Day 97 Just after getting into bed last night I heard a noise, I am paranoid about snakes so I am wondering what is in the bedroom, apart from Andy that is, the wind was blowing the blinds against the window frame, I was comfortable with that noise, what I wasn’t comfortable with was the noise of things moving on the nearby bookshelf. Flicking on the torch and scanning the area I could see nothing “I must be imagining things”, there is nothing there. Switching off the torch I lay back down to go to sleep. A few minutes later another noise alerts me as I heard a rustling of the papers that I have in my bag next to the dressing table, laying still I listen hard then hear a scratching noise on the door. ... read more

Day 95 The day started early again for Andy, he got up to help Helen down at the local hall, which had recently had a new kitchen but there was a dust storm shortly after and it seems that the dust had been blown under the door which left a layer more than an inch thick in places. Helen had arranged a team for a clean up and Andy went down just in case there was any heavy work to be done. I could still see smoke around when I got up. It was quite thick in places and I could not see the mountains in the distance that had graced this landscape so beautifully when we first arrived. Today was all about Jack; he was being castrated today and was due for collection from the ... read more

Day 94 I could taste and smell smoke, it must have still been thick in the air from yesterday, I knew Andy had got out of bed early, it was still vaguely dark, I felt very sleepy as we had gone to bed late last night, but there was a cup of tea awaiting my attention. I cannot see the mountain in the distance, the smoke was still hanging around, this is still smoke from Victoria and the sun is almost completely blocked out by it, the day is much cooler, they say it will be 10 degrees cooler, it is currently in its early twenty’s but expected to hit its early thirty’s. Robert and Helen have just arrived back from Sydney, the dogs are playing on the lawn but it is not long before some ... read more

DAY 92 My damn body clock went off again and I was up and out of bed at 5.15, as Robert and myself were taking 13 Rams about 300 Kilometres to Crookwell. Robert had left some sheep off for agistment and we were taking 13 burley rams to sort them out ( If you know what I mean). Helen was up and was a bright a breezy as usual and Robert was quietly eating his toast and sipping his coffee. Last night I didn’t really sleep that well, I had a false start to the day when I got up and dressed, then looked at my wristwatch and it was half past three, so I reversed and got back in to bed, and I think I just didn’t want to be late for Robert as ... read more

Day 90 It had been a very hot night, no not what you are thinking! The temperatures have been soaring here and the night time is no exception. It has also been the first time we slept indoors in a proper bed for over a month, what bliss. Although with the heat I had not slept very well, so, it did not come as too much of a shock when Andy said to me it was 5.30, time to get up, I had anticipated an early call and it was surprisingly easy to get up and with the day. I was slightly behind the rest of the household though. While I had a cup of tea and some cereal, Robert, Helen and Andy all went down to the shed to get the equipment ready in order ... read more