Blog for Saturday 7th February 2026

I was up and out of bed at four this morning. But I had had a turbulent and broken sleep last night and Ken had woken me up to stop my nightmare again! Shoo! I thought by this time in my life I would have outgrown this nonsense, but … obviously not!

I had my Quiet Time downstairs this morning as I had worked on my laptop in our living area last night where the air con’ was working and left it down there overnight.

That meant there were no creaking stairs this morning as I did not go up to my studio. I hoped that Paddy would be able to have a good sleep-in this morning without any noise.

But … honestly, who am I kidding – the rooster begins his showing-off crowing when I get up, the bulls were bellowing and fighting, and guess what …

When I thought Paddy would be awake this morning, I went out quietly to ask him if he would like a coffee, but alas, he was not in the bed he had been sleeping in, but he saw me and shouted, “Here, Mum, I am over here!” And there he was in another bed!

Why, you ask – only on a farm … two nights ago Paddy thought he smelt something rotten, possibly dead - he thought that it maybe something that had snuffed it outside and the smell was wafting in the window above his bed. But last night he discovered what and where the smell was coming from – his bed! He had maybe sent an unsuspecting lizard to its death by squashing it by rolling on it by mistake, or Raafie had brought a love-gift for Paddy! W-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l! Life on the farm!

At about half past nine our friends from Port Macquarie – Frik and Adri popped out to pay us a visit, which was so nice of them. I have not spent much time alone with Adri and the two of us got on like a house on fire. Frik and Ken worked on the oven for me, but in the end Frik said he would try and source a switch but thinks the stove has had its day.

Adri and Frik brought us a delicious caramel sponge cake for tea, and I had a plate of biscuits and a plate of egg sandwiches to add to our tea time treats.

For lunch I put out several different bowls of - sliced cold roast chicken and a bowl of tuna, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions – sliced cucumber – grated cheese – sliced lettuce and lots of different mayonnaises, chutneys and relishes. Everyone made their own sandwich or sandwiches. It was the easiest way as I was not sure of who ate what, and in this heat, it is hard to know what to serve as most of us are not really that hungry.

Paddy came in for lunch but was soon out mending the fences where the bellowing and fighting bulls had ploughed through.

After lunch Frik went fishing but only for a short while as there were no fish biting at all, and then at about three o’clock they waved their fond farewells to return home to Port Macquarie. It was a lovely visit, and I would definitely like to spend more time with Adri as we have a lot more in common than I thought.

Paddy came in at about four-ish – hot, sweaty and whacked from the heat, and he had finished mending the fences. (although I think that is an oxymoron – I do not think a farmer ever finishes mending fences!) He had a shower and went to rest for a bit.

Tonight, we will have the leftovers from lunch – maybe toasties – or just plain sandwiches to finish off the bowls from lunchtime. I made toasties.

Oh yahee! I have managed to swop my Sunday School duty with another teacher, as I will not be here next Sunday. Anne has offered to stand in for me and I will do her duty the following Sunday. Good!

Tomorrow Ken and I are on tea duty – so I must not forget to buy milk on our way into Wauchope for that.

What lesson did I learn today? To enjoy having company.

What am I grateful for today? Finding out how much Adri and I have in common.

My saying for today is …