with Flat 62 last nite.
We had curry chicken, brussel sprouts, prawn crackers, fried wanton, sausage appetiser, pavlova...but more memorable is the fellowship. The jokes and laughter!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Piggy day today!
1st farm prac and we get to be upclose with grunty, squealy,wriggly pigs and piglets.
I can imagine how many people may be anxious or uncertain around pigs, especially when some female pigs can get as big as 200kg and boars 300kg! That's a whole load of bacon.
The pigs we have are generally friendly and used to human contact, though some can be naughtier and try all means to make you look bad and clumsy when you wanna show the demonstrator you know how to move a pig and weigh them on the scales.
My pig was supposed to be Number 6 - but when I open the gate, Number 7 came out first so I stayed with her.
Number 7 is a very friendly female pig. Loves to sniff and nibble. I was supposed to guide and move her down the path and towards the scales. Easy job cos she knows her way! Willingly through the small gate and up onto the scales - 45kg. Pretty young about 12 weeks we were told. But they sure pile on the pounds very quickly.
Later on, we tried our hands at restraining them around their upper jaw, just behind their back teeth, with soft wire snares. Number 7 was so easy cos she's a nibbler and comes right up to mouth the wire and it was easy to just loop it over her jaw and tighten gently. Once you do that, the pig is then restrained and will generally stand for you to do your examination.
After that, we crossed over to the other pen to meet the little piglets. Before we went through the door, we could already hear them - they were loud! We learnt how to carry them, place them on their backs for health check and locate the point at their jugular vein to draw blood. They squeal as if we were about to slaughter them, ha!
I do enjoy my time at the farm, hands on and up close with the animals. It's kinda unreal after we stepped out of the piggery and get back into the concrete world so called. It is easy to forget about the pigs behind the walls as we go on with our life. But the reality is they are in actual fact still there, right now. As with all the farm animals out there.
I find myself thinking about the farm animals. Now and then.
I can imagine how many people may be anxious or uncertain around pigs, especially when some female pigs can get as big as 200kg and boars 300kg! That's a whole load of bacon.
The pigs we have are generally friendly and used to human contact, though some can be naughtier and try all means to make you look bad and clumsy when you wanna show the demonstrator you know how to move a pig and weigh them on the scales.
My pig was supposed to be Number 6 - but when I open the gate, Number 7 came out first so I stayed with her.
Number 7 is a very friendly female pig. Loves to sniff and nibble. I was supposed to guide and move her down the path and towards the scales. Easy job cos she knows her way! Willingly through the small gate and up onto the scales - 45kg. Pretty young about 12 weeks we were told. But they sure pile on the pounds very quickly.
Later on, we tried our hands at restraining them around their upper jaw, just behind their back teeth, with soft wire snares. Number 7 was so easy cos she's a nibbler and comes right up to mouth the wire and it was easy to just loop it over her jaw and tighten gently. Once you do that, the pig is then restrained and will generally stand for you to do your examination.
After that, we crossed over to the other pen to meet the little piglets. Before we went through the door, we could already hear them - they were loud! We learnt how to carry them, place them on their backs for health check and locate the point at their jugular vein to draw blood. They squeal as if we were about to slaughter them, ha!
I do enjoy my time at the farm, hands on and up close with the animals. It's kinda unreal after we stepped out of the piggery and get back into the concrete world so called. It is easy to forget about the pigs behind the walls as we go on with our life. But the reality is they are in actual fact still there, right now. As with all the farm animals out there.
I find myself thinking about the farm animals. Now and then.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Erratic weather for the past few days,
rain one moment, and sunshine the next.
Yesterday, just after we brought out the laundry into the noon sun, suddenly we hear a swoosh but unlike the normal wind - to our amazement....hailstones!!
Thousands of little teeny icy pebbles flew right out from the dark skies and filled up our garden. I managed to take a few shots in the open and ended up with hailstones in my hair, ha! Will share the pix later.
Lovely peaceful Sabbath. Off to church now!
Yesterday, just after we brought out the laundry into the noon sun, suddenly we hear a swoosh but unlike the normal wind - to our amazement....hailstones!!
Thousands of little teeny icy pebbles flew right out from the dark skies and filled up our garden. I managed to take a few shots in the open and ended up with hailstones in my hair, ha! Will share the pix later.
Lovely peaceful Sabbath. Off to church now!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Writing after more than
2 months!
Lots have happened since my Semester 1 exams in June - searching for a house to rent after staying in the Student Village for one semester, making applications, looking at furniture, going back home to visit family and pals, coming back to Perth again, moving into our new rental house, getting more furniture, setting up the furniture, getting readers, settling my mind into lectures and practicals....that has been a whole load of fun!
Rosemary
Lavender
Lilies
2nd week of school now. Today is a free day cos my farm prac starts next Wed - 1st stop at the piggery! Should be quite an adventure having taken a sneak peek (smell) at their quarters last Wed. I sure will be taking a whiff of them home with me!
Gonna have dinner now and later to caregroup with hot homecooked ginger chicken soup. Then our second dissection tomorrow as we continue to look deep into the dog's head and brain.
Lots have happened since my Semester 1 exams in June - searching for a house to rent after staying in the Student Village for one semester, making applications, looking at furniture, going back home to visit family and pals, coming back to Perth again, moving into our new rental house, getting more furniture, setting up the furniture, getting readers, settling my mind into lectures and practicals....that has been a whole load of fun!
We're now in a lovely neighbourhood called Canning Vale, about 15 mins drive from Uni. My fav place in the house is the garden. Lovely in the cool winter air - to just laze on the ground and enjoy the freshness, the blueness, the sweetness of the lavendar, rosemary and lilies.
Rosemary
Lavender
Lilies
Little sunbursts
2nd week of school now. Today is a free day cos my farm prac starts next Wed - 1st stop at the piggery! Should be quite an adventure having taken a sneak peek (smell) at their quarters last Wed. I sure will be taking a whiff of them home with me!
Gonna have dinner now and later to caregroup with hot homecooked ginger chicken soup. Then our second dissection tomorrow as we continue to look deep into the dog's head and brain.
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