This
was my first attempt at writing a Christmas poem. Christmas Day at Parron Place I would always do the water
run first thing Christmas morning I believed as the manager it was my
responsibility and no-one else’s. We
always made the effort there to have all the tanks chock a block full Christmas
Eve but every now and again disaster would strike and sure enough on that day
of days one would find a leak and an empty tank
Of course when Dani and Ryan were very small they could not understand
the necessity of the water run but as they got older they came to
understand. There biggest bug bear was
the fact that they could not open there presents until the water run was done
and I’d cooked up and eaten breakfast.
As they got older they would come with me and open the gates for me in
the hope that we would get back to the house and the Christmas presents a
little quicker. I never realised at the
time how precious those hours doing the Christmas Day water run with the kids
were. There were those that told me I
should learn to delegate responsibility and still others who said that the
stock will be right for one day. I’ve
yet to find a cow that can tell me it’s Christmas Day, they still need a drink
and if the tank is empty thirsty cattle can do a lot of damage and the water
run only took a couple of hours if
everything was okay.
CHRISTMAS DAY at PARRON PLACE
Someone once told me I should
learn how to delegate responsibility,
Then perhaps I could relax
and take things easy during the Nativity.
But on Christmas Day at Parron Place I’d
always do the water run,
The kids knew that no
presents could be had until all the tanks were done.
Dani and Ryan weren’t best
pleased there were times they would cry,
“What you got to check the
water for Dad please won’t you tell us why?”
I’d tell them about stock,
how they never knew it was Christmas Day,
Besides looking after the
animals is how your father earns his pay.
I told them about the three
wise men, and of peace and good will,
About the animals in the stable
all wanting to eat and drink their fill.
Debbie told me worrying would
give me ulcers or even send me grey,
But once every thing was
checked I could relax and maybe enjoy the day.
If I didn’t check the stock
I’d worry as I tried to eat my Christmas feast,
But by checking them, I’d
know all was well with both man and beast.
While driving around the water
tanks it gave me a chance to think,
So I’d try and come up with a
story that would make both kids blink.
I told them I’d seen Santa’s
reindeer eating some of the Tagasaste once,
“Don’t be silly Dad; you’re just
kidding us and being a stupid dunce.”
As the years past and they
grew older, I think they began to understand,
About the importance of
looking after your stock and life on the land.
And as they grew and got big
enough they’d come and open gates,
It was all part of their
cunning plan to make sure Santa wasn’t late.
Once we got home I would tell
them that first I have to break my fast,
Then we would dole out the
presents and they could open them at last.
Sometimes it wasn’t all plain
sailing, especially if I found a water leak,
More than likely it would be on
tank we’d been battling to fill for a week.
Or maybe late in the
afternoon Christmas day I might have to start a bore,
No gate openers then, they’d
be playing with their toys upon the floor.
“Who is going to keep me
company?” I’d ask hoping to get a reaction,
But accompanying Dad and
opening gates had sure lost its attraction.
Those days are long gone and
the kids are both grown up adults now,
But the tanks still need
checking everyday so there’s water for the cows.
Rewritten 17/12/14 © Corin Linch 14/11/05
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