Random reminder

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 26

Random reminder

Down on the farm

Picture if you will, farmland at harvesting time. Paddocks of gloriously golden grain waving in the wind, glimmering in the morning mist, glowing in the evening light. After days of indecision, in the heat of a summer’s afternoon, at last — headers, trucks and an auger trundle through the farm gate. Excitement is in the air. Paddocks worked long hours, seed drilled, young plant anxiously watched, weeds sprayed out of existence. All that for this...

Now, in the long hours through burning shimmering heat of a Canterbury day, men-driven machines produce tonnes of grain, pouring it into waiting silos. Trucks press trades through grass on their way from headers to silos as hours pass and the job continues relentlessly. Evening falls, the sun disappearing unnoticed behind nearby mountains.

Darkness slackened the pace not an iota, and so on it went And our lady of the land churned and turned out food and drink. Ice cold in the heat and hot pots of tea in evening coolness. Hours moved on and she would appear through the inky darkness, welcomed for the sustenance she provided. Nearly 2 a.m. was her last appearance and unnoticed was her return to her waiting vehicle. Unnoticed, too, was her full length sprawl fall in the slightly damp grass, cracking knees on unnoticed stones. Of course, as is known, farmers’ wives are indestructible and bruising was her only injury.

But she has wondered since. A number of questions arise — If actually wounded — how long before any notice was taken? Would the job, even so, have continued? Could manpower have been spared? Yes, a number of questions arise...