I must confess that "Farm Girl" isn't always up to the task, particularly when a job at Struan Farm involves machinery and equipment. I have tended to rely on John or nephew Mike for that sort of thing, but may have learned a lesson in that regard a day or so ago.
John and Mike were both away, and the delivery of glass for our glasshouse was made to RD1 in Piopio rather than directly to the house. So I was meant to hook up the trailer and go in and have the lads at RD1 use their forklift to load it for the return trip home.
Only problem was that I really didn't know how to hook up the trailer. Had some idea, just hadn't done it before. I found myself on the ground in good clothes, talking to John on the mobile, unable to hook the safety chain through the round hole. (Turns out there are two semi-circular holes as I reported to him.)
And so I drove out of the gate without the trailer properly hooked up. And as soon as I turned onto the main road, the trailer detached, with speeding cars coming right up behind me!
Luckily for me, the trailer just dropped off and stopped behind the car. So the car, trailer, and I weren't damaged/injured. The guys in the car driving behind me stopped and helped reattach the trailer, properly this time. I was deployed to wave frantically at oncoming traffic to slow them down and stop until they could get around us. (And I recognised at least one driver, so suspect most of the village now knows about what happened....)
After thanking the guys profusely for their help, I drove into Piopio and picked up the glass, driving home VERY CAREFULLY.
I now know how to attach the trailer properly, but am thinking that it really shouldn't have taken a life threatening incident for me to know that. I may need to learn a few more things.
Well done Karen another hurdle you have dealt with.
Posted by: Mandy | 07/27/2015 at 10:23 PM