In 1931 Cliff left school, and home, for his first job a few days short of his 13th birthday. He learnt about life the hard way, working for — and living with — a variety of people from around the Hikurangi/Whangarei area of Northland. Mainly dairy farmers and their families, they included the good, the bad and the downright eccentric. This is a personal reminiscence, not a history, so I’ve changed many names to avoid offence.
Contents
You can read the stories in order by clicking NEXT at the bottom of each page, or go direct to a particular story using the links below. ~ Ian
1931–35: Dairy farming in the depression
The Professor & Miss S.
Life at the Smiths’
Everyone was happy
Progress of sorts
Learning experiences on the farm
Horses, baconers and food
Creamy and The Roan
Good people
Without feeling
The slacker with the weak heart
The biggest horse in the world
Floods and other perils
The best
The worst