Throwing on my wellies and switching off another David Attenborough documentary, it was time to get to work.
And with my husband Matthew, 45, daughter Elsa, nine, and son Billy, five, following close behind, I had some extra pairs of hands to help out.
‘Make sure you’re careful, put them in your bucket gently,’ I said, watching as the kids picked up the freshly laid eggs from our flock of 100 chickens.
That was before picking our seasonal vegetables from the patch or foraging for our dinner.
Yet, this wasn’t just our idea of a summer holiday in the vast Welsh countryside, it was our home – living off grid completely.
An idea that turned into a reality back in 2012.
Coming home to Matthew from a long and draining 12-hour shift as a vet, with him working in the same profession, city life had certainly taken its toll.
Living in pricey rented accommodation in Harold Hill, Essex, there was no rest for the wicked – life was all work and no play.
For months, my routine
