Cattle have their own ways of communicating – no great surprise in that I suppose! The problem for me is understanding what they are trying to communicate. Leaning against the Tenant Farmers Field northern gate on Monday morning, I watched the cattle grazing way down at the southern end of the field. Normally when I arrive, the cattle come running. They glanced my way a few times so they knew I was there, but the herd wasn’t showing its usual enthusiasm. A man walked across the Rhombus Field and they knew he was there, too; they gave him a chorus of bellowing and moved slowly in his direction. He might have been checking the electricity pylon. Anyway, the cattle’s bellowing and interest in the chap was a bit lacklustre. The cattle are not happy, I thought. I walked over to the herd, but they moved away from me and sloped off towards the north gate. So I walked to the south gate and waited. One of the Galloways looked my way and let out a few bellows and began running towards me, quickly followed by the rest of the herd. They formed a semicircle around me at the gate and stood rooted to the spot staring at me. They are bored with this field, I thought. So I took them with me for the rest of my round. They danced, skipped, mooed and bellowed when I opened the gate and called them through.
Arriving in the south entrance riverside section, the cattle saw another herd on the west bank of the river. Well…the fuss they made was incredible. They bellowed and mooed as loudly as they were able: Belted every tooth, as my father would say. Wayne, the belted Galloway, bellowed like a mad thing in between turning his bare backside towards the other herd and lifted his tail. The herd on the other side of the river showed no emotion whatsoever. It struck me that the marsh herd originated in Scotland and Scottish folk have greeted the English similarly for millennia.
I shot this video this morning. Watch how my helper, Waynetta, gathers the stragglers.
Hahaha, love it! Waynetta is a bossy boots. It is looking very scenic 🙂
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The frost stayed all day. I wonder what it will be like tomorrow morning.
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Even frostier!
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I will find out shortly. It is very dark outside at the moment.
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currently -4c in didcot
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Down to -6 on Wilden Marsh.
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was actually ok in my single brick no insulation ‘house’
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Log burner?
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no, it’s rented
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beautiful on teh river walking in though having given up on the bus
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Is it thick clothes that keep you warm in your house then, Simon?
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yep
and going out a lot
but then it is a very historical tool shed / wash house and fowl house
it also has a roman baths underneath it which i think creates cold gaps
and dead bodies from teh workhouse!
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I wonder how many other people can claim to live in a tool shed. Are you a tramp, Simon, or do you live in a tool shed all year round?
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no, i pay £1300 a month for the delight!
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Your abode must be a lot more than a tool shed then. It must at least be a posh tool shed, and does it come with tools?
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no. yes it is the tool shed of Twickenham House, Abingdon – hence it is surrounded by the dead bodies of anatomical experiments because the surgeon, John Box lived there in the nineteenth century. It’s the fowl house that is coldest – now renamed living room!
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Is your abode the red brick building?
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https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/40923941/posts/1242453977
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I’m in Oxford this weekend, and Kingham.
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well, i recommend walking the Thames
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Walking the Thames is not usually something I do on my frequent visits to Oxford. I stay within the city limits. I spend around two to three hour there.
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I sure enjoyed this spirited rendition of your friends, Mike. The frosty morning video was fun, and your descriptions were marvelous — the dancing, skipping, mooing and bellowing of your bovine buddies.
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Thanks! I’m getting to know the new herd individuals now, Jet. The Galloways are the most interesting and Wayne is definitely a real character. I think Waynetta yearns to be a mother; she is very gentle with the calves.
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