Never Again - well not 'til next year

Posted by Simon

I have been quite busy for the last week. Getting the barn cleared out for the party and everything ready took up some time although we did have a restful couple of days afterwards - Sunday we cleared up then Sally and I played boules (2 games all) and Monday we took the boys to the local park and had a picnic. Rosie and I read our books whilst the boys played. Very relaxing.

We also managed to get the sheep sheared on Tuesday. What a performance! I had to go and get the sheep shears from our friends, sort the barn, get it penned up and get the gear ready before we could even start.

Then it was time to get the sheep and it was like they knew. Getting them into the field with a pen in it - no problem. Getting them into said pen - big problem. Two heavily panting-for-breath humans - no sheep in pen - major problem. Two totally exhausted humans and no sheep in pen - now seriously not amused problem.

Anyway to cut a long story short we (eventually) got the ram and dragged him into the barn. One hour later he returned to his field looking like a skinny mountain goat. A possible 5 out of 10 for his hair do. Next we caught one of the black face sheep and was she keen to have a hair cut? Like heck! We tugged and pushed and dragged her over to the barn. 20 minutes later she was shorn (6/10 just). She enjoyed it so much she had to be tugged and pushed and dragged back to the field.

Next please and in the pen runs the third sheep - sorry I must be dreaming. This time luck was on our side and we got the other two into the field pen. Then we hauled and tugged and pushed and dragged them both over to the barn, watched by our neighbouring farmer who was very much enjoying cutting his hay in the next field. Well, he had a huge grin on his face but we couldn't see anything remotely amusing! Sheep number three - getting good at this - 15 minutes and the fleece almost off in one piece. Not a cut or scratch on the ewe and I fared quite well - pushing towards an 8/10 here. Number four - I'm an expert now - com' on 10 minutes it will all be over. 30 minutes later I need a rest and she is only half done. What a stubborn cow - I mean sheep. She would not stay where I put her, she needed two of us to hold her down - or should that read pin her down. I'm afraid to say she went back to the field looking rather the worse for wear and with a few added nicks and cuts. I'd be pushing a 3 out of ten for that one.

And after all that hauling and tugging and pushing and dragging them back to the field, I was knackered. My back ached, I was filthy and stinking and I needed a cuppa, a shower and a change of clothes - I'd finished and was quite pleased with my second go at sheep shearing (I did have a go 16 years ago). BLISS.

'Simon' Rosie called - 'before you shower, have you remembered you are going to shear N & S's sheep?' Arrrgh!!!