Brrrr - What are you doing to keep warm

I don't know if I did or not, Jess, I saw lots of different breeds - but not as many sheep as I expected. Around my daughter's area in the north of South Island, the land seems mostly given over to vines.
I will check it out when I go over again in December.
She is considering getting a couple of sheep to add to her pigs and hens - not so much for meat but because it takes three hours to mow the lawns!

They are much greyer than normal sheep. A kind of snowcloud grey. And with a full coat look like an untrimmed poodle on speed.
It was one of those "you'll know her when you see her" moments. Came over this hill and there were these parallel universe sheep.... Ah, so ladies, you must be....

One of the whackiest animals i ever saw was somewhere in Greece. A poor old ancient billy goat tied to the front of a house. Huge horns and completely overgrown hooves, several inches long. Completely unable to walk I would think. Imagine still able to impregnate though, and contribute to livelihood of aging person. Why he popped into my head at that moment I don't know. Surprise I guess.

Driving through Otago, en route from Queenstown to Dunedin, we met the most enormous flock of merino sheep, being 'walked' from one grazing area to another with the help of several dogs. There was nothing we could do but wait...and wait.

Annobel, I think we may have seen their cousins too, two years ago,same time,along Lake Hawes, having left Wanaka.
Took some lovely photos and the farmer was dishy too!

I am planning to fly down to Queenstown on my next trip and take the cruise up the fjords. Who needs Norway?

Me! Anywhere but in a tribunal room!

Icebreaker - the ultimate in NZ outdoor merino chic (pity mine is under 2 layers really...) apparently now has a label on the garments that allows you to trace the sheep it came from... well maybe it is the farm
I had a good tip last time I was in Wellington (checking if there was any merino on the sale rail) : it slowly shrinks. So buy big.
I gave her a tip back which is that handwashing probably staves off the day.
It is strangely true that merino does not easily get smelly if you wear it next to your skin.
I then succumbed to a jumper in bright leaf green... you guessed, it was not in the sale.
The fact that Icebreaker's large is about a 12... means that other brands should be considered... They do have fantastic advertising though. See icebreaker.com for pinups of sheep etc

Yes JessM I was surprised at the lack of merino sheep ...thank you for explanation about why possum knits were so expensive.
I did treat myself to some real NZ merino wool while I was there ...no one warned me how difficult it would be to takeit into Australia though!!

Will try the icebreaker site.

Try taking an apple into New Zealand - I would have got less grief for a kilo of heroin!
There is a possum eradication programme, so I hope they get plenty of wool while there are any left.

Yes much controversy as to whether to spray poison over huge areas.
There are about 10 of the little soandsos for every person I think.
Oh you didnt!!!! You shocker!!!! Smuggling apples past biosecurity!!!!
Despite the fact that Australia imports many tons of braeburns from NZ every year, you really should have known better you bad person!!!
When my son immigrated complete with 2 small children he was likewise in trouble. I think it was 3 bits of fruit they found on him in the end. They asked if he would like to be filmed for the TV programme about border control as an example of cluelessness. He declined.
In California they sometimes have cute beagles to sniff our sinful fruit.

Biosecurity ...wasn't warned about that either ...real shock!! You'd think the tour manager would have told us!! Fortunately we all got through ok ...but more by dumb luck than anything else!!

I'd always thought LHR security was tight ...but obviously only for terroists

walking boots covered in cow dung are the worst. But as long as you fess up they clean em up a treat in Auckland.
You may wonder how i managed to arrive in Auckland with boots covered in dung...
Well I went to this wedding in Bath and then on the Sunday morning we went for a walk and then I flew out in the evening without going home in between.
But if you dont fess up and you have a tiny bit of mud you get told off.

I bought a Lands end squall coat in the sale. I bought it for the walk to school and watching football etc. and it is fabulous. The warmest coat I have ever owned! My DP is always complaining about being cold but does not seem to realise that if he moved around or went for a walk ( beautiful and sunny here) he would actually be warmer. I cannot bear to be inside when the sun comes out as it is so rare at this time of year. I go for a walk in my lunchbreak and whenever I get the opportunity and it definitely puts me in a good mood.

Oh I just had a look. They look nice. Windproof as well, unlike the fleeces I usually wear. Which length did you get?
You are dead right about exercise. It is one of NICE's top recommendations for mild depression. Do you live by the sea? (if so, I am braced for envy attack)

I've had to call in the back up team to get DD to school this morning. I don't think freezing fog is good for asthma.

Definitely a time for caution, bags. Freezing fog is my un-favourite weather condition. In Cheshire it's bright and very cold again.

Not nice, bagitha . Hope you have a nice-indoors-warm-by-the-fire-sort of day.

Take care of yourself bagitha. On the Fife-side of the country it's sharply cold and sunny. Chaffiinch tweeting away at the top of the oak tree as I speak!

I used to be the same Bagitha! Any rushing around on cold damp mornings or cold frosty mornings always guaranteed to bring on a wheeze! Asthma now controlled by daily puffs or is it that I no longer rush around

Wish I could say the same about the daily puffs, OGM, but I can't use the preventer ones – they make me ill! (Typical, bloody awkward, baggy!) I used to rush around a great deal and only wondered why I was always so much more out of breath than other people whom I was obviously fitter than! Have recently started wearing a face mask (ones DH bought when there was the bird flu scare; they weren't needed) when doing dusty jobs. In particular I'll use them when I'm cutting grass or hedging to see if that will make a difference.

Hi JessM the coat I got comes to just above my knees and I am 5 ' 5" (ish) . It does not cover my knees when I sit down but I thought any longer might make me look very round as it is quite thick!. Yes as you guessed I live about 5 mins walk from the sea! The coat is ideal for a bracing walk on the seafront.

JessM I had this coat a few years ago and it is fabulous and warm, I have just looked at the site and am ordering the 3/4 length one it is only £39.50 in the sale not often do I get a good deal like that.So glad I logged on tonight. Thanks girls

Go on seasider, put up a profile so that we know which coast.
I think i might get one as I don't have a windproof coat.

I miss getting one of those coats every year,I am going on line today to get one. Are they by any lovely chance, on sale?

Yes they are!