A&P show

Today was the annual A&P Show, held just down the road. As usual we left Friday night to the teens and the police. It is the time for settling of accounts and is keenly anticipated by those who like a bit of a scrap. None of ours showed any interest in going. We will no doubt hear all about it on Monday, and be on full alert for reprisals and the overflow of events.

We waited until 10am saturday to make our appearance. We were rostered on to do gate duty, collecting the entry fees off the visitors. It helps out teh Cadets apparently and was not particularly onerous. We had chance to go and look round as well. It seemed a little quieter than the last time I went, perhaps because it was early, perhaps because of the rain showers, and perhaps because people don't feel that they have as much spare cash for a day out.

Stuart enjoyed a go on the dodgems, paddy got himself an icecream and I am not sure what Eric was doing, but he came back smiling!

We are getting into the groove of working and schooling and doing our weekly activities. Paddy is running in the atletics club this year. He is taking part in some event in whangarei apparently. He ran 4km last week in the training. Stuart and Eric go to cadets every Wednesday night. They are looking forward to a trp to Whenuapi Air festival in a few weeks time.

Chantelle is getting used tostudying and reading lots of books. She is passing the papers that she has submitted so far.

The farm ticks over. We have just 4 sheep left, 2 lambs and an old ewe and the PI ram. I am trying to sell them so that we can plant the fields up with fruit. I spent a few hours today hammering into gorse and pampas regrowth. It is the time of year when the pampas flowers. There is a lot less than there was, but the battle is not yet won. Eric and I( have just been planting out some chinese cabbage and setting a trap for a family of rats that are burrowing into the offal pit. Eric will be busy tomorrow as he is going to despatch a young cockerel and then he will be dealing with any trapped rats as well. He and Stuart can pretty much sort out sheep, hens and rats with no need of my assistance. I shall be enjoying a lie-in!