Arrived in the morning. There was a heap of road work going on at Thompsons bridge. Looks like they are removing a few large boulders down the hill and clearing. Major works.

Arrived up to find Jock, Darcy and Ting up the top by the gate. Checked their feet and legs. Ting has a sore, that looks like it has been open recently on her front left leg by her ankle. Picture attached. Does not seem to worry her and she walks fine. Other wise they were all ok.

Found the other two behind the dam down by the fence. Then I saw probably the strangest site I have ever seen up here!

A pack of bloody feral Sheep! I shit you not. There were about 15 of them. Fur all matted and gross. They were on the upper flat where we layed down the super last time eating all new grass. I got in the car and chased them to see where they would head. They took off behind the float then turned left up the hill. They didn’t look like kept looked after sheep. I recon a hunting should be on the cards and cook up a masterchef dish.

House opened and fine. Plain tree about to drop the lot.

Doesn’t look like there has been any rain up here for the last two weeks. Grass is very dry and crisp under foot. Vege patch is all about gone. Passionfruit vines look like they are under a bit of stress or about to loose their leaves. Pots on the verandah are about done also.

Other wise all is fine.

These buggers were in the paddock when i rocked up this morning. I think they should be “dispatched”.

was told by dad that these are sheep from down the way. Not goats – any who nasty looking buggers

Up today for the first time whilst mum and dad were away. It is the second weekend since they have been off.

Arrived at 9am. Bel and kids at swimming. The boys were up at the top corner at the road. All well. Checked their feet and all ok. Although “licky” does have shocking feet.

There is heaps of grass on the dam paddock. The water is fine too.

There has been 24mm of rain since you last reset it. Wrote it on the calendar but don’t know how to reset the gauge. It is also flashing, don’t know what that means. New batteries maybe?

Checked the vege patch. Beets are coming along, and there is one green passion fruit on the vine. Couldn’t find any more.

No sign of activity on the verandah, I have opened all the doors to air out the house and also turned the pump on to give it a little work. House pump that is.

Lovely day, very still and warm in the sun. Wallabies under the plain tree and it is changing colour.

Alls well. We might come up with the girls for the weekend next week.

Mad, Dave and he boys arrived up at Wollombi on Sunday 4th April at about 3:30pm. Stayed Sunday and Monday nights before heading up the coast to Dungog to Daves brothers place.

The boys had a blast and played well with the girls as usual.

Charlotte and Sophie woke up at 2.30am, 4.10am and then 6.50am asking to go a wake up grandpa and grandma. Let them go at 7am.

Hotcross buns for breakkie and the girls havae gone with Grandpa to get the saturday papers from Laguna.

John,Bel and the girls arrived on 2nd April at about 3.30pm. We went for a walk to the garden and they picked some leaks for dinner.

Girls went for a walk with grandpa to fix the boys feet up on the far side hill.

Mum made a roast (nicely butchered) leg lamb with leaks (which were very nice), pumkin from the garden and salad. Opened a bottle of Torbreck Struie 2003 – very dissapointed.

Tea then bed.

Not to waste the basil mum and dad dropped off – the girls and i made Pesto this morning. Only bugger was that i could not find my pesto jar!

So from the above to the below! Only comment is that since the basil has been growing under the tomato vines they are quite tall a sparse.  Seems like the plant has been putting all the effort into growing tall to compete for light. Putting all its energy into stem girth and not leaf size! Just a thought…

First vegie patch crop
Sprayed for wandering jew

First kitchen garden harvest