diary of a comedy sheep farm

spin cycle said:

the harrow is fine but.... .....how can i put this.......i've got better teeth than that and i'm still waiting for my new dentures

been poorly today....sick last night...a combination of overdoing chinese takeout and stress possibly....i've not been taking my medication regularly enough and mentally the vegan episode tipped me over the edge a little...i take citalopram...i call them my 'rage pills'....if i get behind it creeps up on me....something happens to set of a bout of anxiety/worry/anger.....on the other hand it could just be 'bhuna deficiency'

wrote some letters today to hopefully exert pressure on norfolk's finest ......made me feel better....decent sleep cos had a bad night...nice tea and watched a ludicrous creature feature 'rampage'

gotta get me strength up.....forlifts got a puncture and dead elderly wilt in the barn.... she was one of my originals bought at least she passed away on bed of straw after 10 years service

never the less 'roll on monday'

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spin cycle said:

SHE FELL OVEEER......the football chant.....oft heard when a stoke city striker touches the ball....if stoke city have a striker ....i fell over twice today

anyway...fall one trying to manually persuade carpet fitter to go into the trailer.....why...i mean i wouldn't think of trying to manhandle my exlana x ' puppydog' so why just because he's a bit smaller slower would i attempt it......upshot 3 rams to paddock for a coupla weeks......moved remaining culls/screws to new quarters so we can get store lambs caught up in barn/ hms sheep cycle ready for treatment then onto fodder rape


milly (HH's pet) has 'returned' to yard from the field....she spends her time chasing the mule about eating anything she can find off it trying to contain her proves impossible....nimble, quick, intelligent and relentless enthusiasm for chaos.....K even swore in frustration today...in the end we give up.....she follows us up the field to gather the lambs....round the field....and back to the yard......that is until the last 6 lambs are drawing into hms sheep cycle then she breaks from the mule and ,rallying the lambs behind her. makes a break for it.....my attempt to intercept goes into lunge... lurch.....fall over 2....my landing soft but not particularly salubrious.....the sorta wet straw/mud/shite combo you get next to sheep pens this time of year

lunch.....fencing...though i oft wonder why i bother......and a bitta pasture topping to finish

why is nothing straight foward for me..i mean is it some genetic curse , personality disorder or chaotic gift....my latest example...i type long email of complaint to the police...send it to the officer i dealt with last time....'failed to deliver'......i try another...then impatiently complete a website pro forma complaint form.....i get a 'recieved' for the latter and 'thank you but you've sent it to the wrong address' from the other....the address they give me?.....the one that failed

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spin cycle said:

anyway...fall one

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spin cycle said:

.fall over 2.

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spin cycle said:

HE FELL OVEEER......the football chant.....oft heard when a stoke city striker touches the ball....if stoke city have a striker

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yellowbelly said:

After a day like today, be careful if you decide to put the slurry tanker on tomorrow - things could be worse............

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1871671649592041

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spin cycle said:

your wish is my command ...but please bear in mind the old ship was involved in a heavy engagement today and not had it's decked


pic1.....deleted by mistake ....posted after



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pic2 funnel narrows to approx 12ft



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amidships opens out into holding area with retro farm equipment and decorative bush left












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pic 4 the view amidships towards handling area........HH's pet milly is attendence denying any knowledge of how a length of polyrope has been dragged in














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pic 5 the sheep can be directed into the barn on the left of pic 4 ...upto 90x30 ft











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pic 6
or they can be drafted left back onto the field ....to the 50x24ft bay behind the green doors or straight on to the 'treatment' area


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pic7....treating pens....highly adjustable or bodge up depending on your bent



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pic 8....todays creation....a little 'buddy pen'.....4-5 lambs in...treat ....then out to holding pen at back


prattley it ain't but 100m of fencing...30 odd hurdles + barn space.....it can hold several hundred sheep if need be

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primmiemoo said:

Plenty of adjustability, there, spin. The blue cord is so you can find your way back, is it?

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redsloe said:

Days are getting short now mind!☹

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spin cycle said:

two parter today...if i use capitals it's for emphasis rather than shouting

VEGAN DISPUTE UPDATE

nothing seems simple for me either that or i've an art for overcomplicating .....thus it was i 'fired' the email off to the officer i had previously been in contact with,,,i also copied in norfolks police and crime commissioner ....SO i got a 'failiure to deliver notice' to the officer but the commissioner got it.....in frustration i filled in a brief online complaint form.....yesterday i got this reply

'Sir
I have received your dissatisfaction against the policing at the Livestock Market on Saturday. You are dissatisfied that officers present allowed an unidentified group supposedly protesting but carrying no banners/ placards or means of identification to harass you whilst going about your business.
I understand that the group were protesting with signs and that Police Officers were present in order to ensure that they remained peaceful and lawful. On this occasion I am sorry that you are dissatisfied that further action was not taken against the lawful protesters although, from reviewing the incident with officers present I have identified no offences. The protesters had submitted and complied with Covid regulations in order that the protest was lawful. The right to protest is balanced against the obstruction and inconvenience caused to others'

Inspector Andrew.....

TO WHICH I REPLIED

Thank you Inspector

Firstly I presume you are replying you my 'online complaint form' and not my more detailed email that I attempted to send to Sergeant Shaun Baker? The latter I had correspondence with in September. However ,on this occasion, the email was deemed 'undeliverable' so in frustration I filled in the briefer form. I will attempt to attach that original email ,or send it on, in the some what vain hope of furthering my argument. I also have some points/queries to make...sorry.

1/ whilst attempting to send the aforementioned email I was able to copy in the office of the 'Police and Crime Commissioner' they have replied stating they could not comment as it was 'an on going police operation'. Presumably my complaint is finished and thus I can attempt again to lobby them as it is no longer 'ongoing?

2/ The 'protesters' on Saturday where in two groups....a group at the market entrance with banners/placards (fine) but the other group at the front of the traffic lights by pc's XXX and YYYY had no banners/placards or other means of identification. Now I expect you to stand by your officers but you have been lied to. Of course I cannot prove this but rest assured if they are lax enough to do it again I will catch them for you.

3/Sadly we are moving towards a time when a counter protest may be the only way to highlight ,as I see it, police collusion and endorsement of these so called 'protestors' intimidation. This would be very much a last resort if/when I exhaust every other avenue to redress the balance.

4/On a more constructive note it might help me understand if there was some logical explanation why the policing at Norwich Livestock Market went from perfectly acceptable during the summer to the shambles it has become September onwards.....was there a change in policy or personnel around that time?
Yours
James Duncan


TO WHICH THE 'ANDY' REPLIED TODAY

'James,

The only information I had was limited to the online reporting form. What I will do for you is review the policing of this event to ensure that we have the correct balance between the protesters’ right to lawfully protest and your right to continue with your lawful business. I understand that the next ‘event’ is on the 31st. I have just walked in to this and I would appreciate that you keep me up to date and give me feedback once I have reviewed and policed the event on 31st. I hope that this answers your concerns and please keep me as a point of contact for now.

Kind regards

Andy'


i have sent a conciliatory reply....FOR NOW

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spin cycle said:

part deuxs

two contrasting days

tuesday....the sun shining...nice lot of lambs...treating went well.....thinking 'if i can £80 hd i'll be making decent money'......home....feet up.....city win two on the bounce...neighbours slip up

today.....pishing down ....housed lambs not as heavy as i'd hoped....switch on news 'trade deal blah blah'....thinking 'if i ever get them fat they'll only make £50/hd'

fat spaniel not been well....admiral's been pestering her vet to come out for over a week....admiral wants me present....don't know what time......anyhow we're midway thru weighing and i leave K to it as i need to take some notes i've made indoors....walk in.....admiral's in lobby.....vet +assistant in kitchen.....THEY'VE ONLY GONE AND PUT THE FAT SPANIEL DOWN .....WTF......vet retreats outside and away before i ascertain what exactly was wrong

admiral seems relieved though...perhaps it's been worrying her more than i thought ......i get K and together we carry out the fat spaniel in a horse blanket for burial tomorrow.....not going to do it in pouring rain........finish weighing lambs...in my absence K got a little confused and mis marked some lambs

long lunch...hover around monitoring admiral.....seems happier it's over.......after lunch i decide to take the ewe that died in and get some new wellies from yomb......my two little alter egos appear.....the angelic arable farmer offers his condolence for fat spaniel....devilish livestock farmer chips in 'if you put fat spaniel in a sack you could pass it off as a dead store lamb with that ewe....turn a bitta soil over ....no-one will ever know'.....after a moments thought i dismiss the idea...i might regret it though cos that spaniel was fat

girls go up to see admiral later......mrs spin suggests we watch tv but i've just found online farm auction with 500 lots in suffolk

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