They squawk and grizzle like rusted hinges on an old farm gate. I lead them, squawking and grizzling, to their breakfast plate. They are terribly greedy, so they follow at a sprint.
There is no more comedic a sight than a sprinting chicken. My next appointment is a bun fight in the sheep paddock. The only creature greedier than a chicken is a sheep. Our mob hear me in the garage pouring sheep nuts into the metal bucket and immediately start shouting.
Xanthe, Greg's sheep, is also called Fog Horn. She used to be the loudest sheep in the paddock but has lost that title to Becky, whose bleat can bust your ear drums.
Xanthe resents this - actually, because she does not identify as a sheep, she resents all sheep and butts the hell out of Becky. Sheep have a strict hierarchy. A ewe lamb is in love with Xanthe and trots along after her all day long. She gets the bash all day long.
Denne historien er fra April 27-May 3, 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra April 27-May 3, 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
