MRS DOWN'S DIARY

John says I am like an old ewe or one of the cows who has had her lamb/calf taken away from her. I am making a lot of fuss but secretly enjoying the rest.

John is recovering well from his operation and in less than a fortnight has already been back on the tractor. Geoff sorted out all the heavy lifting for him such as putting on the power harrow, but from then on he has gone up and down the field very slowly managed well.

"It takes me about an hour to harrow from one side of the field to the other but I feel as though I am doing something" he said. He has been a restless patient. He even managed to get some lambs sorted out for market.

My big worry was that one of them would jump up against him or he would fall and twist himself amongst all the general writhing about that goes on when there is anything to do with sheep, but no, he came out unscathed.

Several of the lambs had mucky backsides and needed dagging out so they do not attract flies, and between us, we even sent away a collection of neatly shorn bottoms.

What he has not been able to do is light household chores apparently. Way beyond him. "Could you scrape me some potatoes please" I ask. "I'd just better have a sit down" comes the answer. "There's a bag of plums need stoning" I mention. A heavy snore emanates from the sofa.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette September 5