Mrs Downs Diary July 22 2009

The sheep have been turned into the paddock at the back of the house, but to prevent them trying to get onto the lawn, John has had to surround the perimeter with an electric fence.

My reference to prison camp is because we have had to install a 6ft fence and 8ft gate to stop Ollie, my grandson, climbing over.

Ollie, who is on the autistic spectrum, is always keen to exit whichever place he is confined to. In our garden's case, a large area, complete with trampoline, climbing frame, endless toys and train tracks. But he loves riding his bike around the farmyard, and it is just too dangerous for him with tractors and trailers back and forth all day. Jessica his sister understands. Ollie does not.

We shall start to draw on the first of the lambs next week. They have done well this year. From our vantage point of the lawn of the back garden, we could easily pick out a pen or two to take to market next week. A skill John honed on a visit yesterday to a national agricultural show.

After the previous year's setbacks linked to foot and mouth and blue tongue scares, it was uplifting to see the large numbers of stock on show. Bulls especially, at close quarters in the cattle lines, are magnificent, imposing, simply huge creatures.

They have been accustomed to be shown from an early age and despite their size, are incredibly docile. An occasional twitch of their flanks maybe stress at the number of visitors, but there again, just a method of ridding themselves of an irritating fly.

The highlight for us was to see two of our friends, Pete and Tine, as passengers on a carriage in the four in hand class, that is a coach, drawn by four horses with the reins rigged in such a way that it can be driven by a single driver. "And end up feeling as if your arms have been dragged off" to quote said driver.

The first time we saw them go round we thought they were being very snooty as they had their noses in the air.

Then we realized they were watching themselves on the giant television screen. The detail and attention required to compete and be judged in these events is phenomenal.

Even down for example to the candle in the coach lantern having a pre-burned wick. Easier to light you see.

Phraseology, we take for granted in our every day speech can frequently be linked back to coach travel. "Nodding off" or "dropping off" being a dangerous occurrence when the coachman, or passenger, behind the driver, fell asleep at night and simply dropped off the carriage. Dependent upon how much alcohol had been consumed, by the driver at the last stop, usually a pub, determined whether or not the unfortunate passenger was missed or not.

An enquiry made by our friends as to whether it was legal to drive a four in hand coach after consuming quantities of champagne (Harrods variety) was to hear that no it wasn't, but that you could not lose your driving licence if convicted and, that the fine must be paid in guinneas.

Similarly, that until relatively recently it has been legal for a to man relieve himself on the back left hand tyre of his vehicle, as it was customary for one of the coachmen to aim at the back brakes on the carriage after a long descent downhill, to cool the brakes off. But no longer. So don't.