he's moving large vehicles, usually at some ungodly hour of the morning when the roads are mostly clear.

I've learnt to drive a loader, albeit only on the farm. It's not something I ever imagined doing, much like using a ride on lawnmower, and having a genuine need for a pair of Hunter wellies. I never imagined that I'd cook pheasant and venison, let alone that which I'd probably seen wandering outside in our garden. And I didn't know what grain diving was until I met Andy.

The life of a farmer's wife has many quirks. Sometimes sitting in tractor cab with him while he works constitutes a date, and when we drive anywhere you can guarantee we'll take the scenic route so he can see what's going on on other farms (something they all do). And you can never watch Country File without him shouting at the TV. And he'll point out all the historical agricultural inaccuracies in any period drama you watch.

In the summer I'll only see him during daylight hours if it's raining. Last year I got up really early one morning to do a carboot sale and he said to me 'it's nice to see you standing up and wearing clothes'. He'd been going to, and returning from work, after I went to bed and before I got up.

His pockets will almost always contain grain, and I find it scattered all over the house. My kitchen floor will only ever be clean for the time between washing it and Andy arriving home, and we have to do everything spontaneously because making plans is impossible - everything depends on the weather.

When everyone is hoping the sun will shine I often find myself wanting rain, scanning the sky for grey clouds. And I've discovered it's possible to have too much weather. Torrential rain, heavy hail storms, high winds, and snow can all have a devastating effect on crops. I've never been more aware of the weather than I am now.

It's a unique way of life but I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes it's hard, but I'm very proud of what Andy does. I'd like to help more, I just need to continue to find ways I can do so.