Hormones rule ...

Moss & me: of course Moss has no idea that she won't be coming with me to Devon on the lambing trip, but I'll really miss her, she's a delightful travel buddy.

Moss and I have been planning to go to Devon, to the farm where she was born, to help with lambing. When I say help, I have no experience in the world of lambing.   Yet it's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and I’ve been offered the perfect opportunity this year, so I’m grabbing it!

The lambs are due between the 27^th March and 9th April. The ewes have been scanned and there's 193% (!) success rate; some triplets, mostly twins, and a few singles.

This will be an entirely new experience for me.  Although I was brought up on a farm, it was arable, with no livestock except for; dogs, fowl and horses.   

I have no experience with sheep. 

Do you remember The Good Life well I’m going to be Margo!

Over the months I've been preparing for this adventure.  I’ve bought Moss a new harness; I’ve had the car serviced and borrowed some filming equipment - the works.

And then nature steps in …

Moss is coming into season.

I can tell; she gets very emotional and a bit insecure; her stomach gets upset and she licks herself a lot.  All her classic signs.

I've spoken to the vet, hoping they would have a magical solution to make it all go away.  

No such thing.

 We've looked online, yes there are chastity belts for dogs!   But I don’t want Moss being raped by her Dad or any of her brothers.  And a friend of mine, who is both a farmer and a veterinary nurse, told me that unless I shut Moss away the whole time, one of them will get to her.

The point is, I want to help, not be a hinderance.  Lambing is full on, and demanding, without sex crazed Collies roaring about upsetting the sheep.

Sadly, I'll have to leave Moss at home with Harry husband and the Teenager in charge.

Taking a bitch on heat to a working farm, where there are entire male Collies at lambing time, would be a bit like insisting on doing the hoovering during a recording session - pretty unhelpful!

I’ll just have to acknowledge that hormones do indeed rule.

AJK