There are days when John is off duty here at Struan Farm, leaving me to jobs like moving the sheep between paddocks. If I can get Rosie, Ruby, and my other (former) pet lambs to cooperate I'm golden. But sometimes they're otherwise occupied. They've got grass to munch, after all.
A few days ago I had to hike up top to move the mob from the boundary paddock down at the river through John's protected native reserve into the paddock above the Cottage. I was told it was a piece o'cake, I'd just have to call them and they'd move.
When I got up the hill by the gate no one seemed all that keen to move. Seems they weren't ready, really. They weren't hanging out by the gate, I had to call them to get their attention. I could have left them there another day but decided to move them anyway, as instructed.
I stood by the side of the gate and kept calling. The first wave came through after awhile, led by Ruby and Cookie. I encouraged them to move along, which they did. And then I waited. And waited. A second wave came through with Pip, Pepper, and Rosie.
The last and largest group took time. I finally walked to the other end of the track so they couldn't see me, since I seemed to be spooking them. Eventually I saw one sheep come cautiously along, followed by others. I stayed well away, near the bush, behind the gate. They came wandering through at last and were happy to see all that fresh grass, not that there's any shortage of that this season.
Yes, it was the Bold, the Brave, and the Sheepish here at Struan Farm.
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