Culinary Classics - Working from dawn to dusk

Having spent all but five years of their married life on a farm near Kaponga, Marie and Jim Frandsen have moved to town and still don't consider themselves officially retired. They are far too busy.
Marie grew up on the farm and her earliest memory is when she was just three, watching silage being stacked into a pit. Somehow she got too close to the pulley and her left thumb was sliced clean off. The brave little girl hid her hand under her `pinny' but when her father noticed the fountain of blood, he rushed her to Hawera hospital.
An earlier story told to Marie about her birth involved her father hitching the horse into the dray, helping his wife up onto the milk stand in order to step into the dray and making the journey from Palmer Road to Kaponga. There, Marie's mother stepped out of the dray into the cattle race at the saleyards, which were located next to the maternity home, and proceeded to walk to their destination.
Marie was the youngest of five children, all of whom were educated at the Convent School in Kaponga, travelling there by pony. Marie then worked on the farm for a meagre 10 per month. She kept 45 ducks, feeding them on curd from the factory and sold the eggs to Barclay's Store at Okaiawa. Bicycles were the main mode of transport and longer trips (to Hawera) were by horse and gig.
Marie and Jim met in Christchurch when Marie and her parents stayed with the Frandsens who had befriended her older sister. Jim was working nights in a bakery and was actually in bed when the Candy family arrived one morning, and that was how Marie first clapped eyes on her future husband. They exchanged letters for a couple of years until Mr Candy suggested Jim find work in Taranaki. Jim got a job with a builder in Kaponga and later proposed to Marie. Together they saved hard and by 1953 when they married, they had a new, mortgage-free house to live in. They lived frugally and were able to buy a new FJ Holden for 898 in 1955.
For a couple of years they worked on the farm then returned to town, before moving to the farm permanently in 1961 and purchasing it two years later. Their herd of 45 cows was milked in a three bail walk-through shed and later doubled up to milk six at a time. The yard was made of cobblestones which were washed down with buckets of water. Wet weather gear was essential during milking if the rain came from a northerly direction. In 1967, Jim built a brand new, 10 bail step-up shed, the second in Taranaki to supply Kiwi Dairy Co.
Palmer Road was a typical, narrow country road, basically one-way for many years. After the council widened it on the eastern side only, the new, smooth surface proved irresistible to locals who proceeded to drive on the wrong side when travelling north.
Jim readily acknowledges Marie's stamina and ability to work hard from dawn to dusk, as she had to for her father, who ran a tight ship. Jim `sacked' Marie from milking duties in the early 80s after her hand was injured by a flying hoof. When their son took over managing the farm, which now runs 112 cows, Jim returned to the building industry. Marie, who has been a member of CWI forever, sewed all her three children's clothes as well as her own. She always tended a large productive vegetable garden and extensive flower gardens.
Kaponga was a thriving small town, boasting dozens of shops and all manner of professional services such as banks (4), dentist, doctor, fire station, garages (2), solicitor/lawyer, schools (2) and even a bus service and taxi. Hardings furniture factory supplied the Frandsens' original table and chairs (made by Stan Hawkins) which, more than 58 years later, still look new. Selwyn Lissaman, the chemist, was in the town as early as 1900, and eventually sold out to Lionel Nesbit. There were two dairy factories,
Kaponga Dairy Co. and Mairie, a branch of Mangatoki Dairy Co. Harry Bond, a Chinaman, was a confectioner and fruiterer, and Wally Verko was the local baker. Bernie Dick had a hairdressers and billiard saloon. Newton King and FCOS were huge produce stores. Sport clubs catered for bowling, croquet, rugby, cricket and hockey.
The Frandsens' mutual interests included bowls and Marie won several indoor championships. They have been members of Eltham Savage Club for many, many years and when Jim, who is a Life Member, was Dominion President for two years, he appreciated the support of Marie who was his unofficial adviser, organiser and general P.A. Lifelong friendships throughout the country were forged through their involvement with the club.
For many years the club held dances, with music provided by its own dance band. Marie and Jim, long time dancers, enjoyed all of the old time dances such as the fox trot, quick step, waltz, gay Gordon and maxina, to name a few. The club still has an entertainment group which visits retirement homes and other affiliated clubs.
Jim is diabetic and he and Marie have assisted the local support group for a long time. Jim is currently the co-ordinator and Marie supplies scones for afternoon tea.
For 25 years the couple have made an annual visit to their daughter and family on the Gold Coast of Australia. Early this year they did something right outside their comfort zone, and rode the big roller coaster at Movieworld. Marie doesn't remember much about it as she kept her eyes and mouth closed the entire ride.
Jim, whose great grandparents came from Denmark, has written his life story and is currently working on Marie's, a wonderful legacy for their extended family which will soon include eight great grandchildren. Their 58 years together is testament to working has a team and supporting each other. And the secret to a long and happy marriage? Tolerance and understanding, according to this contented couple.
The featured recipe was one Jim's mother used, and at Christmas, Marie makes it in a cloth. It can also be divided into three smaller bowls and boiled for half the time.
Nana Frandsen's Plum Pudding
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 cups milk
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp baking soda
3 cups fruit
2 tsp mixed spice
Heat milk and butter until quite hot.
Add soda, and mix with flour mixture.
Boil 2 hours. (Place bowl on plate in covered saucepan.)