goats – From Pyrenees to Pennines

A Goat on Top of the World

Today’s so chilly: it feels like the first day of winter. Let’s have a goat cheer us up. She can also serve to introduce next week’s Monochrome Madness, whose theme will be Bridges. And of course to feature in Seven for September. How many tyres can you see?

It’s a Goat’s Life

Spotted on a farm near where we’re based. One of them was enjoying a mighty good scratch …

This Shropshire Postcard (2) is for Monday Portraits.

Monday Portrait: the Goats at Mudchute Farm

The other day I showed you the thieving squirrels of Mudchute Farm in London’s Isle of Dogs. Today it’s the turn of the thieving goats. Mind your scarves! The goats find them delicious.

A Group of Goats posing for Monday Portraits

I know it’s not a Group of Goats. It’s a Flock; it’s a Herd; it’s a Drove (as in the header photo); it’s a Tribe. But Group is more alliterative.

On our Balkan journey, we got used in Albania to seeing shepherds wandering along the mountainsides with their mixed herds of sheep and goats.

In Greece though, we stayed on a small island, Agios Achillios, on Lake Prespa. Semi-nomadic practices weren’t an option. Instead the goats had to put up with lush and varied pasture on hillsides overlooking the lake, which they shared with their neighbours the pigs and the dwarf cattle of the area, and who may have their moment of fame another week.

Monday Portrait

I’ve selected this goat for my Monday Portrait this week. And the header image shows a troupe of different ones – Anglo-Nubian goats from Surrey Docks City Farm.

Monday Portrait

The goats in the header photo, as well as this fine fellow, live in Mudchutes Farm, London.

While Team Spain, in the form of my daughter and her family, are here I’ll be taking a blogging break, and it’s possible – sorry – that I may not even have time to read your posts.