Its OK but nothing is normal

Ella keeping busy during lockdown

13.2.2021

 

A new statewide lock down starts at midnight tonight.  Things were almost back to normal but the UK virus strain has been detected in guards in the quarantine hotels and it is spreading fast to their families.  Only 13 cases so far but the numbers are going up each day.  We have been trying to prepare ourselves as much as possible.  Edd made two trips to our friendly farmer who sells us oats and we now have two ton stored in bins. Finally, the sheep got shorn. It was months late and most of the wool was too matted to use, but the sheep are now one step closer to being sold. I could not stand another year of fighting to keep them in over stocked paddock over winter.

 

Strangely the weather is unlike any we have previously experienced at this time of year.  Every few days we get rain and with the heat on the other days the grass has stayed green all summer!   This has upset our goat management and we have had a lot more worm problems than usual when the land is burnt free of all life.  I have far too many cucumbers and zucchini even to give away and have blanched and frozen cauliflowers for the first time. I store away beans almost every day, but the tomatoes are very slow to ripen.

 

We have two permaculture visits booked in but who knows if they will go ahead.  It is very difficult to plan anything at present.  Luckily, I am getting better at shopping online. 

 

16.2.2021

 

We are having a hot dry week but there are indications that autumn is on the way. It is really lovely with crisp cool nights and sunny clear days. We have eaten the first of the sweet corn and have zucchini and cucumber in abundance. Strangely, most the tomatoes are not ripening yet. Today I am making feta cheese and I have frozen pesto from our basil.  I should be really happy, but I have to admit to having a little cabin fever.  We have not got away from the farm for a break and I miss the outside world.  We are so well off to endure lockdown compared to others that I can’t even justify feeling sorry for myself!

 

Al and family combined work and pleasure and spent a week up in NSW. They flew home on Sunday and said that the airports were deserted and rather eerie. This Victorian shut down is to try and contain the more infective UK virus that has escaped from quarantine hotels. Sadly, we do not have a suitable mining or defence camp to use instead of the hotels. States with better facilities have less problems. Someone has suggested using demountables and caravans at Avalon airport or even golf clubs!  These ideas are being considered.

 

The weirdest thing this year has been that the grass has stayed green all summer!  I have actually had to mow most weeks!  Nothing is like what we usually expect, making planning hard. I have been sorting out cupboards and plan to install a small dish washer by our kitchen sink. Decluttering is the aim and keeping myself busy.

 

Some things went to plan

27 1 2021

 

Only some of the things we were expecting to do went to plan.  The schoolteachers came for lunch and explained that last year had been very challenging with the effort of doing online programs.  There had been no chance to organise this year’s camps as well as cope with the difficulties.  We have agreed to put on one day farm experience events if they get the go ahead.  Our camp equipment really needs replacing so I am definite about the fact we cam no longer do weeklong camps

 

The shearer was due to come on the same day as the teachers but when asked at what time he said “Arvo”. We took this to mean after lunch and before dark.  It got hotter and hotter and at 4pm we fed the goats as usual. In the end we heard that he was having trouble with the shearing equipment, so we all agreed to shear another day. Poor sheep. They really do need to get the weight of wool off their backs.

 

Finally, a wind brought in a cool change and a storm.  I am sure our trees were thrilled with all the rain.  The dirt road we live on was all washed out along the edges and our drive got washouts across it.  Obviously shearing would have to wait.  This was not a bad thing because Bo and family started to move their stuff into the new house yesterday and I went over to help them.

 

The new house is amazing. It has five bedrooms and a fantastic, undercover outdoor dining patio next to the pool garden. Bo is buying the large tables and matching chairs that have been brought to suit the kitchen and patio.  The kitchen is fitted out with white marble tops and splashback and all copper fittings.  It has a butler’s pantry for food and a large built-in cupboard that Bo has used for crockery.  The bedrooms all have fitted wardrobes too.  Simon and the boys loaded up the van at the old house and Bo and I unpacked everything and put it in place at the new house.

 

The only things now to move are the big furniture items. These get moved on Friday and then everyone moves house.  It was a really lucky thing that they were allowed to shift stuff early.  It took all day to do what we did, and we would never have had enough time on Friday morning!  Whilst we did this everyone else was parting for Australia/invasion day.

Our tenant, CB, and friends gathered in the shelter shed at the ruins and spent the day playing Irish music.

 

The rest of us were exhausted and no-one was too keen on cooking, so we all went to the Grand Hotel for our evening meal. It was so good to socialise normally again after last year’s lockdown regime.  Opinion is very divided about it.  We are so glad Australia dealt firmly with things so that life is just about normal, but others feel resentment about how lockdown affected their business and feel that it was not necessary.  We are just happy that we not going through virus horrors like the UK and USA.  I really worry for my friends and family who have it so much worse where they live.