September 2023

9th

Today we visited the Ettrick and Yarrow Pastoral Society Annual Show.

Despised me existing is one strand, but the rest ignoring me as though I did not exist is strand, together entwined is a bondage of desolate evil.

Horses were also present at this show.

The trophies.

There was also a classic tractor show.

This was creepy.

These were top sheep, but there were no rare breed entries.

A sheep had got hold of it's rosette, Charlie removed it after I took this picture.

Hawick Scout band came and played their muse.

Despite the facelessness we enjoyed the variety of the Ettrick and Yarrow Pastoral Society Annual Show but preferred the smaller Roberton Show for the locality and familiarity.

We stopped at Selkirk and enjoyed a pint in a local bar.

And then visited Walter Scott's courthouse.

8th

These misty mornings, that turn into hot days, are so atmospheric and photogenic.

Been full on with the farmhouse garden and paddock today. I've also weeded the kitchen garden to find onions, turnips, parsnips and carrots growing. It appears the cover of the weeds has protected these edible vegetables from the birds. Could this have something to do with sensory overload, as I recall walking down a supermarket aisle, not being able to find peas for carrot for being overloaded with a blend of colour and the impossiblity of sharp serrated writing. Maybe it's just the stinging thorns.

Water in the trough was low, the flock definitely drinks more and suffers from the heat, more so the tup sheep, they are the first to lay down and pant. Whilst topping I found a tup, facing and resting exactly where the other tup had been the other day, I managed to creep up on him also, weird.

In the evening Charlie returned with a big box of shopping; he pulled out a bottle of honey liqueur, my other friend in Stroud enjoys this drink, but Bourbon is more to my taste, Southern Comfort, yes. We also have Fireball, for the cold, windy and wet days.

7th

We bring the troughs down to the drive when we want to tend to the sheep from the paddock.

Tonight Charlie is very tired, arriving home for a heavy day at work he endeavors to spray the feet of this full size tup.

6th

Four lads had a dream. To start a football team. They had no money no kit. Not even a ball.

Played Charlie at pool.

We're inside the Trinity bar, Hawick.

5th

I've learn much about sheep, and their health.

Too look a little closer.

4th

An overcast daybreak broke into a near cloudless sunny morning, I burned the sizzling bacon whilst distracted, fiddling around with Apple Music; suspecting the A.I. selection is out to depress me, as songs switch from happy, that I've chosen to utterly miserable they choose for me, ever so frequently.

From my writing many would believe me to be a manic depressant, but I'll tell you, I never, if extremely rarely feel depressed, I'm continually enriched with happiness.

3rd

Charlie has been mucking out the polytunnel, for the ewes returning late November.

I don't muck out, instead I use the strimmer, clear the paddock grass of dock leaves, and maybe do some weeding. Restless in the evening we to the 4x4 for a drive through the Craik forest, from east to west, across gravel track we found the road north to Ettrick.

This is the end of the Ettrick road, beyond is a private track towards Overthawhope bothy; I have slept once at this bothy, a couple of years ago; arriving I found the local MBA packing away a meeting. There are warning notices not to drive to the bothy.

In the evening I made a large amount of Cullen Skink soup; I had most of the ingredients but the white fish was not smoked, so purchased smoked mackrel as an addition. we had planned to dine with wine, but were too tired to open and enjoy a bottle.

2nd

Very much enjoyed going to Roberton Show today; Roberton and surrounding areas very much made the show, all our neighbours were there.

The woman in the middle endeavoured hard to keep her sheep still for judging.

Rare and minority breeds.

Fine flock of Cheviots.

The show judges came from Newcastleton and Biggar, one came as far north from Lauder.

Charlie was told never to hold a ram by his horns, shortly before one came off from his grasp.

Hawick pipe band came, last time we listened to their reinvigorating music was at Wilton Park bandstand; and how the rain poured down that day, but committed they played on unabated. It's was endearing to see the band inclusive of disenabled people.

Alongside Borthwick water, time to relax.

Charlie has been farming all his life, his father was a farmer and had won the royal show, and his father was also farmer before him; Charlie had noticed the show judges had, a section of the show, rewarded second place sheep as first place winners; how egalitarian I thought and oh so wrongful, ho hum.

By 3pm we had returned to the farmhouse, it's enamouring to see Charlie lifted and happy; do you think I looked tired? I felt tired.

1st

Charlie dropped me at my flat this morning, walking up the stairs was a lowering feeling, I don't want to feel this way about a place where I live. However I am happy to be returning tonight at the farmhouse for the weekend.