God Save the Goat

God Save the Goat

Although this story doesn't exactly relate to Woodsdale, I thought I would include it in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

While living in New Zealand I acquired a six week old Belgium shepherd and a wild, orphaned  angora goat kid. This incredible dog was named Marley (after Bob Marley) and the goat was Gulliver, because he tended to travel from my yard. They were best mates and always teaching each other something new. The goat tried to bark, the dog climbed up on things. I taught them both to heel and so could walk with them to town where they would patiently wait outside the butcher shop or bakery. If Gully started to wander the dog would grab his leash and hold him. Their standard greeting was butting heads!

Well, eventually Gully ate my British husband's strawberries from the garden once too often and he said, "Either the goat goes or I do"...damn! I made the wrong choice and Gully soon found a home at a touristy missionary house from the 1800's. It was just down the road from me so we could visit often and they were thrilled to get a tourist attraction (the missionaries kept goats).

One day the Queen and Phillip were scheduled to come to town. All the school children were equipped with Union Jacks and seated along the inlet where the Queen would appear. Her tender would come from the yacht and land at the Missionary house. I tiny boat found it's way up the river and all the kids cheered and waved their flags until their teacher said, "That's just the luggage boat, kids". They soon lost interest and scattered to play.

I had called ahead and ask that Gully be staked near the road so he could see the Queen. Since  I was known as "that crazy Yankee woman", they were not surprised and moved the goat near the road where the queen would pass. I walked down the road with Marley at my heel, but as soon as he saw Gulliver he ran up to him and began butting heads. Everyone watched and laughed. By this time the royal couple had arrived and some how Phillip found out that I owned the goat. While the queen shook my hand, he called me aside to talk.

I was impressed that he knew we had just had a major flood in the inlet and cars were washed miles away. A woman I knew drowned in the flood. Anyway, Phillip was concerned that the dog was going to hurt the goat. I explained that they were old friends and this was their greeting ritual, he laughed til his eyes teared up! Meanwhile, the queen (in pink hat and gloves) waved and greeted the crowd.

I decided to go home and as the entourage passed my house, I noticed the queen was wearing white gloves and was not looking out the window of the Rolls as the hand waved in that screwing in the lightbulb motion....so I figure she has a machine in the car attached to the door and it does the waving for her!

I'll save my tales of Charles, Diane and Marley for another occasion. But isn't it amazing  that a Woodsdale Kid had an adventure with royalty???