Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a shepherd in Tokoroa ain’t just about sheep and grass. Nah, today was a wild ride. So, I wake up, right? Sun’s barely up, and I’m already thinkin’ about my flock. But first, coffee. Gotta have that liquid gold. I swing by the local café on Bridge St. The barista knows me too well. “The usual?” she says. I nod, half asleep.
Grab my flat white, and boom! I’m ready to tackle the day. But then, I hear this ruckus outside. Turns out, some kids are racing their bikes down the street. I mean, c’mon, it’s not a racetrack! They’re zoomin’ past the Tokoroa Library like it’s the Indy 500. I’m like, “Hey! Watch out for the sheep!” But they just laugh and keep goin’. Kids these days, right?
So, I head out to the paddock. It’s on the outskirts, near the old railway line. Beautiful spot, really. But today? Ugh. My sheep are acting like they’ve had too much caffeine. They’re all over the place! I’m chasin’ ‘em around like a headless chook. One of ‘em, I swear, is named Baa-bara. She’s the ringleader. I’m yellin’, “Baa-bara! Get back here!” But she just looks at me like, “Nah, mate. I’m livin’ my best life.”
After an hour of chaos, I finally get ‘em sorted. Just as I’m catchin’ my breath, my phone buzzes. It’s my mate, Dave. He’s like, “You gotta come to the park, bro! There’s a food truck!” Now, I’m a sucker for good kai, so I’m off to the Tokoroa Domain.
When I get there, the smell hits me. Man, it’s like heaven! Tacos, burgers, you name it. I grab a mean burger from the truck. It’s massive! I’m tryin’ to eat it, but it’s fallin’ apart. I’m covered in sauce, lookin’ like a right mess. But who cares? I’m happy as a pig in mud.
Then, outta nowhere, I see this old fella, Mr. Thompson. He’s the local legend. Always has a story to tell. He’s sittin’ on a bench, grinnin’ like a Cheshire cat. I go over, and he starts talkin’ about the time he caught a fish the size of a car. I’m like, “Yeah, right, mate!” But he’s so animated, I can’t help but laugh.
But then, the mood shifts. I see a couple of blokes arguing near the playground. It’s gettin’ heated. I’m thinkin’, “Not today, fellas. Not in my Tokoroa.” So, I stroll over, and I’m like, “Oi! What’s the drama?” Turns out, it’s about a game of footy. I’m like, “Boys, chill! It’s just a game!” They look at me, and I swear, they realize how silly they are. They shake hands and walk off. Crisis averted!
After all that, I head back home. I’m knackered but feelin’ good. Tokoroa’s got its quirks, but it’s home. I sit on my porch, watchin’ the sunset over the hills. It’s peaceful. I think about my day—sheep chasin’, food trucks, and a bit of drama.
And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Tokoroa, you crazy little town, you’ve got my heart.