tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20352296531760375532024-03-18T10:22:01.888+00:00Shepherd's blogTarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-28906861576716086282014-03-18T22:06:00.000+00:002014-03-18T22:06:23.505+00:00Dogs and mess!<div class="standfirst">
This article was published in the farming press recently, unfortunately the farming press isn't often read by dog walkers and so I have decided to share on this page in the hope it will reach a wider audience.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"FARMERS are pleading with dog walkers to clean up after their pets when walking on agricultural land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Parasites found in some dog faeces can result in the abortions of cattle and death in sheep and with several reports over recent months, local farmers are asking the public to be more responsible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Neosporosis can cause abortions in cattle and is thought to be responsible for the highest percentage of all cattle abortions reported in the UK. Neospora eggs are produced by infected dogs and excreted in their faeces. Cattle will then become infected if they eat grass or drink water contaminated with the eggs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The prevalence of the disease in herds, and its potential impact on farm economics - due to infected cows being more likely to abort, premature culling and reduced milk yields - make this an important disease to try to control, farm unions including NFU Scotland have said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sarcocystosis is also caused by parasites, which can use dogs as intermediate hosts, and similarly the eggs are produced and excreted in faeces. Sheep will become infected if they eat food or drink contaminated by the eggs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The presence of these parasites on a carcass following slaughter can result in the carcass being condemned. The disease can be passed on from ewe to lamb during pregnancy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In terms of both these diseases, faeces from infected dogs can contaminate pasture and animal feed, water or bedding. There is currently no licensed vaccine or drugs available for these diseases.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Animal Health and Welfare policy manager for NFU Scotland, Penny Johnston said: “This is becoming an increasing problem for many farmers, especially when located on urban fringes and is an important issue for dog owners to be aware of, both for the health of their own pet but also the livestock grazing on that land.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">“Those utilising any agricultural land to exercise their pets should do so responsibly and clean up after their animals to avoid the spread of disease.”</span><br />
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It is also worth bearing in mind as the lambing season nears that farmers are entitled to shoot a dog they believe could be worrying their stock before reporting the incident to the police, please, please, keep your dogs under control at all times.Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-74697800071307660342013-12-25T00:30:00.000+00:002013-12-25T00:30:00.796+00:00Seasons Greetings<div style="text-align: center;">
'Tis the season to be jolly! </div>
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Shep would like to wish everyone all the best over the festive season and a healthy and happy 2014. </div>
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The best I can manage at the moment is to share with you this 'old' clip, it's been around for some time now but might just light up your day. </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw</a></div>
Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-83955890585706217182013-02-28T00:19:00.000+00:002013-02-28T00:19:00.699+00:00To brighten your dayI just can't help myself and once again share a link with you all. There seems to be something about the Scottish farmers, they do seem to be able to enjoy themselves and portray bull sales as no one else could. I hope this brings a smile to your faces as it did me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2Ksi1ZgSY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2Ksi1ZgSY</a>Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-7690549581010576062013-02-20T07:21:00.001+00:002013-02-20T07:21:27.676+00:00Spring is springingAye, if we awoke from a long sleep we may be forgiven for thinking spring is here. Middle of February and the weather is looking up. It's been dry! and the sun has shone and Shep is convinced she heard the skylark yesterday away out on the hill top. Snowdrops are a mass of white at the moment with the daffodils poking their greeness out of the ground ready for the next month or two.<br />
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There is hope, optimism that all is getting better on the farming front, nowt quite like getting the sun on your backs to give a lift to any occasion, mornings are fairly cutting out, light by 6.30 on the frosty ones and holding back 'til closer to 7 on the slower moving mornings. Remaining light until 6pm see's an opportunity to work longer hours and enjoy the weather whilst we've got it.<br />
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Pockets of snow are still hanging around some of the hill tops, sitting like mini glaciers where the depth of snow blown in by the winds is refusing to shift in any great hurry, shift it is tho', but now being a solid, frozen mass it is taking longer for the heat to get through it and melt it away.<br />
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Scannings are well through, with only a handful left to deal with, results don't seem to have been as bad as many anticipated which is always a bonus, much concern about protein levels in sheep however as dry fodder in the form of silage and hay isn't always up to it's expected quality due to the horrendously poor climatic conditions when it was made.<br />
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Hill ewes are going about their business out there on those vast areas, not quite waddling yet unlike the earlier field sheep which are beginning to show signs of being in lamb with their bellies growing. It is less than 6 weeks until the 1st April when many of the in bye flocks of Tarset and surrounding areas will be commencing to lamb, a very important time in the health of the ewe, one which will decree how healthy her lambs will be and how much milk she'll have to feed them with.<br />
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It is amazing how quickly memories of wet, wet days dissipitate when enjoying a spell of dry, sunny days. Ground is also drying up, albeit slowly, but drying it is. Long may it last!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-88573594702101060702013-01-21T20:40:00.000+00:002013-01-21T22:00:26.985+00:00Snow warning<div style="text-align: center;">
We had an yellow snow warning, then we were upgraded to an amber snow warning, I always thought snow was white - ah ha! I now know what the forecasters were on about........................ <br />
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Amber snow! or is it yellow? pretty rare stuff I doubt coz most places you look it has a whiteish hue about it.</div>
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Aye! It snowed, quite a change from Thursday<br />
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Thursday saw the covering of snow we'd had melting away nicely, okay, this isn't exactly a picture of snow, the hard frosts we'd experienced made the stuff run off roofs and duly freeze, now the freezing was dripping (yes you're right, it took me ages to catch that drip in mid air, must have nowt better to do!) </div>
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So, that was Thursday. Friday saw hay being frantically laid out for sheep, Friday afternoon saw sheep being hounded in to lower ground, where the hay was laid out for them, ready for the onslaught, and it came, right on cue, this was the yellow snow we'd been warned about. It wasn't until today, Monday, that the amber stuff appeared, again right on cue. The weekend had seen as much feed put out for sheep as possible before the onslaught of wind and snow hit them and had them blocked out from the comfort of feed and security. <br />
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This picture may not exactly show signs of comfort and security but at least if they should get happed with snow in these driving winds I'll know where to find them.<br />
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As for old Glen, so long as his lugs are sticking up I'll be able to find him an' all!<br />
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Thought you'd all enjoy this link, showing the highs of farming, a cheery compilation <a href="http://youtu.be/iWdFTa7UNPs">http://youtu.be/iWdFTa7UNPs</a></div>
Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-35030961205461620242013-01-14T21:14:00.000+00:002013-01-14T21:14:24.104+00:00Christmas Past, New Year PresentAye! Time flies when you're having fun. It has been brought to Shep's attention, by good ol' Dafad, that this blog has been somewhat overlooked of late - apologies to all and sundry, but it is fair to say that I really don't know where the time goes.<br />
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It seems ages back since Christmas, a day where Shep enjoyed the company of family, although it is fair to say we all seemed to have a lump in our throats this year, I did try my hardest to honour the request I received " We need you to fetch the Christmas cheer, we don't feel at all Christmassy"<br />
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Christmas morning actually found me out on a hill top, perusing sheep (what else) it was as though the world was at peace with itself, not a soul or a sound, just sheep lying peacefully and contentedly where they ought to be, dogs happy to get their legs stretched and Shep happy to have peace and tranquility coupled with the wind on my face.<br />
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As is so oft par for the course, the 'Christmas holiday' period saw the onslaught of the sniffles causing all those visitations upon friends and family being cancelled as hankies and bed were often the chosen company. Tups were brought off hill ewes on the run up to the new year and New Years day dawned in a special fashion.<br />
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Special? A frost, no wind and wait for it.................. NO precipitation - what better way to start the new year! We even had sunshine!! What more could anyone ask for?? I also found my.self in good company, enjoying the pleasure of following the hounds for the day, being invited for new years dinner and mixing with many friends and acquaintances throughout the day and night. A great way to start off the New Year.<br />
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Time is flying by, won't be long now until the scannings are in full flow again, sheep are once again being treated for lice, liver fluke is an issue with some flocks, wet is an issue with all farms and livestock. Should the jolly news people and the climatologists be right that we are to expect much of the same for more than just months to come it will leave farming in a dodgy predicament, indeed it may well put many farmers out of business as they struggle to produce either live or dead crops from their sodden ground. A gloomy thought for the new year but unfortunately one which does need consideration. However, we will remain optimistic that the weather will improve, drying winds will come our way, paddy fields will disappear and be replaced with sound pasture ground which we were once accustomed to seeing, we will get the sun on our backs this coming summer and all will be well in the world.<br />
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Here's wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2013!<br />
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<br />Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-64972787502924049212012-12-10T21:04:00.000+00:002012-12-10T21:04:35.574+00:00The wanderer returnsIt's tup time, so the wanderer would of course be a sheep - well? wouldn't it? After all, sheep are wandering with a mission at the moment, either ewes looking for a fella or the tup looking for a floosie. We are just getting into second time over on the hill tupping front and I would imagine all shepherds have their fingers crossed that there won't be too many ewes a wandering; looking for a fella to fulfill their desires. Now the boys ought to be wandering, desperate to find that elusive ewe who slipped the net first time over and desires the company of an amorous male. Time will tell just how the boys faired first time around.<br />
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You may have noticed Shep has been missing for a spell, I did make the return trip from Dalmally away back when (so long ago I can barely recollect) and since then there has been much to do and coupled with the fact there was no broadband connection for a fair duration this blog has found itself put on the back burner so to speak. Hopefully some normality may return, I once again have contact with the outside world which is a godsend as the weather has been somewhat arctic of late, making travelling and visiting a no go for those of us who are wusses on the roads, unless they are perfectly dry and the sun is shining!<br />
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Shep hasn't had time to partake in any winter sports, it's fair to say that a fear of 'getting hurt' would probably ensure I wouldn't wish to partake in any winter sports other than making a snowman, but regardless, there hasn't been time for such frivolities to date. I did manage a little bit of sledging however..........<br />
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Tup harnesses - awful things! A contraption worn by the tup (sire), strapped around his belly and shoulders to keep a coloured crayon in place on his brisket. Why? Well, when he jumps up onto a ewe he very kindly leaves a crayon mark behind to confirm he served her ( it is hoped that is what it confirms, in reality it only tells you he jumped up onto her back).<br />
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It is fair to say that over the years Shep has had little to do with tup harnesses, hill tups rarely get strapped up, it seems to be some form of in - bye bondage, the hill lads aren't into that fancy stuff!<br />
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It was necessary this tup time for Shep to strap a suffolk tup into his breeding attire, now that in itself was a challenge, working out where all the straps went around his huge bulk. He wasn't even a friendly beast, and had me dancing around the pen as some form of shepherd baiting took place, his head was definitely harder than my legs. It was a relief to get him backed into a corner and tied around the neck to a rail in the pens, my legs might get to see another day and not find themselves snapped like matchsticks.<br />
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Unfortunately, squashed up to the railings in the sheep pens meant only one side of him was free to work on at a time, so the battle ensued to get tup harness contraption untangled and re tangled around this heavyweight chap. There was much chuntering and head scratching went on I can assure you and after a fair duration I concluded that all lose ends were tied up and the crayon was in the correct place, right between his front legs sitting on his brisket - success!<br />
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It was a huge relief to release the chap to a field full of ewes and let him get on with the job in hand.<br />
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Two days later I noticed something was amiss, a ewe that had been 'served' seemed to have a crayon mark on her hip rather than on her rump and sure enough good old friendly suffolk tup was tracked down and it was noticed he was now wearing his crayon under his nearside lisk (okay, simple terms - left hand arm pit!). More head scratching ensued, from Shep, not the tup. How on earth did that happen? Pretty obvious really, my incompetence at dressing the beast had caught me out - humph!<br />
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I was going to have to get a hold of the fella and redress the situation. Memories of shepherd baiting flashed back in an instance, this fella really didn't appreciate the feminine touch the first time, he probably wasn't gonna walk up to me in the field and ask for assistance was he? The sheep pens were a fair old distance away, the roads were solid ice with a covering of snow and any vehicles brave enough to face the treacherous conditions wouldn't be happy to find a shepherd and flock of sheep on the road would they?<br />
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Not to worry, I'm sure greed would get the better of the fella, a bag of cake would surely take his attention long enough for me to be able to get a hold and so I duly returned with a bag of cake (sheep feed). The ewes soon came forward and started guzzling the pile I laid on the snowy frosty ground, the tup? well of course, he held back, suspicious, memories of being tied up in the sheep pens fresh in his mind. - Humph!<br />
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More piles of sheep feed laid out, in a tight circle, more ewes guzzling............... eventually he couldn't help himself and did indeed come forward and joined in with the feeding frenzy, unfortunately every time I felt I was slowly closing in with bag in hand as a decoy he backed off, neither of us really wishing to get to close to one another.<br />
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I concluded I was going to have to spring into action, attempt my infamous rugby (sheep) tackle and hold on for grim death until he succumbed under my enormous weight - easy!<br />
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More little piles of cake were laid out in an increasingly smaller circle, yet more ewes guzzled and finally he dropped his head in amongst the melee, I pounced, fingers locked around the harness which was strapped around his chest and off we went. I tried desperately to throw all my weight upon him and wished instantly that I'd had enough common sense to have started this daring ambush on the level, not the steep as he careered down hill, his 100kg bulk gaining speed with every stride with me skidding along beside him on my belly, side, back,...... bouncing off every frozen bumpy bit hidden under the covering of snow that the field seemed to possess (why is it fields look flat and smooth?), it seemed every angular bit of my body was managing to clatter against something frozen and hard as I trailed along at increasing speed and totally out of control of the situation.<br />
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I dare say teeth were clenched, I know there were no swear words uttered, it took me all my time to get my breath, steely determination set in as we neared the roadside, fortunately the roads were very poor for driving upon so hopefully no one would be trundling by, but I could still feel my pride hurting. Time to take control, I managed to swing my legs past his and he cowped (fell) over, there was a huge feeling of relief, elation and success which quickly evaporated and was replaced with a deep feeling of despair as I found myself lying there and with the tup up on his feet and his heels kicking up dust (snow) as he disappeared into the distance, harness flapping around his lugs (ears). The strap had snapped, pulled out of my hands and left me quite literally downtrodden - so much for sledging!<br />
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Moral of the story? The lazy mans way isn't always the easiest........... he found himself gathered up, out onto the roads and down to the sheep pens, tied to the rails and sorted. He's never come forward for the cake bag since!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-90797104575496840932012-10-27T23:11:00.000+01:002012-10-27T23:11:00.126+01:00Tup sale madness - Dalmally tup sale 2013For a number of years now Shep has had a wish to head to Dalmally tup sale, it's up there somewhere in Scotland, a long way away no doubt, not as far as Lairg it is fair to say but it always seems to crop up at a time when farmers are desperate for work to be done and Shep's ability of saying "no" is not a strong point, such a short word but one which doesn't fit into my vocabulary very easily.<br />
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Last year I was going, come hail or high water nothing would stop me, I was going - end of story! Until that is the 'phone call arrived, desperate farmer desperately seeking assistance and no where to fit him in other than the couple of days I had allowed myself to sneak off into Scotland, my resolve broke, I gave in and spent the time fighting with sheep instead of doing what I had hoped to be doing.<br />
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Now a friend took note of this and vowed she would ensure I got to attend this year. She succeeded. Even though I came up with excuses of pressures of work etc., none of it washed and dragged away I was. There is much to be said for friends. Life is too short, we need to live for today, don't put off for tomorrow. A difficult line to follow when you never wish to let people down who need your assistance but I guess sometimes we need to be selfish and do things we would like to do. Dalmally was one of those instances. I am very grateful to my friend for her persistence and for organising the B&B and for doing the driving, I am so pleased I got up there to the tup sale.<br />
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So why Dalmally?<br />
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There were actually a specific run of tups I wished to see, off a farm called Dalchirla. I had heard much about these sheep, many by homebred sires, often known to fetch what I could only describe as ridiculous prices <br />
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On the day this particular farm had 34 Shearling tups entered and 5 tup lambs. The shearlings were pretty much like peas in a pod, the handful here were later in the draw, it was too difficult to photograph the tups in the first few pens for the number of people looking at them.<br />
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There were some more than useful tups on show on the day from a number of farms, Shep was quietly impressed with what she was seeing that's for sure.<br />
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The ring was a strange shape, it was actually an oblong, seating was limited also. On first getting a seat in the ring I found myself in a position where you could rarely see the sheep, they were entering the ring to my right and trying to exit in the same place, very few came into the centre of the ring to be viewed with the result that the next time I hunted for somewhere to sit I took up this position in the hope I may see more and not just hear the auctioneer.</div>
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As for the photographs? They all seem to have a strange hue about them. Once again I had forgotten my camera and commandeered my friends which for some reason took the photos with a pinky/purply cast to them - apologies!</div>
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Anyhow, back to the tup sale.</div>
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There were tups of all ages present for sale on the day, Shearlings, aged tups and tup lambs. The catalogue stated that tup lambs would be sold in number two ring, Shep struggled to find number two ring and finally wandered away down the pens until she could move no further for people. Number two ring had actually been converted from the penning areas, it wasn't a ring as I was accustomed to, but at least I found it. The next problem was finding somewhere to view the proceedings.</div>
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I got my eye on a photographer I know who was perched up behind the auctioneer, I gave him a tug on the trouser leg and asked if I could climb up beside him and balance on the pen rails just behind him, he raised his arms to take photographs and I snook shots from below his armpits, just as well he didn't suffer from B. O. !</div>
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I had expected the shearlings might have been making 'silly' money, I actually hadn't realised until I got to Dalmally that Dalchirla sold lambs. It was the lambs which drew the attention of the buyers. Blimey! It was well worth seeing and hearing it has to be said. <br />
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This chap realised £90,000 . He is a lamb, born this spring, approxiamtely 6 months old. His twin was next into the ring and made £60,000. That is £150,000 off one ewe.</div>
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The auctioneer had no problems getting folks to bid, that's for sure! It was almost a disappointment when another lamb in the pen <i>only</i> made £24,000!<br />
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It was for this that I had always wanted to head up to Dalmally, to see for myself, take in the buzz. There was a round of applause when the sale of the lamb concluded, a new lamb record for the centre, a price which matched the centre record for a shearling, which had also been sold off Dalchirla a few years previous. Probably a new record for a pair of twins reared off one ewe............ All very impressive. There is much to be said for a farmer to be able to sell 34 shearlings which averaged over £2,000 each and five lambs which averaged over £35,000 each. A farmer who is consistently at the top, think of Dalmally and you think of Dalchirla. <br />
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Before we left the mart to head home I shot off to the lamb pen, only these three remained, the one standing is the chap who made the most. <br />
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I'm pleased my friend ensured I got up to Dalmally, I take my hat off to a man who is consistently at the top of the tree but I can't help but question these <i>silly</i> prices. The lamb was bought by a consortium of farmers, they share the price between them, they are seeking to breed what they deem the perfect blackfaced sheep, they want the bloodlines and genetics of this particular specimen but what do the headlines tell the housewife on the street? Sheep trade has dropped quite dramatically this back end, fat and store lambs are well back on the trade of last year.</div>
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Those rearing sheep on a commercial basis are finding their incomes are less than last year, the weather has been down rightly atrocious this year and at a cost. A cost to the housewife and the farmer. Food will be dearer, both on the supermarket shelves and the feed sheds on the farms. How can the sheep sector justify the headlines in the press which boast record prices for tups? What does the normal person on the street think of it all? How can we expect any sympathy for the difficulties which face our livestock sectors, our sheep farmers who all so often seem to be battling against the odds?</div>
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These huge figures for breeding sheep go around in the same circles, those buying this lamb will hopefully see a return by selling sheep in the future at <i>silly </i>prices themselves, basically it gives a false impression of our sheep farming in general but unfortunately it is an impression which makes headlines, headlines which confuse the general public and leave them with little sympathy for the plight of farmers. </div>
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Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-83182569997651970922012-10-23T21:51:00.001+01:002012-10-23T21:51:49.311+01:00Tup sale mayhem.......Shep has been attending many tup sales in the past few weeks, trailing the countryside, sometimes singly, other times in company. Lockerbie in the south of Scotland was the first port of call, twice in actual fact, both times to view cheviots but two different types of cheviot, the northie type and the southie type, 'tis the latter which I have a personal penchant for. From Lockerbie the next port of call was slightly higher up in Scotland to Lanark, blackfaces this time, then a couple of days later higher up into Scotland again to Dalmally, blackfaces once again before heading south to my home ground of Hexham and guess what? Yes! More blackface tups.<br />
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There is a reason for titling this posting as I have, a marathon may have been a more apt description but as is Shep's want I did indeed as usual manage to cause some sort of mayhem - there's just nowt simple in life sometimes! It is fair to say that the two trips to Lockerbie passed by without too much of an adoo, but then I was travelling singularly and only had myself to please. It was the trip to Lanark which caused much commotion..........<br />
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Arrangements had been made for me to pick up a friend at 5.30am at a lay by some twenty minutes from where I live, we were to travel for an hour before leaving my motor at 6.30am and jumping in with someone else. This arrangement necessitated Shep being up by 4.30am - nae bother!<br />
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Umm...... Did I say nae bother?<br />
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The day previous Shep found herself working into the dark of night, on leaving the job I had been at I then found myself having to make an unexpected detour to get home, with the result I arrived home, cold, tired dirty and the night was clocking on. But not to worry, a quick shower and off to bed was the order of the day.
Umm......... I now have a new abode, one with a shower! A new abode which experienced many plumbing issues. Plumbing issues which at the time were being rectified as my landlord had the plumbers in rectifying.......... They hadn't however warned me I would have a night without hot water (this is generous as to this date luke warm water was more apt). You may recall I'd stated I arrived home rather late and was COLD, tired and dirty. The thought of a cold shower really didn't instill much enthusiasm into my soul! I would trot down to the farm and 'beg' a shower - they were out for the night (how dare they!) I trotted back home again. Boiled the kettle, filled the sink and commenced trying to remove sheep shit, only to find the water was disappearing at a rate of knots - yet another plumbing issue, plug too small for plug hole!<br />
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I went to bed, hot water bottle freshly filled, peg on nose so I couldn't smell myself and all would be well. Alarm set for 4.30am, 'phone calls had been made for the final arrangements in the morning all I had to do was wake up.<br />
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I did wake up! It's usually a good feeling, to know you're still alive, wasn't such a good feeling this particular morning tho' as I was awoken by my 'phone ringing down stairs, not by my alarm going off. The voice on the other end enquired whether I was alright, I had noticed the clock as I scurried down the stairs 10 to 6 it registered in my brain <b>10 to 6 !</b> Shit! I was meant to be picking someone up at 5.30........<br />
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'Twas that someone who was on the 'phone, they told me the stars were bright and it was a lovely morning to be standing in a lay by for the last half hour.<br />
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Mayhem ensued, Shep flinging clothes on, attempting to ring the next port of call where we were expected to arrive at by 6.30am........... OH!<br />
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There is no doubt about it I had a red face for the remainder of the day. All concerned were extremely kind and patient it has to be said, we did get to Lanark, we even got there before the sale started, we even managed a hurried breakfast on arrival in the canteen - an absolute godsend as Shep was desperate for that first coffee of the morning!<br />
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There was much leg pulling for the duration of our trip. Upon arrival two of us headed for the ladies the other to the gents and then met up in the canteen, the gent was then given a blow by blow account of how Shep had tried to have a bath in the hand basin in the ladies loos.......... y'know, there are friends and then there are <i>friends!</i> This was followed by the promise of a pair of braces for Christmas........... I may blush too much if I tell the full story but it has to do with knicker elastic! It doesn't pay to throw clothes on in a hurry, that's for sure!<br />
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There were many local faces which I bumped into whilst at Lanark and they all seemed to be aware that I had indeed slept in, probably because most of them had been asking my friend what she was doing loitering in a lay by in the dark hours of the morning.............<br />
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Not to worry, there was a great deal of laughter during the day, tups were succesfully purchased and transported home and a good day was had by all. Fortunately when travelling to Dalmally we went up the night previous, probably to ensure Shep didn't sleep in......!<br />
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Now Hexham tup sale sailed by without too much trouble, except......... I always have a dentist appointment on tup sale day, coz I know I'll be in town that day, it won't interfere with work, sensible idea I'd thought. Shep hadn't made a note of the time of the appointment and as it had been made on the back of the lambing that was a long time ago. Mid morning saw me ring the dentist and enquire as to what time I was expected later that afternoon. "last Monday at 4pm" was the reply I received "are you sure, it's always tup sale day" I said, the second Monday of the month - that's today!" "It's the third Monday of the month today" "Oh! Is it? I'm very sorry......."<br />
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Now I know I'm heading to that age for suffering from 'senior moments' but can anyone explain why the tup sale which is always held on the second Monday in October decided to be on the third Monday or am I really losing my marbles?Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-36544132591714303832012-10-13T23:49:00.000+01:002012-10-13T23:49:52.790+01:00Gannin's on.........Blimey! We're up to the 13th October already........... What on earth do I do with my time?<br />
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Life has been hectic on the Shep front. Not all hard graft it is fair to say, this is being written upon my return from a 36 hour busmans holiday. A tup sale none the less, one which I wanted to attend last year and failed and one which a friend at the time vowed she would make sure I got to attend this year. My excuses of being too busy, couldn't fit it in didn't wash with her with the result being we set off yesterday - Friday 12th Oct and headed north, into Scotland and kept driving north until we reached an area close to Oban on the north west.<br />
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A night in a very comfortable B&B with a canny crack with a Canadian and German couple over breakfast (neither of whom knew what a tup was or could comprehend why we would be so excited to be attending a tup sale) then saw us heading to the auction mart at Dalmally, a very interesting day ensued, some good sheep were viewed with us leaving at about 4pm, before the sale was finished, to head south again. Shep may have been on a skive but a necessity to set away to work tomorrow morning (Sunday) at 7.30am meant it was necessary to get home and get sorted.<br />
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On Thursday past Shep had headed north again, to a tup sale none the less. Lanark this time and once again to view blackfaced sheep. I had worked on the Wednesday though - honest! and the 14 days previous.<br />
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So, it is the sale season. Shep attended Lockerbie South Country Cheviot tup sale on the 1st October and enjoyed tagging along and passing comment on a number of sheep. 4th October was the Hexham Ewe Sale day, once again in attendance, although 'working' but enjoyable all the same, trade wasn't as strong as some would have liked but sheep got sold all the same. 11th Oct was Lanark tup sale and then Dalmally today. Tomorrow (Monday 15th) is Hexham tup sale - phew!<br />
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In between gadding about to sales there have been sheep to dress and sort, sheep to gather and keel and dose, the tailing season has also commenced, time to remove wool off tails in preparation for the tups going out - it would seem to be never ending!<br />
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There have been plumbers in at my new abode, I now have pleasantries such as hot water, a loo which flushes and bath taps that water comes out of - life is full of surprises!! Unfortunately it would seem that a plumbers remit does not include tidying up after themselves with the result there is much housework to attend to. (someday....)<br />
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Life is hectic on many fronts. There are photos from Dalmally and when time allows I'll get them posted, for the time being I'm heading for bed, time is ticking on, I have had an embarrassing 'sleeping in' episode this past week and don't need another. Sheep suffering from fluke infestation require my assistance tomorrow so bed it is for now, this is just a very quick update of the 'gannins on'.Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-88406095634782120452012-09-24T21:17:00.000+01:002012-09-24T21:17:00.118+01:00Sale preperationsShep has spent an hour today being nosey, out of my area and I tracked down a farm I had an interest in and managed to pluck up the courage to go and introduce myself, only to find the shepherd busying himself dressing draft ewes, it is fair to say the temptation to jump in the pen with him and give him a hand was pretty strong, but I resisted, after all, I was meant to be having a day off! At least I got a good look at the type of sheep off the place with a 'private' viewing of the draft ewes, the tups I was hoping to have a gander at seemed not to be on show and hints didn't work but then the man had a lot of work to get through and I know for myself there can be nowt worse than being held up.<br />
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It's that time of year, sheep sales are upon us big time and sheep need dressing and turning out to the best of our abilities in the hope they will look their best on the day and catch the buyers eyes.<br />
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The following are photos taken last year, a glance at dressing Blackfaced gimmers, unfortunately I didn't have the sense to do the before and after shots to show the difference once they had been tidied up, although it is fair to say a good sheep takes little dressing, it's the poorer end which need more attention to make them look better.<br />
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Most sheep can be helped by tidying their bellies up, Blackies are of course heavier woolled sheep, carrying long wool and this gimmer had been clipped in June so her fleece had had plenty of chance to grow. Levelling a belly off helps give the sheep height and length.<br />
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Wool tidied up around the neckline helps accentuate the face and in some cases give the sheep more neck. There are many different styles of dressing sheep, some even use the electric clippers on them, hand shears are still the most preferred method of dressing on hill sheep, little really needs to come off and as a hairdresser will probably tell you it is easier to snip with a pair of scissors than use electric clippers because once it is removed it can't be put back again. Dressing with hand shears takes patience and practice, care is needed not to leave shear marks in the wool, a well dressed sheep oughtn't to look like it has had the shears over it.<br />
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Buckets? What has that got to do with dressing sheep? Well, we all like to look nice and clean when out in public and the same goes for the sheep. Okay! I don't suppose they really care but the truth is if you wash and rinse their faces it is amazing how much grime comes of the hair on their heads with the result being they look bright and shiny. Many sheep have already been bloom dipped as well, this is intended to put some colour into their fleeces but it can also dull the hair on the head and legs.<br />
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As this photo shows, the legs on these gimmers did get a wash, enough to darken and brighten the black and whiteness of their colours, make them stand out more, be eye catching.<br />
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Paint? Whatever next? It's tradition you see........... honest! Gimmers and ewe lambs as tradition goes get a red paint mark on the back of their necks, the draft ewes find they get a strip of paint painted around their horns. Now any old paint wont do, seriously! it has to be gloss paint, it also has to be red - honest! Some have tried using aerosol cans or keel on the back of the heads but this smudges and spreads, gloss paint is the answer.<br />
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There she is, getting the wool on the back of her head painted, her face has already been washed, her crown is looking shiny white, her wool has an almost biscuity colour about it due to the fact she was bloom dipped and now she is getting her paint put on, just like a woman tarting herself up ready for a night out!<br />
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Waiting patiently for the makeover, these gimmers are dressed, bellies levelled, legs washed, wool bloomed, they're just waiting for a quick facial followed by a bit of red and then off they'll go back to their field to relax ready for their big day<br />
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when they go through the ring, catch the buyers eyes and hopefully make a lot of money for the farmer, before moving to pastures new<br />
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a>Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-9636705255725248562012-09-21T11:27:00.000+01:002012-09-21T11:27:24.838+01:00Autumn Breeding Sales'Tis the time of year when farmers have been busy spaening (weaning) their lambs and sorting through their breeding sheep. There are sales every week at the moment for breeding sheep of one type or another at the auction marts across our area.<br />
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The sales season can start quite early with the downland breeds being the first to come upon the market, hill breeding sales tend to be slightly later in the season. Friday 14th September was the KELSO tup fair, where almost every type of downland tup (ram) was on offer, by October we will be flat out with the hill tup sales, some farmers and shepherds travelling miles to view and buy sheep.<br />
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It isn't just the tups who are finding themselves being paraded around the sale ring, the females are also on the market. Ewe sales are commencing, specific sales where females of all ages will be going under the auctioneers gavel. From draft ewes (retiring off the hills) right down the scale to the younger end being the ewe lambs (spare female lambs).<br />
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Shep was at the ewe sale at Lockerbie recently, funny white faced critters they were - yup! Cheviots! but only a handful were present of the type I am accustomed to, the remainder of the sale was taken up with those bigger creatures, the north country variety. The Blackfaced ewe sales are advertised throughout the farming press, Shep nearly found herself at Castle Douglas rather than Lockerbie but navigational skills and sheep breed found Lockerbie easier to negotiate. The sales at Longtown and Hexham are yet to come, just a fortnight away though and many sheep to prepare for sale before then.<br />
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Sheep find themselves being dressed for sale, not in the sense we would imagine, they don't get wrapped up in frilly frocks or anything of that ilk, they just find themselves getting a tidy up, any raggy edges smoothed over, a cut and trim to help them look respectable. Dolled up a little bit, touch of bloom dip to brighten their fleeces, dab of paint where necessary and off they'll go to the mart. Hopefully the next posting will help explain some of this to you all.Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-26733400886973758332012-09-13T00:43:00.002+01:002012-09-13T00:43:00.434+01:00Clipping................... dare I mention it?I have been asking myself how many times I've finished the clipping season this year, it is fair to say my celebrations on the 16th August were indeed just somewhat premature. Friday 24th August saw me once again conclude the season may well be over, however, I kept the revelation to myself - not wishing to tempt providence y'know!<br /><br />Sure enough, that gut feeling proved right again and another 'phone call saw a return to the clipping boards on the 2nd September, although I will be honest and admit to passing the buck, got someone else to do the clipping and Shep did the handling. I did clip one or two it is fair to say to give the guy a break as there were more sheep to clip than we had anticipated and really, Shep ought to have had her machine there to shorten the day, but hey ho, it got over.<br /><br />There was a feeling of relief. Surely that has got to be the end, has it not? Aargh! There was another 'phone call......... Commitments to dip and spaen sheep meant I was unavailable for a day or two and phew! The sheep got themselves clipped with out my interference.<br /><br />I feel that at long last I can safely say that the clipping season is over for 2012, I know I will still clip an odd one, those that missed the gathers will find hand shears taking their wool off, hopefully there will just be odd ones and no more. At least with the hand shears more wool will be left on their backs as unlike electric clipping where you follow the sheeps body, with hand shears you follow the rise. The rise is the depth of new wool growth. Hand shearing sees you clipping at the base of the old wool which ensures plenty of wool is left on the sheeps back at this time of year as they have a decent rise of new wool - a different and slower challenge than electric shearing, an art in itself and clipping odd ones is no great hardship.<br /><br />I laughed to myself when the clipping came to a close, my final real days clipping was on Swaledale hoggs. Hoggs are last years lambs, they are the first sheep that are clipped in the season. It was the 2nd of June when I commenced clipping this season, on Swaledale hoggs, two and a half months and 2,800 sheep later I finished the season on Swaledale hoggs! Can't say that has ever happened before, but as the saying goes, "there's a first time for everything!"<br /><br />Just shows what a topsy turvy season it has been!<br /><br />On the subject of topsy turvy, I want to share with you the following photo. Not a good one as it was taken in the dark of night and with the help of some quick fix button on the computer it has enhanced the shot to enable us to get an idea of what exactly it is. I'm calling it a moonbow. Nowt terribly rare about such a thing as I have revelled in their amazing beauty before but it does seem topsy turvy to see rainbows in the dark of night <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSU2XVxvZy4/UEvQrYkXB3I/AAAAAAAACyo/7EmY74Kmq_c/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B075.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSU2XVxvZy4/UEvQrYkXB3I/AAAAAAAACyo/7EmY74Kmq_c/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B075.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><br /><br />Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-9842260246153028472012-09-09T00:12:00.005+01:002012-09-09T00:40:56.130+01:00Falstone Show 18th August 2012Okay! I accept I'm just a wee bit behind the times - 3 weeks to be exact (blimey! is that all? seems more like 3 months!) Anyhow, Falstone came and went and a good day was had by all.<br /><br />The day dawned wet it has to be said, but then why ought it to have been any different to any other day? fortunately it soon passed (the wet stuff, not the day) with the result we were basking in sunshine outside the beer tent in the late afternoon. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl9UZ0nMtcc/UEvN6_8H_WI/AAAAAAAACwA/qEvdzAOzTf0/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B021.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl9UZ0nMtcc/UEvN6_8H_WI/AAAAAAAACwA/qEvdzAOzTf0/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B021.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Sheep penned, rain drops hanging on the pen rails and hoods up, but not for too long. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v0bal22ccVQ/UEvNynYIJgI/AAAAAAAACvw/GgmcaiyK30w/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B019.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v0bal22ccVQ/UEvNynYIJgI/AAAAAAAACvw/GgmcaiyK30w/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B019.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The north country cheviots soon mashed the 'show ring' up <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7ITx-EoUjM/UEvOY7jNzXI/AAAAAAAACwM/y8rI_hu28Lg/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B023.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7ITx-EoUjM/UEvOY7jNzXI/AAAAAAAACwM/y8rI_hu28Lg/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B023.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> with the result that the swaledale cross sheep were judged out of the 'show ring' and shown between the pens, unfortunately the pen they had been standing in was a glaar (muddy mess) which shows by the clart on their fleeces <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-PRHBHPnDA/UEvOjawjNVI/AAAAAAAACwY/WCnIUsdz2SU/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B024.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-PRHBHPnDA/UEvOjawjNVI/AAAAAAAACwY/WCnIUsdz2SU/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B024.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The judging of the Hexham type blackface champion took place in a cleaner 'show ring', courtesy of the scotch blackies who hadn't messed it up too much, or mebbes it was just drier ground. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXvlJQzDqBI/UEvO7uu_cVI/AAAAAAAACww/xBnMhF3EPW0/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B031.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXvlJQzDqBI/UEvO7uu_cVI/AAAAAAAACww/xBnMhF3EPW0/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B031.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The mule ewe lamb competitors weren't quite so lucky <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmZ2gzJOLm8/UEvPBPjvLuI/AAAAAAAACw8/w2_FWLWZ2zU/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B033.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmZ2gzJOLm8/UEvPBPjvLuI/AAAAAAAACw8/w2_FWLWZ2zU/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B033.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Those hardy souls who turned out without their wellies were in a fine mess! <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsooTYJXMMY/UEvPmjsLkTI/AAAAAAAACxg/yk5qIY_2zwU/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B046.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsooTYJXMMY/UEvPmjsLkTI/AAAAAAAACxg/yk5qIY_2zwU/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B046.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The sheep judging got through, Champion North Country Cheviot seen here with John Dixon of Chirdon. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5_htuStdvM/UEvOvnGUKsI/AAAAAAAACwk/WsP-DGujtV8/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B029.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5_htuStdvM/UEvOvnGUKsI/AAAAAAAACwk/WsP-DGujtV8/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B029.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> North of England Blackface champion went to Selby Robson of Yatesfield. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoSW4tsobWc/UEvPRRsxE0I/AAAAAAAACxI/vtj9q_jUet0/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B040.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoSW4tsobWc/UEvPRRsxE0I/AAAAAAAACxI/vtj9q_jUet0/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B040.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Swaledale Cross Champion was this tup lamb from Mark Anderson of the Riding <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AYIGkGg46dE/UEvPcnELVfI/AAAAAAAACxU/jNpI4jx5kAI/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B042.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AYIGkGg46dE/UEvPcnELVfI/AAAAAAAACxU/jNpI4jx5kAI/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B042.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> John Dixon again with the mule ewe lamb champion. The only photo missing is of Dave Baxter and the Scotch type blackfaced champion, unfortunately camera shake took over and the resulting fuzz is barely recognizable! <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBCK5MlCRe0/UEvPwThrcKI/AAAAAAAACxs/J-t0svoVRIM/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B050.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBCK5MlCRe0/UEvPwThrcKI/AAAAAAAACxs/J-t0svoVRIM/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B050.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Dog classes followed on from the sheep, collies, terriers, childrens pets and here one of the hound classes. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ir81tyckWcI/UEvP1tofcKI/AAAAAAAACx4/lSbUv-eGxtQ/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B054.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ir81tyckWcI/UEvP1tofcKI/AAAAAAAACx4/lSbUv-eGxtQ/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B054.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The industrial tent was stuffed full of 'yummies' - yup! we all know shep likes chocolate and it has to be said I did think this cold sweet looked rather inviting. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P31px5LHblc/UEvQDFJgR-I/AAAAAAAACyE/U3c-fcBABMk/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B056.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P31px5LHblc/UEvQDFJgR-I/AAAAAAAACyE/U3c-fcBABMk/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B056.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Tea cosies looking like sheep - what ever next? <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xyi_4jll3sA/UEvQOAxQAQI/AAAAAAAACyQ/B_ONRk8AM7M/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B059.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xyi_4jll3sA/UEvQOAxQAQI/AAAAAAAACyQ/B_ONRk8AM7M/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B059.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The poor summer conditions saw the vegetable entries being down in numbers but there were still some outstanding entries <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOxpNSrEGPU/UEvQWahhwFI/AAAAAAAACyc/5QXBbhK-8J0/s1600/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B060.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOxpNSrEGPU/UEvQWahhwFI/AAAAAAAACyc/5QXBbhK-8J0/s400/Falstone%2Bshow%252C%2Bevidence%2B060.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> even the flowers had managed to hold their heads up high despite the poor weather conditions which they had battled through.<br /><br />A summary? A cracking good day once again - well done to the committee and supporters for ensuring all went well. Further info will be available at www.falstoneshow.com Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-51250481355449057562012-08-22T02:52:00.003+01:002012-08-22T03:27:21.419+01:00Premature celebrationsThursday 16th August was the day, one Shep had been looking forward to for quite some while- the last days clipping! Outdoor clipping no less, the night previous had been a wet one, now there's a surprise! but the morning blew out and by 11a.m sheep were dry and clipping commenced. There was a canny air (wind) and sunshine, all seemed well on the home front, we even stopped for lunch, opening our bait (sandwich) boxes to see what goodies were hiding there, quite a relaxed last days clipping it seemed.<br /><br />Then it rained.<br /><br />Now Shep ain't gonna give in that easily, although I did raise my head and noted that the skies were black and foreboding away across the valley, they were definitely having something of a downpour. Time to try and clip faster I thought as I felt spots of wet stuff landing om my back.<br /><br />A few more woolly bodies were clipped, the spots of rain continued to land cool and wet on my back but sheep weren't getting too wet. Once again I looked up and away across the valley to see the downpour was moving, it seemed to be travelling in an arc around us. I couldn't help but grin to myself - the last days clipping and the weather was still being it's usual un co-operative self, but not to worry, the numbers of sheep to clip were getting down and nothing was gonna stop Shep in her quest to hang up the machine for the year. <br /><br />I did consider stopping and donning waterproofs as the spots started to land heavier upon my back, but then I would just end up hot and sweaty so really I would be no better off than being wet with rain, anyhow, it would also waste time and after all there weren't many left to clip now. Fortunately clipping off a battery machine rigged up to my car battery meant I wasn't going to fear being electrocuted so all was well really.<br /><br />We were fortunate, the rain, which I believe was indeed heavy, did continue to arc around us, we were just getting the few stray drops on the outside edge, by the time the sheep were all bared off and clipped out the rain had ceased, sun had come out and you couldn't help wonder what all the hassle had been about. So bloody typical though of this years clipping season, but hey! it was over for another year - time to celebrate!<br /><br />Courtesy of a local artist who had pitched up for the duration to do arty things farmer and myself found ourselves being invited for a quick pint down the pub. Now farmer was acting slightly more conscientious than I was as I was quick to take up the offer, however, it took little to encourage him to come and join us.<br /><br />So, down the pub we went, mid afternoon on a Thursday we found ourselves sitting outside enjoying a pint and watching the world go by whilst soaking up the sunshine, a slight give away to the fact we weren't tourists would have been our dress code, smell and unkempt appearance as there had been no time to wash and change. My logic is there are plenty who go out for a drink after work donned in their suits, don't see why we should be any different covered in sheep shit.<br /><br />Glasses were raised to the succesful conclusion of the shearing season and not before time. Fraught doesn't seem to have had a look in this year, it is fair to say it has been the most difficult season to organise in my living memory, but hey! we got through it, finished far later than ought to have done but finished was the important issue this day.<br /><br />It was something of a bummer when I received a 'phone call the following day to see how things were going from a farmer I work for and who's son clips their sheep. Of course I couldn't help but relay the good news that at long last, after what could only be described as a marathon I had eventually got the clipping over for another year................<br /><br />"That's good, we've still got 700 to do, could you give us a hand?" was the reply.<br /><br />It is fair to say my heart sank, but always trying to be as accommodating as possible I agreed to head over once Falstone Show had been and gone. Thank the lord we have an excuse for an annual day off - Falstone Show was a life saver!<br /><br />Wednesday is dawning, it is 22nd August, an early start to gather hill ewes and then commence clipping for another day. The farmers son and I have already had a day or two at the job, much gathering, shedding off lambs, housing sheep, clipping, neither of us seem to be in the right frame of mind for the job but we are getting through, later this morning we anticipate we will be gathering 3 - 400 sheep - the final gather, which will hopefully see us finished clipping by Friday at the latest if the weather will allow, after that should the 'phone ring the answer will be a definite NO. Spaening (weaning), dipping, gathering are all on the books, clipping will definitely be over for another year. Will I raise a glass again? Now that may just be tempting providence, maybe I'll just celebrate in a non committal fashion just to be on the safe side!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-25504826364840121542012-08-08T13:15:00.004+01:002012-08-08T13:15:00.094+01:00Where there's life there's death.<span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">'Tis a fact y'know, 'tis indeed very true. Where there's life there's death. It's the only fact we are sure of from the moment we are born - someday we will die. None of us know when, or how, but it will indeed come upon us. All the more reason to live life to the full I would say, we just never know when that double decker bus might be bearing down on us, to squash us flat...........</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The summer has been a difficult one for stock, I have heard of many farmers who believe their losses may have been greater than usual, some with a virulent form of mastitis amongst their sheep, others losing sheep cowped/kessing (lying on their backs)due to heavy fleeces and wet weather, then there are those unexplained deaths, "she was just lying their like she was asleep". It can be frustrating, exasperating, heart wrenching even and that is without consideration of the financial loss. But it is generally accepted, as already said "where there's live ones there'll be dead ones". Livestock and dead stock go hand in hand.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A morbid subject mebbes, those working with stock are probably more hardened to the fact than city dwellers may be, but no matter how hardened you are there are times when even the hardiest can shed a tear.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There may be some out there wondering why this blog has been drying up somewhat, unlike the weather which pours out generously on an almost daily basis Shep has found inspiration and words resistant to flow of late. There have been personal issues to deal with, none less than the present one of my Mother.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Shep is finally spaened (weaned), let loose into the big wild world so to speak. As this posting is published I will be at the same crematorium I was at less than three months ago, in pretty much the same company as well. Yes, there will be tears, there will also be much laughter, catching up with folks, reminiscing and rejoicing.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It has been a long fortnight. My mother, whom asked so little of life (and gave so much), got her main wish, a wish to leave this world with her independence and dignity in tact. I was often told to "unplug the machines" or "shoot me" should she find herself in a debilitating state. I had no worries on that front as she went to bed one night and didn't awaken the next morning. A lady who had ailed little in her lifetime (a chest condition in recent years being little short of a growing inconvenience to her), had fulfilled her last wish; to leave this world peacefully, with dignity and still totally independent. What more could any of us ask for? How selfish for those of us left behind to wish it could have been any different.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So there you have it, my Mam is dead - snuffed it, curled her toes up, put it how you wish. Often upon finding a sheep just lying dead for no reason the wry humour kicks in and cause of death is pronounced as "lack of breath"! Guess Mam ran out of breath an' all. The coroner came up with a fancy name (they always do, but then they have degrees and some of us don't!) to us commoners, a massive brain bleed/stroke was the cause of lack of breath and boy! how fortunate is that, I could follow it up with "typical, Mam never did do things in half measures"! It is fair to say that myself, my brother, sister in law and Mams two grandchildren and many, many others do wish she'd given us a little bit of a warning, but then she always knew we liked surprises!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There are many happy memories to look back on, some very recent which is a blessing. Shep was a Daddy's girl it has to be said, Mam and I were probably too closely matched, both sharing strong personalities which it is fair to say did indeed clash in my youth. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">With age comes wisdom and understanding (or so I've been told!), I have been able to look back to my youth and understand my mothers motives, her aspirations for her youngest and appreciate the fact that she helped forge me into the person I am today. As age crept upon both of us it drew us closer, the last conversation I had with my mother I felt as though I had been talking with a good friend, a true confidant - there is much to be said for that.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">She had her hands full it is fair to say, but handled with firmness and kindness she saw her kids blossom and her grandchildren too. We all know how proud she was of us, even though her daughter didn't follow the path that had been hoped of her it was accepted graciously, "so long as your happy, that's all that matters".</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A lady who didn't suffer fools gladly, abhorred any form of dishonesty and spoke it as it was - never minced her words. Never one to be in the limelight, always beavering in the background, door open to anyone "so long as they take me as I am". A lady who gave much and asked little in return, a friend to many and more than a friend to many more will be sadly missed by all of us. We all gain strength from having known her and knowing that her final wish was fulfilled. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Or was it? She was pretty much convinced that my brother and I would make a mess of her funeral arrangements (we were sternly told we couldn't organise her 80th last year "I know what you two are like" she said, as we stood before her with a wicked glint in our eyes), so much so she thought she ought to write down her wishes - well! Wishes have yet to be found............ Did she really get her final wish? Lets hope so, following the tearful bit at the crematorium with our family there is to be a memorial service to celebrate her life at her local chapel for all to enjoy, much jolly singing is the order of the day, gifts of wild daffodil bulbs for anyone who might attend ("flowers are for the living, they're no good to the dead"), hopefully we've done her proud, no doubt she'll somehow let us know if we haven't!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" ;font-size:100%;">As the saying goes "To have loved and lost is better than not to have loved at all" </span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" ;font-size:100%;"><i>"Thank you for having been my Mam".</i></span></div></span>Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-88411085155403564692012-08-04T22:17:00.000+01:002012-08-04T22:17:00.479+01:00read into it as you like!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwopS8j-Nmo/T7FnffZ01fI/AAAAAAAACik/VMWMbBgP16I/s1600/lambing%2Bmisc%2B069.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwopS8j-Nmo/T7FnffZ01fI/AAAAAAAACik/VMWMbBgP16I/s400/lambing%2Bmisc%2B069.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> This sign has often had me in stitches, a relic from the days when a road was un fenced and sheep roamed freely upon the highway but also a reminder to us all........!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-37577309308656290742012-07-30T21:20:00.002+01:002012-07-30T22:08:47.380+01:00Clipping set upsContract shearers usually have their own clipping trailers which they tow from farm to farm. These trailers come in many different shapes and forms.<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hZarzTpw0Dg/T-eZUMdu5UI/AAAAAAAACrw/K_Chei3Ohpk/s1600/wool%2B005.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hZarzTpw0Dg/T-eZUMdu5UI/AAAAAAAACrw/K_Chei3Ohpk/s400/wool%2B005.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> There is the pen type trailer, these are either fitted on wheels or can be built once in situ. They are quite simply a pen with one or two doors allowing access to the sheep. The doors will be on a spring hinge so they shut automatically once a sheep is removed, after all, the shearer will have their hands full with the sheep which they are dragging out. These pens sit on the floor, unlike the race type trailers which are generally up a height <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwyU-m8Gb6I/T-eaDeEfLSI/AAAAAAAACr8/xURs-xsWEiE/s1600/sky%2Bpink%2Bwool%2B008.JPG'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwyU-m8Gb6I/T-eaDeEfLSI/AAAAAAAACr8/xURs-xsWEiE/s400/sky%2Bpink%2Bwool%2B008.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Many race type trailers follow the above design. A ramp which leads up to the race which the sheep are turned out of to be clipped. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3GDkaFPYG4/T-eaMelpCOI/AAAAAAAACsI/LvFl0WnJWMw/s1600/sky%2Bpink%2Bwool%2B005.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3GDkaFPYG4/T-eaMelpCOI/AAAAAAAACsI/LvFl0WnJWMw/s400/sky%2Bpink%2Bwool%2B005.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The sheep stand patiently (or not so) <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HbSfpZQNKrY/T-eaTJq5ZUI/AAAAAAAACsU/3pjNrPBYlF0/s1600/sky%2Bpink%2Bwool%2B006.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HbSfpZQNKrY/T-eaTJq5ZUI/AAAAAAAACsU/3pjNrPBYlF0/s400/sky%2Bpink%2Bwool%2B006.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> before being tipped out of the race to sit at the shearers feet and get shorn. Shep can sometimes struggle when helping someone else out on one of these trailers, it almost feels like you have to pat your head and rub your tummy (a thing I'm not the most adept at), I can hop from foot to foot trying to work out which foot to put onto the door to pull it down, whilst reaching for a sheep at the same time. Most are set up like this one with the sheep running to the left of the shearer, but there are some which run the opposite way and as I am easily confused it doesn't take much to have me trying to work out my left from my right!<br /><br />Those of us who are naturally right handed find it easier to catch sheep left handed. The left hand being used to hold the head, turn it towards her shoulder and tip her over whilst the right hand is on her rump pushing it down. So getting onto a race which runs the opposite way finds those of us who are easily confused getting easily confused!! <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGj0deeqxsg/T-ebwdx2cGI/AAAAAAAACss/KOOhMqRj6e0/s1600/summer%2B2010%2B023.JPG'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGj0deeqxsg/T-ebwdx2cGI/AAAAAAAACss/KOOhMqRj6e0/s400/summer%2B2010%2B023.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Regardless of any confusion eventually sheep will be sitting at your feet and getting clipped (shorn). These trailers need to sit level. The boards (area the sheep are clipped on) will often have found a spirit level used on them to ensure they are indeed level. It is far easier on your back if the area you are clipping on is indeed level, also far easier for handling the sheep. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lae0hAK8n5o/T-ebWFdeZrI/AAAAAAAACsg/yGVxGuJXtHM/s1600/clipping%2B2010%2B113.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lae0hAK8n5o/T-ebWFdeZrI/AAAAAAAACsg/yGVxGuJXtHM/s400/clipping%2B2010%2B113.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Clipping races are also used, Shep thinks these are the best approach, due in part to the fact sheep run along them far easier than they do when they have to run up a steep ramp and they are far easier to handle and catch sheep from than when they are standing in a bigger pen as in the first photo. This particular race is a permanent fixture on the farm. It takes up little room and is also used at scanning time to set the sheep into the scanning race. The doors open inwards into the race, enabling the shearer to pull a sheep backwards and onto it's arse at your feet without the next sheep in the queue escaping out of the open door. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcNQULA_j7A/UAc3T1wPxAI/AAAAAAAACug/9R7wEWkB1aU/s1600/summer%2B012.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcNQULA_j7A/UAc3T1wPxAI/AAAAAAAACug/9R7wEWkB1aU/s400/summer%2B012.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> There are also mobile races, some made of metal, others of wood, the design is just the same, sheep running along the level and being taken out of doors along the side of the race. It is of little consequence to the shearers that the clipping trailers can be difficult to load when sheep have to run up a steep ramp but for the staff on the day most appreciate having one of these races which run on the level which sheep trot along quite easily.<br /><br />Anyhow, we're nearly into August and still the clipping season is running on. It's that wet stuff which is to blame, but hey! we'll all get there eventually - always have in the past.<br /><br />The contract shearers have been battling along, many sheep are yet to clip in the countryside and some long and heavy days have been put in when weather has allowed. Shep was just talking to some shearers the other day, one a lad who started his shearing career alongside myself, he finally left me standing and went on to join the 300 a day club. We were discussing the season and I admitted to being somewhat sickened off with it this year, feeling it was extremely hard work. What a relief to find someone else shared my views. This lad explained that he just couldn't get into the swing of things, too many days off, too many days you started late and finished even later, too many days jamming in many sheep to try and get through the backlog.<br /><br />Now it is fair to say that I thought it was just my personal circumstances, age probably too but we have both concluded that it is just the season. After all, when clipping all day every day the body soon gets accustomed and fittened and toned up. Here we are this season clipping one day and having two or three off, the body doesn't get a chance to get into the swing of things, it always feels stiff and uncooperative - and not just my body by all accounts.This particular shearer told me that he only clipped for 10 days in June, 10 days out of 30 - there is no way the body is going to get accustomed to what it is meant to be doing, or the head for that matter. Not to worry though, it is getting through, there are less and less woolly sheep in the countryside than there were a few weeks back.Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-66726876952277675832012-07-15T23:26:00.002+01:002012-07-19T13:08:23.800+01:00Clipping (shearing) season 2012Just incase some of you aren't aware it has been somewhat unseasonal this summer, yes, I know we live on an island which throws a variety of weather our way but........... not rain ALL the time. It would seem it has become a permanent feature, that wet stuff in what ever form it fancies. There has been wet, piss wet, very wet, wetter than wet then the wets we daren't mention in case children are listening, sometimes there has been the not so wets or even just the damp wetness. It is quite safe to say though that in a 24 hour period there has indeed been some form of wetness. Unless that is you live in the Western Isles of Scotland, now those poor souls are suffering a drought and yet they live in an area I always believed was a wet one - nowt like the idiosyncrasies of the good ol' British weather is there?<br /><br />All this wetness has been causing grief, those that work outdoors, tend to stock are sick to the back teeth of wearing wellies and waterproofs day in day out. Stock are also getting sick of being wet all the time. The grass is growing BUT it also needs harvesting, again a problem when ground is waterlogged. Sheep need clipping, their coats need removing, a job which is preferable to do when the fleece is dry, packing it into wool sheets when wet will encourage it to mould and the price received for the product will be less should the product be damaged.<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qns4lrWpGPA/UAf4GE02ljI/AAAAAAAACvg/NdRVuYOQEyc/s1600/summer%2B011.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qns4lrWpGPA/UAf4GE02ljI/AAAAAAAACvg/NdRVuYOQEyc/s400/summer%2B011.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The good news is sheep have been queuing up <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcNQULA_j7A/UAc3T1wPxAI/AAAAAAAACug/9R7wEWkB1aU/s1600/summer%2B012.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcNQULA_j7A/UAc3T1wPxAI/AAAAAAAACug/9R7wEWkB1aU/s400/summer%2B012.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> Blackies and Cheviots have been waiting patiently for their annual haircut. Probably held in fields for longer than usual waiting for a break in the weather to allow them to be housed dry or dryish.<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlXL7l5uJuM/UAc3edga8fI/AAAAAAAACus/jlID-DIKNFE/s1600/summer%2B010.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlXL7l5uJuM/UAc3edga8fI/AAAAAAAACus/jlID-DIKNFE/s400/summer%2B010.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> Patience pays off and clipping commences.<br /><br />It has to be said that the season has been a slow one, desperation has lead to sheep being clipped wet, many have been clipped damp and there are many, many more still waiting to get clipped. Here we are in the middle of July and Shep is 1,000 sheep behind on last year, they're still out there, they are still carrying their full fleeces, it just hasn't been possible to attend to their needs yet. Organisation has gone out of the window this year, whoever gets sheep housed first seems to be the ones who get their sheep shorn. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TX1KR07Hvvo/UAc3rt9W5DI/AAAAAAAACu4/c1Vi41FSRW0/s1600/summer%2B003.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TX1KR07Hvvo/UAc3rt9W5DI/AAAAAAAACu4/c1Vi41FSRW0/s400/summer%2B003.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> Quite arty I think - 'washing lines' full of fleeces, that's the way forward, dry the wool off the sheeps back! <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17qCxhH-IxA/UAc35AJt_GI/AAAAAAAACvE/HMCf9VcKBYQ/s1600/summer%2B007.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17qCxhH-IxA/UAc35AJt_GI/AAAAAAAACvE/HMCf9VcKBYQ/s400/summer%2B007.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> Unfortunately a great deal of room is needed to hang a few fleeces up and some fleeces such as those off a cheviot or texel tend not to hold their shape like these fleeces off a blackie and are not suitable for hanging off a line, they just fall to pieces which is a tad inconvenient of them on a year such as this. Shep is mightly relieved that she doesn't clip the number of sheep she used to do, planning and organisation is a nightmare as it is with out the added complication of a good few thousand to clip. But regardless, we are getting there, it may be a long shearing season but they will all get done eventually.Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-76164447340165861862012-06-28T20:49:00.005+01:002012-06-29T21:20:21.931+01:00Wet and wetter<span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">The swallows are flying low, slugs are in heaven, it can mean only one thing - damp weather. Understatement! Did I say damp? Wet would probably be a truer description, or even wetter than wet may sum the situation up better.<br /><br />Now I have no idea who or what has been poking bloody great big holes in our clouds but I think it only fair that they now get the darning needle out and do some running repairs. I never knew clouds could hold so much of the wet stuff, but seemingly they do.<br /><br />There again it could be the giants thumping around up there and putting their feet through the clouds letting the wet stuff out. Giants? Well you see, as a kid I was told that thunder was the giants up in the clouds and they were angry and as we've had a humbdinger of a thunder storm today it made me imagine them stomping around and causing holes in the clouds, coz after all, the rain we've had today could only have come out of big holes, it was pretty big rain, actually I think the giants were tipping buckets of water out of the skies and laughing at us! At least I have grown out of hiding in the wardrobe when it thunders, just as well as today there wasn't a wardrobe handy!<br /><br />Yup! I can see you all rolling your eyes - Shep has got water on the brain alright! <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXrc7D-0DB0/T-y0jxOWeUI/AAAAAAAACs8/IRB-m3_7DPE/s1600/bridgeford%2B035.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXrc7D-0DB0/T-y0jxOWeUI/AAAAAAAACs8/IRB-m3_7DPE/s400/bridgeford%2B035.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> We've had a number of downpours, also showers, persistent showers, damp showers, wet showers, wetter than wet showers, more downpours and a handful of drier days - honest! there has been a handful, we just tend to forget about them between the wetter than wet days.<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W_25O1Am1is/T-y0-tV9MmI/AAAAAAAACts/72XHjpC8IWU/s1600/wet%2B004.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W_25O1Am1is/T-y0-tV9MmI/AAAAAAAACts/72XHjpC8IWU/s400/wet%2B004.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> Burns have swollen, burst their banks and traveled where they fancy, as have field and hill drains. Roads have also been transformed to look like rivers, saves Shep getting the pressure washer out and removing all the muck and grime from the wheel arches of the car, it happens naturally when you drive on the roads!<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1kerc6esp8/T-y0w5hxZ1I/AAAAAAAACtU/375MRjUvAXs/s1600/bridgeford%2B039.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1kerc6esp8/T-y0w5hxZ1I/AAAAAAAACtU/375MRjUvAXs/s400/bridgeford%2B039.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> I have no idea how much rain falls every day but there is a days worth in these dogs dishes - saves washing them out an' all - wonderful!<br /><br />Today saw Shep clipping sheep, I only do a couple of days a week, not because I'm getting lazy but due to the fact that for the other five days in the week sheep are sopping wet. Today was one of those couple of days, fortunately the sheep had been housed overnight, otherwise Shep wouldn't have had any to clip as a misty morning would have guaranteed they would be damp of the fleeces and with rain commencing by mid morning they would definitely have never got dried. Fortunately I was working for someone prepared to house sheep overnight. Yesterday saw the clipping finished and then helping to gather, run lambs off and house ewes ready for today, it's a comfort as the raindrops hit the windscreen on the way home to know you'll get on in the morning.<br /><br />As today's clipping drew to a close the heavens opened, it wasn't a hole in the clouds this time, more like a bloody great big tear, the wet stuff came down whole water, a spate no less. Lightening flashed into the shed and them giants commenced grumbling as the thunder brattled louder and louder. As clipped sheep were reunited with lambs and returned to their pastures Shep quite enjoyed the rain piddling down on her bare shoulders, a humid day had seen much sweat lost and the rain was truly refreshing, until I was wet that is, then it got somewhat tiresome, fortunately a change of clothes was on hand.<br /><br />Gear was packed up but a delay ensued when it came to leaving and heading for home. The rain was torrential, the thunderstorm was right overhead, lightening and thunder complimenting one another, there was no way Shep was taking to the road in those conditions!<br /><br />Overall, the storm would last a couple of hours and eventually Shep headed South and back into England. Water was running all ways, through gateways, down bank sides, almost running back up them, burns were boiling, some overflowing onto the road, driving with caution was necessary.<br /><br />Once back into Northumberland everywhere seemed even wetter. I have never flashed my headlights to oncoming vehicles so much as I did in this particular journey, neither have I had so many flash theirs at me, there was much waving of acknowledgement for consideration to others on the roads. Broken down cars were passed just yards from flooded areas of the roads, police even had roads blocked and diversions set up as I got closer to home. What is normally an hours drive took me an hour and a half, there was much creeping through puddles (more like lakes) on the road. <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOQOvnJirCM/T-y04JfCBQI/AAAAAAAACtg/iYAmNIxenzc/s1600/wet%2B003.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOQOvnJirCM/T-y04JfCBQI/AAAAAAAACtg/iYAmNIxenzc/s400/wet%2B003.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> I eventually had to stop and take a photo, I had passed some sheep just half a mile prior to this stop which were marooned in the flood water, ewes and lambs huddles on a tiny patch of soggy green surrounded by what looked like a raging torrent, I wish I'd taken a photo, but due to a police road block and redirecting of traffic there was much traffic on my tail and no where safe to pull over, so no photo. Hopefully the river would begin to run in and the sheep would find their 'island' growing in size before finally once again becoming their pasture.<br /><br />The above photo is of the Rede, a twisty narrow river in the next door valley to our own, it is noted for flooding but even so had managed to do remarkably well in such a short time. It had swamped much ground and presumably was the cause of the redirecting of traffic a short way back down the road.<br /><br />The excitement of my journey still wasn't over. There were still many watery obstacles to negotiate, small hill drains and burns had swollen to ridiculous proportions, running across roads and bringing down stone walls which were in the way of the spate. My mind was full of "Ooh", "Blimey", "good grief!" and even "Wow!". I just can't help feeling full of awe and respect for the power of nature.<br /><br />The water levels began to subside quite quickly, an hour from returning home and it was more than obvious that water was draining away and heading at a rate of knots for the coast. <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-peQjxjdmBkg/T-y1H2C4x7I/AAAAAAAACt4/kfWjTURYHFA/s1600/wet%2B005.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-peQjxjdmBkg/T-y1H2C4x7I/AAAAAAAACt4/kfWjTURYHFA/s400/wet%2B005.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuumCrnquYE/T-y1NSKFh2I/AAAAAAAACuE/yzUdY8i8-CQ/s1600/wet%2B007.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuumCrnquYE/T-y1NSKFh2I/AAAAAAAACuE/yzUdY8i8-CQ/s400/wet%2B007.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> It left much damage in it's wake, stone walls down, tarmac lifted on the roads, trees washed away, land slides. Our pub got flooded out, not for the first time in it's life time and probably not the last, we have been extremely fortunate though in many ways, television news coverage tonight shows people far worse affected than ourselves, we don't have houses standing in water, nor cars with only their roofs showing above the water level. Them holes in the clouds may have left their mark but we have much to be thankful for. <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1sZUbjOcPM/T-y0rT2UZ5I/AAAAAAAACtI/D6pDpA2hxJo/s1600/bridgeford%2B038.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1sZUbjOcPM/T-y0rT2UZ5I/AAAAAAAACtI/D6pDpA2hxJo/s400/bridgeford%2B038.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>We have a private weather station in Tarset and they sent the following report through </span><i style="font-weight: normal; ">Yesterday (28 Jun 2012) the temperature ranged from 12 to 18°C with 54.8mm rain. The wind gusted up to 18 mph. Follow the weather on Twitter</i>: <a href="https://twitter.com/tarsetweather" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">https://twitter.com/tarsetweather</a><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div>For those of you like myself who don't quite follow the millimetre thing and prefer measurements in 'old money' as my mother would say then I have googled a converter and can report that 54.8mm equates to 2.1574803149629598 inches. Doesn't really sound a lot, however, the majority of it fell in just a couple of hours and believe you me, it did equate to a fair amount! BUT.......... apparently on 28th June <b>1917 </b>243mm (9.5") reportedly fell at Bruton in Somerset, SO we ain't really got anything to complain about have we?</div>Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-63314285435196978352012-06-24T23:39:00.000+01:002012-06-24T23:39:00.278+01:00A pleasant findBouncing around in what only could be described as being in the middle of no where Shep stumbled upon something. By bouncing around I would like to add I was riding a quad bike on overgrown, rough, un grazed moorland, I wasn't actually physically bouncing around like a chimpanzee, although it is fair to say I have been known to do such things, just not on this particular occasion.<br /><br />There I was, out in the middle of no where on a quest - trying to track down some wayward sheep, when I spotted a deer. Nowt unusual with that, there are roe deer a plenty in the Tarset valley and many to be seen on this particular hill ground which is surrounded by forestry.<br /><br />This deer acted in a different fashion to many which you stumble upon. Usually a deer takes flight, all you see is the white rump disappearing into the distance. This one behaved in a totally different manner. <br /><br />I would easily be 100 yards off it when it just seemed to spring up from nowhere, initially I thought little of the fact, just another deer. Until......... it only ran a few yards before stopping and heading back to the spot it had sprung from. As I was still bouncing along on the quad it then ran away further, but hesitated, stopped, looked back before disappearing over the edge of the hillside. Strange behaviour. <br /><br />Now if that deer had been a sheep I would have guessed it had a lamb lying back there somewhere, why else would it hesitate and head back before running further away?<br /><br />I looked across to the spot where I had first been aware of the deer and thought I could see something moving. Time to stop the bike and go and investigate I thought. <br /><br />All movement had ceased as I slowly and quietly walked towards the spot, just over the edge of the hill I could hear a deer barking, she had definitely left something behind. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4WH7FO4-ZRg/T-D-aKw7XsI/AAAAAAAACqs/xZqjZJ_0IDE/s1600/june%2B2012%2B036.JPG'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4WH7FO4-ZRg/T-D-aKw7XsI/AAAAAAAACqs/xZqjZJ_0IDE/s400/june%2B2012%2B036.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> And sure enough, I wasn't disappointed, as tucked away in the long, overgrown heather was her fawn. A roe deer fawn. Acting dead. Squatting down, lying flat, pretending it wasn't there. Take flight and the hunter might hunt, lie and act dead and all may be well. It had been well taught for it's tender youth. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTSmZuH0TqA/T-D-lFRqqHI/AAAAAAAACq8/o3FLBWzb83I/s1600/june%2B2012%2B037.JPG'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTSmZuH0TqA/T-D-lFRqqHI/AAAAAAAACq8/o3FLBWzb83I/s400/june%2B2012%2B037.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZqm79raFn8/T-D-1v36Z8I/AAAAAAAACrU/OT9X-3_5k-g/s1600/june%2B2012%2B039.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZqm79raFn8/T-D-1v36Z8I/AAAAAAAACrU/OT9X-3_5k-g/s400/june%2B2012%2B039.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Moss lay away back next to the bike, curious as to what I was up to but wiser than to disobey his orders, he remained alert, waiting to be called, although that wasn't going to happen. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RP76fViCjhk/T-D-tHu00FI/AAAAAAAACrI/sMjbg0rUr48/s1600/june%2B2012%2B038.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RP76fViCjhk/T-D-tHu00FI/AAAAAAAACrI/sMjbg0rUr48/s400/june%2B2012%2B038.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> I took these photographs as quickly as I could, the photographer in me wanting to remove annoying foliage to enable a better shot, the shepherd in me telling me not to loiter, leave well alone and move on as quickly as possible. The doe was still calling, although out of sight she wasn't far away and so I retraced my steps, mounted the trusty stead and bounced off leaving mother and offspring to be reunited.<br /><br />It is hard to believe, that this is Sheps first ever encounter with a roe deer fawn, I have seen many youngsters trotting alongside their mothers but never come across a little chap of just a few days old. It doesn't take much to cheer one up and this was one of those little things which puts a day on a high, all that bouncing about on the 18th June was well worth it!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-55710149114095569302012-06-19T23:25:00.000+01:002012-06-19T23:25:01.002+01:00Sheepy mischiefSheep ain't as stupid as folks would like you to think and given the opportunity they are more than capable of running circles around you. Shep and Moss have been dealing with their mischievous ways over recent days. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbF9RXTe5Vw/T-DuMlnwDgI/AAAAAAAACpU/2UIEXcjLKX0/s1600/june%2B2012%2B041.JPG'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbF9RXTe5Vw/T-DuMlnwDgI/AAAAAAAACpU/2UIEXcjLKX0/s400/june%2B2012%2B041.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> This picture might appear quite innocuous but them there sheep know what they're playing at, running down a steep bankside full of brackens, they were forever hopefully of hiding from sight. Fortunately at the moment the brackens are only just growing, by the next time these sheep are gathered in July the brackens will be higher, denser and give them far more cover. Should they get away with this ploy again there is no doubt some of them may well give shepherd and dogs the slip. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBfEep-29VI/T-DudE7wXaI/AAAAAAAACpg/wvmL6uMKcDg/s1600/june%2B2012%2B042.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBfEep-29VI/T-DudE7wXaI/AAAAAAAACpg/wvmL6uMKcDg/s400/june%2B2012%2B042.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> When gathering it is always wise to look back, the above photo is the reverse shot of the one previous to it, so, there are sheep running and trying to hide in the brackens ahead, but nothing behind..... look closer - just to the right hand side of the self seeded tree, is there something showing above the heather? <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6Yx-P5beEY/T-DuiaWxXAI/AAAAAAAACps/1dwmPGOLYMg/s1600/june%2B2012%2B043.JPG'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6Yx-P5beEY/T-DuiaWxXAI/AAAAAAAACps/1dwmPGOLYMg/s400/june%2B2012%2B043.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Aye! crafty beast, tried to slink off whilst the fore runners were causing mayhem, too wise to keep running, she just stood still, forever hopeful she would be overlooked. <br /><br />There is a final ploy in a sheep's life. To sulk. They like to take flight, run and hide, run in the opposite direction to the one you'd like them to, then there are those who once they think the world has got the better of them they go in a huff - sulk and refuse to budge. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSYQNBOgUzA/T-Dutn3CAeI/AAAAAAAACp4/eTJs2My_BWo/s1600/june%2B2012%2B046.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSYQNBOgUzA/T-Dutn3CAeI/AAAAAAAACp4/eTJs2My_BWo/s400/june%2B2012%2B046.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> If they can run into water they're more than happy, in fact can almost be suicidal in their attempts to take to a burn in a desire to be petty. Fortunately this time the burn wasn't full. This ewe had decided enough was enough, taking flight hadn't worked, trying to hide hadn't been successful either, the last resort was to go in a sheep huff, take to the water <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGAvsfYfcUY/T-Du5Gfx2PI/AAAAAAAACqE/Q_BuPvJLevI/s1600/june%2B2012%2B047.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGAvsfYfcUY/T-Du5Gfx2PI/AAAAAAAACqE/Q_BuPvJLevI/s400/june%2B2012%2B047.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> and face up to the dog - do the battle of wills thing. So it was, like staring someone out, see who gives in and blinks first. Moss was more than happy to stand his ground, it had been a long and fraught gather, the water was cool and he wasn't in a great hurry to go anywhere, he actually had the ace card up his sleeve but was being patient for the time being. The ewe may well find her nose being nipped if she continues to dig her heels in. Whose nerve will give first? <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Own8jh95g/T-DvCw384AI/AAAAAAAACqQ/K8zfbuSzOFw/s1600/june%2B2012%2B049.JPG'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Own8jh95g/T-DvCw384AI/AAAAAAAACqQ/K8zfbuSzOFw/s400/june%2B2012%2B049.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Good old Moss came up trumps, his nerve did hold as he was edging for a fight, mebbes the ewe realised he wasn't gonna take any prisoners. He managed to stare her out and move her on, although still in the water and travelling down the burn she soon realised she'd be able to travel far faster on terra firma <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWmb--et65U/T-DvKS5Ab_I/AAAAAAAACqc/6Ba_0Zdh5TY/s1600/june%2B2012%2B050.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWmb--et65U/T-DvKS5Ab_I/AAAAAAAACqc/6Ba_0Zdh5TY/s400/june%2B2012%2B050.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> and off she went as though the devil was on her tail, rushing to join the safety of her mates further down stream. <br /><br />Sheep are anything but stupid, they can be far wiser than those of us who try to handle them!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-53214745736710450012012-06-12T23:23:00.003+01:002012-06-12T23:23:00.277+01:00Twicey Show (Roman Wall Show) 9th June 2012A day off! Or ought I say a day off which was pre planned. Everyone I worked for knew that Saturday 9th June was going to be a day off; no one would have dared suggest Shep changed her mind. It was time to head away and catch up with some crack, view some decent sheep and basically enjoy a leisurely day at the Twicey show. Which was exactly what I did.<br /><br />Once again old Glen and myself disappeared off for the day and headed away for our annual trip to Hadrians Wall and it's annual sheep show. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pzQrUZqmSPA/T9UCC_WKykI/AAAAAAAACo4/ZbA4igEuSB4/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B016.JPG'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pzQrUZqmSPA/T9UCC_WKykI/AAAAAAAACo4/ZbA4igEuSB4/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B016.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> A beautiful setting for a show, even when the weather is somewhat anti social as it was on Saturday. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xH2Y9RetNUA/T9UA6t_aZzI/AAAAAAAACnY/ifjFvqzyhbA/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B001.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xH2Y9RetNUA/T9UA6t_aZzI/AAAAAAAACnY/ifjFvqzyhbA/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B001.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The weather was threatening as these clipped tup hoggs were showing themselves off in the ring, it must feel strange to get the rain on your backs when a good covering of wool had been the norm for the preceding months, but they aren't the only ones bare, Shep has already clipped ewe hoggs on a couple of farms and there are many more to do. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2TiAmqg5RI/T9UBMTLr0qI/AAAAAAAACnk/jQ6g5O5skdU/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B002.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2TiAmqg5RI/T9UBMTLr0qI/AAAAAAAACnk/jQ6g5O5skdU/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B002.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> By the time the Blackfaced tup lambs were being judged the weather had indeed broken. It didn't just rain, it poured down, like a thunder spate, all that was missing was the rumble of thunder itself. A true cloudburst which seemed to be relentless. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAbtqiUvLNY/T9UBTptZE7I/AAAAAAAACnw/gSzWqoYoRzw/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B003.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAbtqiUvLNY/T9UBTptZE7I/AAAAAAAACnw/gSzWqoYoRzw/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B003.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> There are some wiser than myself, these two retired shepherds took me by surprise when an umbrella surfaced. I had been enjoying their company and crack but there wasn't room for me under there as well, I took shelter behind them instead. Two very sound sheep men from which much can be learnt if you take heed. They did inform me that they thought the umbrella ought to be fitted with down spouts - just shows how wet it was! <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATKhb5GiVF4/T9UBf38Xe-I/AAAAAAAACn8/nlh5fBAb9Pw/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B008.JPG'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATKhb5GiVF4/T9UBf38Xe-I/AAAAAAAACn8/nlh5fBAb9Pw/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B008.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The mule men seemed to hold off judging their lambs until the downpour subsided, the sun even came out! As did the midges! <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ic2i-naTTQ/T9UBpCRkcVI/AAAAAAAACoI/tbeOo05IWtk/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B011.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ic2i-naTTQ/T9UBpCRkcVI/AAAAAAAACoI/tbeOo05IWtk/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B011.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The rain held off whilst the blackfaced championship was judged, all the first prize winners from the various classes, both male and female were in the ring together before the judge decided which one he deemed the best of the lot, this year it went to a ewe lamb from Wanwood Hill. The mule ewe lamb championship was won by Carry House. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ9sWj5qMkM/T9UB2WPDgXI/AAAAAAAACog/R20a0gcqzkA/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B013.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ9sWj5qMkM/T9UB2WPDgXI/AAAAAAAACog/R20a0gcqzkA/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B013.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> There was a good turnout of sheep on the day and of a high standard too, although there may have been slightly fewer entries in the classes than previous years, the weather may have been responsible for this or maybes the change of date for the Cumberland show may have had a slight affect on the show, regardless there was still plenty of sheep for the judges to scrutinize. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adqCmFf5NkQ/T9UBvazxZtI/AAAAAAAACoU/7nRnPfn6zNQ/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B012.JPG'><img src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adqCmFf5NkQ/T9UBvazxZtI/AAAAAAAACoU/7nRnPfn6zNQ/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B012.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> It would seem this Swaledale tup collected more than one rosette, in actual fact there was more than one sheep in the pen, I just zoomed in! <br /><br />I had decided upon arrival at the show not to show old Glen, he got out of the car and seemed a bit lame and wobbly, he is 12 year old now and suffering badly from arthritis so it was asking a bit much, however, a friend suggested I really ought to, so I got him out of the car and took him onto the field, he really perked up when poddling around meeting other dogs and children who wanted to stroke him. <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q999Jx_jK8s/T9UB90HAmSI/AAAAAAAACos/va4GUloezyg/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B015.JPG'><img src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q999Jx_jK8s/T9UB90HAmSI/AAAAAAAACos/va4GUloezyg/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B015.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> He seemed quite cheerful when he met this pack of Border terriers, showing his best side and trying to woo the girls amongst them! Anyhow, to cut a long story short, somehow we missed the judging. It must have been meant to be is all I can say! He has won there for the past two years by sheer luck and now, even older and wobblier, it was really asking a bit much, so we were saved the embarrassment of not being chosen by actually not even competing - a fine way to bow out I would say! (I have since met the judge of the day on the road and had a crack with him, the first thing he asked was why I hadn't shown old Glen! Oops!!) <div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNyGFW8y34w/T9UCKPGltEI/AAAAAAAACpE/qHb2qx-KQ5s/s1600/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B020.JPG'><img src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNyGFW8y34w/T9UCKPGltEI/AAAAAAAACpE/qHb2qx-KQ5s/s400/twicey%2Bshow%2B2012%2B020.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> The day came to an end. It had been a most enjoyable day off. Fortunately I had been wise enough not to park on the field upon arrival and there is no doubt my car would not have got off it at night without this sort of assistance. The day was rounded off nicely by calling on a long standing and very dear friend whom I hadn't seen for a couple of years, supper was offered and accepted with the result Shep didn't arrive home 'til bed time - that's the way to enjoy a day off!Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-60719442147576621772012-06-09T00:14:00.002+01:002012-06-09T00:14:00.213+01:00warts an' allShep has been having quite a nature feast over recent weeks, first bats then warty things - Toads.<br /><br />It's hard to believe that I've never been able to study toads spawning before now. Has to be said I was taken aback to find them doing it on 23rd May, I'd presumed they would spawn at the same time as frogs which would be earlier in the season, or mebbes they just thought they'd better have another go - I don't really know but I did appreciate the opportunity to spy on them. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvddtGzGNGM/T8flHQSxQUI/AAAAAAAACkI/n19_FHG-P-M/s1600/batty%2Bmay%2B2012%2B026.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvddtGzGNGM/T8flHQSxQUI/AAAAAAAACkI/n19_FHG-P-M/s400/batty%2Bmay%2B2012%2B026.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Has to be said they seemed very big, but apparently the females are, or so I was told by a knowledgeable friend who had pointed me in the right direction, that being her garden pond. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iD_yupEjdOg/T8fk4JFxBWI/AAAAAAAACj8/puJTBw1AnJg/s1600/batty%2Bmay%2B2012%2B030.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iD_yupEjdOg/T8fk4JFxBWI/AAAAAAAACj8/puJTBw1AnJg/s400/batty%2Bmay%2B2012%2B030.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> Fortunately the water was clear enabling this shot of Mrs Toad and her strings of spawn under the surface. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOtF2J9Rg8A/T8fkcCYNlyI/AAAAAAAACjw/dmcTBzVm7Uk/s1600/batty%2Bmay%2B2012%2B032.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOtF2J9Rg8A/T8fkcCYNlyI/AAAAAAAACjw/dmcTBzVm7Uk/s400/batty%2Bmay%2B2012%2B032.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> They have an almost prehistoric look about them when viewed close up, the sort of creature which you wouldn't immediately class as being beautiful; fascinating may be a kind way to describe Mrs Toad.<br /><br />They seemed quite chilled and unconcerned that a camera was being poked in their face, has to be said though that the Koi Carp living in the pond seemed to be swimming around with a smile on their faces......Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2035229653176037553.post-31629512752598402152012-06-05T21:26:00.003+01:002012-06-06T22:30:19.301+01:00Sink or SwimIt's been one of them days.........<br /><br />The nephew is stopping for the week and as is the norm when having a vacation at Shep's house he is treat along similar lines to the dogs, in that he is bundled into the car in the morning and finds out his destination upon arrival. Also like the dogs he has to scavenge throughout the day whilst remaining forever hopeful his dish will be filled with gruel at night. Unlike the dogs he isn't barred in the kennel (although it could be tempting!).<br /><br />The thought of getting up at 6am seemed a painful one, but obviously the thought of being left behind was even worse and so it was he stumbled out of his room this morning, started scavenging then jumped into the car and off we went.<br /><br />A day of gathering and lamb marking was on the cards, Shep had the quad, nephew had his legs, a grand way to waken up a teenage lad I thought. By afternoon I took pity on the poor soul and decided some fun was well deserved and so directed him on the quad whilst I went off in a different direction on foot, our paths were destined to cross eventually if the directions I had given had been understood.<br /><br />Our paths didn't cross. Twice he came into view, searching the ground frantically trying to make visual contact with his 'dearly beloved' Aunty, only to fail and disappear out of view on the hill ground once again.<br /><br />This behaviour had me somewhat perplexed, after all, I could see him as clear as day and yet it seemed he was unable to see me.<br /><br />I stood on a raised bit of ground, rolled a fag, grinned to myself and watched the lad buzzing in and out of view like a panicky dog who had lost it's owner. Fag finished and still he seemed unable to see me by which time my humour was beginning to waver, arm waving and whistling had little effect. Was I invisible? Was I actually just living through some peculiar sort of dream? What is it with youngsters these days? Do they teach them anything at school?<br /><br />Eventually for all I could still hear the bike I was aware it didn't sound as though it was moving, then there was the sound of much engine revving............<br /><br />Humour was getting heavier as I retraced my steps, muttering under my breath, repeating the directions I had given him to myself, how could he possibly get it wrong? Okay! He'd never been on this ground before, never been on a quad on this ground before but <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span>! I'm sure my directions were fairly straight forward and anyhow, if I could see him, surely to god he could have seen me. Should I suggest an appointment at the opticians, could there be something wrong with this lads sight?<br /><br />I followed the sound of the bike, had he turned the engine off I would still have known the direction to head. What on earth had he been thinking of?<br /><br />On coming into view I just couldn't help but laugh, I was gonna give the lad a bulling but hey! it was the best thing that had happened that day, how could I possibly be annoyed, especially when, just as the dogs would, he seemed to drop his lugs upon seeing me and that look came over his face of "Oh god! I'm in trouble now" <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkpoAAb_86w/T85q7A-HupI/AAAAAAAACmc/f1Ov-SpyBUQ/s1600/josh%2B001.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkpoAAb_86w/T85q7A-HupI/AAAAAAAACmc/f1Ov-SpyBUQ/s400/josh%2B001.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> It's amazing what we learn in life, for instance, nephew now knows that quads don't float - they have a tendency to sink! <div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xHxlUhyefr0/T85rD8mQmAI/AAAAAAAACms/xX4TXpAiJuk/s1600/josh%2B002.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xHxlUhyefr0/T85rD8mQmAI/AAAAAAAACms/xX4TXpAiJuk/s400/josh%2B002.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> That's a pretty impressive bogging it has to be said, even Kale found it funny! I patted the lad on the back and told him there was nowt like keeping it in the family, after all, Shep herself has a pretty impressive track record of bogging bikes, it must be in the genes I suggested!<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0g73x8eA9Qw/T8_Lq3B3wII/AAAAAAAACnI/FCLLdW333U0/s1600/josh%2B003.JPG'><img src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0g73x8eA9Qw/T8_Lq3B3wII/AAAAAAAACnI/FCLLdW333U0/s400/josh%2B003.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div> It also ended up in the wellies! Give the lad his dues, he could give me a run for my money any day, but how is it his wellies didn't get filled?Tarset Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803425181574301072noreply@blogger.com0