Proverbial problems

I’m a big fan of old country sayings. Numerous old ones are kicking about, and these just about cover everything that can happen to us as we plough on through life.

Calamity

For example, “the best-laid plans of mice and men” truly applies to the latest calamity to strike Hampstead Towers. Let me explain. I can’t remember the exact date, but sometime last spring I drilled a few rows of kale and cabbage intended for winter fodder for the sheep. I tended them, hoed them, and protected them from land-based and aerial attacks.

I did all I could to help them on, and I have written several bits about the battle to raise them over the months. It included watching over them as I do every year. At the start of winter, they looked quite good. During the wettest and freezing days, we have cut a few barrow-loads to spread around the field to make up for the lack of grass. But the bulk of it we were saving to feed to the pregnant ewes when they come into the covered yard and barn at lambing time.