Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Closing the Gate

Gate #393 is the last & final gate that I will make... for the foreseeable future.

A big Thankyou to all the people who ordered a gate. I really appreciate your support over the last 3.5 years. 

Making 393 gates has kept me rather busy. 

Having "retired" from a 9 to 5 job about 5 years ago, making gates was an enjoyable way to fill in my days.

Gate #393.

However in 2025, January and February were challenging months for me and my Parkinson's Disease issues and it had me questioning... everything about where my life is heading. 

I like to be incontrol of my destiny, and it scares me when I am starting to lose that control.

My Parkinson's issues are numerous, and recently all seemed to step up a few gears in intensity. My balance, head pain issues, and at times just getting one leg in front of the other has been a challenge. Not to forget my right hand tremors doing their thing and at the most inconsiderate timing when using the drop saw and giving me a hell of a fright when the saw kicks back.

So I have decided to call an end to the gate making... for my own safety.

I'm now taking more than double of my Parkinson's medication, but although there seems to be a little improvement, Parkinson's is a progressive degenerative disease, there's no "getting better" pathway. It's more managing a lifestyle the best I can.

I'm very mindful, that a day will come in the near future where I will have to give up my lifestyle dream, living on my small farm. When I can't manage the day to day up keep, it's time to sell up and move back to town.

When that time comes, I will need to rehome my Arapawa Sheep... which will be heartbreaking as my breeding flock are my pets. They know me, I know their personality, I have names for some, they understand voice commands and hand signals.

In time, I will also need to find a new home for Unicorn Fibre Cleaners. So if anyone is interested in taking this on, please message me. 

Once again, Thankyou for all the gate orders.

Achievements while making gates:

> Biggest Order: 24 Gates

> Number of Gates made in 7 days: 11

> Gates have been sold to customers across the South Island, from Blenheim to Invercargill.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - A Skink!

I've been spotting this little Canterbury Grass Skink over the last month... the biggest that I have seen, but by the time I get my phone out to take a photo it quickly scurries away... but not today, it hanged around for a couple pics. 

Interestingly it seems to call home an area I fenced off and planted some natives, and the grass has gone wild as the sheep don't get at it.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Whiskers, You're A Legend!

I have never been prouder of Whiskers 🥰 as he stood his ground today, defending and protecting his 11 ram lambs from 2 yapping lap dogs going at him.

About 2pm I went to have an afternoon nap as my head was throbbing again, so I didn't initially hear the commotion until Gary came and woke me up and said there was 2 dogs attacking the sheep.  

This is one of my worst fears with having sheep... there are so many news stories about sheep being mauled. I recall hearing about 1 lady losing her small flock twice to dogs.

I ran out thinking, I'll grab my walking stick as I'm legally entitled to kill dogs that are harassing livestock on my property... so that's my end game. 

But when I saw what was going on, there were 2 Scottish Terriers focused on Whiskers as the lambs were behind taking shelter in the corner.  

Whiskers was charging at them head down, trying to scare them off before he backed up and charged again as the little mutts wouldn't give up.

I've never been prouder of Whiskers defending his ground, his home and his flock.

I ran in to take over, instantly regretting my footwear choice... jandals instead of my boots in dealing with the ankle biters, but they soon ran off home.

The neighbour hearing the commotion came looking for her dogs but no apologies or to ask how the sheep are. I did hear some yelping from their way shortly after the incident, so I guess they got their punishment.

I couldn't see any injuries to the boys although the lambs must have been frightened as they are staying huddled together.

I rewarded Whiskers with some sheep nuts and love. He knows we're on the same team.

Well done, Whiskers!