Friday, October 10th

Last day of the exchange, but a busy one.  First stop was a farmers market plus a celebration of some sort as it happened just on this day, at Feilding.  First of all, this town is very much like any Central Plains farm town - except with lots of people.

Families all over the place.  Sort of a carnival atmosphere - geared in many ways to children.  There was an inflatable slide, pony rides, lots of animals to see and pet, sheep races.  Yes and a number of farm tractor and implement displays.We wandered around, got lost from one another, found each other, got lost again, and so on.  It's still a bit odd to be thinking "Spring" in October.  The farmers garden had some pretty nice plants and foods.  It was nice to think of planting and growing tomatoes or herbs or whatever and not raking leaves and preparing for winter.

Oh, yeah.  Only in a Brit country.  They had a "gumboot" race.  Gumboots are those rubber Wellington boots that the farmers around here like to wear.  We really saw the need at our next activity.  Anyway, the contestant pairs dress up in some goofy costume and then have a relay where the boots are the baton.  Not sure who actually won.  The first set seemed most determined.  The others just goofed off for the crowd.  Good for a laugh.

Our next stop was the livestock market - both sheep and cattle.  And this included the

auctions.  David didn't know if it smelled or not, being blessed with a reduced sense of smell.  But seeing folks with their noses covered may have been a clue.  And, of course, the demonstrated need for gumboots as we passed by the pens.  The sheep were auctioned off at the pens - reputedly the largest sale pens in New Zealand.  Typical auctioneer - spoke a word stream.  Tried to catch the buyers bidding, 
but it was not easy.  There are three guys assisting the auctioneer in catching the signals.  The cattle auction was pretty much the same except it was held in a large building where groups of cattle are sold at a time.  The same machine gun speaking auctioneer with his helpers.  Here, the spectators and buyers could sit in a gallery as the cattle passed through, and not be at the pens.  This has to do with the height needed for pen railings, I think.  Anyway, it was fun to listen and watch them manage the animals.  Along with some very smart dogs.

Early Carriage/Cart

Our last activity was a stop at what is called the "Coach House Museum".  Normally, I don't care much for museums, but this one was an exception.  Basically it tells the history of the settling of New Zealand in the Feilding area (oh, and yes, the name is spelled properly - took me a while to catch on) through their use of tools. 

Peddler's Wares and Wagon

All kinds of weird and strange farm machinery, lots of old and nasty-looking tools, including one-handled and two-handled buck saws plus very large axes. 

Probably a third of the exhibits were dedicated to good old John Deere.  Tractors, trucks, other devices all the familiar green and yellow, dating back to some very early days.  And, according to one of the volunteers, many could still operate!

Back home for a bit.  Now what's left is the farewell dinner - a potluck, which Joy and I always seem to enjoy.  This time it's at a newish home of one of the members.  Big house with lots of windows, and an even bigger yard complete with huge pond, running streams and a wide variety of flowering plants and decorative bridges.  The house looks over it, and it is spectacular.  Too bad David left his camera at home.  Great food - lots and lots of people.  The best part came at the end, after all the requisite speeches.  All of he homeowners children are musicians.  As we mingle before dinner, an older son entertains us on the piano - playing by ear - some really nice stuff that us oldies like.  Then, after dinner the real surprise.  The next oldest son - probably about 15 - sits down at the piano and performs a beautiful classical number for us.  Followed by his 13-year-old brother, who is equally talented.  When we say talented, we mean really, really good!  And just before we get ready to leave, the youngest - maybe 10 or so, comes up and shows what he can do on the violin (I was told that he started on the piano and then switched) - for huge and enthusiastic applause.  What a talented family!  And when not playing for us, they all acted like just your average boys and girl (only one in the group - these were grandchildren).  This was the best farewell dinner we've attended!