12:12pm Friday 12th January 2007
By David Watkinson
TO many the New Year brings with it the thought of a new start and a new life away from the stresses and pressures of work. One East Lancashire family did just that, giving up the rat race for the 'Good Life'.
When working mum Andrea Stephenson and partner Neil Ainsworth looked into the eyes of their new-born daughter nine years ago they knew that they had to change.
The high-flying couple immediately wanted to spend more time at home with their growing family and made a decision that would change their lives.
At the time they were working long hours and leaving the children with relatives as they travelled across the country on business.
But now Andrea, 36, a human resources manager, and property developer Neil, 40, own a farm and do their jobs from home.
They decided to keep their jobs but do the work away from the office. Andrea goes in to the office just twice a week and Neil is based at the five-acre farm full time.
She said that after moving to the converted barn on the outskirts of Blackburn five years ago they decided to get some farm animals.
The animals and the farm chores are something that the whole family can work on together.
They now have a range of rare breeds including pygmy goats, dexter cows, Indian game chickens and Gloucester old spot pigs.
Over the festive period they kept turkeys and ate them for Christmas.
Andrea said: "To change your life and your working patterns is a lot easier to do than you may think.
"If you are fed up with not seeing enough of your family you should go for it. Employment legislation now encourages flexible working hours.
"We're now more pro-ductive. We can drop off the kids at school, come home and get on with our work."
They are now able to spend a lot more time with their two daughters, Millie, 11, and Maddie, nine.
She added: "We knew that the way we were going we would never see our children and we couldn't carry on like that.
"It's not been a big change but there are strange moments. It's not unusual to see me out there on the land with my wellies on and a BlackBerry computer phone in my pocket.
Many of their farming practices have drawn strange looks from their their more experienced farming neigh-bours.
She said that their naive attempts at farm work have attracted attention from the nearby farms.
She added: "I know we're not doing things the conventional way and the animals are more like pets really but we're muddling through and getting better.
"Our neighbours Frank and Norman have been great when we need any help with anything or we don't know what to do."
And now the sheep have started lambing, the family has needed more help than ever.
Andrea added: "We have no background in farming.
"We just began to become more interested in where our food comes from. We have been on a steep learning curve but it's very rewarding."
This week they celebrated the birth of the first two lambs at the farm, named after neighbours Frankie and Elizabeth who have helped the family with settle into their new life.
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