Take me to a park that's covered with trees...

... tell me on a Sunday please.

Well, this Sunday I spent a leisurely afternoon catching some rays in the newly greened-up park down the road. I packed a little picnic lunch and a jug of iced Sangria and tried to make the most of a few spare hours, in preparation for an upcoming island holiday. Peter arrives in 2 weeks, and after an autumnal cocktail party, we are off to Penang for a much earned week of R&R.

There were a few graceful Ibises about in the park too...

As well a the occasional screeching swarm of cockatoos overhead. It looks much different from back home where an offical state of drought has been declared across 5 different major regions of the country...

 Above: My cousin James, who has been helping Peter with the farm work since he injured his hand. He is holding one of the weaner piglets. We have another litter due any day now (below). You can see how barren the land has become. Luckily they have water and loads of fresh vegetables daily, and the rest of the anilmals are living off the hay we harvested last month.

Above: A sow with a well-descended under carriage. It can't be more than a day or so now.

"A state of drought has been declared for the entire North Island, and the West Coast could soon follow suit. Farmers are being hammered in what is the most severe drought in at least 30 years, which is estimated to be costing the economy millions of dollars.

The West Coast sent a drought declaration request to the government on Thursday, hours after Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy made the drought declaration about the North Island.

The official declarations will mean farmers have access to financial assistance and other help.

Mr Guy said he was keeping watch on the South Island where some areas were very dry.

Federated Farmers confirmed the West Coast request. "The West Coast of the South Island is today forwarding its request," said the federation's adverse events spokeswoman Katie Milne.

When he announced the North Island drought declaration Mr Guy said some rain was forecast for the weekend but more would be needed to set up for winter and spring.

Drought had previously been declared in Northland and North Auckland, South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay. Mr Guy says communities are pulling together to help each other out. Federated Farmers is operating a `Feedline' to match farmers with feed supplies. "Many rural people can be reluctant to ask for help, but it is important for them to know that support is available," he said. "This is a difficult time for rural families and they need to know that the government and all New Zealanders are behind them. " The govenour of the Reserve Bank said that if it doesn't rain soon the drought could shave 1% of the economy."

Bad things come in threes...

Poor Peter!

It has hardly rained at all since I left NZ, and the Waikato is on the brink of officially declaring a drought (quite unexpected). This of course places a lot of pressure on those managing a farm, and newly planted gardens. 

To make matters worse, last week our gardener and farm manager had to resign due to immigration issues. 

As if that wasn't enough to contend with, yesterday Peter then ended up lacerating the extensor tendons of his dominant hand due to the combination of a brand new pair of hoof trimmers and an ill-timed kick from a goat! Luckily our friend Jackie was out at Willowbrook at the time and could drive him back into town. 

He ended up in the Emergency Department, where thankfully he was surrounded by plenty of familiar and friendly faces in my absence, and very soon thereafter had the tendons repaired by a plastic surgeon friend who I went through med school with. Who says the public health system doesn't work! (I must say up front that he did not receive any special treatment, but the standard stirling work of the team at Waikato Hospital).

So, now he is faced with the problem of managing a farm and gardens with one (non-dominant) hand. He is in an elbow to finger-tip cast for 6 weeks; can not drive; in fact, was having difficulty opening the tin to feed the cat (lucky Willoughby has a large open bag of dog biscuits!).

So, my brave Peter will have to manage with the help of friends and family (I did offer to come home, but he said things weren't quite that bleak). 

Thinking of you from the other side of the ditch,

David.x

Summer hay harvest time again...

Above: Hay at Willowbrook Park January 2011

Below: Medieval painting of hay makers

Samuel Woodworth (1784-1842).
“The Hay-makers”
from The poetical works (1861)

It is sweet, love, to stray,
When the noon-tide is over,
Through the windrows of hay,
And the white-blossomed clover;
...
Where each lass may partake
In the toil and the pleasure,
Keeping time, with the rake,
To the lark's tuneful measure.
Oh 'tis sweet thus to stray,
When the noon-tide is over,
Through the windrows of hay,
And the white-blossomed clover.

There the swains cut their paths
Through the sections assigned them,
Leaving sweet-scented swaths
Swelling gayly behind them.
Tender childhood and age,
Sturdy manhood and beauty,
All with ardor engage
In so pleasing a duty.
Oh 'tis sweet thus to stray,
When the noon-tide is over,
Through the windrows of hay,
And the white-blossomed clover.

As the billow of grass
Over the meadow is driven,
By some rose-visaged lass
'Tis divided and riven,
When her swain lends his aid,
And the green hillock rises,
...
Then the half-willing maid
With a sly kiss surprises.
Oh 'tis sweet thus to stray,
When the noon-tide is over,
Through the windrows of hay,
And the white blossomed clover.

See the gay romping elves,
Now the sweet task is over,
All amusing themselves,
On the balm-breathing clover;
There the swain whispers love
To his heart's dearest treasure,
Who affects to reprove,
While her eyes beam with pleasure.
Oh 'tis sweet thus to stray,
When the noon-tide is over,
Through the windrows of hay,
And the white-blossomed clover.

While we at Willowbrook make hay amidst our mild drought, we remember our neighbours across the Tasman whose lives have been traumatically turned upside down by the unprecedented flooding, and pray for a speedy halt to the rain and a quick recovery.