Our third mission was to get the authentic finishing touch for Eilir's school concert costume.  Eilir has been a shepherd three year's running now (his choice), and has been wearing the outfit I originally sewed together from an old sheet 16 years ago for his older brother!  This year it required a little mending but was otherwise ready to go, all we needed was a shepherd's crook....

This was the weekend of Grandad Leigh's visit (who incidentally is a real life genuine shepherd being a sheep farmer in France), so we went out with the expert to learn some bushcraft (he's also Australian to boot) and to get ourselves an appropriate implement.  We went for a walk in Howardian Nature Reserve to look for a likely specimen.  Grandad advised us that hazel was the best for a sturdy crook and we soon found what we were looking for, he cut a large section which he then cut down to Eilir's size after much "a bit shorter, a bit shorter" from Eilir.  Myself and Eilir then sanded down the rough bits using sandpaper from the house to get a lovely smooth (and hopefully acceptable for school) shepherd's staff.

Grandad also advised us that hazel was the traditional wood brought in for Christmas decoration pre Prince Albert and his fir trees, so watch this space, we have kept the left over section for another Christmas making project.......