Blog for Saturday 6th December 2025

Well, "Good Morning world!"

I hopped out of bed on the dot of four this morning, looking a little crumpled but ready to live the height, depth and width of this new day.

It was a nippy start to the day. I wrapped myself in my dressing gown, made my coffee and tiptoed up the stairs to my studio. There I had my Quiet Time to begin my day.

I was happy that Paddy stayed another night here with us as he was so hot and tired and the thought of him having to drive all that way back home to the Central Coast as well was not good.

As soon as Paddy was ready, he was out and doing stuff on the farm – fencing, electric fencing, threading the wire through the pickets, moving cattle, putting out more silage for the cattle and so on.

I worked on the area at the back of the top shed moving things around to neaten the place. Then I took nine of my watercolor paintings – done of stylized African women – and which were dusty, cob-webbed and dire need of some TLC They had been in one of those large wooden boxes when we had to pack up the whole shed to polish and seal the concrete floor in here.

So, I dusted each one, then used a toothbrush to get into the corners where the dust was hanging on for dear life, then I wiped and dried them. Now all nine are looking clean and sparkling once more.

Once I had done that, I carried out another four fans – I had already cleaned several of them - for me to clean. I left them out by our front door so that when the shade got there I would dissemble and wash each and every fan, but the heat was so intense I dared not work out there. My skin hates the sun, and I get an allergic reaction to it so best I just stay out of the sunshine, especially when it is so terribly hot.

Sample of my paintings on left

I worked inside for a bit longer by working on my menus for when Mich’, Robert. Josh’ and Paulina are with us over Christmas. They will be with us for six days before they head up to Queensland to visit Robert’s cousins who live up there.

Ken has had a good day, just sleeping and resting. Basically, lying horizontally for most of the day, which will allow his body to heal pronto!

Again, today none of us felt like eating but we consumed vast amounts of water, cordial, coke, and coffees. I am hoping that the rain we are meant to get tomorrow will break this heat wave.

As the Highway was cleared of that fire down at Bulahdelah today, Paddy decided to head back home. He left the farm at half past four and arrived back home safely.

What lesson did I learn today? That slow and ready wins the race!

What am I grateful for today? For all the work that Paddy did while with us and that he was here to help Ken when he had that fall.

My saying for today is …