Race is on to the end of the year
‘Only seven more days until Christmas’’. The countdown is on. Advertising hype makes it seem as though somehow these numbered days are more significant than the other 358 in the year. An illogical pressure pushes to get so much done before the 25th speeds around.
Shopping we are supposed to be doing, dealing with decorations and dinner plans, a host of end-of-year ‘‘dos’’ and family functions to arrange. And I wonder, why?
It’s a time to celebrate peace and goodwill not fast pace and stress. Plus, on sheep farms, crucial jobs seem to need to be out of the way by the ‘‘big day’’. The target is usually to have some lambs weaned, weighed and off to works, ewes shorn, other mobs of lambs drenched, dipping done and calves marked.
Contractors are under pressure, weather forecasts are closely followed because rain and wet sheep interrupt progress of the shearing gangs, stock drafters phones ring hot from farmers wanting space at the works.
The Christmas joy can be jaded as price per kilogram for lambs decreases every week, blow fly populations increase bringing risk of fly struck sheep, and hordes of parasite larvae happily hatch in the grass.
So it is jolly good to take a jolly good break. Time to reflect on past, present and future, the year behind us, the celebration of the season and the new year coming.
For us, 2019 has delivered many changes but no dramas. Mary no longer at school and now a working girl enjoying her employment with a local horticultural business, involved in varied activities from planting, spraying, weeding, track maintenance, nursery jobs and seed collection. Johnie still shearing but now working down south where he has seen new country, big stations, handled different sheep breeds and experienced life in a bigger gang.
We are so proud of them both for their achievements and making the most of opportunities. Many families have sad gaps, and we miss Grandad as he died peacefully some months ago with his familiar lack of fuss, but my Mum will soon be celebrating her 90th Christmas with us.
On the farm we are grateful for a great year with lamb prices up, an excellent season of grass growth, December rolling around with paddocks still green, stock looking well and interest rates remaining low. We even finally sold a section after many years on the market which also helps the bank balance. And, most importantly, we are incredibly thankful that our health and relationships are fit and well.
I won’t focus on the political challenges over the year, which have been many and stressful, and looking back our country has experienced some real heartaches over the past 12 months. My thoughts are with so many families whose lives are now on hold after the tragedy on White Island. Perceived pressure of countdown to ‘‘the’’ date pales to insignificance. People pointlessly rush while others painfully wait.
As we turn the calendar in a couple of weeks it is not only signalling a new year coming but also a fresh decade. Maybe some can reflect back that far but 3650 days is too long for me.
A reviewer reported on his 10 best movies of the decade. I didn’t know a single one and, reading the blurb, maybe I didn’t miss much, but Mum and I both enjoyed a recently released NZ movie. Bellbird captures rural Kiwi humour so well and much seemed familiar and funny.
I do look forward to Christmas but I confess that our celebrations don’t contribute seasonal heaps to the economy. A nativity float created by our church for the local Santa parade was special for me. The modern shepherd in shorts, boots, floppy hat with live sheep dog was Mary, and many onlookers recognised the ‘‘angel’ waving and ‘‘blessing’’ folk on the street who then morphed into a ‘‘wise man’’ for the evening carol service.
As we countdown to that significant event here’s wishing you joy, peace, hope and love of Christmas and may we each make the most of the gift of every day in 2020.