Home once again

13th May saw Shep heading south; homeward bound.

This gimmer was the last sheep to lamb on me, I went to the hill on the morning of the 13th to do my last round and here it is - my last lamb. I left a further 17 which were obviously holding on waiting for the shepherd they knew best to take charge again and see to their needs. It is usual for there to be only one or two left to lamb. This year proved to be different in so many ways.

. There were some spirit lifting days. This was actually mist rolling in from the direction of home on the 18th April at 6.30 am, a beautiful sight, one which had also had me praying it wouldn't come all the way!

Then there were the soggy days, when shelter was sought in the hope the onslaught would pass.

Not just myself sheltering either, this protective ewe had her lambs as full as guns and they wouldn't feel the harshness of those Oh! so cold winds we experienced for what seemed like the duration of the lambing, tucked up warm and cosy in amongst the tussocks of grass they were quite content with life.

Swallows arrived! They turned up on the 20th April and gave us all a lift, summer must be on the way!

I haven't spoken to anyone who has not said that it has indeed been a hattering lambing season, some younger than myself have wondered if they're getting older as they have found this year very tiring. That pretty well sums it up, this season has indeed been a challenge. I still enjoyed it tho'!

What will probably be my last lambing over the border has come to an end and once again I am home, it hasn't been the sort of lambing anyone would really wish to 'retire' on but we have indeed been very fortunate, everything could have been a whole lot worse. I don't get the opportunity to get my second wind, assistance was needed as soon as I returned and the monotony of hard graft continues but at least I am alive to rise to the challenges!