Jan 3 2011
by Kim Carmichael, The Journal
The 10 tiny replica blackface sheep – complete with names, passports and diaries – will travel from the hills and valleys of home to take part in a mystery adventure to distant parts of the globe.
The project is the brainchild of Northumberland artist and writer Sue Cansdale, who wanted to spread joy with her globe-trotting experiment.
Inspired by the story of Paddington Bear, the sheep will travel for a year and hopefully will be back in Northumberland in time for Christmas 2011.
The sheep will be passed from friend to friend, sending back postcards, photos and news wherever they go. Their first visits will be by post to Sue’s friends in Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, the West Indies, South America and Thailand.
Sue, who lives in Hartburn, Morpeth, with her husband Richard, named the first sheep Zoe in memory of her daughter, who was killed in a car crash at the age of 22.
The 63-year-old said: “When I was young, penniless and carefree, one of my great delights was travelling to new and interesting places.
“Light years on I have a head full of wonderful memories of the adventures I had, places I saw and people I met, some of whom have become lifelong friends.
“Brought up in Northumberland, the local blackface sheep featured large in my life. As a schoolgirl, my greatest joy was to spend holidays in the Cheviot hills helping with the lambing in spring and clipping in the summer. I still have a great affection for blackface sheep, and the people who work with them. At a time when the news is full of financial crises, job cuts and conflict, it will be refreshing to have something fun to look forward to. I look forward to discovering where my Northumbrian sheep have been and I hope your readers will also enjoy following their exciting adventures.”
Sue, who set up the organ donation awareness charity Legacy of Life following Zoe’s death in 1998, is also hoping to send one of the Northumbrian sheep to Afghanistan.
She said: “I have one sheep which I am hoping to send out to visit our soldiers in Afghanistan. If any reader has someone in Afghanistan who they think would like to have a visit from one of my sheep, perhaps they would like to contact me.”
As well as a blog tracking the flock’s progress, Sue plans to produce an illustrated book and an exhibition in 2012.
Anyone who wants to contact Sue with a suggested destination for one of her sheep can email her at scansdale@gmail.com
The project is the brainchild of Northumberland artist and writer Sue Cansdale, who wanted to spread joy with her globe-trotting experiment.
Inspired by the story of Paddington Bear, the sheep will travel for a year and hopefully will be back in Northumberland in time for Christmas 2011.
The sheep will be passed from friend to friend, sending back postcards, photos and news wherever they go. Their first visits will be by post to Sue’s friends in Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, the West Indies, South America and Thailand.
Sue, who lives in Hartburn, Morpeth, with her husband Richard, named the first sheep Zoe in memory of her daughter, who was killed in a car crash at the age of 22.
The 63-year-old said: “When I was young, penniless and carefree, one of my great delights was travelling to new and interesting places.
“Light years on I have a head full of wonderful memories of the adventures I had, places I saw and people I met, some of whom have become lifelong friends.
“Brought up in Northumberland, the local blackface sheep featured large in my life. As a schoolgirl, my greatest joy was to spend holidays in the Cheviot hills helping with the lambing in spring and clipping in the summer. I still have a great affection for blackface sheep, and the people who work with them. At a time when the news is full of financial crises, job cuts and conflict, it will be refreshing to have something fun to look forward to. I look forward to discovering where my Northumbrian sheep have been and I hope your readers will also enjoy following their exciting adventures.”
Sue, who set up the organ donation awareness charity Legacy of Life following Zoe’s death in 1998, is also hoping to send one of the Northumbrian sheep to Afghanistan.
She said: “I have one sheep which I am hoping to send out to visit our soldiers in Afghanistan. If any reader has someone in Afghanistan who they think would like to have a visit from one of my sheep, perhaps they would like to contact me.”
As well as a blog tracking the flock’s progress, Sue plans to produce an illustrated book and an exhibition in 2012.
Anyone who wants to contact Sue with a suggested destination for one of her sheep can email her at scansdale@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment