Sue Woodcock: Shooting stars and hint of snow in the air

She explained it was voluntary and I was only too happy to allow her to do it. I had got the sheep penned up by the time she arrived and it was only after we'd been handling them for a while that it dawned on both of us that we might have played sport against each other many years ago for our respective schools.

I have met her since and I have a profound respect and admiration for her. I saw her recently and she asked if she could once again test 20 of my sheep and and we worked together to get the job done. I had forgotten just how enormous some of my sheep are at close quarters so the morning was spent sheep wrestling and after a cup of tea and a chat I managed to treat a few sheep's feet which needed doing anyway and check them all over.

Feeling utterly exhausted and rather old, I staggered into the house and had to have a short sit down before carrying on with the day's chores. The sheep seemed to be pretty fit and certainly not underweight which bodes well for the winter. There is still plenty of grass and I have stores in.

My chickens have gone on strike. They are happy to eat copious amounts of food but decline to lay many eggs. It is that time of year. I rather like my chickens, some of them have little characters and all rush towards me if I appear and look like I am heading to the food store. They know I throw grain out for them and they spend some time happily rooting around for it.

The dogs have been having a wonderful time. Paddy my deaf collie struck up a friendship with both Boo the labrador pup and Brillo. They play incessantly, very noisily and I watched them cavorting round the fields in a display of juvenile delight. Brillo, being very small, was racing round a large clump of reeds with Paddy in hot pursuit. It wasn't very long before Paddy got very dizzy and Brillo managed to ambush him neatly in his confusion.

I stepped outside about midnight one night to let the dogs out before turning in. Some nights the stars are bright and there is a crisp, cold frost. I looked up and saw a shooting star going at incredible speed and lighting up the sky. The moonlight was casting a silver glow over the fields and I could see everything quite clearly and the world was very wonderful.

One of the ladies at the Knit, Stitch and Natter group has produced a very good book, beautifully illustrated and a mine of information entitled People and Places in Upper Wharfedale by Bronte Bedford-Payne. Another in the group is a professional archaeologist. I have treated myself to a couple of books recently, one is Teach Yourself Gaelic and the other is about the geology of the dales. The native language of the British Isles fascinates me even if I cannot become fluent. If I had my time again I would aspire to be a geologist.

The saga of the TV programme they are making in Grassington is nearing completion. The latest two families came to the village and I liked both of them. Soon we get to vote for the one family we want here. Having met them all, I know what my choice is. It has been hard for all the contestants I am sure but they knew what they were getting into.

It has been crisp and cold and beautiful, too. Leaves now falling from the trees in earnest carpet the valley with their glory and all around the animals are preparing for winter. No snow yet but I don't think it will be long before we get a light covering.

CW 30/10/10