unionhomestead

Sage Words Sunday – A Page Turner

Eek! Last time we fell behind post schedule we vowed and declared it would not, never again, cross our hearts etc etc happen again and yet here we are, barely a fortnight on, scrambling to catch up with ourselves again. What makes it worse is that last weekend’s morning tea, hosted by the precise, slightly pedantic, mechanically minded, punctual (that by way of signalling it wasn’t HER fault) Goat Herd actually occurred a day earlier on account of a previous Sunday engagement. Ah well, hopefully this falls into the “good things are worth waiting for” category and not the “why did they bother?’ one.

It was stories in general and another gem from The Doctor (Matt Smith this time) in particular that we pondered as we plowed our way through a pair of sort-of-summer puddings (the hosts description, not ours, but she is right to retort photographic evidence would have helped) of epic bready, smooshy, crunchy, creamy goodness.

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Sylvia Chicken prefers not to think of her six boy baby’s fast approaching final chapter.

The concept of a “good” story is interesting. Everyone would want their story to be one of joy, contentment and happily-ever-after yet we’re all realistic enough to know how tedious that would get after a while. The truth is to make a really good story – one of those sorry-the-tea’s-late-I-was-just-going-to-read-to-the-end-of-the-chapter ones – there needs to be a sprinkling of calamity, despair, terror, and/or injustice. Those nasty bits are the things that keep you turning the pages, despite them not being a great deal of fun when you’re mid chapter and worrying this may be one of those open-ending, no resolution tales. Certainly everyone around the Sunday Morning Tea (on Saturday) table wanted their story to be one of joyous highs and cataclysmic lows interspersed with some smooth sailing to allow one to regather and recover. One thing we were all sure of, however, was the 100% watertight guarantee of a happy ending. 

As a group, our story has been a bit fraught of late.  Our decision over Farm Girl’s alternative education had proved to be something no one in authority wanted to see set a precedent, our legal eagles seemed to have got a little too comfy in their nest, and *sob* no one wanted to buy our van. It was time to turn the page; it was time for the gritty chapter. 

And everyone knows what comes after that…or do they?

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Published by unionhomestead

This story began as a family's fumbling attempt to live The Good Life in suburbia; the awesome suburb of New Brighton, Christchurch, New Zealand to be exact. Our wonderful neighbours tolerated our hair brained schemes as yet more lawn was turned into garden and more animals were introduced until there was just no more room left and there was nothing else for it... we moved to the country. So, here we now are: an extended family of humans, cats, ducks, chickens, and goats trying to step as lightly as possible on this gorgeous planet while still enjoying the internet and good television. We've got 5 acres of land to play with, a whole new township to meet, and neighbours who do this sort of thing for a living...what could go wrong? You want a list?! This lifestyle of ours isn't always pretty; There's meteoric highs and the most cataclysmic of lows. Our intent is to share all these - our idiotic mistakes, glorious triumphs, outcomes both lucky and unlucky; and those thigh slapping, tear spurting, belly laughing moments that often follow all of the above - through this blog and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/unionhomestead. We reckon everyday is a school day and, if you're maybe pondering having a go at this lifestyle yourself, you will always be able to call up this blog and say with ultimate conviction, "At least we're not as bad as them."

6 comments

  2. You are all quite right about a life with highs and lows being the best kind but my goodness, the lows are pretty awful to live through aren’t they? I hope Sylvia chicken turns a blind eye when ‘the moment’ comes – fortunately chickens aren’t too bright and she will have forgotten about her boys by tea-time. I wish our neighbours would be a little more hard-hearted as they have so many chickens and quite a few cockerels too.
    I hope Farm Girl’s education problems are sorted out soon – you know you have made the right decision so you just have to keep fighting. Best of luck!

    Reply

    • Thanks for your kind words. Things seems to be sorting themselves out. As for Sylvia, she’s still keeping a very beady eye on her boys long after our other ladies have ditched their off-spring. Ah well, circle of life and all that 🙂

      Reply

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