I've been reflecting on the various help I've had on the lambing shed over the years, both paid and voluntary, and am thinking that, with Covid, this year it's likely that I'll be flying solo this year.
I've been blessed with some real troopers in past years, and a couple of duds. The Good ones have been:
A good friend who usually does some nights for me. We are on the same wave length when it comes to the care we give to the sheep so I never fret when I leave her to it. She has given me lots of ideas which we've implemented, despite not being from a farming background. If the shed is quite, she cleans and organises all the stuff that gets left lying around during the busy times so I come into a spotless shed and she leaves very funny notes and detailed information when she leaves the shed in the early hours.
The teenage lad who used to come in to clean pens and help out for a couple of hours after school. Always had a huge grin on his face and dazzling white teeth, so I could see him at a distance appearing in the dark like a beacon of hope at the time when I was most knackered!! Came every year until he went off to Ag College.
Another friend who always turns up when he says he will and will muck out, feed and water and likes listening to The Archers with me at 7pm!
Anyone who brings home made cakes and will stick the kettle on without being asked.
The Bad ones are:
The ones who ask if they can come and help out, then just want to bottle feed lambs and 'help' deliver a lamb in order to take a load of selfies to plaster on social media and then are never seen again.
The ones (with no farming knowledge) who follow me around telling me all the things I should be diversifying in to make more money ...... not interested when I've had no more than 4 hours sleep a night for the past fortnight.
The ones who drone on and on about all how other farmers do it all wrong in their opinion - if they are saying this to me, what are they saying about me to other people?
Small people who can't climb over the sheep pens - sorry small people! - I just find it really annoying and so slow, especially if I mid wet-adoption, ask for them to fetch a triplet, and 5 minutes later I'm still waiting!
As much as I appreciate and enjoy the 'good' help, my favourite time in the shed is when I first go down at 4am, and it's just me and the sheep for the next few hours.
I've been blessed with some real troopers in past years, and a couple of duds. The Good ones have been:
A good friend who usually does some nights for me. We are on the same wave length when it comes to the care we give to the sheep so I never fret when I leave her to it. She has given me lots of ideas which we've implemented, despite not being from a farming background. If the shed is quite, she cleans and organises all the stuff that gets left lying around during the busy times so I come into a spotless shed and she leaves very funny notes and detailed information when she leaves the shed in the early hours.
The teenage lad who used to come in to clean pens and help out for a couple of hours after school. Always had a huge grin on his face and dazzling white teeth, so I could see him at a distance appearing in the dark like a beacon of hope at the time when I was most knackered!! Came every year until he went off to Ag College.
Another friend who always turns up when he says he will and will muck out, feed and water and likes listening to The Archers with me at 7pm!
Anyone who brings home made cakes and will stick the kettle on without being asked.
The Bad ones are:
The ones who ask if they can come and help out, then just want to bottle feed lambs and 'help' deliver a lamb in order to take a load of selfies to plaster on social media and then are never seen again.
The ones (with no farming knowledge) who follow me around telling me all the things I should be diversifying in to make more money ...... not interested when I've had no more than 4 hours sleep a night for the past fortnight.
The ones who drone on and on about all how other farmers do it all wrong in their opinion - if they are saying this to me, what are they saying about me to other people?
Small people who can't climb over the sheep pens - sorry small people! - I just find it really annoying and so slow, especially if I mid wet-adoption, ask for them to fetch a triplet, and 5 minutes later I'm still waiting!
As much as I appreciate and enjoy the 'good' help, my favourite time in the shed is when I first go down at 4am, and it's just me and the sheep for the next few hours.
