<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Diaries]]></title><description><![CDATA[Diaries]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:10:45 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Chapter two: steps forward, one step back]]></title><description><![CDATA[After taking a reality check at the end of last year's miserably wet summer, I returned to my old job and tentatively placed one foot...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/chapter-two-steps-forward-one-step-back</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66cf7e7d2fc4b04ce6aac8cb</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Sep 2024 18:53:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_9e3f8ad1f7374869b8f08c3543472b80~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Full Circle]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's been a difficult summer, that's seen me tirelessly implement a plethora of strategies to try and make a go of Pili-Pala Farm....]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/full-circle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">65732a166cca64c27efd4af1</guid><pubDate>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:42:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_aaa4800118ba447e97ce1ed79cc5bdc3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Paths]]></title><description><![CDATA[To help maintain my relationship with my daughter, and compete with the demands of adolescence and her iPhone, I have started to discover...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/paths</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63c1838080f3e36b6db85e48</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2023 18:36:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_afe6ff1cd43c40b28ee88e868d98735e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Calm before The Storm?]]></title><description><![CDATA[I manage to get the kitchen extension ready for Christmas, and feel like I have finally honed my renovation skills. Meanwhile, the farm...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/the-calm-before-the-storm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">639f096c2aec68a806a3a8e4</guid><pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2022 13:54:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_f14fe21dadc74e76a3e2e475b37f65f0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let go, don't be dragged]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a hectic and experimental season draws to a close, I reflect on the ups and downs and contemplate the idea of building a farm shop....]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/let-go-don-t-be-dragged</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63372b3cf9016ed81013e929</guid><pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:20:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_2e39c84e587a4f96846ee4aed88cb9f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[And the rest is history]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the summer kicks in and the veg box deliveries start, I grasp the stark realities of self employment, and the shear graft involved...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/and-the-rest-is-history</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62d42c2224fbde3c95f98777</guid><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2022 16:35:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_07adff568548412d8b30c93d76bb3932~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The importance of being earliest]]></title><description><![CDATA[Its my 45th birthday, which marks two eventful years since I started this blog, and I reflect on the progress we have made. We finally...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/the-importance-of-being-earliest</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6224ffcf1deb530689d8a57d</guid><pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:32:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_912b3784d6314451a10bc19120bb0109~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Community]]></title><description><![CDATA[With my previous job now a fading memory, I am embracing the freedom and independence of self employment, and I feel so much better for...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/community</link><guid isPermaLink="false">61acfea91a4f77001784ccbc</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Dec 2021 20:37:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_f5f77683999c4bc8b79392ff62758da4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_698,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Time to move on]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's been a busy and eventful summer. Gwalia Stores, our quirky holiday let, finally came to fruition, while the market garden sprung...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/time-to-move-on</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6129ef09a2d8450016f6720a</guid><pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:48:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_37d8f696a14340dba765400dbd77da7e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Becoming a farmer?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Despite the relentless slog, I somehow manage to fit in a tree house project for the twins 9th birthday, although i'm beginning to wonder...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/becoming-a-farmer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60a6d0dd92769e0015278cda</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 May 2021 13:59:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_50ae2d27a790470a8e575cf33d7cd8b9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The fruits arrive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Its been a busy winter, with large compost deliveries, infrastructure developments and website design all taking up time. As spring...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/the-fruits-arrive</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60894fdf0a321c0015f7e52e</guid><category><![CDATA[Growing veg]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fruit trees]]></category><category><![CDATA[Market garden]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2021 18:13:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_72c25168cce947e8bc9af7a79bb97a45~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Just another growth ring]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we approach the spring I realise it was a year ago, almost to the day, that we purchased the Smithy field and symbolically made that...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/just-another-growth-ring</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6058f235f88a810015abc8e2</guid><category><![CDATA[Growing veg]]></category><category><![CDATA[Smallholding design]]></category><category><![CDATA[Market garden]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:56:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_4db439b5e0234214a1594e15266d1e0b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The family orchard]]></title><description><![CDATA[What better way to start the year than with planting fruit trees. Such a simple act is loaded with so much symbolism, of life and...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/the-family-orchard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">601b0e2358523b0017e5815e</guid><category><![CDATA[Fruit trees]]></category><category><![CDATA[Market garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:52:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_87eceb3a3e214fbb93f2d2a1f08f1822~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blooms &#38; Berries]]></title><description><![CDATA[After a strange year full of the whole spectrum of possible problems and emotions, we are now looking towards 2021, and hopefully a more...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/blooms-berries</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5fe640e097e8b2002da2a380</guid><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stories]]></category><category><![CDATA[Market garden]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fruit trees]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 26 Dec 2020 17:13:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_bd5bf05008d1476fa1b68767e41fbe4c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Smithy Field becomes Smithy Farm]]></title><description><![CDATA[Although just words, we are now regarding the "field" in terms of a developing micro farm, and this symbolic shift in sentiment very much...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/the-smithy-field-becomes-smithy-farm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5fa84cabfd2a300017e3903a</guid><category><![CDATA[Growing veg]]></category><category><![CDATA[No dig gardening]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:16:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_ece98a90eb3a4c899d92d34a3d449bed~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[3 tons of compost, a pile of cow shit and a slight change of direction]]></title><description><![CDATA[The last few weeks have seen the market garden take shape with an import of compost and manure, and this has given the venture a real...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/3-tons-of-compost-a-pile-of-cow-shit-and-a-slight-change-of-direction</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f78954977229a001731b78b</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2020 20:11:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_a418cdc2e4f340239884702f230a79b0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The beginning is nigh]]></title><description><![CDATA[As this strange summer draws to a seemingly premature close I have become increasingly eager to hang up my social work hat and put on my...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/the-beginning-is-nigh</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f5000726dec05001787ec8c</guid><category><![CDATA[Holiday let business]]></category><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Market garden]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2020 07:08:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_d3b2278012164bd0b8cb4cc7d6ee42c5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lost without a mountain to climb?]]></title><description><![CDATA[At the end of next month we will have been living in Wales for a year, and the fact these 12 months have rolled around so incredibly fast...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/lost-without-a-mountain-to-climb</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f06306069bb9b00171ab6a9</guid><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stories]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:37:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_3aca34962154472eb5eb1b155244b107~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[It never rains]]></title><description><![CDATA[You can't really live in a house without any water, so when our well dried up our future at the Smithy suddenly became uncertain. With no...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/it-never-rains</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5edff3446e32fd00170676c3</guid><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stories]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2020 21:17:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_e218e1e4f8f44b34a4ebf46ffbb94814~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Father and daughter time]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spending quality time with your kids is not always prioritised in this fast paced and frenetic world. However, a recent cheesecake picnic...]]></description><link>https://www.pilipaladiaries.co.uk/post/father-and-daughter-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5ed0f574532418001763238a</guid><category><![CDATA[Rural experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stories]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2020 20:45:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/27c3e5_336e9f50a7084b0b98dfd0cc6326ecf0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tom Edwards</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>