chook rationing

4.2.2020

The big news today is that Pip has gone into labour.  Bo has driven down to Ocean Grove to look after Pele when they have to go to hospital.  We are all just holding our breath and praying that everything goes OK. None of us could stand another drama like the one we had when P was born. We are also hoping that by the time they get home with the new baby P will no longer be infectious with chicken pox.  There is no way he could be in contact with Pip or the new baby until he is in the clear.

I think that this is the time when Bo takes over as lead woman in our family.  I have had this role since we arrived in Australia as migrants when I was just 30 years old. I have spent the last 42 years trying to keep a strong family ethic where there was always support for everyone and regular get togethers to maintain bonds.  Now we are basically on home detention due to the virus rules.  Bo is picking up post and shopping for us. This is the second week of lock down for us and so far, it is OK. I think that the experience of living in the central desert where there were no shops, banks, cafes or anything was good training.

I did get one trio out this week to picked up my ration of four young chooks.  It has been a huge effort just to get these girls. Chooks have been selling out so fast that there is a shortage!  To get my girls I had to get up really early and drive to the chook farm. The drive out was bliss. The sun was just beginning to shine through the morning mist and the pinnacles were like floating islands in the clouds. Despite my early start there was a queue of people at the chook farm already in line at suitable spacing when I arrived.  Everyone looked deadly intent and there was no conversation.  This was serious business!   

When I got to the front of the queue, I was met at the shop door, my money taken, and a receipt paper handed over.  Next I had to cross the yard to the chook shed where the owner was very busy stuffing cardboard boxes with two chooks each. II did not even get to look at them. It was bizarre, but very efficient. Two boxes were rapidly passed out of the door over a make-shift counter. And I left as soon as possible to let the next person collect his order.

 Apparently, there will be no more available until the end of April, so I am glad I got up at the crack of dawn and get the four that I did.  We usually buy more than a dozen at this time of year if we have not raised our own day-olds, but I do not resent the ration system.  Four chooks would provide enough winter eggs for a family, so It is only fair to share them in this way.

We usually provide eggs for several families but this winter we may have to cut down on this service.  At least we will have eggs for our own family members.  I am told that the local shop only has intensively produced eggs now, but I am relying on second-hand information about shops now.

Other farm work goes on as usual. We borrowed a star picket driver and put in a temporary fence so the goats can come and go from the top paddock and I have been busy making soap and cheese from the goats’ milk.  Our beans are finally stopped producing but a lovely lot of frilly yellow lettuce has germinated and is growing well.