Was missing in action for the last two weeks, cos had my farm prac experience at narrogin.
narrogin is 2 hours away from perth, but the farm is a bit off narrogin. it's actually nearer to the other shire, but still considered in narrogin la
The farm is called "Nepowie", it's a sheep and crop farm with 16k of sheep on 10,000ha of land (30kmX30km). owned by the White family.
The people there are sooooooo nice, definately different to the city people. they are so friendly, helpful and easy going.
So what have i done during the two weeks?
definately shifted a lot of sheep. we had been moving mobs of sheeps from paddock to paddock (hundreads to thoudands of sheep per mob).
And i've learnt how to ride a motorcycle (two wheel), coz it was needed to shift the sheep. hehhe it was really fun riding one, and i know i would never have the chance to do that in malaysia.... coz my parents think it is dangerous.... and it is dangerous! but when you're in the farm, with so many land and literally no traffic, it is a hell lot easier and fun to do it. didn't had any motorbike accidents there :P
Then i've been to the neighbour's dam to water ski!! yeap during the weekend, the farmer and his family bring their boats and jet ski down to the neighbouring farm for an afternoon of fun and relax. the dam is not big, but enough for boats, jet ski and water ski-ing.
I must say, water ski-ing might look easier.... but it is NOT.... i have to drown a few times before i barely just get it lol
the neighbour's dam
me trying to ski (0 second)
me ski-ing (2 seconds)
me drowning (5 seconds)
body surfing at the end :P
me and the gang at the end of the day
And I KILLED A LAMB!!! the lamb had a serious fly strike (fly infested on its flesh, and maggots eat the meat inside out and cause blood poison) it was pretty weak and suffering a lot. so the farmer decided to kill it to end its pain. SO he asked me, whether would i like to kill it. ofcoz he ask, and he gave me a choice. And i choose to do it.... coz i thought it would be an experience that may be somehow somewhere somewhat useful too my carrer next time. but it was a terrible experience. the gun wasn't working so i have to use a knife to cut it's throat and then break its neck. everyone asked why not just give it a sleeping neddle..... but unfortunately only vets can do that, and its too exspensive. so there was me, alone with the knife on my hand and a half dead sheep in front of me. i hesitated a while, and was really nervous. but to think of what the farmer said: "a short pain to end a long pain", i have to do it then. i had problems doing it alone, and i couldn't do it the right way (jab into the throat and pull the knife outwards), so the knife came in from the outside of the neck.... and i have to "saw" till the knife hits the neck. after that i feel extremely uncomfortable...... but it still hasn't ended yet, i have to break the neck fast to .... and i had major porblem doing that as well...... but in the end, i got it done, with myself feeeling damn crappy. really it was the worst moment of my life. emotioanlly it was really challenging to get over it. i was stunt for a moment before i regain myself and head back to meet the farmer. i remember while i was driving back everything seems so crappy. i talked to the farmer about it after that, and he said it was normal "i feel crappy everytime after killing them and even though i've been doing it for 20 years, i still dun like it. but this is part of what a farmer must do."
so pls...... i dun like it, and i dun want to do it again.
I've also witness my farmer kill his sheep for lamb meat. the same method as well, but he does it quick and effective. it was gruesome to see sheep being kill, but it was even worse to do it yourself. u might think that this is all wrong and disgusting and gruesome. but if things like this dun happen, how the hell do we get our meat from? i suddenly do think that we need to respect our butcher lor!!! lol
They say killing is bad karma.... DAMN RIGHT!!! the next day when i was shifting a mob of sheep alone with the ute, i had a some sort of a minor accident... the land cruiser got stuck when i was passing through a bank (small hill)..... then i drove towards two humps on 60km/h without knowing it.... man i tell you the car was jumping up and down, i remember myself flying up from my seat, and hitting on the roof of the car while i see dust and everything in the car flying everywhre!!! luckily i was alright, and the ute was ok too!!
And one thing: the farmer hardly get my name right!! i've been called from mark, marcus, mitch, micheal too mike, with mitch being called the most time!!! on the other hand when his 15yo son found out that i dun have an i-pod, he was SHOCKED.... coz he thinks every asian has an ipod and can throw knives like in kung fu movie.... too stereotypic of him lol. he even said that asians farm i-pod in asia lol
his 15yo son
So that were the interesting stuffs i've did during the two weeks in narrogin. i had a lot of fuuuuuuun, it was such a great experience!! all my life i have been living in the city, and this rural outback bush farm is such an eye open for me!! it was really really really great!! i'm starting to miss them already!!
sheeeeeep
more sheep
lambs (meeeh-maaattt.... they are calling me)
farm scenary lol
smilley sheep!!
shifting lost lambs
