Spring Lamb

kerrensimmonds · Post by **kerrensimmonds** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:20 pm

And I am having mint jelly (not mint humbugs) with my dinner tomorrow (roast lamb that is...).
Is it me or are Australian sheep much fatter than English ones? Or was it the angle of Caroline's camera?

englishangel · Post by **englishangel** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:31 pm

Romney Marsh sheep look like that (pre-shearing) and a lot of them went to Oz so that is what it may be.

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:20 pm

englishangel wrote: Romney Marsh sheep look like that (pre-shearing) and a lot of them went to Oz so that is what it may be.

Didn't he play for England, once ?????

Oh No ! That was Rodney ! Of Course !

kerrensimmonds · Post by **kerrensimmonds** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:53 pm

AArrgghhh!
Did he like roast lamb and mint jelly?

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 9:24 pm

He was a pretty good player in his day, but sometimes found the pitch a bit boggy !

icomefromalanddownunder · Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:43 pm

englishangel wrote:Romney Marsh sheep look like that (pre-shearing) and a lot of them went to Oz so that is what it may be.

Willy is (we think) an Amara x Merino - definitely part Merino. Amaras look more like goats to me, particularly when they are kids, I mean lambs. They are called fat tailed sheep (because they store fat in their tails

), and the tail is triangular at the tip. Amara tails are not usually docked, but we didn't know that until after Willy had been done. He was found wandering down a main road in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and ended up with us via a presenter on a community radio station for german migrants, who happened to be the father of one of my daughter's school friends, who got dobbed into their local council by a neighbour for having a lamb in a suburban area.

He has absolutely no respect for anyone other than my daughter, and he is bl**dy enormous compared to a romney - taller and bigger body frame. I had a pet Romney when we lived in NZ - she was a sweetie - came when called, mumbling away in Spookinese (she was named Spook because she was a black lamb), and would stand on her back legs with her front legs on my shoulders. I'm sure that Barbara Woodhouse, along with legions of current animal trainers, are horrified at me letting her do this, as it is almost certainly perceived to be an act of dominance or aggression by 'normal' people. Ha. Willy, on the other hand, I usually keep on the opposite side of a stout fence.

I do confess that he was uphill of the camera, but he is a big boy compared to english sheep.

Best wishes

Caroline

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:49 am

Talking of other things being early.
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing my first butterfly of the year - a peacock.
Is this really a sign of global warming or was the butterfly just out of synch?

John Knight · Post by **John Knight** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:08 am

Stan wrote:Talking of other things being early.
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing my first butterfly of the year - a peacock.
Is this really a sign of global warming or was the butterfly just out of synch?

Is it the 'first of this year' or left over from last year?
The ones that I have seen here have really tatty wings which makes me think that they are 'old stock'.

kerrensimmonds · Post by **kerrensimmonds** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:17 am

I saw a glorious Red Admiral in my garden last week - it was not tatty at all but was a little dozy as it landed on my shoulder first, and then fluttered on up to bask in the sun on the top of the fence. I wouldn't know if that makes it 'this year's' or one left over from last year!

loringa · Post by **loringa** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:22 am

My 2-year old and I saw a tortoiseshell outside the local Halfords over a fortnight ago. This butterfly was not at all tatty and it made something of an impression. Every time we go back to this particular trading estate she runs around looking for her butterfly.

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:17 pm

I think the BBC will need to start 'Springwatch' a bit earlier this year....

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:05 pm

I was surprised to learn recently that contrary to popular belief, not all butterflys perish at the end of summer and some do in fact hibernate which leads me to believe this mild weather may have tempted them out too soon.

We had several in the garden before the last snow and cold snap.

Unfortunately, the sudden drop in temperature will probably wipe them out.

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:15 pm

John Knight wrote:
Stan wrote:Talking of other things being early.
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing my first butterfly of the year - a peacock.
Is this really a sign of global warming or was the butterfly just out of synch?
Is it the 'first of this year' or left over from last year?
The ones that I have seen here have really tatty wings which makes me think that they are 'old stock'.

The one I saw was in perfect condition. It was probably very lonely.

blondie95 · Post by **blondie95** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:44 pm

the journey from work to my new house is a very lovely one along the side of the south downs in Kent! and i get to see many lambs and yesterday 2 baby cow's! I got very excited about them and how cute they are which left poor ben completely puzzled as apparently they are 'just miniature versions of the adults' but then i love those too?

Also does anyone else think that pigs are just the prettiest animals-i adore them, think they are lovely when all covered in mud and stuff"

sejintenej · Post by **sejintenej** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:54 pm

blondie95 wrote:the journey from work to my new house is a very lovely one along the side of the south downs in Kent! and i get to see many lambs and yesterday 2 baby cow's! I got very excited about them and how cute they are which left poor ben completely puzzled as apparently they are 'just miniature versions of the adults' but then i love those too?

Calves, Amy, please, calves

blondie95 wrote:Also does anyone else think that pigs are just the prettiest animals-i adore them, think they are lovely when all covered in mud and stuff"

Definitely dirty, dirty, dirty. Work out for yourself exactly what is dirty.