h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Cows - A30734624
Author: Tibley Bobley - U170471

Way back last November, when I had a go at writing about a gnu, Pinniped suggested I should try writing about bison, yaks and European dairy cattle. This is the last in the series. They're not dairy cattle though. I thought I might try the cows that live down the lane where I live, and do it in a different style to the others. Dairy cattle do get a mention.

As always, thanks to anyone who reads it and especially for any helpful suggestions

This is a moo-ving and lovely account. I also love the bit about the people who are afraid of cows.

This also reminds me wonderfully of my late grandfather, who never passed a herd in my company without saying knowledgeably, 'Them's pretty cows.'

He had Jerseys. My mother, his daughter-in-law, was only afraid that the cows would eat her laundry, as my grandmother had a terrible habit of draping the wash on the bob-wire fence.

My grandfather had a great trick: he would squirt milk from the cow into the waiting mouth of a barncat.

The cats lined up for this, each one getting a squirt, meowing a thank-you, and moving on.

I think my grandfather was a magical person.

So thanks for the cow memories.

So glad you liked it dmitri

Your grandfather sounds like a fine old fellow and a very good judge. Cows are pretty. They have lovely faces, and Jerseys are particularly beautiful. Your mother didn't actually lose any laundry that way, did she? I haven't noticed cows browsing - only grazing. If they'd been sheep or goats on the other side of that fence, you mother could probably have waved her washing goodbye

I can just imagine the queue of cats waiting for their mouthful of milk each. What a wonderful image it conjures up

I like this piece - it conjures up memories of walks in the country, with the cows grazing placidly.

But an acquaintance of mine who grew up on a farm said that you should never go between a cow and her calf. When they had a new farmhand, her father had told him this. But he had forgotten, or ignored the advice. The cow had lashed out, her horn had entered his heart and he died on the spot.

They're all good. They're all different and they make a fine collection together. You are certainly tenacious and even more certainly talented. This little commission rather proves you could be interesting on just about any subject.

I think I like the yak best. I wish I'd taken a bet that I could persuade someone to talk to a yak, that's all.

Pin

Thank you very much. That's so kind of you

It would be nice to be able to write stories well enough so that people want to read them. I'm never quite sure until someone tells me whether it's okay or not. I'll just have to practise some more

I don't know about you, Tibley, but I find the hardest part of story-writing is characterisation.

I'm not sure if I can offer any useful advice . I've tried keeping notebooks, with snatches of conversations etc, but whenever I want a piece to draw on, I can't find anything relevant!

I liked it; lovely imagery.

And as has already been stated - you've a knack of making any subject interesting.

I like it too. The contemplative tone fits the cows very well.

It's mostly Friesans around here, black and white on green fields.

Thanks for the advice mVpoet. Keeping notes seems a sensible idea. I'll try to do that if I can get my mind focused. It might take more self-discipline than I have - but I intend to give it a try.

Thank you for your kind comment Evadne. Much appreciated.

Thank you LLWaz. The Friesians are my favourites. They do usually have the good fortune to be black and white on green because (I believe) the farmer keeps them indoors in the wettest, coldest part of the winter. If they were out now, they'd be up to their knees in gooey mud. I don't suppose they're more friendly by nature. It's probably because their herd is so small that the farmer knows them as individuals and isn't so impatient and business-like with them. The Jerseys are more shy because they get bustled about in a more impersonal/less considerate way by their busy farmer.