16 December 2011

A very full week as usual and got fuller as the week went on. Ross came out for a night photo shoot early in the week and we ended up shooting possums as we could hear them fighting in the trees close to the house. So out with the 22 and we got 3 in one tree alone. We don't need them around with all the trees setting fruit. We are a bit of an oasis for them with our trees and have to keep on top of em. Ann went to collect the eggs from one of the chicken trailers and inside was a large male ferret and a dead hen. So she shut all the doors ran home and got me. I took the 22 and gave the 410 shotgun to her saying i will go and shoot it, if it gets out anywhere shoot it with the shot gun. Anyway after a search i managed to get it with the 22. Ann on the other hand was hoping it would get away so she could deal to it as she seen what damage they do here. It was very fat i think it has eaten many dozens of eggs and killed a few hens. We think there may be another or maybe a stoat as we are losing chicks daily.

Ann and Andrea hoed up the spud crop for the second time. Just once more to go. Unfortunately it was for Andrea time to move on to Wellington and she really loved doing it. I will miss her at the market as well.

Ann and i got the mob of donkeys in that escaped into the forest and missed a foot trim and did their feet. It was good as Ann being a vet student got something you don't get to see too often. She got to do a few as well.

We got the Dorset horns in for dagging as the flies are starting to blow on other farms and we don't want it here. Not too many to do but the ewes are heavy and fat, hard work tipping them up. I was very pleased when Ann had a go with the lambs and we were doing one for one. After we finished I sorted a sheep for dog tucker and one for house meat. Ann asked to help but unlike lots of town girls asked to do one herself. So i did the ram and she dressed the ewe. Did a very nice job in fact much better that the first one i did years ago.

Ila spent a day making a large bonfire and we decided to have a fire cook up to welcome in summer. Just before we were going to light it Ruth said Paul was on the phone and wanted to shear in the morning. So at 7 we mustered, yarded and shedded the sheep. The fire was a great success cooking our own meat and spuds. We even had a few fire works i had stored for years. Ross came out and took photos and then went 'home to download' getting to bed at 3.30am. We are thinking this will have to be a yearly event.

Ann helped me at the market on her last day im sure she will be back as she is "one of us". I did ask her mother if she ever wanted to kick her out we would take her a daughter. I don't think that's likely somehow.

Ruth and Ila went to New Plymouth to see Betty at the orthodontist and pick up the grain grinder motor that went fut. Tried to do a bit of Christmas shopping but the power was out and the city was at a standstill. No traffic lights no tills can't pay for anything can't get fuel. THIS is how backwards the modern world is: turn a switch and it turns everyone off. Nuts just nuts.

I had an email from one of our best customers, the manager of OSLsoft NZ saying that my newsletters makes staff in the high rise boxes uneasy and wanting out to become Woofers, Hell sounds good to me BUT remember its 24/7 and it rains sometimes ha.