A helping hand

A friend of ours regularly comes up to the farm to lend a helping hand. His sole reward for the efforts - a fast horse ride, and family meals.

He came up by train last night, had a home cooked meal immersed in a happy family atmosphere. It wasn't an early night though, and this morning he is up at 6 to catch the dawn ride. By 7:30 we hit the trails. The pace is on as promised, until we venture into the forest and explore a new track. When we finally make it through the slippery, rutted, boggy trail (hey, it could have been leach infested as well!) we pelt home as fast as horse will travel.

We put the horses away, and agree that second breakfast is a must. Afterwards, I catch a 20 minute lie down, while Anthony is off to help Pete with installing a pipe in a paddock. It involves some hefty earth moving. It's a pretty cold day. Judging by the work men's discarded clothes, they must be working pretty hard.

After lunch the pipe work is completed, and the boys get busy fixing a trench. More earth moving, and shoveling, and pounding the fresh clay and soil into place. The next task is brush cutting and raking the poisoned blackberries. And after dinner, when every worker could rightfully expect to unwind in front of the fire, nursing a glass of port, Anthony is helping to feed the horses, and driving the hay out. Ok, driving the tractor is kind of fun.

On the drive back, he is allowed a snooze. But his day truly ends when he arrives home after 11pm.