THE machine-pruning job is progressing slowly – my travelling at less than 3km/h was sufficiently slow for a couple of spirited local snails, Stanley and Steve, to take me on in a race down a row of Chardonnay last week.
Halfway down the row they actually got in front and were looking pretty happy with themselves.
Until I slipped up a gear to put the pressure on – and then missed a few canes with the machine and had to reverse a bit to remedy the oversight.
As we neared the end of the row it was once again neck and neck.
The snail nearest the tractor was actually glowing red he was trying so hard, while I was even leaning forward in the seat as if that would somehow help.
In the end I was beaten by about four snail lengths, which saw Stan and Steve celebrating (including high-fiving with their eyes).
You can’t win them all, but there was still good news – that being I haven’t noticed any ill effects after a solid six or seven weeks into the pruning job.
The wine grape marketing business is now even more challenging following Australia’s largest wine producer’s decision to up stumps with its 100,00-tonne winery complex near Mildura.
They are picking up their bat and ball and leaving the game in the Murray Valley – for good.
This publicly listed company has shown high regard for its shareholders and bugger all for the loyal producers, employees and wider community.
We have been supplying this company for more than 25 years, delivering more than 1000 tonnes per year, regular as clockwork, for much of that time.
Talk to your mates.
Meanwhile, those speedster snails are proving pretty cocky and have decided to head north, do a circuit of the country and be back home in Victoria ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
So if you see the duo (and they may already be featuring Nike logos) don’t ruin their day and tell them the Games are off.
