"If it comes down to it, Mr Barebone," Kate says, leaning in a little for a confession herself, "I am not that good a farmer. Poor land, you see. But here? A pinch is better than nothin'."

Then she leans back, still smiling a bit.

"And muscles will grow. It's the nature of workin' out here. A person gets tougher with the amount of work. It's labour intensive, although winter's nought that bad."