We were recently asked to join BBC Farming Today, for its Saturday morning round-up.
Our modern forms of communication are wonderful things; just consider, for example, the mobile ‘phone.
In my previous life I was allowed out onto the open road in a company car. I was armed with a mobile freezer full of shellfish and – wonder of wonders – a mobile ‘phone. The ‘phone’s battery was roughly the same size as the freezer, and the charge lasted for an hour (with luck). I wouldn’t really describe it as “mobile” unless you had a car or a wheelbarrow, but I thought it was a miracle.
The marvels of modern technology
Today’s mobile ‘phones give you the choice of 4GS or 5GS, multiple megapixels of camera, MP3 players, FM hands-free radio, games, video, Android (what?) or not, but when I bought my most recent ‘phone it was on the assurance of a single specification. It WOULD get a signal in the network “not-spot” where we live. Because that’s important.
So how galling was it that this morning, of all mornings, my new old-school-but-ultra-reliable-there’s-a-signal-everywhere ‘phone couldn’t make contact with Andy while he roamed Worcestershire in search of a lost sheep? Sounds Biblical, doesn’t it? Andy’s language wasn’t especially Biblical. I have to confess, when I saw a recent addition, Mick, shove another sheep over the fence and then hare off across a field after it, mine probably wasn’t either.
It wouldn’t have mattered quite so much if we hadn’t been waiting for a team from BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today to arrive – to talk about sheepdog training!
I eventually caught up with Andy, seeing he had the errant sheep slung across his shoulders. Before he could speak (I felt it was important to get my defence in while he was still fighting for breath) I described in colourful detail that my ‘phone had “no network coverage”.
We’re on the lookout for some walkie-talkie-thingies now. Recommendations gratefully received.
Radio 4 presenters are pros!
Luckily Charlotte Smith’s quite sporting about delays; I had the impression it was a little light relief at the end of a hard week. After a large amount of tea and quite a few digestive biscuits, Andy’s loins were sufficiently girded to get out there and train some dogs – and the odd radio presenter. Kay was such a star, proving that she’ll work for anybody with celeb status so, Katie Price, if you’re reading this – get your people to call Kay’s people…
BORDER COLLIE SHEEPDOGS & FRIENDS – STILL OFF DUTY! (DVD)
WATCH THIS TRAILER!
Watch Pearl Glen, Mel and lots of the dogs you saw in our first DVD Border Collie Sheepdogs – Off Duty! PLUS MANY MORE! The DVD is available from our DVD Store – and we automatically ship the correct format for your country. More info.
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