COLLEGE CALENDAR

11 January 2002




COLLEGE CALENDAR

Charlie King is a

19-year-old first-year,

studying an HND in

Agriculture at Bicton

College in Devon

When I arrived back at home from college for the Christmas break (wishful thinking!), I was surprised to find that the rusty old post-basher had been removed from the patch of nettles into which it had been purposefully dumped many years ago.

Following the welding on of a telehandler bracket, it was also receiving grease and a lick of JCB-yellow paint. This, together with the piles of posts, wire, staples, struts and strainers that sat in the shed could only mean one thing: a fencing mission.

I dont know whether it was the fumes from that paint – or just the colour – that helped make the decision, but the next week a new JCB arrived. Whichever it was, there are no complaints from my direction and the new machine and recycled post-basher have been put to good use.

Most of my and brother Toms time has been spent removing and replacing old fence posts and rusty barbed wire – cutting hands through worn fencing gloves in the process and fighting over the reason we cant afford new ones: the JCB.

We have, however, found time in the evening to get our band Tweka up and running again as bad light means there is only so much work that can be done in a day.

There was also my 19th birthday and the Christmas and New Year social calendar ensuring there were many good nights out and inevitably the slow, unproductive mornings that hangovers bring. At least at college, I dont have to get up at 5.30am.

As well as the farm work and social activities there are, of course, the ongoing college assignments on parasites and crop diets that also require time and energy.

It is hard to believe that in one term I have taken on board so much information. So far the course has been largely science based, but at the end of January the second semester makes way for modules on production. Hopefully this will stem the comments from the National Diploma and National Certificate students about the cleanness of overalls and wellies belonging to us "desk farmers".

Kate Oleszko is a 21-year-old fourth year degree student on an Agriculture

with Animal Science course at Harper Adams in Shropshire

Christmas spirit, hype, excitement and looking forward to a long-awaited break brought the long autumn term at college to a close. It was the longest stretch without a break. Eleven weeks; thats 77 days of hard work.

Cold crisp days with the sun shining remind me what a beautiful time of year winter is – well, until you go out in the mornings and your car is thickly frosted over.

But Christmas is my favourite time of year. With the shops full of festive gifts, it gave me a reason to go on a mega shopping spree!

The end-of-term ball saw mistletoe causing chaos as kisses were generously given out to all! Tinsel and glitter sparkled and everyone merrily danced the night away. It was a ball to remember – the last of 2001 and my last Christmas Ball while Im here at Harper.

Harpers carol service at the church in Edgmond reminded us of the true meaning of the season. We sang along to all the carols, and, as always, when the organist started playing "While shepherds watched their flocks by night…" I started to sing the "other" version… "While shepherds wash their socks by night all seated round the tub, a bar of soap came floating down and they began to scrub…"

The last day of term for 2001 came and went and everyone packed up and headed home for the holiday. Sherry and mince pies and a chunk of pre-Christmas cake awaited some. For others it was a pint down their local. I was keeping my fingers crossed for snow so I could go out sledging down the fields back at home then come back inside and get warm by the fire before dinner.

My wish for snow was, in fact, granted this year, albeit it a few days late.

Happy New Year to you all, and lets hope that 2002 will be a successful year for all of us.


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