Preparing for the big move up the drive
What actually happens once you have made the decision to sell the farm? In our case, that night we got some sleep, the next day we rang our real estate agent, then we rang our long suffering bank manager.
Five weeks later there was a signed sales and purchase agreement on our dining room table. This is when the bank man was the first person I contacted with a text message.
‘‘Guess what’s on our dining room table’’ which I was tempted to follow with a picture of our cat Harry sleeping on top of all the paper work in the sun, but I held myself back.
Our growly bank man has loosened up a bit but I didn’t think I should push it with my goal to make him laugh out loud while we are still clients.
Part of the sales agreement was the new owner would have access during December to do some major earthworks and everything else involved with putting in a feed pad, new effluent pond and redirecting some of the exit race at the cowshed.
The digger has just rolled down the driveway as I write this so the excitement of the changes ahead has become even more real.
After the paper work was signed we started our final calving as farm owners.
Stock agents were contacted to list our cows and we have booked in a clearing sale for May 2 for machinery and surplus animals.
Then numerous discussions were had around the subject of where to next for us.
Did we want to move to town and if so, what town? How would our four rather large farm dogs cope with that?
Actually, how would any town cope with them?
We could buy a do-up house somewhere? Maybe we should buy a lifestyle block or perhaps build on a large section somewhere.
Then it dawned on us, we still had our third and final section to sell so why didn’t we just keep that and build on it. Boom, decision made.
Anyone that has been to our place or Googled our Bed and Breakfast will know that we turned the front house paddock into extensive gardens with fruit trees and some very special ornamental trees that have been given as gifts.
To be honest the gardens were the only part that made us a bit regretful about selling and moving on.
However, the new guy and Geoff were standing out there one day having a yak when he said: ‘‘We are going to turn all this back into pasture so take whatever you want’’.
Geoff didn’t need to be told twice, the result is almost the entire garden, including the young fruit trees, archways, huge rocks and even a decorative fence have been picked up and moved to our 10-acre block just up the driveway.
We have been extremely fortunate that our Mr ASB has supported our transition from farm sale to bare lifestyle block.
A shed had to be built, building consents gained and water tanks delivered and having a bank manager that grasps the vision and work with you during this stage has been fundamental in bringing the big picture together.
Geoff has started working for a local contractor Ross Alexander and we bought a multi wrapper to continue seasonal work for Ross once we leave the farm.
My gorgeous niece in Brisbane then announced she was getting married and could aunty (me) perform the ceremony.
In the excitement of saying yes and sorting the legalities of that with a registered celebrant in Australia I didn’t even think to ask when the wedding was planned for.
Even Harry the cat got alarmed at my reaction when she messaged me through the wedding date – May 24!
So eight days before we are to settle one of the biggest deals of our lives, we will be in Brisbane for 72 hours attending a wedding.
In true Kiwi style Geoff and I have said quite a few times over the last few months ‘‘she’ll be right, what could possibly go wrong’’.
Have I started packing the house up?
Yes, and Geoff and I are continually sorting through stuff in the sheds into piles of burn it, keep it and sell it.
People are always asking what we will do next season and it’s our reply that gets the biggest reaction.
We are going to work with the builder, his crew and our future son-in-law Pauly as their lackeys helping to build our home.
Anyone who has followed my musings over the past four-and-a half years of life on farm with Geoff, working and living together everyday, will know that these columns could get quite entertaining after we leave the farm.
In the meantime Christmas is coming.