DAVID
THE
SHEPHERD
written
by
YORKY
The Pommy Shearer
The first thing I did when I got to Kings Cross Station was to call Billy Kinghorn and let him know what time my train would arrive at Wareham, Dorset. The train ride down South to Dorset was an enjoyable trip as I sat in a comfortable seat looking out of the window at the ever-changing scenery.
It only took a few hours to reach Wareham. As pre-arranged, Billy Kinghorn picked me up at the station.
"G'day Billy.", I said as I walked towards his Ute.
"Yorky Mate, how are ya?", he said with a big smile on his face. "Am I fuckin' glad to see you mate. You're a lifesaver. I thought I was gonna' be up shit creek without a paddle, till you called!"
I shook his hand and said,
"The pleasure's all mine mate, more than you could possibly imagine."
I threw my bag in the back of his Ute and we took off to his place. I instantly liked this bloke at first sight. He was a few years older than my 25 and his height was like mine, 5'10". He was as down to earth as myself.
"Ya mentioned you were living in Denmark when ya first called. What was that like?"
"Not too fuckin' good mate. I was living with this Danish Sheila who guarded the gates of hell in her spare time. If she had another brain it would be fucking lonely."
************************
"What's David, ya shepherd like? Is he a good bloke?"
"Oh yeah, he does my contract lambing every year and he's the best shepherd for miles around. Between you and me Yorky, he's got cancer but don't say anything to him about it unless he tells ya himself."
"No worries mate. Is he gonna' have it operated on?"
"Last he told me, it's terminal but who knows. He'll probably tell ya himself once he gets to know ya."
*********
Before we got to the farm where David the Shepherd was lambing, we stopped for a pint in a small village. Billy bought his smokes and a dozen bottles of beer.
"What's the bottles for mate?"
"I bought 'em for you Yorky. This lambing work can be pretty stressful at times and it's long hours so you'll need them."
"How thoughtful of you mate. Good on ya."
"There's a tobacconist down the street. You'd better pick up some rolling tobacco for ya self. Ya won't be able to leave the farm once I drop ya off.
As we pulled up outside of the caravan which was parked in the top corner of the farmers' house paddock, the door opened and David the Shepherd appeared.
"David, how are ya?", said Billy.
"I'm alright Billy, how are you?"
"Pretty good mate. This is Yorky, he's gonna' help ya through the season."
"How are ya Yorky. Boy, am I glad to see you. I thought I'd be left to struggle on mi own this year."
"I told ya I'd get ya a helper David."
"Yeah, I know, but you don't always follow through when you say you'll do something."
"Only when it's not in my control, David. Otherwise I always get ya what ya need."
"Did ya bring the Magnesium Bullets?"
"Yeah, everything ya need is in the back of the Ute."
"What's the bottles for mate?"
"I bought 'em for you Yorky. This lambing work can be pretty stressful at times and it's long hours so you'll need them."
"How thoughtful of you mate. Good on ya."
"There's a tobacconist down the street. You'd better pick up some rolling tobacco for ya self. Ya won't be able to leave the farm once I drop ya off.
As we pulled up outside of the caravan which was parked in the top corner of the farmers' house paddock, the door opened and David the Shepherd appeared.
"David, how are ya?", said Billy.
"I'm alright Billy, how are you?"
"Pretty good mate. This is Yorky, he's gonna' help ya through the season."
"How are ya Yorky. Boy, am I glad to see you. I thought I'd be left to struggle on mi own this year."
"I told ya I'd get ya a helper David."
"Yeah, I know, but you don't always follow through when you say you'll do something."
"Only when it's not in my control, David. Otherwise I always get ya what ya need."
"Did ya bring the Magnesium Bullets?"
"Yeah, everything ya need is in the back of the Ute."
