Monday, July 22, 2013

CLAN LINES - ANGUS, FLORENCE, BRIAN AND MEGAN AND CHARLOTTE ...

"Who are they- those going through the gates?" I found myself asking the farmers'  young grandson.

He looked  ahead and replied, "That's Megan and her daughter Charlotte; she's also got Brian. You remember Florence?"

I nodded"Megan's her daughter, " he said.

...."Is Florence still here?"  We both gazed the expanse without any sighting of Florence.

"Yeah, she's around somewhere".  He finally said. "Maybe she's with Robbie".

...."Robbie?"  By now I was getting a tad lost with this clan.

"Robbie's her son", he explained "...he's going off to the mart tomorrow". 

That sounded a bit ominous.  I silently wondered why Robbie was out of favour. As if reading my thoughts, the young lad went on to explain that;

"Robbie's  going off to the mart because he's got a short chin", he demonstrated with his hand what it meant with a movement that suggested that whatever chin there was, must have been squashed in.

Thinking about our conversation afterwards, it occurred to me that anyone listening in would never have known that we were talking about  the lineage of some rather good looking, prize winning Suffolk sheep, which went all the way back to the supreme champion Angus who keeled over and died some years ago, the day before an agricultural show.  Here, I must not forget to give Skye a mention.  She is very much alive, still producing and is rather superb too, but, then, she is a first cousin of the rather gorgeous and departed Angus.

At the most recent agricultural show, Megan got a first prize, Charlotte , her daughter, received a second prize rosette and her son Brian was worthy of a third place. when I mentioned the statuesque Florence, the lady farmer said she was vexed she had not put her in the show.  Maybe next year.


This is not Brian, Megan, or, Charlotte.  This appealing poser, a different breed, did win a place  at the show.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice looking sheep

ZACL said...

Hi Shimon

:) There's not a lot to say about a sheep, in my book, other than it might have appealing eyes, or a particular pose, or a woolly coat that is not too highly coloured for the show ring.

mira said...

Delightful post !

Can't help feeling sorry for Robie though being sent off to market brcause of his short chin :( Baaah x

Anonymous said...

I like the way that they're all named! Flighty xx

Snowbird said...

Awwww....how lovely that they all have names....and POOR Robbie...all for the lack of a chin. I hope he's not for the pot......shivers at the thought.xxxx

ZACL said...

Hi Mira, I can think of some European princelings mis-shapen, with brain power aberrations, (sick) because of their inter-breeding. Some of them did get various kinds of chopping.

Caterina de Medici had sons with notable chins, one, I think, is pictured in the rows of paintings at Hampton Court.

Baa is about okay. :)

ZACL said...

I was rather surprised at how much I had lost track since Skye and Angus arrived on the farm, Mr F. There was a Dougie, named after the stockman who was around when he was born. After what happened to Angus, he was sold on rather quickly. We know where he still is grazing.

They're all named to maintain grandson's interest in a small flock that is different to the main stock. His classmates have visited on special educational trips Grandson names a few of them.

ZACL said...

I've no idea what happens to Robbie, Snowbird. Because his background has been good pedigree show stock, it is possible that he might be bred from as a one-off trial. if he reproduces deformities (affects all sorts of activities, like eating) then...perhaps not.

keiko amano said...

ZACL,

I had no idea what you've been writing, and I thought, gee, I have so much to catch up. Thank goodness, they are about sheep!

I love to see photos of Sheep.

ZACL said...

It's good to see you back on Blogger.

I rather think that I would have been very bemused if I had been in your shoes. Just as well the conversation was about sheep, I've no idea how I would have tried to describe the human clan network of Scotland in a post!

ZACL said...

I am pleased my post made you smile, Mr Lonely.