The first Blether Together episode of 2026 features Anna Davies and Willie Thomson, a farming couple running a diversified business in East Lothian.
Hosted by Sarah Stephen, the conversation explores life on the farm as a couple, how priorities change over time, and what wellbeing looks like when work and home are closely intertwined.
Listen to the Episode
Farming, Family and Changing Pace
Anna and Willie are tenants on a 250-acre arable farm near Haddington, balancing farming with a growing diversified business.
Recent health challenges for Willie prompted a rethink around workload and pace. That shift led to practical changes, including scaling back where needed and investing in diversification like the Wheatrig Business Hub to bring more certainty amid the natural unpredictability of farming.
They speak openly about the trade-offs involved and the reality of making decisions that support both the business and family life.
Diversification and Stability
A central theme of the episode is how diversification can support both wellbeing and income.
Anna and Willie discuss converting an old steading into co-working and office spaces, creating a reliable revenue stream that sits alongside farming. Knowing when income will arrive and roughly how much has made a noticeable difference in day-to-day stress levels.
For them, diversification is not about stepping away from farming, but about creating balance and resilience.
Different Approaches, Shared Ground
Anna brings a communications background to the business running Scene & Herd PR and is also the host of the OnFarm podcast. Willie grew up on the farm and reflects on taking on responsibility early in life.
They talk about being interested in people, making time for family events even during busy periods, and recognising when pushing through is no longer helpful.
Their approaches differ, but their values are closely aligned.
