Originally from: Ron
                        
Shetland Sheep have a sense of Humour.

I was probably 'introduced' to my first sheep around about the time I took my first steps in the Parish of Bitterly in Salop.

Through out the years I have been 'introduced' to sheep in a variety of circumstances. One of the funniest being awoken in the early hours of the morning with a flock of sheep using our touring caravan as a scratching post. I've even had to rescue one stuck under the 'van after it attempted to graze a particular bit of herbage.

I was first 'introduced' to the charms of Shetlands just over a year ago and they get increasingly amusing by the day. Long gone are the days when I stood calling them for ten minutes to get their daily 'hand-out'. Now as soon as they see me they rush to the pen where they are fed and as soon as the pen is opened it's like Sale Day at The House of Frazer. There is always the straggler that has 'missed the bus'.

Today, it has rained for much of the day and the field is somewhat wet, (well it is Bewcastle after all), so I found a flock of very wet sheep. They obviously saw the chance for a bit of fun, so half-a-dozen decided to show their affection by climbing up my chest with their muddy feet. Those that could get near to me rubbed their wet coats on me. To cap it all those that could not get near shook themselves so that I was drowned in the spray. Even Dusty Miller joined in.

I'm sure that as I 'retreated' wet and muddy they all had grins on their faces.

Ron.