She's Let Herself Go

Irene ..not looking her best

"She's let herself go"

It was a common enough phrase in my mother's era, which perfectly described an acquaintance who had perhaps fallen on somewhat difficult times.....

Perhaps the shampoo and set wasn't quite right.....perhaps the woman in question was seen down at the off licence in her carpet slippers.......or perhaps her net curtains had gone a dismal shade of grey....whatever the reason.....in those long aspiring  middle class, Abilgail's Party days, you were only as good as your decor and personal grooming...... 

Going to the supermarket in your PJs could have sent you to a social wilderness from which  there was no  return.....

Today I caught a couple slagging off my Soay ewe, Irene.

Ok, I will admit, she has seen better days, 

To be honest, she looks as though she's been forced to hide inside a tumble dryer for an hour

But spring means just one thing to a Soay sheep

It means that they moult their winter wool..

A causal observer could be forgiven that Irene had been abandoned somewhat for she does look remarkably slutty, what with her dirty brown coat hanging around her ankles for  most of the time...but overhearing a remark that was being mistreated got my dander up.....

It's a bit like parent hearing from another that her child has given the whole class head lice....

Oh the shame of it all!

I explained to the couple of the ways of Scottish Highland Sheep......and they looked suitably dubious when I pointed out that they didn't actually needed shearing .....the phrase

" she's let herself go" still resonated in my mind...and probably now in theirs!