Monday, December 3, 2012

Big Smoke!


We offered our wool to the buyers last week in Sydney.
We decided to pack the car and take a little time out. 
We drove all the way to Sydney town, the big smoke!

Day 1....Selling our wool. Our wool left our farm in big bales, now a little bit from every bale is in a box for the buyers to look at. The shed is enormous and there is wool everywhere...some in boxes and some stacked in really heavy bales ready to be shipped.




We look at our wool in the boxes to see how it has been prepared. 
There is always things we can do better.





There are lots of things to see and learn here.....
You wouldn't believe what they have found in the bales of wool after they have left the farms.
All this rubbish!



I was very lucky, and got to sit in the room when they sold our wool. 
I was going to write the prices down BUT
It all happens very fast, lots of numbers and hammer banging. 
I couldn't keep up, I was a little bit nervous.




You can listen here....can you keep up?
The buyers call out the amount of money they are prepared to pay for the wool, they bid against each other. The man next to me calls it out loud for everyone to hear.
When the bidding stops he bangs the hammer, that means it is sold to the highest bidder.
It is called an open cry auction.
Our wool could end up anywhere in the world, there are buyers here from all countries. The main buyers are from China, India and Italy.





We sold some of our wool and some we have kept. The market for wool goes up and down all the time. It is not too bad now but we are taking a bit of a gamble and hoping it might get better.

After the wool sale finished I was ready for some fun.....in the sun...



and a little bit of sight seeing



All the boxes ticked....some wool sold....a drive over the Harbour Bridge...lunch by the Opera House and  a bit of fun on the beach. Sydney was fun. I love the beach and seeing some of my FarmDay friends. I can't wait to visit again!

Back to the farm...the weather is REALLY HOT. 
We have only been away a few days and summer hit hard. It is really dry.
Dad says that may be the last trip away for a while, the risk of fire this summer is bad.
The last two summers we have had alot of rain and the risk of fire was low.

Now we need to keep our eyes open and look out for big smoke!

8 comments:

  1. Hi
    Thanks for showing us how the wool is sold.

    I am glad you enjoyed your short trip to Sydney.

    Merry Christmas to you all.
    Mandy Cuneo KMC teacher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Mandy

      I am really glad that you and your students enjoy my blog. Feel free to ask any questions at any time.

      You live in a beautiful city, I hope I can visit again soon!

      Merry Christmas and I hope Santa finds you all!

      Delete
  2. Thank you for this wonderful post, prior to mental illness curtailing my career I was a stock agent / auctioneer then a real estate agent, I haven't seen a wool auction since the mid 80's, your video is brilliant especially with K T in there.
    Please have a lovely Christmas and may 2013 bring bountiful rain and burgeoning commodity prices.
    Peter Gilmour
    Cobram on the Murray
    Facebook - Murray Darling Basin Connection
    www.savemdbasin.blogspot.com.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter

      I am glad you enjoyed this post, I enjoyed Sydney and all my adventures. Could you tell I was nervous in the wool sale? It all happens really, really fast. It takes much longer to grow wool than it does to sell it. The rest of our wool will be sold in 2013...we do hope the market goes up then. Fingers crossed.
      Stay cool and have a great Christmas!



      Delete
  3. How exciting being so close to the action KT! It was brilliant to be able to return a tiny part of your hospitality from our farm stay in the big smoke - may there be many more! The Lenehans. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Felicity

      It was fun to see the wool sold BUT not as much fun as spending time in your piece of paradise. I love Narrabeen. One of my favourite things I did on my holiday was play with Oliver, B and Miss Molly I can't wait to come back again! (P.S I did get a bit sunburt though!)

      Delete
  4. I’m hearing lots of great things about KT’s life from many sources, well done to you and KT!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This particular papers fabulous, and My spouse and i enjoy each of the perform that you have placed into this. I’m sure that you will be making a really useful place. I has been additionally pleased. Good perform! popular types of vaping devices

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...