Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 1st March, 2022)

I was down here yesterday Mick, not seen it move in years.
The next one up is in even worse condition.

I like this one . Most rustic . Rough Fell breed I think . There are a lot of wild blue berries growing in that area .

“You dive off first”. “No you go first”. “You’re the eldest, you go first”. “Ho forget it, let’s just stay here and chew grass like we always do”

Nice diving board. What is stopping the sheep falling off the bridge?

Its still work Joan , here is a video of the farmer using it.

https://youtu.be/OSUHcJtRj8Q

Listen up men - we've captured the bridge there's no need to blow it up it's already falling to bits ....

It reminds me of "walking the plank" in pirate stories....stay where you are, girls, and keep away from the edge!

A farmer one told me that sheep are the most stupid animals in the world, in fact he said" They ar the only animal that live to die".

They’re not daft enough to jump of that bridge Peebee!

Ba Ba don’t poo on that nice juicy bit,cos it’s my turn next.
Be Ba tell me again when I get down here, I might forget.

Peewee - I can assure you that sheep are most definitely not stupid. We've kept sheep for years, and we've learned that they're anything but. In fact, I've known people a lot more stupid. 'They live to die' because we, in our wisdom, decide their fate - they have no choice.

Peebee,I've heard that said before,I would love to know how they come to that conclusion...I've heard it said about partridges as well.

peebee the sheep in the wilds of Scotland will be stood safe at the side of the road, but then jump out in front of you
Not many swing bridges left now in the Wigan area

It's not often I agree with Mick, but when we have visited our daughter on Lewis we find that the sheep refuse to move off the road! You can beep the horn and shout ". Move along,girls!" and they just stand there and stare as if to say, "We have as much right on this road as you do", and I suppose they're right! Luckily, no-one ever seems to be in a hurry on Lewis.

I will always be grateful to sheep for the lovely Merino wool we get from them. I don't know if it's from those sheep but they will still give of their fleece for lambswool... far better than the synthetics and really good for the environment. BuT I must confess my favourite meat is Lamb. Aw Baa!

The sheep in the Highlands did have more priority Irene. People were cleared out of their homes for them in the early 19th Century. Known as 'The Clearances'. Cottages were burned and people shunted off to the Lowlands or Canada. That's probably why they won't move they are the descendants of those sheep....it was just as bad as the Irish with the Potatoe Famine. If not worse.

It's exactly the same on the road across Birker Moor near Eskdale . They simply will not move . They stand there and stare at you ' tossing their Ancient Briton draggle tassel sheepskins , posing in the rain smoke , like warriors ' , as the great Ted Hughes described them .

How interesting, Veronica. I must be a descendant of those people because when we had our beloved dogs, Ziggy, Merlin and Ben, I would sit on the floor so they could sit on the couch!! I still have their ashes in my kitchen. We sometimes mind our Jamie's Schnauzers, Wilson and Rudy, and I am just as soft with them!

Poet - what a brilliant Ted Hughes quote

Simple are these treasures ,
but what a trove to hold , to bathe in English meadows ,
Its hills of measured gold ,
Wander on tread footsteps
The soft , the green , the true ,
With skies that hold no rooftops ,
but dreams who own but you ...

Irene have you no more seating in your house