AS I write the column this week I am looking out of the window at a beautiful sunny day and, oh how I am praying it will be like this for lambing time. I love to hear how people enjoy this column.

Last month I wrote about how we smitted - or marked - our ewes so we knew if they were expecting, and how many lambs they would be having.

Well last week at a Ruby Wedding party, a couple I spoke to told me they had seen a woman who had sat in something, so they shouted to her ‘Hey up lass you’ve been smitted’. How cool is that?

Anyway we have been TB (Tuberculosis) testing the cows this week. This is a compulsory test that we have to do every four years.

The vet comes one day and measures the skin, in two places on the cow’s neck and then they inject the cow in the same place with a vaccine. Fifty five cows later the job was done.

The vet comes back three days later and the cow’s neck is measured again. We wait with baited breath to see if the cow’s neck has swollen or not.

It’s a nerve-racking time hoping that all the cows are ok, if not it causes all sorts of problems, the worst problem being the cow has to be destroyed. I will let you know the results next time.

Ah well I’m off to paint my new shop in Kendal. ‘Basetan’ is a new venture so if you need a tan pop in, I’m on Kent Street.