Fetcheveryone Member of the Month

Fenland Flier asks: Many congratulations Jovial Gnome. How did you come to take on sheep when you moved to Lincolnshire?

JovialGnome says: I spent most of my life milking cows though not for many years now. My father died and left me enough money to buy a house so I decided to buy a property with a bit of land so I could play at being a farmer again!
I moved from Leicester to Boston where you get so much more bang for your buck and bought the two acre smallholding where I am now.

I really wanted cows but couldn't find anything suitable so I bought five sheep to bring the grass under control and the rest, as they say, is history!
I fell in love with these young ladies pretty much instantly and bought a ram called Cranmore Presley (Elvis) and between them they did a bit of begatting! It was then that I realised that I no longer had the heart to sell them into slaughter and so I kept the offsping.
I found myself with room for more sheep, someone advertised some old ewes who would make great grass cutters for sale in Bewdley so I hooked up the trailer did Bryn Bach parkrun and picked Katie, Hepsibah and Theodora up on the way back.
Having posted this on Facebook another lady called Gill from Yorkshire contacted me to say that they show sheep, always agaonised about sending their old sheep "off" and she had five that were ready for retirement and could they come and stay at our hotel?
And thus The Mirkwood Rest Home for Retired Sheep was born!
I have become firm friends with Gill and Tim and they send me two of their oldies every year.

pedroscalls asks: Congratulations on the MoTM win, my question is if money and time was no object, what race or route would you love to do?

JovialGnome says: I would need a few other things to go in my favour (which is highly unlikely) like running a qualifying marathon and getting it done inside the cut-off but Comrades has always been my dream.
Sadly I suspect that tempus has fugited too much for me but a man can dream can't he?

Pothunter asks: Congratulations! What would you have for you death row meal? Starter, main and dessert plus something to wash it down?

JovialGnome says: I do rather hope that I am never in this invidious position!
I also apologise in advance for my rather boring answer but I have never particularly been a foodie preferring plain fare to the exotic every time.
For a starter I would like the prison chef to do something both creative and tasty with melons, done properly there is no finer starter.
As a main course I would like a mushroom stroganoff served with basmati rice and seasonal vegetables.
For desert a nice vegan ice cream - vanilla of course.
And to wash it down a nice chilled bottle of... Newcastle Brown! I've never been a wine lover.
Told you it was plain and boring but there you have it, I wouldn't want to be a burden on the prison system!

RRR-CAZ 🇬🇧 asks: Congratulations JovialGnome - If you were offered a golden ticket to any sports event what would you choose to watch ?

JovialGnome says: No longer into sport of any kind in the way that I once was but given that there is so much less hype/bad sportmanship/play acting in the women's game than there is in the men's I think I would quite like a nice seat at the Women's FA Cup Final.

Ness asks: Congratulations, Jovial Gnome, My question is where is your favourite place to run, and where would you most like to go for a run but haven't been?

JovialGnome says: I suspect my running days are behind me, jog/walk is pretty much all I can manage these days.
I do love forests/woodland and as I have only ever run the Berlin Marathon in Germany, I quite fancy a couple of days getting lost in a Bavarian forest. When I say getting lost I mean more mentally than physically.

westmoors asks: Congratulations JovialGnome. If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?

JovialGnome says: Kate Bush, no hesitation, I have been a fanboy since the very first time I heard Wuthering Heights way back in 1978.
She is off-the-wall enough to be incredibly interesting but down to earth enough to ensure excellent conversation.
And she shares a birthday with my sister... I don't suppose there's anyone out there can make this happen is there?

Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) asks: Congratulations, so very well deserved Do you have a favourite breed of sheep, and if so which is it.

JovialGnome says: Thank you and thanks for all your help.
Again, no hesitation, Ryelands and Coloured Ryelands!

Don't get me wrong, I love all sheep but these gorgeous woolly teddy bears have the edge for me. They are friendly to a fault and whilst food is their main motivator, they are certainly not averse to a good cuddle.
Honourable mention would go to Grey Faced Dartmoor.

minardi asks: Congratulations Mr Sheeps. 49 sheep and no more. How long will that resolution last? Thank you for what you do for those lovely animals x

JovialGnome says: Alas it simply has to last for I have no more room at home being well and truly over-stocked as it is.
The people who own the boy field are coming home from America over Christmas, I would love to think I might be able to negotiate an extension to my rental and if I can I could take a few more boys but we'll have to wait and see.
Of course, if an absolutely desperate situation arose then I'm sure I could squeeze the odd one in!
And thank you for your help and good wishes, especially the windfall apples, they have been a bit of a godsend this autumn.

Mushroom asks: Congratulations. Past or present, who would you like to spend an hour training with, and what would you discuss?

JovialGnome says: I think they'd probably have to push me in my bath chair these days, I am no longer as fleet of foot as I once was!
I have to be honest, I'm not particularly starstruck and would have no particular desire to spend an hour with anyone "famous".
If I absolutely had to make a choice then I'd probably say Daley Thompson, I certainly wouldn't have to do any talking for an hour!