113

"Short back and sides Maam?"

Whirrr, whirrr "baa", Shurrup you dozy...., "baa". Whirr whirr

No time to look at the view.

Whilst the sun was shining again today - only the third time this year - or so it seems, The Crofter and his aids took it upon themselves to shear the rest of his little sheep flock. Hebridean sheep may be small but they are so very pretty but frisky when you want to catch them. Out came the electric shears, a few hurdles and soon the cutting was underway. No doubt in another life Mr Crofter would be called "Vidal".

Its a fine thing to do this hearing lark - on a fine day overlooking the sea with the breeze blowing across your bare arms and the sheep head-butting where ever they can. Unless you are actually doing the shearing and not just taking photographs.

No, I'm not even going mention you.

112

I've lost the faith. It's gone, lorst and gorn. Piggy is no longer the love of my life, the wonder of Pigginess and snortability. She lays contented in her housey looking for all the world like she hasn't a care at all - and still no piglettes.

The world is carrying on regardless as I make my way to and from the croft to see if we have little-ones. The Crofter has given a haircut to the last few sheeps that needed one, the land-rover is being mended and the veg is growing. Still.

111

Looking south

!Looking north while Dad crofter carries on regardless

Looking west as Mum crofter checks the poorly lamb.

Twas a strange day yesterday. The day dawned bright after a night of rain and I thought I'd fill the remaining peat-bags ready for bringing home [ reminder to self- call Donald Four Tractors]. Trolled off down the road to see the Crofter and gosh, what a lovely day it was. Surely Piggy has had her piglettes now while the sun is shining and air is warm.

"Morning Sir" I heard coming out of my mouth. "What a lovely day it is" I rambled on. Then I turned round to snap-up Dad Crofter and noticed this big black cloud lurking over my little housey. Not just over my housey but seemingly over all of the north of the Isle of Lewis. I snapped up quickly - no piggies - new location for the twizler family - Mum Crofter nursing a little weak lamblette - and shot off home before the deluge. The deluge that never actually came as it happens. Must chek the way the wind is blowing in future!

BTW; the missing lamb that was out on the reseedings for three months with some white sheeps eventually came home today. And he was rather pleased to be there. Oh, and there is one less turkey today- the less said about that the better.

110

No little piggies yet! The neighbours came to see - and there was nothing to see. Tomorrow?

109

I'm beginning to think that Piggy will have no piglets at all. Dad Crofter tells me I'm too impatient - and he may be right. However, there was no sign of multiple little legs this morning and now its raining I shan't be going down again today!

Yesterday Mum Crofter let Piggy out for a root around the 'lawn'. And whilst it seemed to have made Piggy's day, she hasn't rewarded up with little piggies.

108

Piggy has not as yet pigged.

Granted she is looking a tad unkemp and rather agitated but she's allowed that, isn't she? I went down to the Croft early this morning - despite the fact that I didn't sleep last night, I was dog-tired and after finding Piggy piglette-less I came home. Mrs Turk prowled outside the croft-house as I left.

107

"Ah"

"Mmmm"

"I'm not talking"

I wandered down to the Croft this morning, hair flying all over the place, fresh air in my lungs - which is no bad thing since I think the paper developer in darkroom is getting to me - and find The Crofters huddled round the back of the trailer. The big trailer that is. "What's going on ?" I asked. As I do. Apparently, as Chairman of the Board, Mr Crofter had been using the big trailer to store the un-used shelves from the village shop and now they were coming out. No doubt because it rather restricts the number of animals it might hold.

Still, I outed my new to me camera and snapped. You may notice the shape of the snaps. Panoramic eh? Not high-tech in my case but £2.30 worth.

106

While duck plays peekaboo around the cow byre, I can let you in on a secret. Have you ever wondered why Mr Crofter is doing what he is? Have you ever wondered why Mr Crofter loves having animals around him? Well, Mum crofter traces it back to the day when Mr Crofter Sir, he of the grazings committee and chairman of the board etc, won'best cowboy' competition when he was a young lad.

Explains a lot really.