I took 700L

The grazier wanted me to get 800L. The sales attendant questioned the weight and possible trouble this could pose. I took 700L. I'm doing the lick run today, on our Stuart River country in the South Burnett region. I'll travel to two different paddocks each side of the river and empty out lick into feed …

How do you do it.

'How do you do it Mum? Get up so early on a cold morning and go for a walk.' I love it. Mornings are my favourite. They are the best when I am up alone. Silence is key. No radio, no conversation, no more than one light to cast many shadows across the room. It …

In the Paddock with the Grazier

I’m enjoying my one day a week in the paddock with the grazier. We don’t leave as early as he would like to. I like to have the kitchen a clean palette, ready for my return in the evening and I like to do a garden round, even if it's just a walk to make …

I get the call. I am needed.

The team has finished with the mob. I was not needed.  I went to town for supplies then lingered at the house while the tech guy attached a satellite dish to the roof. I’m at the yards now.  Watching the ‘Fat’ mob.   Mothers from the ‘Bottom’ mob call out to their calves. They stand …

Morning

It’s stiller than still. No breeze. No birds. Stars still scatter the sky, the most prominent in this early morn. I hear the vehicle disappear in the distance. Then stop. The gate will have to be opened. My people still in their beds. Dreaming in and out of early morning sleep.  They’ll have heard us …

Note to younger self

You’ll be washing clothes for days. The laundry will become your new office because washing will BE your day job. Free time from the office means more time in the kitchen. Your house will be a lived in home rather than a house full of picture perfect rooms. There will be early mornings as well …

More than just the Lick Run

“MUM! Are you coming on the lick run”… “…. no… I’ll stay here. You go, it’ll be fun. I better stay and clean up, do the beds, get tea ready, unpack.” Then I remembered my mantra for the week .. “‘The Hurry is the enemy of love’” words spoken by Steve Biddulph during his conversation with …

The right hand woman

..today was one of those feel good days.. I was needed in the yards! My role - stockhand, my job description - assist head stockman 😀 Exactly what I had to do was 'man' the gate, as we drafted one by one, assist in the assessment process and help load the truck. It's an important …

Nothing or something

I’m sitting on a stump at the solar panel at the house bore. The sun on my back, My jumper is off & wrapped around my waist, probably a little higher than my waist, makes me feel taller 😁.  There’s a sneaky cool breeze, but the heat from the sun is overriding any cold the …

The 18th Birthday

Reece turns 18 tomorrow.  He's super excited about it, although he cannot visit the local pub to experience his first alcoholic beverage as a legal patron, nor can we dine out.  All because of the dreaded pandemic. We have all put our thinking caps on in order to make this as special as can be, …