When I was very young, I lived for a while in a rural area and I decided, then and there, that I wanted to be a farmer.
We had a neighbour who used to pay me for doing odd jobs. I remember one conversation when I was about eight years old. I said, “Joe, when I grow up, I am going to buy the farm next to yours and then we can yarn over the fence at morning tea time.”
Joe was very encouraging and said, “Yeah, that would be fun.”
My parents were more realistic. They pointed out that farming did not pay well and that I should go to university.
Logic won the argument and I went to university and on to other things, but my desire for a farm never left me.
And fifty years later, here I am on my farm.
However, my parents were absolutely right. Small scale farming incomes are a recipe for starvation. I have also discovered that a university degree is not much use when my old tractor breaks down. The mechanic must be paid.
So here I am on my farm living the life of my dreams but needing a non farm income.
Luckily for me, I was born about the time they created the first computer and during my lifetime, I have seen it revolutionise our economy.
Next to owning a farm, computing is the second great love of my life. I did my computing degree back when the university computer had less grunt than your average Blackberry. And since then I have seen, the invention mature into a truly amazing tool.
So I am here to say that a little child’s dreams can come true, even if there are a few design changes along the way.
As I sit here I can look out the window and see my Irish Dexter cattle mowing my lawn for free and at the same time, I can look into my computer screen and see what the rest of the world is doing.
Is that not marvellous to contemplate?
My dreams have come true and I am still only 60 years old!
As Burl Ives used to sing, “the best is yet to come!”
