Isla ... a little bit of the story.

Isla's the name of my favourite, a now 11-year-old cow. I'm actually Ruth. Stephan, the partner who keeps me in the manner I prefer, used to be referred to here as "The Staff", who cooks everything, builds buildings and fences, digs holes, shoots things when necessary, assists with cattle work when required, milks the Angus housecow and hankers to become a cheesemaker. He's been here since 1977 and I joined him at the end of 1995.

I breed Angus cattle, inseminate them all myself, use bulls I've bred from some of the cows, derive endless pleasure from the whole process.

The 240-acre farm now keeps itself and subsidises us, and both of us do only a little work off-farm at various times of the year. As well as farming I write about it in various places, and have become a keen photographer.

I actively fight melanoma, sexism, homophobia, and abhor stupidity and determined ignorance. I'm strongly in favour of strict adherence to dog control regulations for the sake of farming peace and the survival of Kiwi in their natural environment. I really like Puriri moths and Puriri trees!

Isla;291051 wrote:
I breed Angus cattle, inseminate them all myself, use bulls I've bred from some of the cows, derive endless pleasure from the whole process.

[:0] I think pride might have been a better word to use...I am really struggling with your use of the word "pleasure" considering the topic []

cowvet;291115 wrote: [:0] I think pride might have been a better word to use...I am really struggling with your use of the word "pleasure" considering the topic []

hmm... reminds me of a quote I have seen "Kinky is using a feather, Perverted is using the chicken"

I think you two must have very questionable reading habits or thought processes!

The Collins English Dictionary beside me defines pleasure thus:

• an agreeable or enjoyable sensation or emotion: the pleasure of hearing good music.
• something that gives or affords enjoyment or delight: his garden was his only pleasure.
• amusement, recreation, or enjoyment...

It isn't until we get to meaning 4. that your smutty thought processes even begin to be considered: Euphemistic. sexual gratification or enjoyment...

Isla;291166 wrote: I think you two must have very questionable reading habits or thought processes!

It isn't until we get to meaning 4. that your smutty thought processes even begin to be considered: Euphemistic. sexual gratification or enjoyment...

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Mummamac;307326 wrote: Quite agree Isla, but it did sound a bit 'blunt' the way you worded it ...

I've borrowed Mummamac's quote from another thread, because I didn't want to make the following personal statement in an inappropriate place.

Some of us, even with the most generous intentions in the world, can come across as brusque, blunt, gruff, churlish (but hopefully not outrightly rude). It is rarely my intention to be any of those things - I'll probably make it pretty clear if I do - but that is my writing style in this area of my communication. I am keen to share information, to help others if I can, to ask questions which might cause a useful second thought and mostly I don't surround it with flowery stuff, but my intention is still just as friendly and positive. It's easy to misread text, difficult to really clearly convey some of the subtleties of conversational English - and indeed, I'm generally almost as straight foward in person. Some people don't like it, or me, and that's ok, although that outcome wasn't my intention.

There's a little understood component of the English language called "Inference"and that can be as much about what isn't said, as what is.

I read your opening statement very much as covering the whole deal, associated with the breeding of your line of Angus cattle . Whether it be tramping through the dark on a wet rainy night to check stock, or standing on a hill scratching the back of a friendly cow and celebrating the look of ecstasy on her face; discovering the long awaited heifer calf born to a favourite cow, or enjoying the milk from the house-cow.

No questionable reading habits here

Isla;307380 wrote: I've borrowed Mummamac's quote from another thread, because I didn't want to make the following personal statement in an inappropriate place.

Some of us, even with the most generous intentions in the world, can come across as brusque, blunt, gruff, churlish (but hopefully not outrightly rude). It is rarely my intention to be any of those things - I'll probably make it pretty clear if I do - but that is my writing style in this area of my communication. I am keen to share information, to help others if I can, to ask questions which might cause a useful second thought and mostly I don't surround it with flowery stuff, but my intention is still just as friendly and positive. It's easy to misread text, difficult to really clearly convey some of the subtleties of conversational English - and indeed, I'm generally almost as straight foward in person. Some people don't like it, or me, and that's ok, although that outcome wasn't my intention.

sort of like "calling a spade a spade"...some may cover it with flowers and fluff and disguise it but that only confuses and distracts people and they forget that hidden under there is spade.
The good old trusty spade - no damn use to you covered in flowers and fluff []

Hi Isla! I enjoyed reading about your pleasures and pastimes. It sounds like you are doing well and enjoying it which is all we can ask for really. Fantastic.

I am following the spade diversion because it is a favourite of mine:

Ah but even though one should "call a spade a spade" Plutarch
because "a spade is a spade is a spade" Gertrude Stein,
"a spade is never so merely a spade as the word spade would imply" Christopher Fry - sometimes a spade can mean so much more.
and sometimes one can be tempted "to call a spade a bloody shovel" just to get the point across.
Language is such fun. I love how the good old spade has been so useful for getting digs in through history, literally and otherwise.

Hawkspur - you're not having a dig at me are you?

Oh, how droll. ... How deep! What an earthy sense of humour...

I only put the whole thing in here, spades and so on, because I didn't want to hijack someone else's thread. Isla (she of the black hair and long pedigree) has sadly caused her share of spade work recently.

cowvet;307621 wrote: Hawkspur - you're not having a dig at me are you?

Heheh! I am surprised you didn't tell me to sod off! Naah, just ploughing into an opportunity for some favourite quotes.[]

Isla;307631 wrote: Oh, how droll. ... How deep! What an earthy sense of humour...

I only put the whole thing in here, spades and so on, because I didn't want to hijack someone else's thread. Isla (she of the black hair and long pedigree) has sadly caused her share of spade work recently.

That does not sound good.

I am feeling quite indignant now....

RIP Isla - no rainbow bridges just some good old honest spade work and some great progeny to remember you by - which is how it should be.

all this talk of digging has reminded my of something funny my little girl came out with - she often tells people "My Grandpa died and he got buried".
She has mentioned it enough times that it has obviously been facscinating or confusing for her.
Imagine my delight when out working in the vege garden I turn around to see "Miss 2.5" digging away where I have just planted seeds. "What are you doing?" I scold..........."I'm looking for Grandpa" she replied sweetly

www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/vforum/showthread.php?t=16269

It wasn't.