Start of a new year

New Year has been and gone, and now the days are starting to lengthen noticeably, reminding me of something that I never realised before I moved here – it gets dark 23 minutes later in North Devon than it does in Cambridge… we're almost half a time zone away. 

The fields are still waterlogged after weeks of rain – ponds appeared out of nowhere, clear water sluicing across the grass as the soil had no further capacity to drain it away.  Even the River Mole in our village burst its banks for the first time in living memory, flooding houses and blocking roads.  I will carry with me the enduring memory of our neighbour wading through the torrents in wellies and Barbour, prom dress tucked very practically into her knickers.

The daily routine of feeding, cleaning and welfare doesn't stop for Christmas – Rob and Danaë helped us move some of the girls down from the fields near the moor to spread the load.  The grass is poor and the fewer head of sheep per acre the better.  Sonny had fun (all photos in this post courtesy of Danaë Sheehan). 

Sonny before and after

He has turned into an excellent herding dog, with a good instinct for his work.  However, on the occasions when I have taken him to the fields, I'm sure he rolls his eyes as I try to deal with "Come By" and "Away" in relation to his point of view instead of mine.  

Onwards into 2013....