More New Zealand stories.

It was soon time to say 'baabye' to Dunedin and head back to Queenstown and then Wanaka. I would love to stay a bit longer here but time is rapidly running out.

For my last full day in NZ Dan & me took a trip from Queenstown in a 4x4 to the famous Nevis bungy jump!

If you want an outdoor adventure, beautiful scenery and extreme highs.... the Nevis bungy 134m above the rugged Nevis River combines all these elements into a mind blowing series of unforgetable events. With eight and a half seconds of falling, its a breathtaking ground

rush like no other!! Was I up for this challenge??

Sorry to disappoint all you folks back home but I don't think so!

Even just getting there was fun, 35 minutes through rough country, bouncing around

in the 4x4 then the height once we'd arrived, my four legs were wobbling around on the fencing as i posed for photos!

You had to board a cable car, get harnessed up and taken out to the Bungy pod.

Dan was definitely up for it, he was facing his fear in one of the greatest personal challenges in his life.

I watched him get hitched up, briefed by the instructor, 3-2-1 and hey he flew off the pod like a bird!

My insides were churning as I watched him jump, he's a real dare devil! He was winched back up upside down and you could tell he was thrilled with the experience and was 'buzzing'

I couldn't wait to get my four trotters back on solid ground!!

News Flash : Hermie TV star at World Rugby Cup

Hermie at the Rugby World Cup

We had really good seats, right in front of where the teams came out the tunnel, opposite the centre of the pitch, we saw the Maoris' dance and chant. The call of the conch shell, was brilliant!

Then, you'll never guess what, I appeared on National television! Dan picked me up, just as the teams were walking out of the tunnel and lowered me down so the TV camera picked it up! It was on the large screen in the stadium.... I could be an international star sheep!!

I wonder if anyone else saw me?

The game was really exciting and the crowd were singing so loudly, my 'baa's' were totally drowned out.

It was very entertaining as was the night out after the match. The Georgian players were out in Dunedin and they were very friendly with us all, despite them losing 41-10 to England!

Lady Maairy in Mexico

Lady Maairy in Mexico

For this life changing experience I’m indebted to local schoolgirl Charlie Potter and the Mitford Youth Group’s overseas trip to Ensenada, Baja California in the west of Mexico. The teenagers and myself were to become handymen (or handysheep in my case) on a building project for under-privileged families run by international volunteer movement ‘Youth with a Mission’.

1^st August - Despite by now becoming a seasoned air traveler, we arrived after a very long journey, and very, very jet lagged! Here I am trying to relax and drink my way through the local produce. Ensenada is the largest city in this part of Mexico but it doesn’t look much like Newcastle. We were shown round the house of the family we were going to help and it was hard to believe that 6 people were living in such a small space, to be honest I’ve seen better equipped sheep sheds!

4th August- Today was the first day of the two day house build. We did a lot of hammering, cutting wood and painting. I have never worked so hard – it’s very difficult holding a saw or a hammer (is there such a thing as a ‘hoof-hammer’?) with only 2 digits! I’m so tired - this is definitely not a sunbathing trip! I really found my vocation at painting – although rolling in the tray and then on the boards may not be in every decorating text book! I also helped Charlie paint the sign for the front door with the new family’s surname

August 6^th - We visited a drug rehab centre and played with the children of the women who live there. It was very, very, hot with temperatures in the mid 30’s. We had to keep topping up our water-bottles – and our sun-cream!

August 8^th From Charlie and her friends’ fund raising activities the group had paid for equipment and material for a covered area to be used for meals for the centre. We cleared scrub and stones, laid concrete and put up walls, altogether more back-breaking work than this heat would allow.

August 9^th At last a day of fun with activities such as football, hair braiding and a photo workshop where I tried to allow as many as possible to have their picture taken with me.

August 10^th Time to head for home again. Mexico is a beautiful country but the trip showed everyone how lucky they were compared to the people living in poverty around the world. A life changing experience for all concerned and I’m very grateful that they took one little sheep along with them.

Lady Maairy of Corridge goes racing

LADY MAAIRY GOES RACING

Yes I know this blog site is called GLOBAL adventures of Northumbrian Sheep. So an invite to Whalton show, a village only about 5 miles from our flock’s home pastures, may not qualify and even seem a bit un-adventurous. However Dick said I ought to come along and have a close look at his latest mad-cap idea! After all I have a spare week before jetting off to New Zealand, where there’s a seat at the Rugby World Cup final with my name on, and what harm can I come to at a quiet, English country village show?

‘SHEEP RACING’ proclaimed the poster I saw on the way in. Interesting! At least he surely can’t expect me to race, what with my short legs. I presume that’s why we’ve brought the trailer with 4 of our Coloured Ryeland ewes, although some of their legs aren’t much longer! The days racing would apparently consist of 4, four sheep races, with the winners of each race appearing in the grand final and is the second year of action at this show.

A celebrity at last – the large silver box on a pole announced “ The Gold cup will be presented by Lady Maairy of Corridge, charity worker and World traveller extraordinaire”, which made me feel very important. The crowd of nearly 500 cheered as I was invited to go and sit with the jockeys as they waited for their mounts (pic 1). Here i am with Leicester Sheepott, ands his /her 3 colleagues who tell me their experience relates to an appearance at the first such competition last year when apparently, Leicester had been dragged along the ground when his saddle slipped, which sounds really dangerous. He has been promised an improved design this year!

Now I can take a joke as well as the next ewe but actually attaching me to Leicester’s lap, akin to a twin sky-dive and then strapping us both to a ‘bucking bronco’ is taking things a bit too far, I hadn’t signed up for this today! However as we were in the starting pen with the other 3 sheep in the first race of the day – The Beresford Arms Handicap – I couldn’t help but start to get excited. The 70 yard horseshoe shaped track was laid out in front of us, and I could see the first of the two fences just before the bend, the crowd bayed, the starting gates were flung open and off we flew!

Or off we should have flown. ‘Mamma Mia’ (we had the musically themed mounts) seemed much more interested in whether the man who opened the gates had any spare food and despite my, Leicester and a couple of shepherds waving sticks, Mia stoically refused to break into a trot never mind a canter and the race was all over before we’d got started.

That was it I was hooked, we could only do better and there was no way they were getting me off the saddle now! Unfortunately with ‘Milly The moocher’ we fared little better in the next race, but in the 3^rd, in ‘Lilly A-lamb’ we had a star! As our only champion from last year she certainly knew her way round the track and set up a new course record winning by 10 lengths! As you can see at this speed I found the event a horn-raising experience!

Although we thought we were a sure thing for the final and the wagers in our favour were coming in thick and fast, things didn’t go according to plan! The race was a disaster and should have been the subject of a stewards enquiry as I sheep bolted while the other 3 (including Lilly) got very confused and turned round so that all three were back in the starting pen as the victor crossed the line! What a let-down . Still that’s another new experience for sheep-kind. Count me in for next year!

Precious reporting in

I have made a quick stop back in the UK after spending some time in Asia and then Germany. I found some familiar faces back in Morpeth which was great and stocked up on supplies.

Today, I met my friends Hannah and Oliver, they looked after me well. They showed me where I am going next on the map-Australia! I am going to meet their grandparents and join in on their adventures in the camper van traveling down the West coast. I'm looking forward to the sunshine and a good old BBQ, it's too cold in England!

We all went along to the post office so I could catch my 'flight'. I'm excited for the next adventure!

Hermie goes to watch England in the rugby World Cup

In my last week I sampled some Gold Medal Ale in Cardrona, it wasn't too bad.

We drove for 4hours one day down to Dunedin, to watch England play Georgia in the rugby World Cup!

The lads had managed to get tickets so it was very exciting to be part of it with them! Otago Stadium was spectacular and the atmosphere was electrifying

New Zealand News from Hermie

I was soon to find out what life was like in Wanaka, South Island. The pace of life was easy and so laid back, weather was perfect for each day I was there and I was living there for a month!

Dan and Matt looked after me well and showed me round my new surroundings. I even got my passport stamped at their Post Office!

They drove up the mountain roads from Wanaka to Cardrona where the ski parks and chairlifts were. They showed me where they skied and jumped. The snow was jolly cold on my trotters especially after the hot sand in France!

Then disaster struck, my horns fell off again. Oh dear! Don't I look weird without them!

It must have been the frost getting to my bones!

Later that day, once I'd recovered from my shock, I was shown something familiar, that i hadn't seen in ages...

some more sheep... New Zealand sheep, Baaaa, I want to join them!!

Hermie arrives in New Zealand

I told you I was set to do something else exciting....

well Gill's sons were out in New Zealand for 4 months.They love skiing and were out in South Island for the winter!

I was parcelled up in my little box and sent by airmail to Wanaka.

It took just 4 days for me to arrive- I was thirsty and jet lagged,

but I was able to stretch my legs down by Lake Wanaka,

even some straw to eat and what d'you know I was feeling much better in no time.

My new surroundings looked wonderful, the sun was setting over the snow capped mountains and the reflection on the lake was just perfect.

Mmmm, I could get used to this life!

Oliver of Otterburn goes west to Steep Point

Oliver of Otterburn goes West to Steep Point

The objective of today’s trip is to reach the furthest west point of
the Australian continent. It is named Steep Point and it is quite a remote spot.

It is possible to drive there but to do so requires a well equipped tough 4-wheel-drive vehicle and the time to undertake a
return journey over 300 kms of dirt road and soft sand.

So, I am going with Ray & Margaret and we will do it the easy way, in a light plane from the small town of Denham in Western Australia.

It will be a flight of about an hour and we will fly over the beautiful blue waters of Shark Bay.

This is a World Heritage Area and the
extensive sea grass meadows of the bay shelter some of the most diverse marine life anywhere in the world.

The view of the surrounding landscape is stunning.

It is dry and remote and few people live here. The land ends with stark steep cliffs
dropping dramatically down into the Indian Ocean. Steep Point pokes itself out into the sea, there is no sign of humanity, not even the
campspot of fishermen.

Across a shallow passage from Steep Point is Dirk Hartog Island. It is long, narrow and sandy but has a special place in Australian history.

In the year 1616 the Dutch trading ship ‘Eendracht’, en route to Batavia landed here.

The captain, Dirk Hartog hammered flat a pewter plate, inscribed some details of his voyage, and nailed the plate to a tree. It was the very first European object to be placed on
the Australian continent. It remained there for many years but is now displayed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

So, there you have it, a Northumbrian sheep at the western edge of Australia.

Lady Maairy walks on the Roman Wall

Hello!

Tis me, Lady Maairy on my most recent escapade!

Some tall adolescent lads decided to take me on their trip camping along Hadrian’s wall!

It was a very enjoyable trip (apart from sleeping in the tent, which was a bit cramped, seeing as I normally enjoy the luxury of my own field).

We set out from just outside Carlisle and walked all the way back to my home, just outside Morpeth, and let me tell you, my little legs were completely worn out by the first mile! (Low fat grass in the future I think) But at least one of the lads gave me a lift in a private compartment in their rucksack!

Along the wall, the Romans built a milecastle every Roman mile! I ponder looking at one of the ruins I found where the sheep lived? Hopefully inside the castle seeing as there is many dangerous cliffs about and I don’t think I would be able to cling on, never mind old Sheepious Maximus!

The wall stretches about 73 miles end to end, and while we only covered two-thirds of it, it was quite enough I can tell you! There is some very pretty stretches of the wall where it slinks over into the distance which looked very cool!

On our final camping night I came across a very welcome and familiar sight! It turns out that the farm we were staying at owned a small flock of Ryland sheep!! Just like back home! I went and had a little converse with these new sheep and they were very polite, although they spoke in some strange language, latan or something, and they had a big chief sheep called Baaaaaaaa-us Maximus!

Overall it was a very enjoyable trip and who knows what great length I will be walking next time!!!

Lady Maairy in the Holyland (Part2)

Fairly close to here, a small flock of sheep, fed up with being prayed on by wolves and the like, bribed a human to look after them, creating not only the World’s first true ‘Industry’ but creating the original profession – Shepherd! Yoav had kindly leant me a Bible to read in my spare moments so I was interested to read these transcripts. I’ve found a very impressive 189 references to sheep so far, mostly ‘lamb of God’ and ‘Lord is my shepherd’ type of thing but there are the odd ‘sacrificial lamb’ that I find a bit upsetting. Still Noah had the right idea, inviting 7 pairs of ‘clean’ animals such as ourselves aboard to ‘help feed the animals’. I can just imagine my hardworking ancestors filling the 2 horses’ hay-nets and washing the 2 dogs’ bowls, mind i’ve always wondered what the pair of Lions ate. Talking of food.. Haggling can make you very hungry so we went to have lunch in one of the local Arab restaurants. For some reason the meat dishes made me think of my old auntie Mildred but the Falafel balls and plate of Hummus were delicious. (Photo 4) No clover in it at all but still I could get used to it…

With no time to waste Yoav and his wife Adi took me to Nazareth. A wonderful city which is an amazing mixture of old and new, markets full of local fruit, vegetables and spices, traffic jams , oh ,and a few holy sites as well. We visited the Basilica of the Annunciation which felt quite special ….. (Photos 5)

….. and then went shopping for souvenirs. I took a fancy to these polished ram horns. Yoav said they were used as horns at Jewish prayers to part the skies to let the prayers get through. Must be a local breed, very impressive horns, wish I could meet these boys. (Photo 6)

Never ever listen to the locals, smoking is bad for you!!! If I ever wake up I’ll send another blog … on the other hand I could get used to this stuff.

(Photo 7)

Lady Maairy in the Holy Land (Part 1)

Lady Maairy visits the Holyland

This is me and Yoav, my host on this trip. ‘OK’ I hear you say, ‘I didn’t realise the ‘Holyland’ was so green’. I don’t want to mislead you but this was my last chance of grass for 2 wks and I think Yoav was pointing towards Mecca (Photo1)

So here I am in the ‘Holyland’, it’s a bit hot in my crate and I was wishing i’d asked for a No 1 all over instead of a standard shear so a dip in the sea of Galilea hit the right spot. No, I can hear you ask – I did not attempt to walk on water! (Photo2)

However I wasn’t quite prepared for

the next water encounter with a baptismal ritual in the Jordan river, I mean haven’t they read the recommendations? One minute whole body, including head, for sheep scab not just a bowl of water over my scalp! I want my money back! (Photo 3)