Followers

Thursday 8 November 2012

Prologue

I've changed up the blog a little. 

We've had a few of our town friends out to stay lately and I'm finding that the town bound, never been on a farm before, rural rookies LOVE getting a taste of the rural slice of life. 

So with that in mind, I wondered if perhaps our rural stories might make some interesting reading - if you like a 'keeping up with' our rural reality. (Simon will hate that reference!)

Background is important here, because before I met my farmer, I was also a rural rookie with preconeived notions and no reason to ask the question.

I grew up in Napier and I've lived in Wellington and Melbourne. I've worked hard to tick lots of my own personal boxes - I've wandered around the Acropolis, I've seen the Pyramids, I've brought a house and I've worked with some incredible people, creating some pretty cool stuff.

Radio was my first real job. I really loved it, in fact I still do, the mix of people you find in the radio world are rare, their ethos is to work until everything's working. I like that.

Leaving school I didn't have a profession in mind, I still don't truth be told, I think a good attitude and an all in approach gets you places. 


That's important to say because its radio and that state of mind, that has ultimately lead me to the land. 

I agreed to be the 'dater' in a promotion called '24 dates in 24 hours' - I had been single for years, YEARS. My GM decided I was ripe for this, and I decided - why not? I would date 24 different blokes, one hour each, over a consecutive 24 hour period. 

Each hour a game lad would arrive and we would talk, go on a date, and then we would report back to the breaky team. 

Did I think I was I going to meet my man - first initial P, last name Charming? No of course not, I was working. And then Simon pulled up, in a mud coated Ford Ranger and a big smile.

We talked about duck shooting, pig hunting, farming. Well actually he talked, I attempted to hold my own, and while I listened I thought, I'm going to see the man again and I MUST see how he lives.

So I did - many times, and now we're engaged. And I live in Takapau.  Population 579, and me.




I've been living this rural reality now for a little over a year - and although I haven't totally cut the cord (I commute each day to Havelock North for work), my future now most certainly is tied to the land, as we plan to move another hour away further into the country in January 2014.

Country people have to do it a little differently to make it work, and they do it well.

Here's our stories in real time.