Oh No! Mat can't go.

I had to tell an old friend today that he wouldn't be touring with us this year, he had been with me on my travels last year. Someone who carried my shearing kit, someone to lean on and on an exceptionally drunk night, someone to talk to. I think I may have sat on him a few times, but was a bit worse for wear at the end of the shearing season. I think Mat first came along for family holidays, in fact we may even have picked him up in Cyprus on one such holiday and has been a constant travelling companion since. This year I found Mat sat in the corner of the garage, looking ready for this years exploits, but alas with a broken foot. I had thought about surgery for him, but this proved too expensive. We just couldn't take any passengers this trip.certainly one that couldn't stand up, just wobbled a bit and fell over!

There was nothing else for it, Mat wasn't up to it, I had to find a replacement. When travelling abroad. to shear, weight is a consideration. So Mat has been replaced by a lighter companion for this year. I have decided to go for Harry the holdall ! Still with wheels and a handle but including all the sheering kit comes in at under 20 kilos. I don't think he will do as many miles as Mat did but only time will tell.

Harry doesn't have the robust nature of Mat and not sure how he will fare in the scrum of short haul flights, but due to his light weight and "go faster stripes" he may be more nimble in open play.

That's the first part of team selection done, well second part actually as son Jon has been selected as my team captain for this first foray of 2014 into foreign climes, with myself as tour manager. This means he does the hard work and I take the credit, or when things go wrong he takes the blame! Only 14 days to we leave, now to think about what to wear.