The Sheeping Forecast

Our lovely friend Tracy mentioned to me that some of the blog posts are soothing, like the Shipping Forecast – a mystical inventory of unknown places, with unfamiliar activities – which is a kind response to my witterings. So of course, here comes the latest…

 

Quarry, Big, 6 Acres, hay still rising. Sharp fall expected later in the day, with ongoing baling.

8 Acres ploughed, gulls cyclonic, worms and beetles disappearing by nightfall. Swede seeds anticipated later in the week, but some uncertainty.

7 Acres, 5 Acres, 4 Acres, sheep moving west to east, bringing in lambs. Bleating expected. Rough days ahead as weaning approaches.

13 Acres, calves imminent.

Raceground, Common, settled. Conditions not expected to change.

Gratton, Little, Cleeve, low pressure, smaller lambs, no changes over the next few weeks. Occasional drenching. Check for fly-strike.

Rabbity, Goyle, Ruth’s, Cathy’s, woodland continuing to grow, but any changes slow. By the end of the week, elderflowers expected. Occasional deer, displaced later by barking dogs.

Edwin’s, no change. Cattle calm. Cud chewed.

Sonnyside, Cross, fast changing, border collies chasing balls coming in from the north-east, with intermittent panting. Calmer conditions expected later.

Burch Lane, singles cycling with Orlando’s, expecting four-day turn around. Highs of pollen, lows of immune response.

Peek District, movement from Pond South to Pond North as grazing decreases. Grass levels predicted lower, with further movement to Horse Field and House-side as conditions worsen.

Fisher, Doggos, hurricane subsiding. Temperatures cooling, but still with unpredictable flare-ups in activity.

Hey there Mr Blue!

With no small amount of wheedling and bemoaning on my part, Farmer Ian finally gave in and accepted that another dog is inevitable. On Monday I drove to darkest Wales (via a quick visit to meet the lovely Reggie in Newport ... a border collie, of course). Sue and Brian were kind enough to put me up so that I didn't have a nine hour round trip, and their four-footed pack kept us entertained (although that's not strictly true, as Alfie is missing a leg, so is officially three-footed). It was good to catch up, and a bit odd to be staying away after the various lockdowns.

Tuesday morning, onwards to pick up Jeb from a rescue centre. He's a year old, was living in the centre of Cardiff, and other than being a bit stubborn, he's a charm. The pack is adjusting and mostly getting on, and Jeb has not been phased by meeting new people or having new routines. He's not quite sure about cattle yet, and decided that they needed a damned good barking to.

Mr Blue? His original name was Blue, because he's a blue-merle, which isn't actually very original.