My eldest son Brian & family emigrated to NZ in 2009 after working at home on the family farm all his working life.
They had been on holiday to see his brother & family enjoyed NZ & decided if they were going to go it had to be then before their children got any older.
They settled in well & now milk around 600 cows on two farms.
The way of farming there is so much better catered for a family life...instead of working every day of the year with the cows inside 6 months of the year they are flat out up to Christmas calving cows & then getting them back in calf but can then relax more & enjoy the summer.
As the NZ market is mostly dried milk for Asia farmers can block calve & have around 3 months with no milking which does give them a break.
I think if Brian had stayed at home farming we would have given up by now...his health was getting bad with all the bedding up dust in his lungs, now he is fit & well.
Still seems to love milking the cows as do both son & daughter.
Three good things:
1. A job to enjoy.
2. I have sorted out the electricity company which sent us a massive estimated electricity bill of almost £2000 even though our last bill didn't reach £400!! Most apologetic & I found out we were paying too much VAT too so all worth it!
3. Another lazy afternoon....I haven't set foot out of the door since I came home.
Its must still be very hard work but hopefully profitable and worth something if or when they sell! Good health - a strong back - and enough rain to grow the food, so important! Lovely to be lazy!
So interesting that in NZ powdered milk is popular. I love full fat creamy milk. Wonderful shots of your sons life and work. It s great that his health has improved and the family are happy.
@lucypics All exported to China & surrounding countries Lucy....I love our milk too...we used to drink our raw milk out of the bulk tank ...it was delicious although the health people didn't like us doing that.....the best way to drink it. Not sure if you are still allowed to buy green top!
@lucypics can't beat a bit of gold top Jersey - not all that much fat for an occasional treat - might get some for ice cream. What a stunning location Pat - must make your heart soar every time you step out in the morning. Is it easy to buy a farm in NZ (not that I'm going to!)
@judithg Getting more expensive now Judith & you have to have such a large deposit to buy anything over there. William has just bought his first house in Morrinsville, to let out first & then he might live in it himself after the busy time of calving. It's next to the fire station so he might get to go on more call outs. Not bad for a 21 year old....could never have done that in the UK even though 20% deposit.
This is such a wonderful look at the life of your dairy farming sons, Pat! It looks as though they have made a very successful go of it in beautiful New Zealand. I know that you and Harry are extremely proud of your family!! That early training with mum and dad obviously served them well. Welcome home from your long time away!! So good to see you back!!!! Will catch up with more of your photos this afternoon. Just wanted to pop in and say hello and that you were missed!!
@peggysirk How lovely Peggy to see your post.....always so interesting & thoughtful......slowly getting back to normal. I do love my adventuress on the other side of the world!! Amazing where our children take us in this day & age!
A beautiful collage. New Zealand is ideal for farming. a lovely country have visited a couple of times and David's brother used to live there too. Hope you get over jet lag soon.
Great that they are all doing so well over there. And that helps when we miss out on their day to day things! They were so close by before they left !!
March 22nd, 2014
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