Black Sheep Blog

There is a sense of excitement today as we build up to the RBI Awards that happen this evening.

The awards offer the perfect opportunity to get a little bit tipsy and make a fool of yourself on the dance floor, two things that i am exceedingly good at.

Everybody has their suits and dresses ironed and ready; all except for myself, who attempted to iron a new shirt last night but came in this morning looking, as Mr Online Editor termed, like a crumpled tent that had blown away.

Unfortunately, unlike the Oscars there will be no red carpet, but I will bring you all the irrelevant gossip next week.

If like me you like a holiday or two, you will be intrigued by a petition to give the beautiful people of England another Bank Holiday.

There is currently in motion an online petition to make St George's Day (April 23rd) from next year a national holiday.

Come on, do it for your country? Actually, thinking about it just do it for yourself, as we can all do with another day off to wait in long queues for the beech,or alternatively in bed with a beer induced hangover.

I am not in nature a suspicious person but something happened in the office today that has me question this a little.

Today's story about the human cannonball appearing at the summer country shows has made me think about my own comparatively boring life.

Just the thought of coming from a "world-renowned cannonballing family" has made my village upbringing seem extremely tame. When i was young i did once try and be Superman by 'flying' off my climbing frame, but unfortunately that ended up in a fractured wrist and a lifetime of regret.

The office is getting ready for the easter break, and for Mr Food Chain editor Andrew Watts that means only one thing: cross dressing.

Although he looks like the scariest waitress in the world, he is in fact 'supposed' to be an air hostess, ready (and as you can see willing) to go on a rugby tour.

Goodness knows what the real air hostesses will make of Mr Food Chain when they see him tommorow, but best wishes to him and to all you sheep readers over easter.

Today has been a drama filled Friday as all the staff pulled out a horse number for tommorow's Grand National race. I felt confident as i stepped up,feeling that after years of obscurity, i would finally win the big race.

Dreams however, were quickly shattered as i picked out the 66-1 shot The Outlier .

Feeling dejected i put another pound in, hoping to pull out a better horse. This time i really did feel cursed, as out of the few left i picked a 50-1 Bellycassidy. I hope to be able to post success here on Monday, but i somehow doubt it!!!

It was with great inevitability that i walked in this morning disappointed with my lack of winnings from the Grand National event. I sat down in sombre fashion, lamenting how each horse i backed seemed to get into the lead and then fall in consecutive fences.

I sat there waiting for the moment and then it happened. A cheer arose from behind me, and as i looked around i saw the victor, FW publisher Trevor Parker, holding the cash and laughing in victory. Ruing my luck, i decided that i will never gamble again... probably until next year anyway!

For the last month certain members of the office have been "pretending" to do worthwhile work, while keeping one eye on the cricket world cup.

I have never been so popular, with Mr Business and Mr Deputy Arable Editor especially popping over to ask about 'work-related' issues, with their concentration quickly taken by the cricketing action.

I'm not the biggest expert on cricket, but my bluff was quickly humbled by predicting a South African win over Australia, only to see them getting a good thrashing.

That's the last time the sheep makes any predication!

I can't say i'm an expert on many things (the office can testify for that) but i feel like i'm becoming a bit of a milk drink expert.

After Wondermilk, it was now time to try Moo Milk, a chocolate based milk drink that's advertised itself (i kid you not) as 'udderly mootritious' (a great tagline, i think you'll agree).

A friend of Mr Farmlife called Guy emailed him today after seeing our coverage of the chezza. He said he was sure Chesney had a famous dad and so all day the office has been searching to find out who it could be.

Guy finally revealed that his dad is in fact from the band the tremeloes. I know i have never heard of them either but still what pop pedigree.

We are not averse to a bit of cuteness in the office from time to time, so there was a united "ahhhh" upon reading this article.

The orphaned baby owls are kept warm by the toy owl and it makes a beautiful picture.

I often think about bringing in a cardboard cut-out of myself into the office to make me look busy when i want to chill out.

I think people in the office would already say though that i am already a bit like flimsy cardboard though...

I had to do a double-take when i read the title of this story today.

I then read that Westlife was going to promote milk in the Milk Moustache campaign. I would say it's the only chance they will get to have a moustache but that would be cruel and the Sheep is anything but that...

Working for Farmers Weekly can be a tiring job (especially having to listen to Mr Food Chain all day long!!) so the Black Sheep is curious about this chap's attempt to spend 11 days without sleep.

He hopes that raw fruit and vegetables will enable him to keep going and try and break the existing world record, but in my experience caffeine and of course a copy of Farmers Weekly will do the trick to keep you awake!!!

Here in the FW towers we pride ourselves on our physical prowess; you can often find us in the local pub playing darts, back-gammon and other such physical sports.

We have found a more unusual way of weight control however, using a computer game console called the Nintento Wii.

This 'Wii Weightless plan' allows you to lose weight by interacting with the computer. One person on the regime is even blogging about his experiences.

I think i would prefer to go for a walk to be honest but good luck to these guys.

The office today has been like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, brimming with chocolate and sweets (well digestives and pear drops) that we have gorged ourselves on.

All day members of the team have been pretending to come over to the news team (who have all the sweets) with 'serious agricultural issues', before returning with a sneaky chocolate digestive in their pocket.

I have of course used no such tactic, just bounding up and stealing a biscuit before running off before Miss Deputy News Editor throws something at me.

I found an unwelcome eight-legged visitor in my sock drawer this morning. Not being a fan of spiders, I felt incredibly proud of myself when (albeit trembling and sweating) I scooped it into a glass and took it outside it into my garden.

My triumph was short-lived though. While I wasn't exactly expecting to be applauded when I shared my gallant tale at the office, I didn't expect quite so much laughter from the Farmers Weekly team.

"It was only the size of a Smartie?" Mr Web Editor asked incredulously. "You ought to be careful - it's probably laid eggs on your sports socks," he joked. (At least, I hope he was joking. Maybe I should check when I get home this evening...)

All this week we have been running a feature that highlights the pros and cons of finding date in the countryside.

Mr Food Chain Andrew Watts volunteered (reluctantly) to be our eligible bachelor, as we went to a point-to-point and found three lovely ladies for him to go on a date with.

It's been a long and emotional journey but Mr Food Chain has chosen and now it is time to see how his final date goes.

Will they get on?Will love blossom?Watch to find out