. . . . .well usually the same as they do when it's fine. But sometimes the weather is so bad that they actively look for indoor jobs (or at least undercover). So this week all the tractors and most of the machinery have been cleaned and serviced. And on Monday we found time to send another Strickley export (Shorthorn bull) to Northern Ireland. We've heard that he arrived safely, but was glad of a rest after the long journey. I hope by now he is fully rested and raring to go!
But we haven't been indoors all week. Henry and James have spent quite a bit of time engaged in combat with some sheep. We don't keep sheep of our own, but over Winter another farmer brings his sheep down from higher ground to Strickley ("wintering"). Last year they were all very well behaved - staying put where they were supposed to. But this year we've got a few troublemakers. Maybe they're in training for the Animal Olympics, or re-enacting a scene from The Great Escape - but they have obviously formed an escape committee who meet up as soon as we move them, and plan the quickest way out. At the moment we're winning - there's been no reports of escapees for a couple of days. But who knows, having tried climbing the walls, maybe they're digging Tom, Dick and Harry as we speak. Can you hear them tunnelling underneath?
And talking of tunnelling. Did you see the Mole Report on the BBC? I wouldn't like to accuse the BBC of unfair bias, but no mention was made of consequences to farmers of a field full of mole hills. We prefer to mow and preserve grass, not soil. So maybe it's the first sign of a new year, but the first traps have been set. Watch this space for our very own Mole Count!
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