Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Friday 1 April 2011

Marmite the Highland cow and her love of a good whisky.....

Marmite, our cheeky Highland cow, has taken it upon herself to be a very sociable lady of late.

The other morning we got woken from our slumbers by the telephone ringing. To the happy farmer‘s delight Marmite was in the middle of the roundabout at Caol ila. Now before you get too concerned Caol ila’s roundabout, is not a busy roundabout, there really is not any traffic to speak of, it was built a few years back for the tankers, which carry waste from the distilleries, to park and then turn, as they dispose of the waste which gets piped from there out to sea. Marmite was trimming the roundabout when the happy farmer found her and sweet talked her into going back to her field.

Last night Marmite took it upon herself to once again hoppity skippety jump over the fence before skippety skipping over the cattle grid which leads into the village of Caol ila. I rather suspect she was on a visit to the distillery there. Word must have got out that they were interviewing tour guides for the summer season at the distillery yesterday; either that or she was after a nip of malt whisky for a night cap. She did not however quite make it as far as the distillery this time; she got distracted, spying the juicy grass on the village green. Caol ila is such a picturesque village, and Marmite took it upon herself to trim the village green for the happy residents, hoping to impress the distillery manager, who was looking for seasonal workers. Luckily for the happy farmer his outlaws, I mean in laws, reside in Caol ila, so a quick phone call, to inform him that Marmite was visiting the relations, and the happy farmer sped off to gather her up and take her home again.

Marmite was a bit perturbed to see the happy farmer, and flatly refused to be chased back up the hill, no the bold girl, chased round and round in a circle, before taking off through the woods and hoppety skipping back over a nearer fence, she does like to help the happy farmer with his keep fit regime!

Until next time…..

19 comments:

Elizabethd said...

You did make me laugh! Or rather, Marmite made me laugh.
Tell her she's going to be made into a sandwich...maybe that'll calm her wanderings. Nothing like a marmite and lettuce sandwich!

mrsnesbitt said...

You know - they couldn't make up stuff like this could they? Hilarious! brought back memories of a dear late neighbour who was a scout leader. One camping trip found them desperately trying to find somewhere to camp in the dark. They did find somewhere - and when dawn broke they discovered they were on a huge roundabout! lol!

Sarah Jane said...

Good old Marmite. She really does keep us all amused doesn't she!

Molly said...

I love your stories Posie. That was so funny!

Pondside said...

I'm picturing that hairy gal hippity-hopping over the fence - what a hoot!

Maggie Christie said...

Wonderful! There's never a dull moment is there and you tell it so well. Marmite sounds like a right character. By the way, that was my favourite blog heading ever - irresistible.

Frances said...

May I say again that Marmite's adventures are just calling out to be a book...and not just for children! You have got a marvelous character there. xo

Posie said...

Elizabeth - what a fabulous idea...what a tasty sandwich she would make...don't think she would take the slightest bit of notice though.
Mrs N- eek I would love to have seen their faces when they realized their mistake the next day.
Jan - She is such a character, I can't resist writing about her.
Molly - thank you, such encouragement, I love writing about all of the characters.
Pondside - I wish I could have witnessed her hopping over the fence, I have seen her skip over cattle grids!
Mags - thank you, they were the children's pet lambs the other year.
Frances - thank you for your encouragement....I would love to write a book

Claire said...

Oh Posie, you have my sympathy, cows and fences, eeeek....
The last month or so, some our youngest calves have been doing the hoppity skip thing over our old but upright fences. The grass on the verge is much tastier than the grass in the paddock and the trees in our yard well........
Have spent many times throwing on clothes in the early morning to dash outside and chase them back before the school bus comes along.
Marmite is one beautiful gal, if she were in this neck of the woods we'd call her vegemite, hehehe.

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for popping by,

Claire :)

Fennie said...

Good old Marmite. But I am wondering what happens to all the mashings after they have been used to make malt? Wouldn't they make good cattle food? Don't they feed molasses to animals and don't pigs get drunk sometimes, cows too, I presume. Still she looks a happy cow.

Posie said...

Ooh maybe she was after the draff from the distillery Fennie, they do feed that to the cows :-)

Jennifer said...

sweet picture makes me want to visit - I do love lambs... you would love samantha lamb's site on blogspot - she's a photographer... peek in and please visit me one day at jennsthreegraces blogspot Happy Day! Jennifer

bayou said...

EG would say that Marmite has an excellent taste to go to Caol Ila :-) Great fitness program for the happy Farmer, as well. And having visited several distilleries, I know for a fact, that there is absolutely nothing being wasted.

Norma Murray said...

Naughty Marmite. Heh! Heh!

diney said...

I loved your Marmite story!!

Tattieweasle said...

I love cows with character and perhaps whisky isn't such a bad thing to want in a cow though I fear that it culd only lead to more adventures!!!

jane said...

Posie that was brilliant - marmite looks the picture of good health - must be all those whiskey fumes in the air - is one of those chickens Charlie? xx

Killiecrankie Farm said...

Lucky Marmite I say !
Some cows just have the knack of getting out of a paddock !
Beautiful hills around Caol ila - glad you can put a few "local" photos up for us tourists !

Anonymous said...

Really great article with very interesting information. You might want to follow up to this topic!?! 2011