‘I don’t know whether we’ve gone mad or if we’re having a mutual mid-life crisis. ‘I’m the freelance journalist/hobby farmer; he’s the business/handy man. I do animal things; he makes and mends things… ‘Suddenly, Van straightened up and said, “This place can’t support both of us, right?” “With our mortgage? Right.” “Right, so let’s sell up and buy bigger but down market, eh?” “Eh? Oh, okay, dear.” And, just like that, the dream, the escape, the adventure began.