It seems a long time since my last column, having written an early one to beat the Christmas deadline.
Since then many issues outside of our control have caused us a bit of uneasiness, and are still continuing to do so.
Firstly, disruption of mail due to the postal strikes. We had, and I believe currently have, several items delayed or lost in the post. Six Farmers Guardians arrived together one day and the postman delivering them seemed more frustrated than I did.
Whatever your stance on strikes, theres no denying they have a lot impact on ordinary working people trying to go about their own jobs.
The next problem is ongoing. We are just on the edge of Bradfords new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and this is causing us some difficulties with deliveries. An easy way for wagons just dips into the CAZ, which is a 50 penalty, and the only other sensible way would be via a bridge, which now carries a weight restriction, so you can see the problem.
The area of the CAZ is determined by the River Aire, which seems strange for a road-based fee, and the edge of it is quite a way from the centre of Bradford.
Bradford has imposed a CAZ due to poor air quality because it is built in a basin surrounded by seven hills. Sadly that is where the similarity to Rome ends.
Particulates from exhausts collect in the air around the city so you can understand their desire to reduce this. But the knock on effect is small roads in the area being utilised to go round the CAZ, using more diesel and defeating the object.
If that wasnt enough, we are going to be cut off from the village for about three weeks due to major gas works. From the milk hut point of view it could be terrible, as two thirds of our customers come from that direction.
Lets hope they continue to travel round on the 12-minute (by car) diversion route or the weather improves and everyone walks to us.
Its especially annoying as sales were just improving nicely after Christmas and multiple Bank Holidays, and the thought of increased sales were a nice buffer against the imminent milk price decreases.
In light of all this the only thing to do is just keep on carrying on, talking lorry drivers in through diversions, getting my head down and concentrating on a forthcoming busy calving time. Oh, and hoping spring isnt too far away.
