All The Gear, No Idea! by Allison Lee Book Two

The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman

All The Gear, No Idea! by Allison Lee Book Two

Allison’s first venture into life on the smallholding was not without its challenges.

After months of battling for planning permission, she decided the location wasn’t right for her after all, and new plans were made.

Packing up her belongings along with a menagerie of animals, three dogs and a husband, she upped sticks and relocated to a 17th-century converted barn situated over twelve hundred feet above sea level.

#AllTheGearNoIdea X(Twitter) #AllisonLee @BlossomSpring3 @ZooloosBT
#ZooloosBookTours #blogtour #BookX #booktwitter
Instagram @allisonlee1967 @blossom.spring.publishing @zooloosbooktours #bookstagram

Like an audition for the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Allison found herself battling the elements, threatened to be blown away like the classic tornado storm in Kansas as she tethered down field shelters and rounded up pygmy goats wearing her pyjamas and waterproofs in the dead of night.

The second book in the series of an amusing and honest account of real life as a smallholding owner.

My Review

A follow up to book one, in which Allison and husband Mark started a smallholding with a menagerie of animals including pygmy goats, micro pigs, miniature ponies, dogs of course and chickens. It was hard work and it soon became evident that the location wasn’t right. So they sold up and moved to a huge house 1200 feet above sea level. The weather was terrible, the house took over a year to renovate, and they lost Bruce.

Bruce was an almost 17 year old Border Terrier. In 2021, we lost our almost 17 year old Jack Russell called Pancake. Just like Allison, we just kept putting off the inevitable, until her dementia was so severe, we knew the time was right. It was a bright sunny day and we sat with her outside. Once it was over she looked at peace and if she could have said thank you I’m sure she would. I cried when I read about Bruce – I’m crying now writing this.

How do you fill that gap, that enormous hole in your heart? Eventually you get another dog – in Allison and Mark’s case it was a Border Terrier called Barney – we haven’t yet. You can never replace them, but a puppy can also help you heal.

Allison also acquires a pair of Valais Blacknose sheep. Considered the cutest breed of sheep, don’t be fooled by their appearance. They are big, have horns, and need shearing twice a year. But never let it be said that Allison isn’t up to a challenge. Joan and Jett are going to be mums soon, and Allison also has Kevin and Kerry. I think she ends up with seven, the maths may be wrong here.

I really enjoyed book two and I’m looking forward to book three. Can Allison and her menagerie survive more winters in their ‘forever’ home? Personally I think she should come down here to the Cotswolds, where the weather is far more temperate. However, It is also VERY expensive, though I believe Herefordshire is a good compromise and still close enough for me to come and visit. I just have to meet all those animals. I can even help with the lambs…

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Allison Lee first started writing education and non-fiction books in 2006 based on her
profession at the time in the Early Years. Having always harboured a passion for writing a novel, she got her ideas for her debut book when she and her husband bought a remote cottage set in the heart of Snowdonia, where they escape for holidays and weekends, allowing Allison to indulge her passion for writing.

Allison and her husband have two sons and two beautiful granddaughters. They live on a small holding in Yorkshire with their four dogs and animals, including sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, ponies and chickens. Allison’s hobbies, besides caring for her beloved animals, are growing fruit and vegetables and supporting wildlife.