I am a "CRYER"

For a long time now I have spent an inordinate amount of time & money on trying to solve a problem that I have. You see when I am in a situation, I cry. And once I start I just dont stop easily. It has become almost an infatuation of mine to stop myself doing this. I find it debilitating, uncomfortable and embarassing to cry this way.

My boss rang me a little while I ago to tell me he was paying me a bonus...now most people would be thrilled and show it accordingly. Not me...what did I do...well I cried. Not just little tears but big fat ones streaming down my face and I couldnt talk very well. It was all I could do to chokingly thank him and hang up. I then got distressed (like I always do) that I hadnt been able to maintain a professional image.

I have decided though that I am a "cryer". Just going to accept it as part of the wonderful jigsaw that is me and get on with it. Life is for living and I have worried too much about being emotional. So what if it doesnt fit with the image of a high powered executive...I have never felt I am that anyway.

*******************************************************************************
Busy on the farm....Dad is flat out planting before the rain comes; new calves everywhere and Claudia and Haydn had a head on collision yesterday on their motor bikes! No human damage but the bikes dont look so good.

All the very best
Farmer Bub

Wet Wet Wet

1. The Dollar birds were right last week when they were out dancing in the sky on my morning walk
2. The hare's were right to be out gathering food during the dangerous daytime
3. My Mum's aching bones were right too

Because its raining. Nice big fat drops that wet half my face if one lands on me. The wet black soil is sticking to my boots making them look more like wide sleds than shoes.

The creek hasnt run over the little bridge yet but it wont be long. It has been grey skies all day - its turning out to be a good start to Spring/Summer. We might have green grass for a change this Christmas.

Tonight Slippery and I are swapping our boots & hats for the Broncos Rugby League Club's night of nights(that is where Slippery works). I am not overly keen on going out and getting all frocked up but there are times when we must do what we must do. Do you believe they even make stockings without toes in them so you can wear them with open-toes high heels - who would have thought! Still, good idea given my legs are rather lilly white after winter.

All the best
Farmer Bub

Everything Old is New Again

Winter's Fashion....







The Strip...

Ready for the summer Resort!

We have a few sheep...not many just 30 ewes, 25 lambs and 1 texel ram. The ram is called "Adam" and he lives with the horses all year except for a few days when he performs his duty with the girls. Yesterday was shearing day. So off with the old seasons fashions and in with the summer, resort wear.



The New House Site

Old "Red Hill" c1897

Slippery and I also have another little project to move a very old home c1897 from Gympie to the farm. Yesterday the earthmovers were here to build the house site...our house however sits lonely in a removal yard. We hope in time to give her a new lease of life.

Coming to a Stop at the farm.

Around two years ago Slippery and I made a decision to stop traveling the globe and to move back "home" to Queensland. I had moved 14 times in as many years, going wherever my work asked me to and where I felt we could have interesting/fun experiences as a family and where I could learn and grow as a Banker. Interstate, overseas (the picture is me in PNG wearing a Meri dress) moves were heaps and heaps of fun and really made our family unit very tight. In 2006 we moved from Fiji to Melbourne and for the first time in five + years Slippery re-entered the workforce after being a stay-at-home Dad. He also had a complete change with his work - from working his trade in the Railway to becoming a coach/development officer with National Rugby League Club Melbourne Storm. I took a Head Office job with my bank but continued to do extensive travel to the Pacific and Asia.

It was hard, really hard without any family support in Melbourne. After 12 months we decided to return to Brisbane, Queensland. Not quite 'home" but very close. We both transferred with our jobs, I continued to travel and it became a bit easier with family around. However, tragedy struck when Slippery's beautiful mother, Ann passed away after only three weeks of cancer. We were devastated and still mourn her everyday. There was a real magic and warmth about Ann that we miss terribly. Partly due to Ann no longer being close-by and partly because we were still desperate to get out of the city, we finally moved home in July this year to the farm.

I now work in a different role in a different bank and travel to Sydney most weeks for a day or two or three and Slippery still works in his same role.

Working from home is a great option and for anyone considering it - my advice is go for it!! Working from the farm is even better. I get to stay in touch with what is going on, have lunch with Mum and Dad every day that I am home, rise at dawn and spend time with my horses, check on the cattle and then do an hour or so of work online before getting the kids off to the school bus.

Today I had a break at lunch and went into town to collect our new pullets (chooks). I can tell they are going to be keeping us in crackleberries very well as one laid an egg on the way home! Now that is productivity. I caught up on all the news about town and caught up with our good mate and local produce store owner Mick. There are just so many characters in the bush and they really make my corporate life seem so bland and boring.

The Dollar Birds were showing off this morning and the frogs are croaking loudly so maybe we are going to get some rain in the next few days...here's hoping.

All the best,
Farmer Bub