Episode 4 The Mart


Episode 4

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Transcript


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He'll be taking control of a livestock auction

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for the very first time.

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Farming is a risky business.

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And when it's time to make money, the stakes are high.

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Thainstone Mart, one of Europe's biggest livestock markets.

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If you want perfection, there it is. That is some machine.

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Sheep, cattle, and machinery,

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auctioned to the highest bidder,

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day in, day out.

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Farmers spend months getting ready for their big sales day.

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You foul brute.

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And buyers need nerves of steel to bag the bargains.

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Folk can easily get carried away,

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it's a bit of an adrenaline thing, bidding.

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Fortunes can be made and dreams can be dashed.

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All in the blink of an eye.

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Always expect the unexpected.

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Welcome to The Mart.

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It's out of the old and in with the new at the mart this week.

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Me? Aye.

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As rookie auctioneer Scott Chapman finds himself in the livestock

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auction box for the first time.

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89, I've got 99. 89, I've got 99.

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80? 89. 88.50. 88.50? 88.50 - Colin Simpson. Simpson.

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The Miller brothers need a good price at auction

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if they're to continue generations of history,

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raising their traditional Caithness sheep.

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If you can't really make any money out of them,

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why are you going to keep going at it?

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What are you doing to the eggs today? Give us a hold of that.

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And catering supervisor Linda Fyfe

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risks the ire of dozens of hungry martmen

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when she puts her new spicy sausages on the menu.

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Are you going to try my chilli banger?

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It's the crack of dawn at Thainstone Mart.

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It's only just gone six.

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A Duff Colliston here.

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And head sheep auctioneer Colin Slessor and his team

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already have their hands full.

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At the moment, we're sorting out store lambs.

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1,300 store lambs are ready for the sale.

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With another 800 ewes to follow,

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that's more than 2,000 sheep to shift.

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But the team are a man down.

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Trainee auctioneer Scott Chapman is nowhere to be seen.

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He's late but I've just received a text message.

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"Just coming, been stuck at the lights,

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"just outside Inverurie. Sorry."

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HE CHUCKLES That's a good one.

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I think that's just Morse code for,

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"I'm running a wee bit behind schedule."

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I don't think the lights at Inverurie are a big problem to be fair.

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But, I dare say when I was 21, I maybe sent messages like that.

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Although there wasn't even text messages when I was 21.

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With the hard work all but over,

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a sheepish Scott arrives to face the music.

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Morning, you well?

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I would have replied to your text

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but I was flat-out sorting sheep, so...

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He's laughing now but Colin's got a big surprise in store for Scott.

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On a more serious note,

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you'll be doing the last 20 minutes or half an hour of ewes today.

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All right?

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Silence. That's all right.

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Happy? Aye.

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OK. Show it.

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Colin's giving Scott his first chance in the box

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at a sheep auction.

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Feel like you're ready to do it? I think so, aye.

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You maybe need to let go of the gate at some point.

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I'm nae too sure if that went well or no'.

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Looks a bit more apprehensive than I hoped.

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Colin's obviously looking forward to it, Scott less so.

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I'm nervous, aye.

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Just nervous, we'll have to wait and see.

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But if he thinks I'm ready then...

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I'll give it a go, aye.

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Also preparing for a sheep sale is Quoybrae Mart,

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200 miles from Thainstone.

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It's Aberdeen and Northern Marts most northerly outpost and services

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the farming community of Caithness and beyond.

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Getting ready to take their sheep to market

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are farming brothers Iain and Donny Miller.

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The brothers raise half-bred Cheviots, traditional in Caithness

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and in Iain's family.

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Dad had them, Grandad before him,

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and probably his grandad before that.

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It's all there ever was in Caithness for years and years.

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But the brothers have a problem.

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The Cheviot ewes produce fewer lambs than other sheep.

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Fine when the market for them is good,

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disastrous, like now, when prices are low.

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Things are so bad, Iain and Donny are considering ending a 150 years

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of tradition and getting out of the half-bred Cheviot business for good.

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If I could get two lambs from every Cheviot I had,

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there'd be no question I'd be going out with them,

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but I just can't get the numbers on the ground to get money in the bank.

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Och, it's quite sad too, because I quite like the breed,

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but if you can't really make any money out of them,

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why are you going to keep going at it?

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The price they get at the Quoybrae Mart for their 150 lambs

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will determine whether they continue producing half-bred Cheviots.

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You have to get a good price today, it's a very important sale today.

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Achieving a good price will be easier if the lambs can win a prize

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at the presale show.

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Same, I think.

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Gaining a red ticket attracts buyers

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so selecting the right lambs is crucial.

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What I'm looking for in the ones they show is just basically

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the biggest one, you don't want too rough a head,

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sweeter-looking head, good dark eye, that's pretty important.

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Just a leg in each corner.

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Hopefully, if we get a red ticket,

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it'll help us out when we go in the sale ring.

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Hopefully get a few more bids.

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The sale is make-or-break for Iain and Donny and the future

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of the half-bred Cheviots.

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Aye, it's butterflies going in my stomach just now.

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But you don't know until you go in.

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At Thainstone, there's an army of yardmen and women hard at work.

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And at 7 o'clock in the morning

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there's only one thing on their mind.

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Breakfast is important, especially if you're in about

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six o'clock in the morning.

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A hungry man's an angry man.

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Preparing for the onslaught of these angry men

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is one of the mart's most important employees.

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Is that none of the buns cut today?

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Catering supervisor Linda Fife.

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Nothing's gone wrong that I can't sort out, darling,

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let me tell you now.

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Linda doesn't open until eight but there's already a queue of farmers

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who don't know any better.

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Gentleman, can you give me five minutes? Five minutes?

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Five minutes, darling, I promise I'll be ready.

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But the kitchen isn't as accommodating

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about Linda's decision to open early.

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Black pudding, beans and tatties, please.

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When it's ready, it's ready! Because people have come early today,

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I didn't know they were coming early.

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So, I've promised them they'll get their breakfast in five minutes, OK?

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Sausages, seven minutes, maybe five.

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OK. Seven minutes, maybe five.

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And colleague Stewart Bygate

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doesn't meet Linda's exacting standards either.

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What are you doing to the eggs today? Scrambling.

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Give us a hold of that.

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Nane of the farmers like a burst yolk.

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For Linda, it's a busy start, much like any other day,

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except that it isn't.

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Because today is my 24th year

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working for Aberdeen and Northern Marts.

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And some of the young farmers that's coming in today,

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I've known them since they were kids,

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so I've actually seen them growing up.

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And over the years, Linda's been serving up

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the same traditional fare,

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but today she's putting something different on the menu.

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Yeah, we're trying a chilli sausage,

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but I really don't know how the farmers are going to come

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to this because they don't really like change.

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I think it's going to be a bit of fun, really.

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Chilli?!

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And she has some persuading to do if the reaction amongst her colleagues

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Stewart and Gemma is anything to go by.

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Not really what I would like as a sort of morning sausage.

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I don't eat meat, so...

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I can just imagine if I said to the farmers,

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"Good morning, would you like to try a vegetarian sausage today?"

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I would fairly be told where to put it.

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Right, gentleman, would you like to come and get your breakfast, please?

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Today we've got a sausage-of-the-day which is a chilli banger.

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No, I'll stick to the normal.

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What's the main ingredient of the chilli banger? A chilli.

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Would you like me to go and ask what the main ingredient is?

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I think I'll just have an egg and bacon, please.

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Looks like Linda's in for a long morning.

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At Quoybrae Mart in Caithness,

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Iain and Donny Miller arrive with their half-bred Cheviot lambs.

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The price they get here at auction will go a long way to deciding

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if the brothers continue the family tradition of breeding these sheep.

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It will be hard to give them up because it's just something

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that we've always done and it's just...

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I'm not one for change.

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We'll just have to see what goes on in here.

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The brothers have a pen of 20, a pen of ten,

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and two individual lambs entered in the presale show.

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Best show her, then.

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Changing our minds...

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at what the best one is.

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A good result could drive up prices in the ring.

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It's down to judge Harry Sleigh to pick the winners.

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Half-bred is the queen of sheep.

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When it's produced well, to a high standard,

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I don't think there's a sheep to beat it in the country.

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This is round one.

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The pen of 20 is first up for Harry's consideration.

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A good, even pen. Very good.

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Starting to sweat a bit.

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It's a tough call for Harry.

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First, second, third.

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And the Millers can only manage third.

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Oh, well.

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It's the pen of ten next.

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We've a slightly better chance with this one.

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Heart's beating.

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He's seen something in them. He's having another look.

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Either he's happy or not happy.

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Harry likes what he sees and so does Iain.

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Nice one. Happy with that.

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Hopefully getting that first prize will help us get another ?20 a head.

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We can always hope.

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And the Millers come up trumps once again when one of their lambs

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takes the top individual prize.

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Right, folks. In the singles, first prize...

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goes to the Messrs Miller, Buckies.

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It's a great start to the day.

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Morning, ladies and gentlemen.

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Welcome along to our annual show and sale...

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But with the Millers' lambs about to go under the hammer,

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it's prices, not prizes that will convince Iain and Donny

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to stick with the half-breds.

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It's coming down to it now.

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Yeah, getting quite nervous now.

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You can do all you want for showing.

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Showing's just a bit of fun really at the end of the day,

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but this is what counts now.

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Good morning, gentlemen. My eggs is getting hard.

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At Thainstone, Linda Fyfe is using all of her charm

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to promote the spicy new item on the breakfast menu.

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Surprise, surprise today for breakfast.

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She's hoping the hungry mart staff are up for a culinary challenge.

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Want to try my chilli banger?

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Oh, I'll have two of them. OK.

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Linda, how're your eggs today? They're fabulous, look.

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Are you going to try our chilli bangers, Robbie, now?

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No, no, no. Aye, you're a coward.

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I love all my yardsmen.

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Love them all. Good fun.

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Hello, Davey. Hello, darling. How are you doing? I'm fine. Yourself?

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Listen, I've got a chilli banger on today. Have you?

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What do you think of that? Hot and spicy!

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Yeah, hot and spicy. LAUGHTER

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Are you going to come back and tell me how you're getting on

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with your hot sausage?

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I was wondering if you'd like to try a chilli banger?

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I'm feart of chilli bangers. Are you? Are you not going to try it?

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I just love working here with customers.

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I love them - them all.

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But do they love her sausages?

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Thank you.

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A bit hot.

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Aye, it was a bit nippy but it was fine, like.

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It was a bit hot, aye.

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A wee bit hot.

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It just doesn't suit my taste, like. No. That was great.

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Just absolutely fantastic.

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Ken, this has went really well today.

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I really think it's been about 50-50.

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But what will Linda make of the bangers she's been dishing out?

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Oh, that's got really, really fine. I'm enjoying that. Yeah.

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You need to turn the camera off.

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For God's sake.

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It's going in the bucket.

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There is no time for breakfast out on the highway

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for livestock haulier Paddy Trimble, but he couldn't be happier.

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I wasn't really a big fan of schooling.

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I remember I didn't pay much attention.

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I was always daydreaming and the teacher says to me,

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"Mr Trimble, you need to pay attention and concentrate

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"because you're not going to get paid to look out a window."

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And here I am today and I'm getting paid to do it,

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so that teacher was wrong!

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The view is one of the bonuses of moving livestock

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to and from Thainstone.

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But he's not looking forward to his next job.

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I would say I've been...not dreading it, but slightly nervous.

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Paddy's picking up 32 cattle from Kinclune, a farm near Kirriemuir.

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Just from memory, you know, I just...

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I don't know if it's going to be physically possible to get...

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To get manoeuvred into where we need to be to load the cattle.

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Paddy's been to the farm before, but in a much smaller truck.

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If we go up and can't get reversed in,

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then we have a long reverse back down again.

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The lorry cost over ?200,000.

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It's Paddy's responsibility.

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I've had this lorry now for about five months

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and I haven't bashed it and I don't want to bash my lorry,

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that would be just devastating.

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I'll just have to keep calm and either be a hero or a zero.

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But first, Paddy's got to tackle the forest stage.

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This is the widest bit of the farm.

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It's just going to get narrower from here on in.

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And, great, we've got our first obstacle already.

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That's just super.

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The lorry is 50-feet-long, but it's also over eight-feet-wide.

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Trim the trees as we're heading up.

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Certainly wasn't built for Paddy coming in with a decker.

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We're going to turn you in there forward... Yep.

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And then back you round.

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Easier said than done.

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This place was built for a horse and cart.

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I've got a shed here on my left.

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Squeezing the massive lorry into the narrow farmyard

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takes two three-point turns and lots of sweat.

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Apologies for running over your grass,

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but I'm going to do it because it will make my job easier.

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So far, so good but I'd say this is going to be the tricky bit,

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getting around here.

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Whoa, whoa, whoa!

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That should do. We'll go get them loaded.

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HE WHISTLES Come on, guys. Hey, hey. On the bus.

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Upsies! Come on. Hey, hey.

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Manoeuvring the truck into position might have been tricky,

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but moving the cattle is dangerous.

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HE WHISTLES Hey! Upsies! Upsies!

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In his two-and-a-half-year career, Paddy's been head-butted by sheep,

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kicked by cattle, and even bitten by a pig.

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He finds the gentle approach works best.

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See you later. All the best.

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We've survived the hard bits at Kinclune,

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so we just have to get them to Thainstone as safe as we can,

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and hopefully they come off nice and clean and quiet

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and happy and content.

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And then you'll have a happy driver.

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It's decision time in Caithness for brothers Iain and Donny Miller.

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The outcome of their sheep sale today will decide

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whether they continue the family tradition

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of raising half-bred Cheviots.

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We'll just have to wait and see.

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We'll get our medicine in a minute.

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Last year, they averaged ?98 a head, but they'll need much more than that

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today for the 150 lambs if they're to stick with the breed.

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Iain hopes to hit the ground running

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when their champion lamb enters the ring.

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170. 170. 170 bid.

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180 bid. 180. 190.

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190. 190 bid. 200. 200. 210. 210.

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220. 220. 220. 220 goes to...

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220, a great start to the sale

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and the next single lamb does almost as well.

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200. 200. Same way.

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But two good prices aren't going to do it on their own.

0:19:540:19:56

The pen of ten is in next.

0:19:560:19:59

On my left then at 150.

0:19:590:20:01

155. 155. 155. 155. 155.

0:20:010:20:06

At 155. Harry Sleigh, 155.

0:20:060:20:08

The judge, Harry Sleigh, has put his money where his mouth is

0:20:080:20:12

and bought them for 155 a head.

0:20:120:20:14

120 bid. 120 bid. At 120.

0:20:140:20:17

The next pen of 20 goes for ?122 a head.

0:20:170:20:20

122, then...

0:20:200:20:23

And the brothers are on course to beat last year's average.

0:20:230:20:26

80 bid. At 80 bid. At 80.

0:20:260:20:30

It's all down to the lot of remaining lambs.

0:20:300:20:33

At 88. At 88. At 80. At 90.

0:20:330:20:36

92. 95. 95. 95. 98. 100. 100.

0:20:360:20:42

102. 105. 105. 105. 105.

0:20:420:20:46

105 for Harry Sleigh.

0:20:460:20:48

?105 each, and judge Harry is the buyer again.

0:20:480:20:52

It's been a good sale for Iain, but now he's got a decision to make.

0:20:530:20:57

Just have a bit of thinking now.

0:20:590:21:01

I'll go up and see what my brother's saying

0:21:010:21:03

and we'll take it from there.

0:21:030:21:04

I'll make my mind up over the next hour

0:21:040:21:07

and see then if we decide to stay in with the Cheviots.

0:21:070:21:10

Brother, Donny, is just as undecided about the future of the half-breds.

0:21:100:21:15

I'm wondering if it's enough to keep you in it, keep you doing it,

0:21:150:21:20

you know? I don't know if it is.

0:21:200:21:23

At the sales office, will the sight of the cheque

0:21:230:21:25

sway the brothers' decision?

0:21:250:21:28

Excellent. That's a much better way of doing it.

0:21:280:21:30

?16,994.

0:21:300:21:32

The brothers have managed an average of ?119 a head.

0:21:340:21:37

A solid amount, but it's just not enough to keep them

0:21:390:21:42

in the half-bred Cheviots.

0:21:420:21:45

It's been a good day.

0:21:450:21:46

It's been a good day for us, but I think it's time to move on

0:21:460:21:49

and try something else.

0:21:490:21:51

It's just...

0:21:510:21:53

You've got to make your figures stack up at the end of the day.

0:21:530:21:57

It probably is the end of an era.

0:21:570:22:00

Tradition's one thing but there's no room for sentiment

0:22:000:22:03

when there's bills to be paid.

0:22:030:22:05

At Thainstone, the sheep sale is in full swing.

0:22:140:22:17

Head auctioneer Colin Slessor is in the box

0:22:200:22:22

but he's about to hand over to rookie Scott Chapman.

0:22:220:22:25

He'll be taking control of a livestock auction

0:22:260:22:29

for the very first time.

0:22:290:22:30

Take your book and let's go up here.

0:22:320:22:34

James will lock that gate.

0:22:340:22:36

Me? Aye.

0:22:370:22:38

Colin only told him this morning that he was putting him in,

0:22:400:22:42

but that's still given him plenty of time to get nervous.

0:22:420:22:45

53. 53.

0:22:450:22:49

The nerves are fairly in now.

0:22:490:22:51

Got the nerves now, like.

0:22:510:22:54

Today's customers are some of the biggest players

0:22:540:22:57

in the livestock buying game,

0:22:570:22:59

and as head auctioneer Colin Slessor knows,

0:22:590:23:01

they don't take any prisoners.

0:23:010:23:04

'They're hard men, they're out to do business,

0:23:040:23:07

'and they'll be pretty tough on an experienced auctioneer.

0:23:070:23:10

'But, you know, he's got to learn.'

0:23:100:23:13

I'll hand you over to Scott...

0:23:130:23:15

Colin's been keeping the prices up and the sale moving quickly.

0:23:150:23:18

Now, it's down to Scott. On you go. Watch your gavel.

0:23:180:23:21

There's your ticket. Put it on the spike. OK?

0:23:210:23:24

Put it on the spike. On the spike.

0:23:240:23:27

Right, one Texel ewe. One Texel ewe. Watch the gavel.

0:23:270:23:30

?80. ?60. 50. ?50. 50 bid.

0:23:300:23:33

52. 52. 54. 56.

0:23:330:23:38

57. 58. 59.

0:23:380:23:41

Despite his nerves, Scott gets a decent price for his first lot.

0:23:410:23:44

76. 78. 79. 79. Have I got 79?

0:23:440:23:49

78.50 - Bill Cameron.

0:23:490:23:52

But auctioneering is not just about spotting bids,

0:23:530:23:57

there's the arithmetic.

0:23:570:23:58

Five ewes. Write it down. Write it down. Five ewes.

0:23:580:24:02

And there's the paperwork...

0:24:020:24:04

79. 78.50. Colin Simpson.

0:24:040:24:08

As soon as you do it, shove it down. 78.50, it was. 78.50.

0:24:080:24:12

Eight ewes...

0:24:120:24:14

And keeping all the buyers and sellers happy.

0:24:140:24:17

Mrs Duff, sitting at the top. Duff, this time. Lady sitting up high.

0:24:170:24:21

How many in there then? Lady up there. How many in there?

0:24:210:24:25

Eight. Eight of them this time.

0:24:250:24:26

Also watching is head auctioneer Alan Hutcheon.

0:24:260:24:29

He's responsible for Scott's training

0:24:290:24:31

and knows what he's going through.

0:24:310:24:34

Following Colin, following a guy that's been doing it for years

0:24:340:24:37

is always nerve-racking.

0:24:370:24:39

He'll be thinking, "Can I do as good a job as him?"

0:24:390:24:41

Well, you just have to focus and concentrate,

0:24:410:24:43

just get into your stride.

0:24:430:24:45

Make sure your breathing's right and get into your stride.

0:24:450:24:48

But he's not quite there yet.

0:24:480:24:50

89. I've got 99. 89. 99. 89. 88.50. 88.50.

0:24:500:24:55

88.50, Colin Simpson. Simpson.

0:24:550:24:57

It's almost as stressful for Colin as it is for Scott.

0:24:590:25:02

It's far more nerve-racking than doing it yourself.

0:25:020:25:06

I think he's nearly stopped shaking now.

0:25:060:25:08

He was shaking like a leaf to begin with.

0:25:080:25:11

But Scott settles down, finds his feet,

0:25:110:25:13

and confirms Colin's faith in him.

0:25:130:25:15

52. 53. 54. 5. 6. 57. 58. 59.

0:25:150:25:21

59. At 59. 58.50, Bill Cameron.

0:25:210:25:23

He could do another hundred... Couple of hundred, no bother.

0:25:260:25:30

32 bid. 31.50. Same way.

0:25:320:25:35

Thank everybody. Thanks very much.

0:25:370:25:40

It's all we've got time for today.

0:25:400:25:41

That was a big puff of air.

0:25:440:25:45

Once you've done 20,000, you'll be fine.

0:25:470:25:50

I can't even get my numbers right there.

0:25:500:25:52

Scott sold 106 sheep for almost ?7,000.

0:25:520:25:57

Not bad for only four months in the job.

0:25:570:25:59

Och, I'm chuffed, aye. I think I was maybe just a bit too quick.

0:26:010:26:05

I was trying to follow an auctioneer that's been selling for 25 years.

0:26:050:26:09

Och, it's all learning, like.

0:26:090:26:11

I'll just remember that for the next time.

0:26:110:26:15

And Colin's chuffed with him as well.

0:26:150:26:18

He only got... I don't know if it was half an hour there today.

0:26:180:26:20

It wasn't much but it's a start.

0:26:200:26:22

We'll give him the same again, every week a bit more.

0:26:220:26:25

I'll give him every opportunity.

0:26:250:26:27

He'll get plenty to sell.

0:26:270:26:28

If he's fit and able, he'll get plenty to do.

0:26:280:26:31

Yeah, I'm happy with him. Very happy.

0:26:310:26:33

As his day draws to a close,

0:26:350:26:37

pulling up at the mart with his load of cattle

0:26:370:26:40

is livestock haulier Paddy Trimble.

0:26:400:26:43

That's us arrived at Thainstone.

0:26:430:26:45

There you go. You get them off.

0:26:470:26:51

Better bring the paperwork.

0:26:550:26:57

The cattle won't be sold until tomorrow,

0:26:570:26:59

so they'll be spending the night at Thainstone.

0:26:590:27:02

We'll treat you well, buddy.

0:27:030:27:06

You do a good job, Robbie.

0:27:060:27:08

Yard supervisor Robbie Cruickshank will be looking after them

0:27:080:27:11

in the mart's indoor lairage, a B for sheep and cattle.

0:27:110:27:15

Look at that. They're happy.

0:27:150:27:17

Robbie, you're a star. Thank you. They're happy in there.

0:27:170:27:21

Paddy's day is over.

0:27:230:27:25

But like the cattle, he's staying at the mart, too.

0:27:250:27:28

This is the home from home.

0:27:290:27:31

Everything we need - we've got our seat, our bed.

0:27:310:27:35

That is the end for today and it's snooze time.

0:27:350:27:40

And Paddy will need all the rest he can get,

0:27:400:27:43

for tomorrow it all begins again,

0:27:430:27:46

for him and the mart.

0:27:460:27:48

Next time on The Mart...

0:27:500:27:53

Everyone's up against it.

0:27:530:27:55

The Simpsons have to get their sheep to market across one of the most

0:27:550:27:58

dangerous stretches of water in the world.

0:27:580:28:02

Anybody that hasn't had a silent prayer at sea, I think, is a liar.

0:28:020:28:06

You have a go.

0:28:070:28:09

Father and son team John and Ewan Gordon face a difficult delivery.

0:28:090:28:13

She's just doing nothing to help.

0:28:140:28:16

And yardman Robbie has to deal with a tricky tractor.

0:28:180:28:21

There isn't enough power in the battery.

0:28:210:28:24

Can he get it working before the machinery sale grinds to a halt?

0:28:240:28:27

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