Another View

It was a busy Sunday at Mudmer Manor as village worthies gathered to take part in the inaugural sheep moving contest. Visitors from London had been summoned to witness the proceedings and wonder at the eccentricities of of the local country folk. As a preliminary Sarah was wished Happy Birthday, the Colonel and Kate (the hatchet) arriving with card and the amazingly original gift of a frizzle cockerel ( a survivor for the 32 recently dispatched). the gift was politely but firmly declined. OEnery arrived empty handed quickly improvised by pressure washing a clean Happy Birthday message into the grime on the patio.

The the fun and games began. Hugh was spotted doctoring his sheep Topsy by clipping the Ogo faster feet (should he have been disqualified?). the handicapper had decided that Hugh and Topsy should have a head start over O;Enery and the more obliging Toby. Thus the race began – Hugh, Penny and Marie-Anne set off making fair progress. However with Topsy frequently staging lie down strikes, reinforcements were called in and it looked like they would win but Henry, Kate and Toby overtook at the run into the home straight and crossing the Otroll bridge reached the big foiled first. Unfortunately as Topsy broke for freedom she took her lead rope with her.. The entire company then played Ochase the sheep around a five acre field for some time time until OEnery, inspired either by the heroics of the recent world cup or more probably impatient for drinks and nibbles promised, floored the astonished sheep with a tackle of which even the All Blacks would have been proud. This last sadly not captured on video of the race (copies from the Colonel for a modest fee). A rematch is scheduled for March 2000.

As Sarah went to fetch the promised refreshments, Kate plated her trump and announced that the Frizzel was pie bound if not accepted and Hugh immediately relented, a bonding ceremony took place and on her return, Sarah was presented with a fait accompli, Hugh already wistfully wondering if the Frizzel might be lonely by himself. Thus another Blissford dwelling leaves the ever diminishing Ochick free zone. (M.A. of YH).

(Tragically the fostering has not been a success. Ed)