A lovely essay, Rob. Will look out for this for you.
Whenever I see border collies kept as pets in a sprawling city like Tokyo I tend to wonder what they'd make of sheep -- or even grass -- if that unlikely meeting should ever happen.
Well I'm sure they adapt somehow and learn to do the cleaning or how to assemble electronics, but I like to whisper "come by" and "take time" to them, as in the lovely video you mention below. Thank you for that link -- it put a tear in my expatriate eye.
Very interesting about the mutilations as markings. I wonder if the restaurant would sell you their copy. I bet they bought it for pennies from some used book seller and wouldn't miss it a bit. They might even give it to you if you took them another old book to trade.
Last time I was in the Lake District (2009) I remember seeing some black sheep with white faces - they were like sheep negatives. Harder to steal I'm guessing!
A lovely essay, Rob. Will look out for this for you.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see border collies kept as pets in a sprawling city like Tokyo I tend to wonder what they'd make of sheep -- or even grass -- if that unlikely meeting should ever happen.
That's a bit shocking to hear. Borders are bred for speed, intelligence and herding, working dogs.
DeleteWell I'm sure they adapt somehow and learn to do the cleaning or how to assemble electronics, but I like to whisper "come by" and "take time" to them, as in the lovely video you mention below. Thank you for that link -- it put a tear in my expatriate eye.
DeleteDon't know much about shepharding, but I could use a cold ale.
ReplyDeleteBill, there's a whole competitive world of sheep dog trialling out there.
DeleteVery interesting about the mutilations as markings. I wonder if the restaurant would sell you their copy. I bet they bought it for pennies from some used book seller and wouldn't miss it a bit. They might even give it to you if you took them another old book to trade.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorely tempted to fire off an e-mail and make them an offer.
DeleteShould add that 'mutilation' is my term. It amounts to the same as branding cattle and freeze marking horses.
DeleteLast time I was in the Lake District (2009) I remember seeing some black sheep with white faces - they were like sheep negatives. Harder to steal I'm guessing!
ReplyDeleteIt won't have changed much since then. Just wetter. Herdwick and Dalesbred are common on the fells but there's an exhaustive list here.
DeleteNice! Locally here sheep are mostly colour-marked.
ReplyDelete(Myself now usually look at AbeBooks for 2nd hand books - that sheep guide is indeed pricey!)