Emma Gray

“Alfie is the goon in the team: think of Scooby-Doo with the brains of Homer Simpson. People often can’t believe he’s a collie because he is as smooth as a piglet and built like a lurcher with long legs and a deep chest. He is a true athlete and can run for miles and miles without tiring. Dog owners call it ‘having a good engine.’ He is obedient to the last – but sometimes ‘obedient’ can be another word for ‘stupid.’ If I ask him to lie down and get side-tracked, he will stay glued to the very spot until eventually I come looking for him ten minutes later. I would take sheep out the same gate every day for a week and on day seven Alfie would still need to be told what to do. But he is a great work dog and very honest, and no matter what situation he gets into he is always listening for my commands and has full faith that I will not see him wrong.”
― Emma Gray, One Girl and Her Dogs: Life, Love and Lambing in the Middle of Nowhere

“Ah, I was thinking of you the other day. There’s a little farm just a few mile from me that’s come up for let.’ He looks at me and pauses, sensing my interest.

‘Go on’

‘Aye, it’s through the National Trust. They call it Fallowlees. You’re probably not bothered now, but you can always give them a ring and get the particulars. Mind, it’s a rough sort of spot, very remote, no mains electric, stuck in the trees.’

‘Sounds like it’ll suit me down to the ground,’ I say, with a giggle, half joking. But the moment he’s gone I go and look up the number for the National Trust.”
― Emma Gray, One Girl and Her Dogs: Life, Love and Lambing in the Middle of Nowhere