As all the farmers living in the village keep their fingers crossed that they will not become the next victims of the awful Foot and Mouth Disease spreading through the county, with the nearest case only a few miles away at Wigpool, Mitcheldean, we must ponder what life will be like without the farm animals that we take for granted. At this time of the year many of us enjoy watching the antics of the young lambs and hearing the ewes calling to their offspring. How strange it is, too, to drive through the Forest of Dean and see no sheep (perhaps the sheep roadsigns should be taken down). Maybe there will be more accidents now due to motorists being able to speed through the countryside without being impeded be young lambs leaping out in front of them. Let's pray that this disease gives the village a miss.