Finally, the long anticipated “heatwave” has appeared.

I feel like it’s been in discussion for months. Being dependent on dry sheep to be able to get on with the shearing, the unpredictable weather has been more than frustrating.

It’s a funny thing that growing up I could never understand Dad’s obsession with watching the weather forecast and being honest, I often mocked it. All these years later I find myself continually refreshing the weather app and planning my whole days, even weeks around my findings. Some would call it karma.

A trip to Omagh Show was on the cards last weekend.

In typical farmer fashion, we took the day off working with our own sheep to go and look at other peoples.

The show offered a very high standard of livestock with a very strong Blackface section which was the main attraction for us.

It was a humbling experience for me watching the shearing competition and really put my 50-a-day into perspective. I am filled with nothing but admiration for the competitors who make it look so easy.

Lucy Christie.

I can’t help but feel audience participation would be non-negotiable if I was shearing on the stage as the crowd would be forced to try and catch the sheep I’d accidentally let go of whilst coming down the last side.

Trial

I managed to squeeze another dog trial in over the weekend, this time a double lift.

Here, the dogs run out and retrieve one pack of sheep, bring them to a marked area and then turn back and retrieve a second pack. They then join up the two lots and complete the course. A real test.

I made a massive handling error with my first dog and had to do the walk of shame, meaning retrial. My second run was more successful and we got finished, but the finesse was questionable. No prizes but valuable experience.