Categories: From the Farm This Week
      Date: Feb 26, 2014
     Title: 26 February 2014
I had an email from a good friend who reminded me of our fantastic lifestyle at Avonstour and yes she is right we eat food that is home grown organic.

We don't have a 40 hour pressure even though many weeks are longer hours but we are in control. We live in an old fashion system that is being suppressed  by the modern one, and here lies the problem this is when i get stressed and my life gets controlled.

So as of the 14th of Feb this year i decided That this will all change and i am going to hone in on my Fantastic lifestyle the downs will only be the momentum to get higher. So here we go....... you have to hang on if you want ta keep with it ..Ha

Hang on there is some one at the door.......... Its Alexandra from up the road just got back from a swim in the Waitara river looking bright and happy.

Hay john the domain who looks after it needs to be organic you know .......Yes you are telling me ..um i will work on that, sit down we are having a coffee, this is Aubury, Kaya and Veronica ..Yes we have a fantastic team at the moment. Every one is getting ready for my party on Saturday for my birthday.

Now having woofers can be great and you get some priceless comments ..I was inside doing the newsletter and i here this squeal from one of the Canadian girls .. And     ""HAY LOOK AT THE FLUFFY ASS """  hell i'm thinking iv got ta get out there they must have stripped off due to the February heat.

BUT it was me that was getting heated  as all it was a new English donkey foal had walked over through the trees to look who was loading fire wood for my birthday fire

And the English donkeys are born so fluffy it got this comment ....O well better luck next time ...

O yes while i remember it  I went into the toastmaster speech International competition and i won, yes i won (well the first local one ) with my "don't get knotted to soon " speech.

That is an inspirational type of thing on how to make the most of your time line.

I have to say the competition was tough those toastmasters can do it but Somehow i got through and you know what i was only doing it for fun.

Paul our president done a stunning speech so if i can't make the next competition,  i'm sure he will stand in.

After near 12 weeks  my mother is just starting to come right after getting shingles I have to say i was getting worried as she is 83 and is usually in high spirits but this really knocked her.

Ila has been hunting and the wool shed has had goats hanging in it. She was hoping to get some for eating but only got billies and they are in tupping mode and smell. But we need dog food all the time and more so at this time as Abbie Ila's Kelpie bitch has a litter of 7 pure bred pups .. I had the give the first one mouth to mouth to get it started but now after 5 days all seven  are fat as seals. All red .....once there eyes are open Ila will be taking orders ..

Most of the week was taken preparing for my birthday party building the bonfire, food, moving livestock away so the fireworks did not upset them. Sorting the sound gear was a stumping block as we intended to have Karaoke. Well with Ila and Aubrey they got it sorted with Aubrey's computer and speakers, but after searching Aubrey could not find a microphone and i was very skeptical the small speakers would do it. So off we drove to Access radio the local radio station and talked to Alexandra who was dressed like willy wonka who could not help us with equipment but gave us the best information ever.

You need to go to TSH ...What TSH never heard of them where are they ..you know next to burger fuel on the way out of town just past Macdonald's (well i spoze at least its a good land mark)

Well Aubrey lets go and have a look for some Karaoke gear for the party...Man this place has some gear i cant believe it how have i missed this being here ....umm just fantastic well after a talk with the owner Neil and Alan we were sorted with the best gear ever and at a price that fitted. I really have to recommend this outfit.

So back out at the farm getting ready for the party Fiona out for the weekend we got the Farmers market canopies up and the sound gear set up the generator fixed as it just would not go and i had the clean it all out as the fuel tap had been left on. A bit stressed but at 5 we were sorted and in came the rain as if on cue to send us all inside. So with a look at the Mountain for guidance on the weather we packed up and set up in the Huiroa hall.

It was all a bit of a rush but it all got sorted just before the special event took place at 6 the was kept from me.

I was rushing out the door to get another load and in walked Mike .....Hi Mike good ta see ya how come you are not at Tahora  playing ...I'v been asked to play here for an hour or two ...Now i now what the special event is ..

It just could not be a better one for my 60th birthday as i far as i'm concerned Mike Harding is the best singer ever playing the music i really love with a high local content that i have tired to support over the years. Just made it for me.

Then the people streamed into the hall all with  plates of food to go with the stuff Ila Aubrey and Fiona had prepared all day. Ila cooked cake with the Avonstour man on it with words around happy 60th you old fart and Fiona cooked two gluten free cakes for me that were absolutely fantastic.

There were many dishes full of home grown and hunted stuff along with home made local relishes ..Man i have some great friends the whole table ten table was full of fantastic food. it was also great to have my family there and friends and mates that are family to me. Ross was busy clicking away i have seen one of the photos and want to see the rest.

After Mike finished we cranked the Karaoke deck up with a few having a go it was great to see the Toastmasters having a go and think its a good key to public speaking.

I did not expect any presents but i have to say thanks to you all you all know me well with gifts of books, Red wine, whisky, music, ornaments, preserves and food and a cell phone from Fiona that has no evil spirit in it like my last one.

You know it was one event that i left to Ila to organise and she did it So well.

So with the campers and people that stayed here got breakfast and on the road, we have the job to tidy up but that's not to bad.

Unlike Shelley who was unsure of what house was mine so dove off to the back country to find breakfast only to find the back country only gets out of bed on Sunday at 11 and had to make do with a bottle of cider and wild blackberries at mount damper after trying for food a Whanga and Tahora .