India calls

Hermie and the students at The Hermitage are almost set for their World Challenge expedition to India Ladakh tomorrow.

We are all extremely excited and we don't quite know how we'll manage to sleep tonight!

We will endeavour to keep you posted on our travels and news but can't always guarantee internet access.

We will update when we can! What an adventure and we don't quite know what lies ahead. That's part of the excitement of course!

Best wishes,

Gill :-)

Oliver of Otterburn in Western Australia

Oliver of Otterburn in Western Australia

I have been spending some time in the huge state of Western Australia and there is quite a diversity of things to see, so I thought that I should report in on a couple of interesting places that I have been to recently. Firstly, I know that Australia is well known for its beaches so I took myself off to Scarborough Beach to the north of Perth.

 
It was a warm sunny day and the water looked very inviting. Then I saw a sign that listed all the things that I needed to be wary of

– large waves
– strong currents
– sandbars
– snakes.

Now, I don’t know how a simple Northumbrian sheep is expected to cope with all of that. I just settled for looking at the nice blue water.

 
Then, in the country town of Wagin I came up against another huge sheep. I had already met with the Big Merino in New South Wales so I wasn’t totally surprised. I think that these things are designed to give other sheep an inferiority complex – well, anyway it didn’t work because I have a gorgeous distinctive black face and that big sheep doesn’t.


 Further to the north of Perth I was able to visit The Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park. Regarded as one of Australia's most unique landscapes, these incredible limestone spires rise eerily out of the sand, some several meters tall. It's believed the Pinnacles were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind.

 
 You can get up close to the Pinnacles on a scenic drive and walk trail, and that is where you can see me, happily sitting on top of the Pinnacles.

Hermie in Barcelona

Hermie on a City Break in Barcelona

Well I’ve certainly had an energetic time since I arrived at The Hermitage Academy; numerous training walks and runs in Northumberland in preparation with the team going out to India in July; skiing in the French Alps; abseiling off the Transporter Bridge, Middlesbrough; Ceilidh dancing; New York and dry land triathlon!

I was so pleased to hear that the summer half term holiday was approaching and that I was being packed up in Gill’s bag to visit Barcelona. I quite fancied a warmer climate and some relaxation.

I might have known better, Gill’s idea of a holiday was totally different to mine!

As you can see from the photographs, I was a typical tourist for a few days. This involved lots of cycling and walking for miles around Barcelona. Our cycle tour, with a lovely group of people from all over the world lasted about 5 hours. They were very interested in me and wanted to know where I came from and what was I doing so far away from home. I could have said the same about them!! We rode through Barri Gotic, the Olympic village, Port Vell stopping for lunch on Barcelona beach.

Riding a bike was an excellent way to take in the sights of this amazing city and our Australian tour guide shared loads of interesting facts. The most famous sight in Barcelona, Antoni Goudi’s Sagrada Familia and look at me in the foreground – I was well impressed with this Cathedral, started in 1882 and still incomplete.

Next port of call Arc del Triomf - a triumphal arch built with colorful brickwork. The arch, designed by the Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca, is adorned with a large number of statues. I thought I would view it from the traffic lights, incase someone trod on me as they crossed the road!

Next stop Parc de la Ciutadella - After the War of the Spanish Succession ended in 1714, a large fort was constructed on this site to keep the city in line. The fortress was demolished in 1869 and redesigned as a park containing a zoo, a boating lake, gardens and a large fountain worked on by the young Gaudí. In this park there is a life size mammoth, look at me on his trunk- don’t worry Sue he’s not going to eat me!

Our time in Barcelona was almost over and our final evening wouldn’t be complete without indulging in some sangria and tapas!

Unfortunately, all the cycling and walking was thirsty work and I got a little carried away!

Oh well I think I deserved some liquid refreshment, but it was all too much for my little body and sleep soon took over.

Adventures of Maarissa the sheep (Part1)

Maarissa the sheep has had a busy Lambing Season 2011 in Shropshire.
On the dash board of the Stapeley Farm Animal Vet Van, she has seen it all.
Lambings, Caesarians, nursing sick lambs and ewes. She is now a very experienced sheep.
She also has the ability to bring a smile to the face of even the most tried and weary farmer.

Here are some Pics of our Easter with Maarissa the Sheep....

Activites included...
Hill walk to the Stone Circle....pose on top of centre stone.

Kite flying

..... perfect for sheep Paragliding!

Picnic with the Robson / Gooch family

(Go to Part2)

Adventures of Maarissa the sheep (Part2)

Sheep sneaks into shot behind Willows head

Back to the Hovel (home of Marissa the Vet)

to meet new arrivals ....

Please note the box the lambs arrived in!

Feeding orphan lambs with Lorelei, Willow and Emily

Lots of Love,

Marissa (The Vet)

Gilbert of Hethpool is found

Dear Sue,

My name is Linda Perea and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. Tippy Mueller is my sister-in-law.

To continue with Gilbert's adventures. I understand that he set out for the Grand Canyon and got lost. I found him wandering the beach in Southern California and brought him safely home with me.

Included is a photo of me and Gilbert where I found him at Dana Point.

Gilbert has been a wonderful guest, wanting to explore the deserts of Arizona where Saguaro cactuses grow. They only grow on the Sonoran desert and nowhere else in the world.

Here is a picture of Gilbert in front of one.

I taught school for 35 years here in Phoenix in grades kindergarten and first grade. My favorite activities with the children were languages and arts.

Stories like this of Gilbert's travels were always a delight for the children.

Talk with you soon,

Linda Perea

Lady Maairy's visit to Jersey

Lady Maairy of Corridge has been visiting Linda Lowseck on the island of Jersey, where she hopes to make friends with this Jersey heifer.

This evening she tried her hoof fishing for sea bass on the incoming tide without success.

Maairy may go to the Jersey Spring Fair this weekend, then she might decide to go to Chile in July and back to the USA again in August with Linda's brother.

Decisions! Decisions!

Watch this space!