A farm is like an eco-system, when there is one change, it ripples throughout the system in many different ways. Simon kept the sheep away from the donkey feeder, Lulu and Fanny don’t, so now there is one feeder and all of the animals eat there. There is more room in the pole barn, it is quieter in there – Simon often chased the sheep out. There is less manure.

There is no bray either, which is sad, and no Simon, which is sadder. But life does go on, animals inspire me by their adaptability. They are not wasting a lot of time on grieving and lamenting what they have lost, they are moving into their new lives, new traditions, new patterns.

Simon liked to come to the outer gate, Lulu and Fanny wait in the Pole Barn. Some re-training for Red and the sheep, too. It is sad to lose an animal, it is fascinating to see the new life of the farm evolve.