Blog for Friday 18th April 2025

Voeps! And there I was standing alongside our bed with Raafie still pushing z’s around our bedroom whilst warmly snuggled under the duvet, but I was wide awake and ready for the new day!

One more day and my man will come home! I am getting so excited to give him is birthday gifts, I cannot wait!

I had my Quiet Time at the dining-room table as it was quieter for Paddy and Matt’ if I remained downstairs. Well, that was the idea, but Raafie knew they were here and barked at their door to go and snuggle in bed with Matt’ or Paddy! I had to let him in as it would be quieter for them. The little scallywag! But once he gets into bed with you, he goes fast asleep and does not move – he is like a furry hot water bottle.

It was nice to know that Paddy and Matt’ were here with me and good to see Paddy come through for a hot drink – he is drinking tea now and is off coffee because of his blood pressure playing up something ‘orrid!

Matt’ arose from his bed a bit later and then both Paddy and Matt’ were out and about, making plans for the day and weekend, moving the tractor, quad bikes, trailer and whatever! There was an awful lot of activity going on outside.

Then Paddy came flying back to the top shed saying that Ken had just notified him that we had cattle on the Highway. Oh, the wretched bovines! – honestly, they are climbing almost a vertical bank to get out to nibble on the scantily grassed Highway. R-e-a-l-l-y!

But oh-dear! Paddy drowned the quadbike – properly! He was trying to herd the wretched bovines back onto the farm and the river crossing there looked fine and shallow enough, but … then suddenly the bike disappeared with him and Raaife on it! Note, Raafie remained on the bike as he was not game to get into the river! And Raafie is a water baby!

I am so happy that we use Optus now, which means we are able to contact anyone anywhere on the farm, and that Paddy did, calling Matt’ to come and rescue them.

I saw Matt’ legging it out on the tractor off to the back of the farm or to where Paddy and Raafie were stranded. Paddy was holding the quad bike from floating merrily, merrily down the stream! As you do!

I had no idea of what was happening, but then I saw the tractor towing the quad bike and realized something had happened, as it does on the farm!

Honestly, how can anyone be bored on a farm, I ask you with tears in my eyes?

Although it was only mid-morning – neither Paddy or Matt’ had had breakfast so I made them some toasted sarmies – ham, cheese and mayo’- to bring their energy levels up again!

Paddy and Matt’ were determined to sort the quad bike out quick smart, but it got to the place where it was beyond their understanding and experience so Matt’ took it down to our friend Peter.

Paddy went out to do more fencing – hoping that he had found the place where these bovines are bolting through. And later Matt’ came back and began ploughing – preparing the Small River Camp for planting.

While they were out working and bringing the cattle home, I wrapped up Ken’s birthday gifts…

I scrubbed the braai as Paddy said he would like to braai the steak for me tonight – I have a nice Rib Eye steak for that. I will grill it if I see that time is running out and he is still out fencing as  it is getting dark a lot quicker now in the evenings.

Paddy made the fire and Matt' did the braaing for us.

I am delighted to tell you that I eventually defrosted that one fridge that was solid ice, so that was a good thing to tick off my To Do List.

I also worked on my birthday celebration invitations. Mich’ (our youngest daughter) needs emails, addresses and names of the people to be invited – so I worked on that for her.

I also found in the ice of the fridge that I defrosted some meat that I cooked up for the dogs tonight. They will not know themselves they will be so happy!

Late this afternoon or early this evening Peter phoned to say that he had got the quad bike working! Brilliant man! W shall all go to sleep smiling!

What lesson did I learn today? Challenge: To find the funny in the un-funny situations!

What am I grateful for today? How hard and how well Paddy and Matt’ work together to do things on the farm. They are a HUGE blessing!

My saying for today is …