Comments on: Appreciation

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:16:26 +0000

I love shearing time. In the past I have taken time off work to be home for the entire week so I can cook for shearers. Ours are lovely and SO appreciative! We do have a vegetarian which makes things a bit tricky though!

We are shearing at the moment (STILL!) and this year we have had to ask the shearers to bring their own lunch. I just haven’t been able to spare the time. We are paying them extra, and they don’t seem to mind.

I really enjoy the comaradarie of a shearing shed, and often go and have morning/afternoon tea with them. I also like to do a bit of shed handing as it’s GREAT exercise!

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:53:43 +0000

Thanks River. I don’t think I’ve had Lamingtons before. They sound nice though.

By: river

river — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:40:15 +0000

Maggie; lamingtons are sponge cake squares (make a slab cake, cut into squares when cold) dipped in runny chocolate icing , not too runny, but runny enough to coat easily, then straight away rolled in dessicated coconut.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:05:42 +0000

Can someone explain lamingtons for me? I’ve heard of them before but I’m still in a decongestant induced fog, trying to fight off this head cold.

I would concur with the idea of a crock pot. It might ease the cooking.

By: river

river — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:09:58 +0000

I spent time on a sheep station when I was 15. I’d been hired as housekeeper for the main house. Duties included cleaning the living room and kitchen, washing dishes and cooking for the stationhands. There were only two of those, but the amount of food I had to cook was astonishing. Start the kitchen fire at 5am, cook 2 pounds of bacon, a dozen sausages, a dozen eggs, (the family ate breakfast with the hands) a whole loaf of bread was toasted and the teapot was enormous. After cleaning up those dishes I had to straightaway start baking for smoko. The lady of the house, old Mrs G helped me out here as I had no idea, from her I learnt to make rock cakes, lamingtons (rarely eaten, too much fuss involved), plain butter cakes, scones, things that were easy and filling. I left just before shearing time so didn’t get to experience any of the hustle and bustle associated with it. I was only there for about 4 months, but I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

By: jeanie

jeanie — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:44:39 +0000

As someone else said, it sometimes takes the actual experience for others to realise what is done.

I remember working in an old folks home once, and a spry old Scottish lass (Miss Jean, actually) of 95 years young would talk about her days being a shearers cook!

By: kate

kate — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:31:01 +0000

Oh please go take some photos… they would be awesome! And please write.. I’d love to hear about it all!

And ah you must feel so good that he finally has some real understanding on what it is like to do your job…. It is something that I battle with often. I don’t want to whinge about all the stuff I have to do, because mostly I chose this role as mother and house keeper and mostly I am happy that I am able to have a choice…. but sometimes it feels like the only way to make him understand is to whinge about it… either that or run away so he has no choice but to deal with it all on his own.. if only my boobs were detachable! LOL

By: lightening

lightening — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:00:57 +0000

Gemisht - some shearers eat more than others. It’s quite tricky to work out quantities as our shearers can tend to change regularly. We only have a “two-stand shed” so it’s not as full-on as some shearing sheds.

Felicity - you never know….we’ll see what happens. I’m trying to work up the guts to go and take some photo’s in the shearing shed so I can do a post on shearing. LOL.

Ciara - Yes, knowing you are appreciated is really important. I think it’s easy to forget that and not express our appreciation for one another often enough.

By: Ciara

Ciara — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:33:18 +0000

Sometimes its the ‘thank you’ & the ‘i appreciate you’ ’s that mean the most.
The whole ‘walk a mile in my shoes’ really is an eye opener. I’m glad he’s starting to understand.
I’ve never lived on a farm but I’ve spend time on my uncle’s & I’ve seen the hard work that goes into shearing.
Look after yourself & keep smiling.
Ciara
http://simplyfriendstime.blogspot.com/

By: Felicity

Felicity — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:01:09 +0000

I think that you SHOULD make sure that you are on the payroll… hehe… I admire you for what you do. I am sure it does get tiring at times. I remember growing up (in Australia) and always hearing the ’stories’ about Shearers etc I guess also growing up and hearing about the ‘old days’… Still, I had always wanted to try it, at least just once… take care…