shearings and meetings

Been a hectic couple of days up here one way and another. Also rather disappointing as our much awaited television debut didn't take place. Monday should have been the date and I checked my e-mail from the producer but we didn't appear so it must be next week. There was I clearing off the mantle shelf for my BAFTA and it didn't happen. Oh well, fame comes at a price I guess and I must be more patient.

Now then, the picture above is of two recent additions to my flock. The one with horns is Gregory and the other is named Timothy. Not sure what breed they are, Gregory is badger faced and Timothey has a bit so Suffolk in him but heaven knows about the rest, I don't think I have ever met such a large sheep, Timothy's feet are bigger than mine and I reckon he is a lot bigger than Cquirt, the Shetland pony. A couple more photographs of this pair are called for I think

Gregory is a very handsome sheep and knows it. I understand that castration came only after he did a runner from his previous home one spring time and was found several weeks later entertaining the ladies in another farmer's field. I believe that there were lots of Gregory look alikes in the field that year.

This is Timothy, a magnificent guy. But I am afraid it is Tim, Tim, nice but dim as there isn't a lot going of between the ears unless it is food related .

They are now living with my girls, 5 Balwen ewes we bought last year. They are probably less than half the size of Gregory let alone Timothy but after a day or two of not being sure, everybody gets on together very well.

Better than I had hoped actually as yesterday I had to to take them for shearing. The farmer at the bottom of the hill offered to do my sheep with his or at least let me shear them on the same day and he gave me a ring in the morning. First problem of course was to get them to his farm, he offered to bring some of his sheep along to coax the Balwens out of the field but I was pleased to find that as I rattled a bucket Timothy and Gregeory followed me so the girls followed them and we went out of the bottom gate, onto the road, across the bridge and down to the farm. How good was that? The farmer saw Timothy and blanched a bit I have to say. He has big sheep but not that big. Anyway bless him, the farmer did Gregory and Timothy and one of the girls and I did the other 4 girls. They are all bald now in a sheep sort of way. The girls had never been sheared before so weren't keen and being Balwens (semi-wild mountain sheep), tried their normal tricks of either trying to jump out of the pen or trying to thread themselves through the gate but all went well though I am afraid there was no point in keeping their fleeces as they were in so many bits that all they are fit for is chucking. I was shot to bits after only 4 small ones so how professional men do hundreds in a day is beyond me away. Took me several minutes to stand upright again.

But it's done for another year and they are wormed as well. Everybody looks several pounds lighter apart from Timothy who even without the wool still looks like he could lose a pound or two and not notice. In fact I am considering changing his name. I think we should call him Ty Bach as he is very much like the little brick building we have in the middle of our back garden. It's our icon, the outside toilet and Timothy is built like a brick....well perhaps I shall go no further.