Just a leaf making a break for it....
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Farewell Carly and Dan
This morning we said goodbye (for now) to Carly and Dan who have stayed with us for the past two weeks. They've been great helpers (http://www.helpx.net/), as I've been working in Christchurch and been away quite a few nights. Carly has stepped in and fed everyone, walked the dogs, done the washing and generally kept the place in some kind of tidiness (as much as you can when there are two dogs, three cats and three blokes sharing the place). Dan got stuck in on the farm, and did some much needed leaf raking as well.
It is disconcerting to send new friends off to Christchurch warning them to be careful. Their next helpx job is in Lyttelton. I am concerned about them being there and have told them to suss the place out for rocks and potential issues if there are more shakes (which there will be). I can't believe I am saying that, I love Lyttelton and indeed, even owned property there at one time (which was worth a lot of money once, but probably pretty much worthless now, given the threat of falling rocks in that particular area).
Carly said her mother would be freaking out if she knew where she was going next. I must admit, Im worried too!
Himself went to Christchurch this morning, and without me even saying, packed a little bag of clothes "in case he got stuck in Christchurch". His suit wouldn't have been the thing for him to wear if he does indeed get stuck due to more earthquakes. He packed his work boots and did talk about taking his riding helmet with him, but not sure that actually made it into the car. I put some water in the car for him as well.
What sort of normal is it when we send people off with emergency supplies and worry about people staying in beautiful places like Lyttelton?
It is disconcerting to send new friends off to Christchurch warning them to be careful. Their next helpx job is in Lyttelton. I am concerned about them being there and have told them to suss the place out for rocks and potential issues if there are more shakes (which there will be). I can't believe I am saying that, I love Lyttelton and indeed, even owned property there at one time (which was worth a lot of money once, but probably pretty much worthless now, given the threat of falling rocks in that particular area).
Carly said her mother would be freaking out if she knew where she was going next. I must admit, Im worried too!
Himself went to Christchurch this morning, and without me even saying, packed a little bag of clothes "in case he got stuck in Christchurch". His suit wouldn't have been the thing for him to wear if he does indeed get stuck due to more earthquakes. He packed his work boots and did talk about taking his riding helmet with him, but not sure that actually made it into the car. I put some water in the car for him as well.
What sort of normal is it when we send people off with emergency supplies and worry about people staying in beautiful places like Lyttelton?
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Earthquakes
Yesterday was a horrid day. The weather was fairly perfect for this time of the year and everything looked so peaceful but under the ground, trouble lurked.
The first one came through as I was sitting at the kitchen table, and while it was disconcerting, it was only gentle rolling for a short time. Life proceeded, although I was concerned about my friends and colleagues in Christchurch. Normally the TV doesn't go on during the day unless Himself comes home but today I thought I would turn it on and see what was happening on the news. It was quite frustrating actually, as they had news items now and then, and in the meantime you had to watch Oprah or some other daytime rubbish. Twitter, which I am fairly new to, came into its own and there was useful infomation being tweeted all over the place. Then on the TV they were interviewing Aaron Gilmore, when suddenly you could hear the panic in his voice as he said there was another aftershock. About three seconds later it reached me, and the old house started to shake, creak, groan and crack. I could hear something falling up the front of the house. I ran into the office, and could see the beams in the ceiling moving - they seemed to be going different ways to the rest of the house so I ran outside onto the lawn. Just after I reached the lawn, it stopped and it took another few second for the old house to shudder and settle back into the spot its been in for the last 97 years.
The dogs were out with our wwoofers on the farm so I wasn't too worried about them. Not sure where the cats were. My main concern was what had happened in Christchurch. This one felt worse than the September one, or just as bad but probably didn't go on as long. Our power didn't falter, so that was a blessing. Himself and his work were all fine, everyone a bit shaken but no damage.
Carly came home with the dogs, and said she had been in the truck with the dogs in the back. She had thought initially it was the dogs jumping around but when she turned to look at them as the truck was shaking, they were both lying down (which is very unusual). She then proceeded to go for her walk with them, but couldn't work out why they didn't want to go anywhere. She even resorted to throwing a few sticks which Bella half heartedly chased but Milly never left her side. She gave up and came home.
In the last earthquakes, the dogs have been quite traumatised, and never left our side for some time. We had ended up those nights with dogs and cats and people on the bed - cosy but not exactly comfortable. The dogs came inside and again, just wanted to stay beside me. Bella got under the desk and was panting, quite visibly distressed for some time. They eventually calmed down, although Bella was very quiet all night and did sleep on our bed for a short time after the 3 am aftershock.
This morning they seem a lot happier. Shame the people of Christchurch will not find it so easy to bounce back. I can't blame anyone for wanting to move out of the place. All that liquifaction is just heartbreaking. People with no power, no water, no sewerage again. While we leapt into action as part of the farmy army last time, I'm not sure that I have it in me to go and help again this time. Maybe by the weekend, things might be different. It is all just so much for people to bear.
The first one came through as I was sitting at the kitchen table, and while it was disconcerting, it was only gentle rolling for a short time. Life proceeded, although I was concerned about my friends and colleagues in Christchurch. Normally the TV doesn't go on during the day unless Himself comes home but today I thought I would turn it on and see what was happening on the news. It was quite frustrating actually, as they had news items now and then, and in the meantime you had to watch Oprah or some other daytime rubbish. Twitter, which I am fairly new to, came into its own and there was useful infomation being tweeted all over the place. Then on the TV they were interviewing Aaron Gilmore, when suddenly you could hear the panic in his voice as he said there was another aftershock. About three seconds later it reached me, and the old house started to shake, creak, groan and crack. I could hear something falling up the front of the house. I ran into the office, and could see the beams in the ceiling moving - they seemed to be going different ways to the rest of the house so I ran outside onto the lawn. Just after I reached the lawn, it stopped and it took another few second for the old house to shudder and settle back into the spot its been in for the last 97 years.
The dogs were out with our wwoofers on the farm so I wasn't too worried about them. Not sure where the cats were. My main concern was what had happened in Christchurch. This one felt worse than the September one, or just as bad but probably didn't go on as long. Our power didn't falter, so that was a blessing. Himself and his work were all fine, everyone a bit shaken but no damage.
Carly came home with the dogs, and said she had been in the truck with the dogs in the back. She had thought initially it was the dogs jumping around but when she turned to look at them as the truck was shaking, they were both lying down (which is very unusual). She then proceeded to go for her walk with them, but couldn't work out why they didn't want to go anywhere. She even resorted to throwing a few sticks which Bella half heartedly chased but Milly never left her side. She gave up and came home.
In the last earthquakes, the dogs have been quite traumatised, and never left our side for some time. We had ended up those nights with dogs and cats and people on the bed - cosy but not exactly comfortable. The dogs came inside and again, just wanted to stay beside me. Bella got under the desk and was panting, quite visibly distressed for some time. They eventually calmed down, although Bella was very quiet all night and did sleep on our bed for a short time after the 3 am aftershock.
This morning they seem a lot happier. Shame the people of Christchurch will not find it so easy to bounce back. I can't blame anyone for wanting to move out of the place. All that liquifaction is just heartbreaking. People with no power, no water, no sewerage again. While we leapt into action as part of the farmy army last time, I'm not sure that I have it in me to go and help again this time. Maybe by the weekend, things might be different. It is all just so much for people to bear.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Wwoofers
For some time now, we have had wwoofers on the farm. Our farm isn't organic, wwoofers is an acronym for Willing Workers on Organic Farms. We've changed that to willing workers on our farm.
We've met some delightful people through this scheme. The deal is that they work for at least 4-5 hours, six days per week for their food and lodgings. We find, however, that our wwoofers work most days all day. We reward them well by feeding them fabulous meals, give them wine and beer, (and so far, there has been no abuse of that, no drunkenness or drinking issues at all), unlimited access to internet, TV (when Himself hasn't got control of the remote), and use of a vehicle. They work in the garden, they work in the house, but they far prefer working on the farm. Some of them have attempting to shear a sheep, some of them have helped with tailing, fencing, weed control, dipping, drenching, shearing, feeding, moving stock, and whatever jobs come up.
I wish I had of been able to use a scheme like this when I was travelling. It would have suited me nicely. Most of the travellers that come here are young but we have had a couple in their 50s and then a few in their 30s. Recently we seem to have had a lot of British, including Joe from Ireland who stayed for three months. We also have had a lot of french and german people. Other nationalities include American, Canadians (great workers), Danish, Spanish, Austrian, Korean and Swiss. No Italians so far....
They are supposed to have a work permit as working in return for lodgings is considered working by the NZ Immigration Department. We have registered on the website http://www.helpx.net/ - its free although you can pay extra to be a premium helper. Well worth having a look at.
We've met some delightful people through this scheme. The deal is that they work for at least 4-5 hours, six days per week for their food and lodgings. We find, however, that our wwoofers work most days all day. We reward them well by feeding them fabulous meals, give them wine and beer, (and so far, there has been no abuse of that, no drunkenness or drinking issues at all), unlimited access to internet, TV (when Himself hasn't got control of the remote), and use of a vehicle. They work in the garden, they work in the house, but they far prefer working on the farm. Some of them have attempting to shear a sheep, some of them have helped with tailing, fencing, weed control, dipping, drenching, shearing, feeding, moving stock, and whatever jobs come up.
I wish I had of been able to use a scheme like this when I was travelling. It would have suited me nicely. Most of the travellers that come here are young but we have had a couple in their 50s and then a few in their 30s. Recently we seem to have had a lot of British, including Joe from Ireland who stayed for three months. We also have had a lot of french and german people. Other nationalities include American, Canadians (great workers), Danish, Spanish, Austrian, Korean and Swiss. No Italians so far....
They are supposed to have a work permit as working in return for lodgings is considered working by the NZ Immigration Department. We have registered on the website http://www.helpx.net/ - its free although you can pay extra to be a premium helper. Well worth having a look at.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Time on the farm is limited
The earthquake has changed so many people's lives. Now it has changed mine. I think it is in a positive way, but time will tell. I am now doing some contract communications and community engagement work for a government department, and that takes me to Christchurch two or three days a week. It looks like it might be 3-4 days per week from now on. There is so much to do to rebuild the lovely city.
I'm not going to write about my work, except to say there are a lot of politics, a lot of meetings, and a lot of work to do. I am privileged to be able to talk to those who have been so badly affected by the quake, and every story is different. There is so much uncertainty.
It has meant quite a change on the farm however. I don't have the time to do all the little jobs that I should be doing. I did have time to bury one of my chooks who died. We are not sure what caused her death, but we all looked very suspiciously at the very, very large egg which was produced on the morning before her death. We think it might be responsible and yes, it was a double yoker (and made a nice omlette). I bured her under the compost heap. RIP Chook # 5!
The garden is growing into a jungle, thanks to the wonderful warm weather we have been having. Even this weekend, Queens Birthday, has been fabulously warm and the green mustard seed plants and lupins I have put into my vege garden for the winter months look like they are going to go to seed! Not sure if this is the plan, will this mean I will have little mustard plants and lupins forever in the garden? I am intending to dig the green stuff into the soil towards the end of the garden, but if it keeps growing at this rate, Im going to need a chainsaw to chop it down.
The horses haven't been ridden for ages, and are looking particularly fluffy and happy with themselves. Cole, always inquisitive, managed to lean over the freshly stained timber fence today, and now looks something like a zebra. Im not sure how long it will take for the paint to come out of his coat but it stands out well from the rest of his whiteness. Must take a photo.....
I'm not going to write about my work, except to say there are a lot of politics, a lot of meetings, and a lot of work to do. I am privileged to be able to talk to those who have been so badly affected by the quake, and every story is different. There is so much uncertainty.
It has meant quite a change on the farm however. I don't have the time to do all the little jobs that I should be doing. I did have time to bury one of my chooks who died. We are not sure what caused her death, but we all looked very suspiciously at the very, very large egg which was produced on the morning before her death. We think it might be responsible and yes, it was a double yoker (and made a nice omlette). I bured her under the compost heap. RIP Chook # 5!
The garden is growing into a jungle, thanks to the wonderful warm weather we have been having. Even this weekend, Queens Birthday, has been fabulously warm and the green mustard seed plants and lupins I have put into my vege garden for the winter months look like they are going to go to seed! Not sure if this is the plan, will this mean I will have little mustard plants and lupins forever in the garden? I am intending to dig the green stuff into the soil towards the end of the garden, but if it keeps growing at this rate, Im going to need a chainsaw to chop it down.
The horses haven't been ridden for ages, and are looking particularly fluffy and happy with themselves. Cole, always inquisitive, managed to lean over the freshly stained timber fence today, and now looks something like a zebra. Im not sure how long it will take for the paint to come out of his coat but it stands out well from the rest of his whiteness. Must take a photo.....
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