WHAT irresistible draw could possibly delay the trip back home after our week away in Scotland stalking?

Why the chance to attend a show at Stirling auction market for young stock of course, featuring future champions of a whole range of beef cattle breeds.

This is a very impressive market set up. A modern, purpose-built auction mart, with as it turned out, a veterinary practice based at the market, where we happened to know one of the vets. How’s that for a coincidence?

Back stage at the mart, the beasts to be shown were being primped and preened as if they were stars about to take part in an Oscar ceremony.

Industrial type hairdryers fluffed up the bullocks coats. Bottoms carefully wiped clean so that no accident or badly timed act of expulsion sullied a freshly shampooed rear end.

The scimitar shaped horns of the young Highland cattle oiled and polished till they gleamed. Hooves too.

A huge pile of sawdust just by the entrance to the show rings provided deep bedding for each pen so that the stars of the show could recline in comfort if they chose, without dirtying or messing up their pristine appearance before their show ring turn. It was a beauty pageant par excellence.

What particularly impressed me was the commitment of whole families to the showtime experience.

Daughters would be fluffing up the hair on the end of their beasts tail, sons curry combing the coat, mum wielding the hairdryer and dad polishing the hooves.

Everyone scurrying around to ensure that their entry to the show was looking at it’s very best.

Once in the ring, a long rod, or as it appeared to be used as, a tickling stick, was employed to calm the stars of the ring as they waited for the judges to pick the best of breed from each group. A kind of discreet tummy rub.

Occasionally some of the young stock found the whole experience just too much and after leading their handlers round the ring, instead of being led themselves, had to be removed. A big disappointment after all that beauty treatment.

Engrossed by this show of bovine beauty and strength John was surprised by a tap on the shoulder by a stranger in the crowd. Only he was not. A stranger that is.

It was Hamish, son of one of our closest friends and brother to my god daughter. He is a vet in the local practice based in the mart. We knew he worked in the area but not specifically where so it was great to see him in his natural surroundings as it were.

It turned out Hamish had spotted John in the mart while he was talking to another farmer about a problem with his herd. Once he had sorted out the specific issue, he had coming looking for us, as surprised as we were to meet up with a friend hundreds of miles from home. You just can’t get away from the neighbours can you, however far you go.