Part of the delay was a 4 week holiday in Europe where we stayed in Paris, Pau, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Venice and Cambridge. We had a great time and more on the trip at a later date. We are still going through the thousands of photographs that digital cameras now permit. We missed the Australian summer and consequently the flash floods. While not needing full replacement there is a ton of work to do in the paddocks that have river frontage. It wasn't the rising waters that caused the damage as the Tarlo River broke its banks but the flow of water back with all the debris.
At least now we have a tractor - the mighty Ford CY, a 75 horse power beast that we bought second hand. It is in great condition for a thirty five year old machine and will give us many years of use once we fix the alternator, lights, hydraulics and minor oil leaks!
Since coming back from Europe we have added 80 Merino ewes to the Border leicester Stud flock with the intention of producing Daramalan First Cross Ewes, drenched and injected all stock against Barber's Pole Worm and sown a mixture of Cocksfoot and Turnips on 30 acres. The alfalfa is doing really well despite the waterlogging and should give us feed for the next five years if we manage it correctly.
Next jobs are fence repairs, laying barbed wire strands to keep the Border Leicesters in their paddocks, ploughing up the house paddock, laying irrigation pipes in the same paddock and then planting it out. We will have an orchard, grape vines, olives and vegetables so that we move to self sufficiency.
Better get onto it so back soon!!
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