Home again

Yesterday's train journeys were all fine.  I noted that the only two announcements on the train from St Pancras to Sheffield were about two non-working toilets and the absence of any refreshments ("we don't have a trolley on board, or anyone to push it.")  Sigh. French railways are state-owned; over there they have more sense than to leave control of such a vital resource to the vagaries of private companies and shareholders. Interestingly, routine announcements on the high-speed French trains usually seemed to include a reference to environmental concerns: "you have reduced your carbon footprint by travelling by train today", and so on.  I know that the French railway system doesn't have to grapple with the legacy of Victorian infrastructure that we have, and that they have far more land available. But still... things could be better here. At least we got back to Sheffield on time though.
Anyway, now for a first instalment of edits from the photo catalogue. Today's collage goes back to the 'ferrade' that I wrote about on Saturday. Top left, some introductions from the host at Manade du Mas de la Comtesse, near Aigues Mortes. Top right, the riders herd their calf towards the line. Bottom left, a dexterous nudge from the pole tips the calf off balance. Bottom right, team members - having dismounted - lead the calf forwards.
Straight after that, the calf was relieved to run off and rejoin the herd. As I mentioned in Saturday's post, this was the only team to successfully catch and hold their calf.
I wouldn't deny that this is stressful for the calf. These days, there could be far less dramatic ways to herd, catch and tag the calves (in fact, they're already tagged, as you can see here). For me, this work falls the right side of the line: it gives a lot of insight into Camargue history and traditions, and only involves the calf in a very brief period of separation from the herd. But not everyone may feel the same.