Have you seen the shearer man?

Just a loose request really, but have you seen the shearer man? The tall one, very swarthy and gypsy looking, lean as a plank, open shirted, trousers of a sort of leather, and often draped in drips of sweat. Would you have seen him about? If so, would you ask him to come a-calling, only our girls are desperately needing seeing to, and if they aren't done soon they are likely to start fainting all over the place, and maybe even expire. It's not nice to have a big thick coat on when the temperatures are heading upwards. 

It has been the normal thing that the shearer man just turns up and shears them. It is a bit of a scramble when he does this, because he never gives us warning, just comes. For four years this has happened, but in May. It is now the middle of June. It has become urgent that those fleeces are removed. So now it probably looks like we are going to have to do them ourselves. Ooooeerrrr! It's bad enough trimming Boolie's thick coat. At least he doesn't wriggle about, not like the sheep do, although they do sit quite resigned once they are positioned on their bottoms. Am now researching shearing equipment on the web. Hope the shearer man comes soon though, not sure we are up to getting fifteen sheep sheared, plus their hooves cut, plus each one being dosed with wormer. 

And the band? We rocked it!!!!!! But not in the manner of a super duper rock group at Wembley Stadium, just five friends having their first little gig at a local village venue. We played for 45 minutes. Some of it was good, some not quite so good, but we did alright, better than I thought  we would. We played to over a hundred people, who listened for some of the time, didn't for some of the time (well they were eating their lunch!), clapped and joined in for some of the time, and generally seemed to enjoy our music.

As for my three songs, with no amplification as yet, my voice did not carry very well, nor did the sound of my keyboard. This was mentioned by some friends sitting next to the stage and hissed at me to turn up the volume, which I couldn't do because I was at full stretch anyway. Trouble is that my keyboard speakers are directed upwards, not outwards, so the heavens could hear me but not anyone sitting in front. Not to worry, I did my best, but thought that perhaps I would forgo the last song. But no, I found myself intent on being heard at least for one song, so I stood up, kept one finger on the start note for each verse so I didn't go out of tune, and belted the song out. Everyone was talking when I started but by the end of the first verse all were listening. 

I do not regard myself as having a good singing voice, but I filled that space. I don't know how I do this, It just happens, but never when singing by myself or in front of friends, always when I am up in front of a large gathering. It is as my voice comes from somewhere else, belongs to someone else, and I cannot own the sound it makes. But the best thing is, that Lester stood up alongside me as well, and played his mandolin in accompaniment. Team work, that's what it was, and for that I feel very blessed.

Not so hot on the teamwork are certain tasks which are being required out in the veg plot, such as the daily check on the brassicas to see what lovely little butterfly has laid her eggs on them, or how many flea beatles are in residence on the leaves. It is a tiring task, requiring close inspection, and squirting of soapy water should any result be found. I am fighting a losing battle, but I shall keep on fighting and perhaps will end up with at least one meal out of the lots of plants which are currently under attack. I get this job because I have more patience. Lester, on the other hand, does the close weeding. He seems to have the patience to poke about in the seedlings to get the weeds removed. He could do with more of my involvement with this. I could do with more involvement with the insects. 

Lots of biting flies about now. This year is one humdinger of a year for insects wanting to have a munch on us. With two warm and wet winters behind us the local population of insects must surely be at its highest peak for years. 

So, hoping the shearer man comes along as we have just looked at the price of the shearing clippers. Ouch! 

Hope all is well with you, and that you have some good teamwork in your life.

Vx