On another thread, there have been a few comments about converting old slides to digital. Well, here is something similar, but with a light-hearted touch.

Meet Herbert!

Now, as you can see, Herbert is a Shorthorn Bull, and although it doesn't show, he was "entire". He even had his horns – about 5 inches long, straight, about 1.5 inch dia at the base and tapering to a point.

During the Winter months he was kept in a single stall in what was called the Stable along with 4 of his "harem" who occupied two adjacent double stalls. Now at Herbert's left was a hefty steel construction which served as a barrier between the stalls, but at least allowed Herbert to see his harem. (The remaining beasts were in the Mistal and out of sight.) To Herbert's right was a brick wall, about a metre or slightly more high which served to separate Herbert from the alleyway running to the store room. During these months, all the beasts, including Herbert, were fed some rations – corn, sugarbeet, etc which appeared to be loved by the animals,  at least the lick buckets were always scrupulously clean. Herbert was always fed at the same time as the adjacent cows.

One day, whilst the farmer and I were in the adjacent Mistal, there arose a most tremendous racket, so I rather casually wandered into the stable to see what was going on – only to find that poor old Herbert had somehow managed to hook his nosering onto the end of the lick bucket handle. He was most displeased, hence the racket. Now I don't know about you, but I'm not about to walk up the side of a rather angry Shorthorn bull, so I left him to it whilst I cast around for inspiration. This turned out to be an old walking stick, turn it round, hook the bucket handle, and draw towards you whilst leaning over wall. I was thus able to release Herbert from his torment.

Did he thank me? Did he heck! Ungrateful beast!

Peter G. Shaw

Edited By Peter G. Shaw on 28/03/2020 14:58:50