What a week it’s been in this huge brown land of ours. Amongst much conversation and blaming of politicians as to whose “fault” it is, Australia has had a few weeks from hell with a very early start to the bush fire season. Having been in drought for up to 7 years in some places it is a tinderbox out there with loads of fuel everywhere you look. Combine high temperatures with strong swirling winds and we had a recipe for disaster on our hands. Disaster is what it was for a lot of people who lost their houses, farms, animals and livelihoods. Some even lost their lives. Disaster for the hundreds of thousands of wild animals who either died or lost their habitat, they have been seen in droves wandering aimlessly, burnt, hungry and thirsty, bewildered and lost. Disaster for those people who lived in the middle of nowhere for various reasons and couldn’t afford the insurance and have lost what little they had. Disaster for those volunteer firies out battling blazes while their own homes burned to the ground. To put things into perspective when the Brazilian Amazon rainforest went up in flames recently it burnt 125,000 hectares but Australia has so far lost 970,000 hectares and counting. Unimaginable.
This is only the beginning of what could be a very long hot summer. Water restrictions are back on December 1st as there is very little rain forecast over the next few months and we need to be aware of our water consumption more than ever. Sensibly all new buildings are now required to have either above or underground water tanks which can be used to water gardens and many people recycle their grey water onto veggies and lawns. It is good to see that lots and lots of Aussies have put their money where their mouth is and donated to one of the many charities helping people who have lost everything or animals who have been injured and also to our farmers and people of the outback who have been doing it tough for a very long time now. It’s all rather sad and grim and Christmas with all its shiny decorations and million dollar gift industry seems a little trite right now. I love Christmas as much if not more than most but I feel almost guilty buying what seems like trinkets when so many need so much.
I wake up early nowadays. The mornings are always such a productive time, before things get warm or windy or both. There are the new chicks to be let out for a stretch after a night snuggled together in their ‘dormitory’ separated from Le Rod and his harem by a flimsy wire mesh. This is for their protection and for the big chickens to get used to the littlies. Le Rod has been advertised locally but so far no one has fallen for his manly attributes and he remains at The Meadow to annoy the MOTH. We don’t feel it’s safe to let the little chicks into the yard with him at this stage so we are at a hiatus. There is also the daily watering to be done and the endless weeding of course together with new garden beds to be planted, fed and tended.
The cubby house has been revamped by our man in the field Smutzer who completed the new ramp while we were in Vietnam. It looks wonderful and I know it will probably outlive our new little family members, lasting for many years to come. The babies are still too small to get much out of the cubby (I have MANY ideas for the future involving a kitchen, library and lounge complete with a rug all within a space 2 metre square!!!!) but I’m pretty sure they will enjoy the sandpit and the swing in the next few months.
We made a new friend recently, Jason Hodges. He’s best known as the resident gardener on the TV program Better Homes and Gardens and has moved to Berry where he has a fabulous little business ‘The Buxus Balls of Berry’ He has a great little patch of land on the outskirts of the village where he grows all sorts of wondrous things and the locals have embraced him as he is a very friendly chap and loves to have his morning coffee at Il Locale in the main street of Berry where he has got to know so many people. We mentioned we were interested in buying some buxus for some new pots I bought from yet another local for in front of our garage. He loaded up his beloved vintage Landrover and drove over with some different shapes and sizes for us to consider but in view of the sun and the wind that we get here we remained faithful to the original ball and now have two very healthy looking plants to enjoy seeing when we pull up into the garage. If anyone is after some perfect “balls” Jason is your man!!!
Since we’ve returned from Vietnam the bambinos have reached new milestones, got more teeth, tried new foods and generally time has NOT stood still. Myla went along to an introductory day at gymbaroo and was fascinated by all the people and the noise but mostly by the other babies faces!! So much for the musical instruments that the others were all clamouring for, Miss Myla was all about being a bit hands on and making friends!! The two sets of parents have enjoyed some grown up time at various weddings and the youngest man child has started a new job in London Town a mere month before arriving in Oz for his long planned for trip home to see his friends and meet his new little nephew and niece. Happy Days all round.
We are looking forward to a couple of months of visitors over the festive period, starting this week with the arrival of my sister in law from Switzerland who will finally get to meet her great nephew so there will be no shortage of kisses and cuddles for little Cooper this weekend! I can’t believe my whole family will all be back together in just 5 weeks time, it will be short and sweet and VERY noisy but it is the very best Xmas gift I could ask for.
My Move To The Meadow 