A coo in a Lada

THE NEWS in one of the tabloids that three cattle rustlers had been arrested in Russia after a cow was found in the back of their car brought back memories of going to Kelso Ram Sales many years back.

I can remember more than one car heading for Stranraer for the ferry to Ireland with a tup in the back seat, with maw and paw in the front.

Something tells me that the rules regarding transport of livestock must have been a bit more relaxed then, or at the very least bent to destruction!

One wonders, though, at the ingenuity of the Russian rustlers for the coo was apparently found in the back of their Lada!

Now any Lada I’d ever been in would have been pretty chocka with a pygmy goat in it, never mind a beast. Must’ve been a Dexter!

Muddy boots hung up

APPARENTLY yet other valuer/auctioneer has decided to hang up his ‘muddy boots.’

Kenny Robertson, of Davidson and Robertson, has reached the age where he really should be taking things a bit easier.

The former auctioneer with Swans and Olivers – where a few other young guns cut their auctioneering teeth – turns 70 today (Friday) ... so dumps are in order if you meet him at the Royal Highland!

An ‘office’ retirement party has already been held for him, but needless to say he was back in the office the following day.

What is it about ‘retired’ auctioneers?

They’re a bit like an old hack, plumber or a joiner, as they can still use their professional credentials until they have that final ‘off you pop’ nod from above!

Former colleagues reckon that Mr Gove, in Westminster, could do worse than employ him as a Brexit negotiator – at least then we would have someone with some knowledge of agriculture!

In the meantime, Kenny can be seen cruising the back lanes of West Lothian in his recently purchased soft-top Merc – not much use for looking over hedges, though, unless he stands up!

Angus for free!

FOR THOSE interested in taking in part of the Aberdeen-Angus World Forum, one breeder is keen to point out that next week’s Dunlouise sale and the Highland Area A-A Club’s ‘Northern Exposure’ events are two of the few ‘free to enter events’.

The sale is on Monday (June 26) and features some unique and long-established bloodlines,while the Northern Exposure open day on Wednesday, June 28, brings together stock from 25 herds under one roof at Dingwall Mart. The start is 10.00am.

By that time the delegates will be fully genned up on Angus cattle, but I’m sure that they will get plenty more and unique insight from these two free events.

Locks off for charity

ONE AYRSHIRE farmer’s daughter seems to have a head for raising money for charity.

Eleven-year-old Louise Kerr, from Coylton, cut her long tresses for charity recently, raising £1350 for a Parkinsons research charity. But that’s not all, she also donated the impressive 15-inches of hair that she had cut off to a charitable trust that supplies real hair wigs for cancer patients.

Her mother, Heather, has also set up a fund raising account at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Heather-Kerr10 should anyone wish to support her bravery.