Topping time

Many readers of this column may recall Perry Como, Fred Astaire or Judy Garland singing their version of ‘In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it, You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade’ at a time when all women and girls would suitably regale themselves, especially for the Easter church or chapel service..

Easter bonnets come from European traditions of wearing flowers on a hat to celebrate spring and developed over the years into a way of ladies celebrating Easter and of showing off to family and friends as to who had the best Bonnet!

Easter Sunday or Easter Day is the most important day of the year for Christians: It is when we celebrate that three days after dieing on the cross Jesus rose again - sometimes called ‘the Resurrection’ - and defeated evil forever.

As our churches and chapels are filled with flowers for Easter - considered to represent new life and the pretty bonnets topped the lot.

Ladies: surely it is time to parade again?

Be responsible

The recent sheep worrying incident which left 116 sheep dead and caused £17,000 worth of damage has highlighted the potential damage which a dog - any dog - can cause to livestock.

The NFU led, and has welcomed, the scale of publicity that has followed this incident which has focused public attention on the significance of both the financial and emotional damage caused by these incidences.

In response to this particular event, NFU members and staff are working closely with the police and other local stakeholders to confirm the exact cause of the incident, and welcome anyone with knowledge to come forward.

The NFU is aiming to establish closer links with other organisations, such a veterinary surgeries, rehoming charities, and pet stores, who can help further push out and promote this extremely urgent message to the wider public.

Dog walkers should be mindful that even the most docile of pets can cause serious injury and death to livestock if they are not walked responsibly - particularly so if that dog is not familiar with farm livestock.

Walkers are advised to keep dogs on a lead around livestock, but to be prepared release their dog if approached by cattle - a dog can and will easily escape from animals, but holding on to a dog in this situation could quite positively be life threatening to both dog and owner.

Past experience has shown that in most cases it is wise to stay clear of all fields where livestock - particularly those with young and new born - are at large.

Glyn Roberts, of the Farmers Union of Wales, says: “The utterly shocking and devastating images circulating around once again of sheep which have been savagely attacked by dogs and died as a result come as a stark warning to those who are thinking of enjoying the countryside this Easter break with their dog on the loose.

“Recent police figures reveal that there have been 68 attacks on sheep over the last year in Wales, a figure far that must be far too high.”

Owners are also urged to keep their dogs wormed and to bag and bin mess from their dogs as this can spread harmful parasites to the sheep, and to ensure that their homes are dog proof.

Quote

“I am immensely proud of the role my farming colleagues and I are able to play in producing food and caring for our countryside. Agriculture plays a vital role in Wales’ economy. Nearly 60,000 people are employed either full or part time on holdings in Wales, with agriculture’s gross output estimated at £1.5bn. Agriculture underpins a food supply chain which is worth £6bn annually. Thousands of rural businesses rely on the income generated from providing goods and services to the Welsh farming community.” Stephen James, president of the NFU in Wales.

Things my mother taught me:

To appreciate a job well done - “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside, I just finished cleaning.”

Logic - “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, it’s no good you running back to me.”

Foresight - “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

Osmosis - “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

To be a contortionist - “Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?”

About stamina - “You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

About the weather - “This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

About hypocrisy - “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times, don’t exaggerate!”

About behaviour modification - “Stop acting like your father!”

About envy - “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”

About anticipation - “Just wait until we get home.”

About receiving - “You are going to get it from your father when he gets home!”

Medical science - “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”

Extra sensory perception - “Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

About how to become an adult - “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

About genetics - “You’re just like your father.”

My roots - “Shut that door behind you, do you think you were born in a barn?”

About wisdom - “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

(Contributed).