Dorset Downs

So on Sunday Nell and I put out the temporary electric fence. Ross drives these 2 and 1 more back from Normandy and we release them into the temporary enclosure from which they bolt immediately. A chase ensues; a decision is taken to put them in the barn on hay for the night. The lambs go in, the mother explores the vegetable garden and then takes fright and sets off towards the main road, and then down it, with Ross and Matthew in hot pursuit. 10 minutes later Matthew comes back, no sheep, no Ross 'they're past the bridge'. I set off with yellow jackets and torches. 20 minutes later we're hefting 50kg of the most stubborn ewe yet, out of a roadside ditch. A car slows down to help, we wave it on, but it stops. It's the Mayor, who we're desperately trying to impress as he's sorting out some land limit issues and rights to waterway repairs. Ross shakes hands, they've never met. We have it all under control we assure him. Another half an hour and we've got her home. What a beggar.