Of course you will remember that this year's pet lambs Peaches, Fig, Pickle, Chalk and Cheese are in the front paddock near our house here at Struan Farm, separate from the "Big Three" Buzz, Sugar and Spice. It's easier to manage groups of lambs the same ages for feeding, although feeding five at a time is a challenge either way.
The "Gang of Five" have shelter under the redwood trees and are starting to wander around the wider paddock, down near the pond and the Cottage. But they know what time their bottles arrive and are back by the gate like clockwork.
It's far simpler when two of us are available to feed them. I'm able to feed three lambs at once bending down with a bottle clutched between my knees and one in each hand, while John feeds the other two. I thought we'd pretty much found our rhythm until yesterday, when I stooped down to put a bottle between my knees, the lambs banged up against the wooden gate, and the gate smashed solidly into my nose!
I dropped the bottles and sobbed out loud, accompanied by a chorus from the five lambs. They were far more concerned about their bottles than my nose. I definitely thought I'd broken it, fortunately my glasses weren't smashed. I left John to deal with the lambs on his own and ran into the house to grab a bag of ice.
The good news is that it's not broken, but I now have a bump and a bruise across the bridge of my nose. Just the thing for the wife of a candidate for mayor. Pet lambs and a wooden gate, yeah right.
Not sure I'll be living this one down any time soon. Struan Farm: never a dull moment.
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