A FARMER'S wife, diarist and Gazette & Herald columnist has published her first book, charting a year in the life of a Yorkshire farm.

Bobbi Mothersdale has been married to her husband John for more than 30 years, and has been writing about their farming life for much of that time.

Now Hens, Hooves, Woollies and Wellies, published by Old Pond, brings together a host of these stories.

Through her diary, Bobbi gives a comical yet realistic account of life on the farm. Over the course of the year, readers are introduced to her friends and family as well as the dogs, hens and cunning guinea fowl that play such a big part in their daily lives and routine.

Bobbi said: "I just thought it would be fun to bring a wealth of farming experiences, life and stories together to cover the entire farming year.

"I have been very lucky to be part of a traditional mixed farm and also to have had the opportunity to write about it and share that experience with readers."

The book charts good days as well as bad, as well as the daily challenges of uncooperative animals, bureaucratic red-tape and inclement weather.

The book is Bobbi's first, although "I do hope to write another," she says.

She adds that receiving encouragement from editors of this newspaper over the last 25 years has led to more writing.

"It was that first column in the paper that set me off writing for them and the Dalesman and, over recent years, Farmers Weekly," Bobbi says.

The book is illustrated with 24 sketches by long-time friend Jacqueline Sinclair, and also contains pictures of family life on the farm.