"Flash The Wonder Dog"

 

Flash was 2 years old when "The little Farmyard" first opened it's gates and Jane simply made Flash a part of each visit by introducing her to the children. She was always 100% trustworthy with the kids and never had to be asked come to work.At 9am she would be waiting under a big tree in a paddock that had become the playground and where she would stay until her bus load of children arrived.Jane always use to say that Flash could probably run the farm by herself, and I don't doubt it.

When Jane was ready to give up the farm and return to teaching full time she sold the business to me and changed my life forever. Flash however, was not ready to give the farm up, and waited under her tree every morning for almost a year.

Oh No!! Farmer Brown's Not here.

Jane had returned to teaching and I was running the farm on her property, with Flash getting a feel for the business.

On this particular day she was to bring her own class to the farm, so she didn't need me to be there as she would run the visit herself, as usual Flash took up her place under the tree to wait for a bus,and as usual a bus arrived at 9.30. Unknown to Flash, Jane was on the bus. She told me later that Flash looked so worried, and looked back at the house, it was as if she was thinking "Farmer Brown isn't here yet,but never mind I'll run the farm on my own, I know what to do"

She leapt onto the bus and started to voice her "BO WO WOO" greeting only to be stopped in her tracks at the surprise of finding her mum on board.!

"Follow me, Farmer Brown is Busy"

It was in September 2000, and Flash was in her 14th year, when Sally decided she would have her babies during the day. So I made a frantic call to Jane, could she bring Flash on her way to work, as I needed a sheepdog to work with the 80 children I was expecting that day.

Dear old Flash, who had often come to my farm, whenever she looked like she needed a good dose of children,had not worked for some years as her old age has slowed her down these days.

We were expecting 25 children in the morning and a second group of 55 in the afternoon, and due to Sally having babies I was running late.Helena came to sit with Sally as she did not want to be on her own. I phoned the teachers of the second group to be prepared for me to be running late,and if I was unable to greet the bus could they make their way to the playground and have some lunch.

The first bus arrived and I lifted Flash onto the bus(she finds the jump a little difficult now) and she greeted the children with the enthusiasm of a pup. As always she was swarmed by children and all I could see was the white tip of her wagging tail while at the other end she had a smile from ear to ear.

I didn't hear the second bus arrive, but Flash did, I didn't even notice her leave the shed where we were milking the goats. the teachers told me she managed to jump onto the bus by herself, barked her excited welcome, then escorted them all to the playground. that's where I found her, playing with the two classes of 80 children. Helena came to give me a progress report and the two of us stood with tears in our eyes watching this delightful old dog doing what she does best, SHARING HER LOVE.

written by Debbie Cutler (a.k.a Farmer Brown)

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