Blog for Sunday 13th September 2026

Wow! I shot out of bed like a bullet down the barrel of a riflethis morning as I knew we had to leave the farm and I had to be organized to do so.

I met Pumpkin at the bedroom door and we both strolled (yes, I had already slowed down!) into the dining room area for me to replenish her food bowl quickly. She also loves being scratched, tickled and brushed, so we have a little routine going every time I feed her.

I had my Quiet Time, uploaded my blog for yesterday and checked – superficially - my emails. Nothing urgent.

Yahee! When we get back home tonight I will be able to read the first two “Reflections” Hester has written and sent to me, and also the first three chapters of my sister’s children’s stories book.

So, I quickly showered, got dressed and made sure that I had packed everything I wanted to take back home with us. I realized on looking at the containers, bags and whatnots, that not all of it could possibly fit into my little car so I told Paddy to please get Matt’ to bring the container I left behind for us when he is next up on the farm..Ken had put aside two lots of things in the bottom shed but we forgot to collect them on the way down and off the farm! Never mind, next time!

We stopped in Wauchope to re-fuel and to get something to drink on the trip. So, we only left Wauchope at eleven o’clock. The reason for us leaving the farm so late was that Ken wanted to watch (and I thoroughly enjoyed watching too) the Springboks take on the Wallabies in the USA. - the recorded rugby match. We – yes, the South Africans won the World Cup this year – whoo-hoo! They really deserved it I thought – not being biased of course!

Paddy and Raafie saw us off the farm with hugs and fond farewells at the Highway gate, and I am so happy that Raafie loves Paddy – and he really, really does. It makes my heart feel a lot better about having to leave him on the farm as he would never survive here in town on a handkerchief piece of grass, compared to 500 acres of free to run-anywhere-spaces!

In Coolongalook I hopped out and ran into the shop there to buy some pies, bread and milk so I would not have to go to the shops when we got home.

Bless Mich’, she had gone several steps further for us – she had bought us a cooked chook, tiny taters, a mixed salad, a little hazelnut cake, bread and milk!

She had also done a marvelous job of painting the bathroom ceiling and the outside overhang off the kitchen while we have been away. Plus, she put in two solar lights - one at our front door and one at the gate into our unit, which looks so nice and will be very useful too. Apparently she also bought us fairy lights to put on the wall outside but I did not see those.

As I stopped the car the ducks espied us and came waddling at pace to get some bread! There were three drakes and two mother ducks – all swearing their throats had been cut and they were starving!

Once we had – huff-puff – carried everything in Ken went off to have a snooze and I set up my laptops in my study and put the food away.

Unfortunately for me, the sitting for so long and driving in the car set my aching hip-thigh-knee off again so I need to go for a slow walk tomorrow if it is not too sore. I am finding it is beginning to affect the other leg who is joining in the pain story not to be left out! Ngrrrr!

I am delighted that I brought my stick vacuum cleaner back with me as it will be so good for our bedroom and the mat in my study. My little robot vacuum does a brilliant job in our lounge and dining room areas.

I will leave all the serious unpacking to be done in the morning as I will need to do a few loads of washing too.

I think a lovely hot shower, my pajamas on, and feet up and then later I can watch “The Block” after we have eaten.

I want to go back to the farm after our cruise and slowly-slowly get things sorted out nicely for Paddy and us in the farm shed.

What lesson did I learn today? Patience – more of it I think!

What am I grateful for today? Hah! No speeding fines!

My saying for today is …