Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Proud Owners of a Tractor
As usual it's been a long time. We've been in Sydney (where else) and for those of you who haven't heard, I'm about to re hash the whole sorry 5 weeks again.
So we had the big family reunion on the June long weekend at the Harbour View Rocks. Well what a hoot. 56 turned out and I am pleased to say it started at midday and finished around 10.00 pm. Not bad for a bunch of oldies. Mum was convinced she was Paris Hilton for the afternoon, without of course all the additional trimmings the media and world would soon forget. Not sure where that one came from, I think because everyone was waiting on her.
Following that social success, I had commenced a round of coffee catch ups with work ops and Megsie went into the EIA's office to work (complaining all the way about having to wear proper work clothes instead of the trackies she usually hangs out in on the farm!). The coffees paid off and, after a good 6 weeks or so of rest and play, I scored some work with CBRE which I am currently doing remotely. Of course before starting work I had my list (yes that list that list which is on the fridge) of things to do which I meandered my way through. Plus as Thom was pretty round by this time, I did some things around the house and went shopping with Thom after she finished up at work.
Which brings me to Thom. Of course we had just put the roast lamb on with all the trimmings and she decides that its time to have a baby. So in between us bathing Hugo and putting him to bed, Thom starts on the road to having a baby. Within 2 hours (!!) Tobias Otto Schmidt was born...Thom was delighted but Megsie felt ripped off! As 2IC she had packed a bag for a week with sustenance to last 2 weeks. Megsie and Gary arrived home around 1.00 am for champagne with me. A couple of bottles later and we decided to call it a night. Hugo of course, not cognisant of the time we went to bed, awoke at 5.30 am. Being the trooper I am, I got up to have some early morning snuggles on the couch while Megs and Gary enjoyed a well earned rest (well they said they earnt it!). But all is good...Tobias is a cutie and Hugo hasn't used him as his rugby sparing partner, yet.
So with the baby born, our reason for being in Sydney disappeared. I had to sort out some work and we left most happily a week or so later. We stopped on the way out of Sydney for lunch with Gav and Chantal (Megsie brother and wife). Thom, Gary, Hugo and Toby came along as well and what a treat to spend some time together overlooking the Hawkesbury. We knew we were on the way home.
I did miss out saying we caught up with many friends during our time in the big bad city. however due to the impending birth (and the crappy weather!) we did stay pretty low. Sorry to those we did not see, but will endeavour to get our act together when next in town.
Moving on. We did our usual stay over at Dots (megise mum) and loaded up the ute with all our goodies, including the new bike (postie bike go fast red). It's a treat and Megsie is in love with it. Of course when we left Old Bar it was pissing with rain and very windy...but we were happy to be driving into the bush away from everyone.
Jen and Jim will be relieved that no creatures decided to party on whilst away and the only tell tale sign of residence were the green poos scattered around the house. Green meaning "I've eaten the yummy bait and I'm off to die". Sorry, but until we get the house completed with no holes its that or wake up next to a furry friend.
We only had a couple of days to get ourselves together when my brother arrived with Cathy and 4 kids. Those that know our place will understand what a tight fit that would be. All good, we survived and had a great time. The weather was fab and we went out the back on quad, postie and ute. Went for a lovely walk and looked over the estate......... Alex and Oliver had a drive of the ute, first time, and both did extremely well. The tractor is ready to be delivered but I wont be around next week so it will have to wait until a couple of weeks. I am sure Megsie will post photos of this one for sure.
We are off to Dots 70th birthday for Saturday night but leaving here tomorrow. That list again beckons. Meanwhile we are the proud parents of 11 new heifers (6 months old and a cross between herefords and friesians) and they look fab. Our family is growing both animal and farm toys.
I'm off to Sydney next week to then make the trip to Melbourne for a couple of days. For those in Melbourne I will be working at Mt Waverley which I understand is not close to much. So I probably wont be seeing you this time. Once back from Sydney I plan to head straight back to the farm and hopefully we will be staying here for a while. Anyone interested in coming for a night or so just let us know. I'll let you touch my tractor.........
We have now watched Season 5 of the West Wing and were nearly in tears when Donna had her car blow up in Gaza. It just gets better. What will we ever do once we're through Season 7?!?! Thankfully our saviour, Chantal, is bringing Season 6 & 7 up with her for the weekend. For now its back to bigpond videos....... damn it.... but not bad anyway.
So, thats it in a nutshell. We are very happy here and the weather has been fabulous, a little windy today and very cold at night, a great frost cover the other morning, even sidd tip toed across the lawn. Talk next time.
Rosi
Friday, June 1, 2007
Its been awhile
Yes, well I am back again. We've been to Sydney with me endeavouring to procure some kind of work and Megsie working very hard. Good to see.
We have been back at the farm for a week, with Jen, Jim and Layla joining us for the first 3 days. That was fabulous, although we did encounter small creatures of the local kind, who had of course decided to party and stay warm whilst we were off doing our Sydney thing. Let's just say that surprises were bountiful and the smell not very appealing.
Of course Jen and Jim were good humoured, thankfully. So Megsie and I got back into a routine, first by having a regeneration guy come for the day so we can see how trashed the place really is, ie how many native trees have actually survived clearing over the last 20 or so years and second by going to have a look at a tractor and actually drive one. Wow, now I am hooked and hopefully on Monday we will crunch some numbers.
Lovely orange, so you can't lose it in the paddock when tools are downed for the day. It comes with a bucket on front and a slasher on the back and oodles of nobs and levers for me to play with.
Otherwise the Lewis factor played a big role in the whole Lewis family and starting with little Hugo all came down with a lovely 24 hour bug that sent it out both ways. Of course me being the strong ox for goed that one and promptly picked up a lovely flu, which I am still recovering and moaning about at this very moment. Boring boring and boring.
The lovely ladies (heifers) look like they are due any moment so it will be interesting to see if we have some happy calves when we come home. Not sure how long we are to be in Sydney, but will be seeing you (some) sometime next week or beyond.
I've organised a family reunion for the Sunday of the long weekend, it should be an interesting afternoon, given its been a very long while.
thanks again for listening.
We have been back at the farm for a week, with Jen, Jim and Layla joining us for the first 3 days. That was fabulous, although we did encounter small creatures of the local kind, who had of course decided to party and stay warm whilst we were off doing our Sydney thing. Let's just say that surprises were bountiful and the smell not very appealing.
Of course Jen and Jim were good humoured, thankfully. So Megsie and I got back into a routine, first by having a regeneration guy come for the day so we can see how trashed the place really is, ie how many native trees have actually survived clearing over the last 20 or so years and second by going to have a look at a tractor and actually drive one. Wow, now I am hooked and hopefully on Monday we will crunch some numbers.
Lovely orange, so you can't lose it in the paddock when tools are downed for the day. It comes with a bucket on front and a slasher on the back and oodles of nobs and levers for me to play with.
Otherwise the Lewis factor played a big role in the whole Lewis family and starting with little Hugo all came down with a lovely 24 hour bug that sent it out both ways. Of course me being the strong ox for goed that one and promptly picked up a lovely flu, which I am still recovering and moaning about at this very moment. Boring boring and boring.
The lovely ladies (heifers) look like they are due any moment so it will be interesting to see if we have some happy calves when we come home. Not sure how long we are to be in Sydney, but will be seeing you (some) sometime next week or beyond.
I've organised a family reunion for the Sunday of the long weekend, it should be an interesting afternoon, given its been a very long while.
thanks again for listening.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Back on the Road Again
Hi All
Yes its that time again when after a lovely uninterrupted 8 days at the farm we are back on the road again.
Megsie has jumped on the train and is speedily heading (as one can only do on State Rail) to Sydney for work. I on the otherhand met with the Tractor guy today for a second discussion. No I did not wear short skirts and low tops, Megsie will do that when we are really going go crunch numbers. My dream of driving big machinery is looking like coming to fruition.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 9th May) I am heading to Kempsey for another 2 days of trees and all things green. The course thus far has been great and I think that this time next year we will feel better on the direction of replanting natives and garden design around the house, I dare say you will even see a distinct difference.
On Friday I am driving to Sydney for 8 days. I will be happy to get out of the car by then I should think.
Sidd stays with Dot whilst I am driving around the countryside. Yes he doesn't mind but with Rusty at his mouth the whole time, he does get a little tiresome. Unfortunatley for Sidd he has been biting his bum above his tail and so gets to wear a box around his head whilst the cream does its thing. I remember Billie needing to wear a bucket, hence the term 'bucket head' is now back in the vocubulary. A very dejected boy to be sure.
At the farm we did what we end up doing most days, Megsie working on the computer, me mowing the lawns, us spraying those damn blackberries. Had our neighbour come and help us round up the cattle as 2 of then were limping. The vet bill was a screamer and so we peppered him with heaps of questions, its not something we need to repeat in a hurry. We were looking to buy our other neighbours heifers, but they were too $$ and not great quality. Yes we can now with some authority tell the differernce between a good and bad cow.
PS I did work also, and made calls re all sorts of things that I wont bore you with.
We also went to our first party just outside of Elands on Saturday night. Met some lovely people and re acquainted ourselves with others. We did meet the vets brother and his wife. I love a very small community, you just really never know. Thankfully no faux pas form our end. It pays to find out who is related to who when up there before you launch into a discussion on sensitive issues.
The weather has been just spectacular, who would have thought May could be so lovely at the farm. Finished season 2 of the West Wing, in suspense for season 3 and 4, which is coming when we visit Sydney.
So hope all are well, I am off to Sydney to tart myself to potential employers, sell the dream of working remotely and being paid hugely. I know it can be done, I just need to convince others of it.
See you soon.
Rosi
Yes its that time again when after a lovely uninterrupted 8 days at the farm we are back on the road again.
Megsie has jumped on the train and is speedily heading (as one can only do on State Rail) to Sydney for work. I on the otherhand met with the Tractor guy today for a second discussion. No I did not wear short skirts and low tops, Megsie will do that when we are really going go crunch numbers. My dream of driving big machinery is looking like coming to fruition.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 9th May) I am heading to Kempsey for another 2 days of trees and all things green. The course thus far has been great and I think that this time next year we will feel better on the direction of replanting natives and garden design around the house, I dare say you will even see a distinct difference.
On Friday I am driving to Sydney for 8 days. I will be happy to get out of the car by then I should think.
Sidd stays with Dot whilst I am driving around the countryside. Yes he doesn't mind but with Rusty at his mouth the whole time, he does get a little tiresome. Unfortunatley for Sidd he has been biting his bum above his tail and so gets to wear a box around his head whilst the cream does its thing. I remember Billie needing to wear a bucket, hence the term 'bucket head' is now back in the vocubulary. A very dejected boy to be sure.
At the farm we did what we end up doing most days, Megsie working on the computer, me mowing the lawns, us spraying those damn blackberries. Had our neighbour come and help us round up the cattle as 2 of then were limping. The vet bill was a screamer and so we peppered him with heaps of questions, its not something we need to repeat in a hurry. We were looking to buy our other neighbours heifers, but they were too $$ and not great quality. Yes we can now with some authority tell the differernce between a good and bad cow.
PS I did work also, and made calls re all sorts of things that I wont bore you with.
We also went to our first party just outside of Elands on Saturday night. Met some lovely people and re acquainted ourselves with others. We did meet the vets brother and his wife. I love a very small community, you just really never know. Thankfully no faux pas form our end. It pays to find out who is related to who when up there before you launch into a discussion on sensitive issues.
The weather has been just spectacular, who would have thought May could be so lovely at the farm. Finished season 2 of the West Wing, in suspense for season 3 and 4, which is coming when we visit Sydney.
So hope all are well, I am off to Sydney to tart myself to potential employers, sell the dream of working remotely and being paid hugely. I know it can be done, I just need to convince others of it.
See you soon.
Rosi
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