Dear little Dotty just couldn’t make it and for the past few days had refused to drink any milk preferring to nibble at the odd blade of grass and sipping water from a bucket.

This morning she looked so fragile I really didn’t think she would last the day. By early afternoon she was sitting near the gate, panting and I carried her into the barn. I don’t think she even weighed as much as Nigel. The three other lambs, Surprise (the August baby), Poddy and Dotty’s twin, Spotty, all followed me to the barn. I sat on the straw with Dotty to my left and I stroked her, occasionally offering her a dish of water which she lapped at from time to time. Poddy, bless her, nuzzled next to me on my right and then sat down and put her face in my lap. I stroked them both and Spotty came over to Dotty and put his muzzle next to hers. Then he and Surprise sat down together just outside the barn. I sat stroking the two girls and looking out at the blue sky and the blossom on the apple tree occasionally kissing the top of Poddy’s head and then Dotty’s soft, white crown. She had such tiny little horn buds whereas Poddy has strong, pointed horns and a thick woolly coat. After an hour I got up, placing Dotty’s head on a pillow of straw. I went to tell Jeremy that she was dying. We sat together for a while and then he went to see her. I stayed in the front garden. He came back and said she was floppy and on her way. We walked back together and she was lying peacefully on the straw – no longer breathing. Bye bye dear Dotty. A short life but much loved.