It is months since I have had an opportunity to update my blog. I have become an honorary South Islander, having moved to North Canterbury. I have also made a big jump in farming divisions, as I am now employed in the dairy farming industry. I have my own fully self-contained, two-bedroom cottage plus double garage all to myself (YAY!), but I do not have a computer yet, so when I want to use the internet I go to the boss' house. Being very busy (and often too tired anyway), I only use it about once a week, so updating my blog is way down on the priorities list.
I shifted down here on July 27th. I flew down (to Christchurch) and my Dad drove my car down for me. I then started work on July 29th - straight into calving! Followed by Artificial Insemination (AI), which is still in progress. It has been a very busy few months! But really good, so definitely no complaints! I do miss the sheep a bit, but not the shearing and dagging, nor the flystrike. The injury rate is a little higher (the opportunities for cows to kick while in the shed seems endless), and my fitness level is lower (the farm is all flat and I drive a quad or tractor everywhere), so I guess I'll have to learn to dodge faster which should fix both problems...?
18 November, 2007
24 February, 2007
Puppies!
Five puppies in all. I only got good single shots of Nibbles, Blue, and Jock - and those were hard to get! Beauty and Tucker sold to farms in the Otorohanga area. Jock sold to a farm up near Drury, Auckland. Blue sold to a vet girl in Wanganui. Nibbles was taken to Northland by the Gilbert grandchildren to be given away to a good home. The last two were over twelve weeks old by the time they left. They are cute, but I am very glad to have them gone.
Now I am looking for a new home for Bess. There's not enough work for her here, and there will be none where I'm going next. I'm hoping she'll go to a place with lots and lots of sheep work to do, as that's what she's best suited for.
07 January, 2007
South Island holiday, December 1-19, 2006.
I had a GRAND time at the ACE South Pacific Student Convention. I got bitten by the Convention bug again after 5 years away, committed to memorizing the book of Proverbs (chapter by chapter), thoroughly enjoyed a couple of very late nights (early mornings), and suffered really bad withdrawal the day after Convention finished because I hadn't thought to gradually reduce the companionship after such a full-on week! =/
Apart from the ferry crossings and the TranzAlpine train, my journey was by bus. I was heartily sick of bus travel by the time I got home! I was very glad of cellphone texting contact with various people to while away the time as I journeyed.
I visited lots of folks on the way home, stopping for a couple of nights here and there. It was great to catch up with friends and to visit with family.
Then it was back into the busy life on the farm, with a week spent by myself while Colin and Dorothy had a break to spend time with their family in Northland and Hawke's Bay. I wasn't alone much, though, and I did hardly any cooking because several church families invited me to meals. The worst feature was the rain that never seemed to end. I enjoyed having the house to myself for a change.
Apart from the ferry crossings and the TranzAlpine train, my journey was by bus. I was heartily sick of bus travel by the time I got home! I was very glad of cellphone texting contact with various people to while away the time as I journeyed.
I visited lots of folks on the way home, stopping for a couple of nights here and there. It was great to catch up with friends and to visit with family.
Then it was back into the busy life on the farm, with a week spent by myself while Colin and Dorothy had a break to spend time with their family in Northland and Hawke's Bay. I wasn't alone much, though, and I did hardly any cooking because several church families invited me to meals. The worst feature was the rain that never seemed to end. I enjoyed having the house to myself for a change.
Ewe shearing, November 27, 2006.
The shearing gang: Andrew (shearer), me (rousie), and Carsten (senior presser and sheep-o). Kristina (junior presser and sheep-o) was taking the photo. Colin and Dorothy brought lunch and afternoon tea, but otherwise left us to it. Andrew was our source of advice and instruction.
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