Labour Weekend

 We had a big thunderstorm on Monday night, but otherwise we have been quite lucky with the weather, compared to some parts of the country. The southerly wind has a snowy bite to it though. There has been no power and in some places no water in the South Island for a few days now.

With the Labour weekend, last weekend the camp was busy. On Saturday night there were lots of quad bikes going up and down the camp road. We felt like we were on a main road. We were very pleased to see everyone go on Monday morning.

The new management, in it’s infinite wisdom, decided that  there was no need to do the rubbish on Sunday as their compactor truck from Ohope would come at 10 on Monday morning. Well that was a mistake. There were rubbish bags all sitting alongside the rubbish bins. The truck finally came at 12. 

Hampshire Holiday Parks have bought quite a few parks around the country, especially in the South Island. I think they will spend quite a bit here to update the cabins and build more houses. There are about 12 permanent homes here. They lease the land and own the house. A lot more infrastructure has to be built before more homes. Louise was going to do it, but the cost of the infrastructure put her off. It will be interesting to come back in a year and see what has been done.

The Lament of Cow 174

 The Thornton Beach Holiday Park sold on Tuesday to Hampshire Holiday Parks, which is Australian owned. It's a bit odd without Louise in the office. We both hope she enjoys her new life whatever she decides to do.

The good news is there were no injuries this week.

The cows in the district are all being painted with tail paint now as the mating season approaches. Below is a little story I wrote many years ago. It was read out on the Country Life programme, so that is my claim to fame ha ha.

The photo isn't necessarily cow 174, but what she may look like.

THE LAMENT OF COW 174

Dear Farmer,

Today you painted the base of my tail blue. Next month, when my herd sisters have rubbed it off, you will paint it pink. Then, the biggest indignity of all, the man with "the bull in the bag" will come, with his arm covered up to his armpit in a rubber glove, and do unspeakable things. Well, I mean to say, would you like it? I think not.

 I can remember my yearling year, when Boris and Ernest cavorted with me and my sister yearlings. Oh, but they are a couple of bulls! I see them in other paddocks with the new yearlings. I moo out to them, but they take no notice of me. I am either pregnant or they are too busy.

 At the end of the mating season, those cows lucky enough not to have cycled regularly, get a visit. It's not fair!

 So, my cow cocky friend, this is a warning. This year I'm not cycling at all. I shall shrug off all attempts to rub our my blue and pink stripes, because I want Ernest and I want him now!

 Yours Sincerely

Cow 174

 PS Down with dogs. Cows rule OK.

Broken down truck

 Eddie had more excitement than he needed on Friday. He was tipping off some metal on a site, which was soft. Only the left side of the bin emptied, so the right side tipped slightly in the soft soil. He quickly put the hoist down, but the whole thing collapsed (probably due to the imbalance on the tray) and the tray landed on the deck of the truck with an almighty crash. ( as you can imagine).  He had just taken his seatbelt off to get out. When it crashed down he went up and hit his head on the roof of the truck; his left arm was stretched out on the controls, so that shoulder was badly jarred; his right elbow hit the arm rest and now is sporting a huge bruise. When he came down he banged his right hip on the engine hump. His boss brought him home and he has been very quiet and resting since. He will probably go back to work on Thursday depending how he is feeling. He is feeling a lot better today. The weather has been quite wet, so there may not be any work tomorrow anyway.

On Monday night, at about 9: 30, our neighbours knocked on our door and said there was a huge water leak. It was like a water feature, with water rising up like a small fountain. They had tried Louise, but the office phone isn’t close to her bedroom and there is a fire door between the two. Eddie rang Mike and he came down and turned off the water for the night. It is almost on the same spot as one Eddie had to repair when we were working here. The plumber came and finished the job on Tuesday. It is all good now.

It's a nicer day today than yesterday and there is still flooding further south. I think there are roads still closed with flood waters.

Learning New Things

There isn't a lot of news this week owing to the fact I have been in the office. Even the weekends aren't free. I'm not sure how Louise has run the camping ground for 10 years. I don't think I would have stuck it out that long. She is very pleased to have sold it, so this will be the last time I work for her.

I learnt two new facts on my birthday last week. The first one was that the little pointy bit that plugs into your laptop for charging will also plug into the ball of your foot if you stand on it. Who knew? I am now sporting a hole in my foot. It is getting better, but walking was a bit painful for a couple of days. I got Eddie to take a photo of it, so I could see what it looked like. I was going to post it, but I didn’t want to gross you out.  The other thing I learnt is that you can cut the side of your thumb with a potato peeler if it slips. Luckily I haven’t had a third thing to learn.

We had a couple of thunderstorms with a little hail too, over the weekend and there was a tornado at Awakeri which is only about 10 ks away from us. 

Eddie has been asked to be one of the witnesses at the wedding we are going to in January, so he felt rather honoured.