[waterhouse]

We grabbed a few days holiday a couple of weeks ago having press-ganged, cajoled and bribed people to cover for us and went North.  Because we were nearby we went to the mule sales at Kirkby Stephen where over 10,000 sheep were auctioned.

This was a commercial event and very important to those present but we were completely bowled-over by the friendliness and openness of participants.  People wandered over and started conversations, and not just chit-chat.  Do that round here and people call the police....

[SallyintNorth]

Very glad you enjoyed your foray into (nearly) my neck of the woods, waterhouse.  I bought Swaledale shearlings at KS one year and we bought mule ewe lambs at Lazonby last year.  I love our smaller traditional marts - you simply don't get that atmosphere at the newer, bigger ones. 

The people up here are warm and friendly, yes.  They are in Exmoor too, and South and West Wales, so I don't think it's a north/south thing, perhaps more of an agricultural / non-agricultural thing?

(I hasten to add I am not saying that mid-Wales or North Wales are not friendly, but I don't have personal experience of those regions.)