With Halloween and bonfire night passed, the whole island feels like it is whizzing and speeding along at a rate of knots merrily into the cheer and buzz of the festive season.

It catches us all, even the tups can be seen nosing and dancing their way through the assembled ladies in the fields. They have waited very impatiently behind the gates and fences, done their very best Houdini attempts to break free and get among the flock.

But now, the ‘ladies’ have equally been gathered in a gang together, stealing kisses at the gate, desperately waiting to be united with those boys. It is a 'sociable' time of the year for them.

Once released they take no time at all getting acquainted, setting to work and hopefully ensuring there will be a good yield of lambs in the spring, as the farming cycles continue.

Even the Happy Farmer’s shed has been flowing with ‘busyness’ and gatherings. Troughs of soup, trays of steaks and burgers, along with rolls and ketchup, can be seen making their way from the farmhouse kitchen, across the yard to the shed, as the Happy Farmer’s catering skills up a gear, and hospitality flows.

A ‘puckle’ of farmers, hauliers, passing salesmen and shepherdesses, huddled around tiny electric heaters, squashed in, they gather among the muddle and guddle of all things agricultural, with a good mix of pottery in there for good measure too.

They sit on folding chairs among shelves piled high with ceramic tealights and baubles, bowls and mugs, and an array of colourful glazes.

Suddenly, it feels a bit like Santa’s grotto, as the gathering tuck into a hearty bite in among kilns being emptied, as finished pieces are carefully wrapped in tissue and bubble wrap, boxed, packaged, and labelled, as orders flow in from the online shop, and socialising continues around the mayhem of Christmas orders.

The aged green leather Chesterfield settee, which made an appearance in the ‘lockdown’ days of social distancing, seems to be busier than ever. It has become a permanent feature, having morphed from a makeshift meeting hub, this corner of the shed transforms into a full-on party zone when the moment arises.

Perfectly positioned, the old leather settee is ‘poised’, in a cosy corner, providing a bird’s eye view of all the proceedings in the Happy Farmer’s ‘emporium’. It's ideal for impromptu get-togethers and gatherings, as the Happy Farmer’s guests enjoy a seat at the heart of the industry that has become Persabus.

The shed, originally built for housing machinery and livestock, has become so much more in these changing days of agriculture. A celebration of farm diversification at its absolute best, as it takes on the Happy Farmer’s never ending, constantly evolving building and renovation projects.

At one end, machinery lies in a maze of bits, gradually being reassembled and welded back together, like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, as the Happy Farmer continues to restore ‘old Lizzie’ – breathing new life into his childhood tractor from yesteryear.

Work benches are scattered with tools. A mass of tiny shelves and drawers bursting with everything the Happy Farmer could possibly need and more, as designs and projects get underway. It is a hive of restoration and repairs.

A place for servicing the farm’s machinery, sheltering it from the elements, a place of ‘treasures’ – in the heady heights of a mezzanine loft above, lies a ‘guddle’ of old pieces from yesteryear. Pieces waiting to be reclaimed, reused, upcycled, or recycled.

The old farming ways still lie at the heart of the Happy Farmer’s projects, what might seem like old junk to the passing eye, is a treasure waiting to be unveiled ... in his eyes!

In the far corner, glass and pine doors house a pristine laundry room. There is the ‘behind the scenes’ pottery workshop of moulds, plaster, slip pumps and casting drain tables, kilns and bisque, as a door leads on to the 'creative studio' for pottery painting parties and groups.

Old island ways lie at the heart of this community, no matter the time of day, no matter the list of chores or work to be done, there is always a warm welcome, a mantra echoed across the islands and beyond, in close knit farming communities.

Lockdown days and the island’s sheds grew arms and legs in purpose and design. At Nerabus, there is the completely ‘dreamy shed’.

It now houses a beautifully carved wooden bar, complete with neatly stocked shelves, bar stools, and sofas. Ceiling beams are laced with foliage and greenery, as fairy lights twinkle.

It has become a fabulous space for dancing and celebrating, culminating in the very best of post wedding parties, when one of the clan married in the spring. The Happy Farmer eagerly awaits those shed gatherings, the opportunity for more ‘heuching and cheucing’ along the way.

At Tormisdale, the new agricultural shed, with its beautiful and welcoming corner bar, in the hazy days of the summer months grew a festival vibe, welcoming a huge gathering, as the whole shed rocked with a happy mass, celebrating a big birthday and special anniversary.

As we donned our 'festival' wrist bands, issued at the huge open doors, we made our way past the temporary tattoo stalls and face painting studios, towards the dance floor, and bar, where barrels were flowing with ice and beer.

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There were glow sticks and flower garlands, as the disco lights from the stage, lit up the dance floor, as the band played, and fairy lights twinkled in every corner. Refreshments and food overflowed from a giant hog roast, seafood bar, and ice cream parlour.

The shed transformed from housing agricultural machinery and gathering beasts into a party hub and then, just as it felt an amazing night couldn’t get any better, Elvis made his comeback. The star of the evening, beside the birthday boy of course.

That shed rocked and rolled well into the wee small hours and beyond, and the welcome continued long into the night, as revellers made their way home along the lit-up path to the makeshift campsite.

There’s the shed at Ballymeanach, this one comes with patio doors providing breath-taking views across the rolling landscape to the sea beyond.

Furnished with comfy settees and fancy throws, beautiful Tiree pottery lamps and a roaring wood burning stove housed in the corner, it is definitely a place for settling down with a large glass of red wine and a copy of The Scottish Farmer on a Sunday, before farmers call by.

As the Christmas spirit weaves its magic and sheds continue to grow in purpose and style, the age-old tradition of soup being guzzled as the world is put to rights, that lovely sense of community, continues.

The support that is there, the camaraderie, as from times of social distancing, where sheds took over the farmhouse kitchen, as important spaces for gathering, the stories and the craic continue.

Whether it’s a glitzy affair of a shed, with disco balls and fairy lights, to a tatty old sofa in amongst the guddle, I love that throughout these islands and beyond, at the very core of farming communities is a hearty, warm welcome.

A mantra echoed across the decades, no matter the time of day, the season, whether times are happy, or difficult, across farming communities, there always has been, and hopefully always will be, a space at the table for all – and that lovely warm welcome.