I must start with the poignant news of the passing of The Queen. Even if you are not a royalist you can not help but admire her passion and commitment to all things rural.
As a landowner and farmer The Queen was an intrinsic part of our countryside for as long as many of us can remember.
She has left a legacy to be celebrated and will be hugely missed across the world, particularly among the agricultural community.
The other significant news is that we have a new Prime Minister and more importantly for agriculture, we have a new Defra Secretary. Taking over from George Eustice, Ranil Jayawardena was appointed by Liz Truss earlier this month.
Like many of you, I am watching this appointment and the subsequent decisions being made very closely. My personal opinion is one of caution and concern.
During his previous position as Minister for International Trade, Mr Jaywardena was behind the post Brexit tariff free trade deals with countries such as Australia and Canada, bringing with it uncertainty and the real possibility of undermining British food standards.
Reflecting on this decision, I felt betrayed and let down. I can only hope his new appointment is a chance at a fresh start, offering renewed opportunities to listen to farmers and learn about the grassroot challenges farmers are facing. Hopefully he will stand up and make a difference.
Closer to home, autumn has arrived here on the Great Orme and there is a definite bite in the morning air. With the summer season coming to a close and the last few visitors disappearing, we are reflecting on what a busy time it has been.
Caffi Cynefin, our new venture over the summer has been a success. Sharing our own produce, Parc Farm Lamb, directly from the farm has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, with many interesting and recurring conversations about farming and food production.
Nothing beats the feeling of pride in sharing your own quality product with customers.
I always get a feeling of high expectation and excitement this time of year. For sheep farmers it signals the beginning of a new calendar and for many breeders it is an accumulation of years of hard work coming together.
I look forward to the upcoming ram sales and the decisive open window to make any changes to the flock. I enjoy meticulously studying the sales catalogues, something I have done since my dad took me to the sales as a child and, according to my wife, firmly placing me in the sheep geek category of farmers.
I enjoy chatting to new and familiar faces, a bit of banter, and this year my son Efan will surely have an influence, if not the final decision on where the bids are placed.
It certainly has been a reflective few weeks, but also a time to look forwards and plan for the seasons ahead and on that note, Im off to chop some logs.
