Christmas for Beginners - Carole Matthews Page 0,7

with mental health issues. It’s a fantastic idea and this would be the perfect spot. Though I’m not sure that letting some of our badly behaved animals loose on people with troubles would be good for my own mental health.

There’s no doubt that the countryside here is soft and soothing – and with the added bonus that there’s no threat of a pesky high-speed railway rushing through. If anyone thinks of doing that again here, then the world really has gone mad. We have this land on a ten-year lease courtesy of Shelby and his business partners.

I like this time to myself when I can see how everyone is and I’m not crowded by things that I have to do or say. Until Lucas came into my life, I was always happiest on my own. I was brought up on our original farm by Aunt Hettie and was never one for mixing with humans. I always preferred to be with animals. You know where you are with a pig. Today, though, I’m grateful that Penny has sought me out.

‘Things not improving at home?’

Bev says that every time they have a meeting with social services, the father swears it’s the last time.

Penny shakes her head. ‘Nah.’

‘Is your mum OK?’

‘They were going at it again last night. She’s got a black eye this morning. She put loads of make-up on, but I can still see it. She says it’s nothing. They must think I’m deaf too.’

‘Social services can help her to leave.’

‘They’ve tried,’ Penny says, her voice flat. ‘She won’t do anything.’

‘She’s probably frightened to,’ I tell her.

‘I’d be more frightened to stay,’ she counters and then falls quiet.

We walk up the hill to the field where our massive Shire horses are kept. I see that the fence is broken. Again. Another job and more expense. Sadly, fence breakage is a regular occurrence. Our two ex-police Shire horses, Sweeney and Carter, like to lean on the fence. The fence is not so keen – with a couple of thousand pounds of muscle against it, the fence is never going to win.

Someone has put them in with the Shetland ponies, which means that they won’t break the fence here as they could just step over it. Sweeney and Carter are huddled together in one corner. Carter suffers from seasonal affective disorder and despises cold weather and grey days. It’s a job to try to get him to come out of his stall at all from October to March. Sweeney is as jumpy as they come, having been involved in policing more riots than he should have. The slightest noise makes him bolt across his field. But they are good companions for each other and now that Lucas is here permanently, we take them out together for an exercise ride across the land. Which means I’ve regained my love of riding and Lucas, who seems to be a natural at everything he turns his hand to, has proved to be a skilled rider.

The miniature Shetland ponies we have are always a big hit with the students. We’ve got three now. Ringo and Buzz Lightyear have been joined by Beyoncé who, though she’s relatively new, keeps both of her boys in check. They, of course, both dote on her and jostle for her attention. She only has to flick her long blonde mane or waggle her comely rump and they come running.

‘Have you fed Beyoncé yet?’ I ask Penny.

‘No.’

I’ve got a pocket full of carrots for the horses. Pulling them out, I hand half to Penny.

When I shout their names, they amble over to be fed. We give them all a rub on the snout, especially Ringo who suffers from sweet itch. He’s allergic to his own hair and, as there’s nothing sweet about it, is always grateful for a good scratch. The itchy little pony now has his own celebrity hairdresser, Christian Lee – a good friend of Shelby’s and generous supporter of the farm. Christian lives near here and comes once a month to layer Ringo’s fringe into a gorgeous, swishy bob to keep it away from his skin. His mane and tail are styled and kept short too. I’m sure that Beyoncé seems more than a little jealous of his locks.

Occasionally, Christian – who despairs of me – cuts my own unkempt hair into a neat, brown bob and I keep having to check in the mirror that I am really me. When Christian’s not looking, more often than not, I take