November snow

You just don't see it very often in Ireland so I just had to take a picture.
In my part of the country you could play bowls on the roads between the big orange mountains and the sea this morning.
As I drove along I could see the white stuff lying deep on the peaks in the distance and over on the other side of the lake. It had rained a bit when I set out and I thought it would soon melt but as I got closer it stayed there and as I drove higher and higher it got all around me.
I had to pass a farmer driving a big flock of sheep along the road and we stopped in passing and had a bit of a chat. He told me there was lots of it up on the mountains where he lives and he has to go up every day to feed his stock.
He had about seventy five sheep and twenty bullocks to look after as well as some deer on his land. The deer he does not own but they seem to have taken up residency with him so they have the run of his place. He has a border collie dog which helps him with the sheep work.
“He’s a good worker,” the farmer said, “I have another dog at home. I bought him for a hundred euro from a fella who was going to drown him but I never had it in me to get rid of him. We feed him but he is not much use when it comes to work. He is a great pet though.”
I asked the farmer how things were going for him.
“Well, I am busy enough, and can’t complain. I rear the sheep and sell the lambs. The price of the lamb is good at the moment. I know I am lucky, they say that hill farmers are an endangered species so maybe someone should put me on the red list!”
“I think they will all be put on the RED list before long,” I said, “When the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel comes in we will all have to leave our cars at home so I’ll never see you again.”
“I’ll be gone before then,” he said, “at my age it won’t be long before they are throwing dirt on top of me.”
“Ah sure you are still able for a few more years yet. It would be a shame if you went before your time when there is no one to take over.”
“You could go and help him,” the farmer said, “that would be one hill farmer saved anyway.”
“I’d love to do it but I like my job, and anyway I don’t know anything about farming.”
“I’d soon teach you,”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said and then we said goodbye and I drove off.
Will I join him on the hill I wonder? To be honest I don’t think so.