Retirement: Akimbo

 It has been two months since I retired and moved to my smallholding in the Wairarapa with my wife and two extremely useless and pampered dogs. I haven’t settled into a routine yet, but a pattern seems to be emerging. The alarm insinuates at 9.00am. I have the vague feeling that I should be getting up and engaging in something useful. I briefly emerge from my cosy, warm cocoon to brew a cup of tea and then it’s back to bed. I turn on the computer and begin to write. I’m happy to engage in this activity until about 11.00am after which I rise for a leisurely breakfast. If the weather is kind I break my fast on the patio with a second cup of tea. Then the day begins.

As we are new to the property there is much to do but there is no incentive for haste. The garden requires attention. With 2.5 acres of lawn, the mowing is not a simple job and occupies most of the day using the ageing ride on mower which came with the property. Other gardening chores can take priority. For instance, we have already planted fruit trees, potatoes and onions in the vegetable plot. Tomatoes, carrots and lettuce have taken root in the greenhouse.

Gardening does not happen every day and when it does I try to balance the activity with other physical endeavours. As a matter of preference, I like to spend time in the barn where I indulge my new-found love for carpentry. I confess I’m not a gifted woodworker and have never considered myself skilled or dextrous when it comes to practical work but I persevere. I’ve completed a 6-foot workbench with vice and attached sander; built several archery targets, a shave horse; a ten bow wall mounted archery rack and I’m engaged in two separate bow projects.

I’ve plenty of space to shoot and try to practise with the bow on days when it's not raining. I have already met several likeminded archers and when the weather turns dry and hot in late spring I’ll organise and host a BBQ and target shoot.

On a perplexing note, the local blackbird has taken exception to his reflection in our windows and if not shooed away will spend his day tapping and crapping on the window and patio; no doubt defending his territory from the phantasm interloper and rival. I did consider shooting the annoying little bugger with my newly acquired rifle but my wife has softened my heart with her entreaties to desist. I’ll wait until she embarks on one of her day-long shopping trips to the ‘big city’. Tis a different story with regard to the rabbits. The property contains several warrens and the bold little bunnies can be seen hopping about the lawns during the day. However, dusk is the time when they emerge in force. Patience and a rifle fitted with a scope herald the time of slaughter. Rabbit is a tasty addition to the pot especially if you get them young enough. A tasty reminder of when I used to go a rabbiting with my dour, taciturn granddad, as a lad. Go Shagger! Arse.