All I want for Christmas

While Brian shouted himself (well officially us) 3 top of the range fishing rods, I got this:

It is a genuine McGregor's weed grubber. Yah! I was so excited I went out tonight and spent 90 minutes getting rid of weeds on the run off.

It actually proved to be a good workout, and I've got a blister to prove it.

I might actually suggest to McGregor's that they re-market the grubber as the ultimate workout for athletes. Not only do you work out the legs walking between weeds, but exercise the core (lifting the grubber), the upper body (cutting the weeds down to size).

Thanks very much Brian, such a thoughtful gift!

Next event!

This is my next event.

HELP I need to lose 15 kg by then, otherwise my butt is going to get seriously kicked:

By my team mate Janie.

By the big hills!

I'm pleased it's at Whitianga, we can stay at our bach - downside - the 'boys' will be doing their fishing tournament - upside - we can go to the party after the fishing tournament.

Hi Folks

We are pleased to announce that the tenth anniversary ARC Adventure Race "Operation Blue Moon" will be based somewhere close toWhitianga, on the Coromandel peninsula.

The event, which takes place on the weekend of the 20th / 21st March, includes a 24 hour, 12hour and 8 hour race. The event is open to teams of 2 or 4 people (the 8 hour is alos open to teams of 3) and there are some special categories for school teams and teams from the forces.

Around 20 teams have entered to date and we can tell you that this years event is going to have some interesting high adrenaline activities, some of which haave never been tried before in an Adventure Race !

For more information and online entry - visit the websiteb - www.arecevents.co.nz/arc2412

The early entry fees are open until 31st December 2009 and entries are limited to 100 teams.

Hope you all have a great Christmas

Andy, Keith and Rita

Hay making time

A highlight of my younger days was haymaking time.

When I was old enough I got to 'turn' the hay with the tractor and conditioner. It was a good way to get a tan!

It was fun rowing up the bales behind the baler, ready for the hay gang to pick up. The hay gang was usually the local rugby or young farmers club, who for an amount per bale, and a few beers afterwards, picked up the hay, stacked it on the trailer, then took it to the shed to stack in the barn. It was great fun. I got to drive the tractor for picking up the bales.

We used to line up for a 'sip' of beer. DB Draught in those days in the big 750 ml bottles!

Brian and I haven't made hay for years. Now it is all pretty mechanical, we use big gear, and get it made into big bales, which are moved by tractor and front end loader. We haven't needed hay in our system up to now, due to good pasture growth rates and good soil conditions here on the peat soils.

But with the run off, and it's poor draining soils, hay will be a good option. It seems to keep animals satisfied in the cold and wet, which makes them more settled, and hopefully they won't do too much pasture damage.

The grass gets cut for hay tomorrow night. The weather is looking good - fine right through, (good for the Rotorua HIM). Most of the hay will be in big bales, but a couple of paddocks will be in the smaller, conventional bales - so I can feed them out in July/August in the wetter months.

I'll be driving the tractor to turn the hay - we went down and 'borrowed' Dad's hay conditioner today.

Ok, not related to exercise, but thought you might be interested!

Heifers

These are the heifers (last years calves). They have been grazing chicory. The Coromandel ranges are in the background.

Working at the runoff

These are my calves. There are 140 of them. I have reared these calves from one day old.

Mac's adventures

This is my dog Mac. He is a bearded collie, and is meant to be a farm dog. He had an adventure the other day, and we're just starting to unravel it.

He has a broken leg, and has just come out of a cast. I bought him a flash new kennel, so he could recover in it.

I felt a bit sorry for him the other day, so let him off, but didn't put him back in his kennel, and I went out.

We had a thunder storm. Well, Mac doesn't like thunder, so when I came back, he was inside - this photo is of him inside, looking a me - outside!

That's not the end of the story. Our insurance agent, Nigel, came around today, and explained that on the same day he stopped outside our place, and opened the car door. In went a terrified Mac. Horrified at having a hairy, dirty, big scared dog in his car, Nigel tried to get him out. Mac did not oblidge! It would have been absolutely hilarious to see, if I was not feeling slightly embarrassed about it all!

Nigel obviously got Mac out eventually, after Mac made a mess of his car, thereafter Mac managed to get inside our house to escape the thunder!

Poor Mac!

Kauri Run

On November 21st, Brian and I completed the Kauri Run. It is a run from Waikawau Bay, on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula to Colville, on the west coast. There are two options, the shorter run of 13 km, or a longer version. The longer version finishes at Coromandel town.

Neither of us had done any running training. Brian was in good shape though, he was really fit after being on the farm. I had been on the farm too, but instead of losing weight and getting fit, I got injured and ate too much!

So the end result was that Brian bet me by two beers, or 34 minutes in layman terms!

I really enjoyed the run/walk, it was really scenic, and a great challenge.