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Holiday unprecedented-isolated
  • Janette and John
Mar – Jun 2020

Holiday unprecedented-isolated

The story of our journey through the CoViD-19 saga - part 1 - isolation. Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 31, 2020
    Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Distancing

    Day One

    March 28, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We are “self isolated” at home due to the “unprecedented” conditions we are experiencing due to the coronavirus. Whilst this does offer up more time home to catch up on the job list, the reality is that we are still farming so our life has not changed as much as it has for many others. The extra hours mean the housework is up to date but no-one can visit and it feels a little wasted on just us. Picked some roses and foliage from the garden but these can only be admired by others via pictures. When we enter the main room they do lift the spirits.

    Today I started painting the north windows - really fiddly job. Thankfully John helped with the sanding and erected the scaffolding we borrowed from the Zhoutouts. Wonder how long this will take?? Painting an old tin chest found in Lex’s workshop also.

    Food is of more interest (if that is possible) and we had smashed avo with poached eggs for lunch then went over to the cottage to watch a video Kathy Z lent us called “What we did on our holidays” - with Billy Connolly and some other good actors. I really enjoyed it as time out from all the Corona stuff on radio and tv. John .. well .. sat through it. Back home and a cup of coffee with neighbours Darren and Catherine - on the verandah with chairs spaced out at a legal distance! We looked out and admired the new gateway entrance to Tiger Hill Park that John has just finished.

    We had road surface laid on Tiger Hill Park driveway yesterday so John spent the rest of the day grading and putting drainage channels in. We had ‘tacos’ for tea (first time in about 30 years) and whilst we were eating Wayne came in to start trenching for the power which will go from the cottage to the shed. Still moving ahead here - how fortunate we feel.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day Two

    April 1, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Quiet day today. Made an effort to get our weary bones into action and walked down to get the papers (we have three papers delivered Wednesdays). Day was warm and cattle grazing green pasture - things look pretty good. Lots and lots of ‘phone calls - knee replacement cancelled and John’s appointment with the surgeon is to be via telephone. It seems with email and the telephone we can cover most things from home. Expecting rain tomorrow so John did lots of road and drainage work.
    Checked on two cows injured last week when neighbour’s bull flattened the boundary fence to get in here. He kicked the older cow whilst I was there and seems to have done the same to a lovely little heifer. Both had anti-inflammatories and (just in case) antibiotics but neither have improved in five days. May have to cut our losses and get the butcher in.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day Three

    April 2, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Another pretty quiet day. John had a doctor’s appointment to get some spots removed. Watched him go in wearing a mask and disposable gloves. Took advantage of being in town to do Bev’s shopping as she should not go out due to her COPD. Took her some rhubarb crumble and stew - good comfort food. We will all have to watch that the enjoyment of cooking doesn’t result in too many ‘Corona’ calories resulting in extra ‘Corona’ kilo’s.
    Picked up paper for the next Tatong Tattler and drove home via Tatong to drop them off to Mike Larkin and also to give us a change of scenery.
    After lunch I walked to the little falls with Molly (our dog) whilst John continued doing road work. We had 30 mm rain overnight and more today - great for this time of year.
    We are hopeful that the injured cow has shown some improvement after giving access to a small paddock. No change in the heifer. Apart from a little painting and everyday farm chores that was our day.    Read more

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    Day Four

    April 3, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Started the day checking cattle - our neighbour Darren’s and then ours. The season is looking promising and the grass is green and growing. Darren’s cattle are calving but no action this morning. A couple from Tatong were taking their dog for a walk along Odea Rd and it was so nice to see people that we chatted (or yelled) with them from a distance for a good 5 minutes.
    Our mob had moved from the top of Lex’s Falls to the back part of our house block. Plenty of feed there and we noticed the triple dams were all full.
    Took a drive to the bottom of the big falls but not much flow there so we drove to where John had stacked a lot of fallen timber and we lit a great bonfire. The morning was cool and standing near the fire was toasty warm.
    Home for lunch after which I started the dreaded GST (interspersed with a few calls - Adam, Lenore, Candice, Bev, and tried John Lee) and John continued with fencing the 30 acre paddock near the new gateway.
    Friday night is pizza night here and John cooks. He has perfected the best pizza and uses tomatoes and herbs from our garden.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day Five

    April 4, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Not a lot for today. Woke to rain - 11 mm overnight. - as green as May and it is not yet cold so we should get some good growth before winter.

    One of the best things about living in the country is your community. This morning we received a box of apples and a dozen eggs from friends Ian and Michele in Lurg (about 15kms away). Ian and Michelle also farm in Upper Ryan’s Creek. They left them at the gate last night - we are all good at following the rules. Candice has not been able to get eggs in Melbourne for over a month and we get them freshly laid and home delivered!

    Due to the wet day John thought he would light the fire. First fire of the season and it smoked so badly we had to let it go out and John cleaned out the flue. We now have a cheery fire in a cosy room.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day Six

    April 5, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Felt like we had a lie in this morning - just daylight saving changeover. Wayne from up the road came down to complete trenching for the power we are having connected to the shed at Tiger Hill. Talked a little over the gate as I had to pay him. Great neighbour.

    Just noticed our screen time is up 48% last week!

    Decided to clear up some of the paperwork on the desk. Bit of a nightmare as the easy stuff had already been filed. Local newsletter (Tatong Tattler) amongst the paperwork. I realised I had not “dusted” the computer ... probably ever ... so got off the task at hand to do this as per Andi’s instructions on page one of the Tattler. Then on page three I re-read Carole’s recipes and decided I had enough of the ingredients to make the choc/almond/date torte (substituting prunes for dates which I didn’t have). Her chutney sounds delicious and easy but I will need more tomatoes - maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow for the filing too.!!

    After lunch off to do some fencing. John’s back is a little fragile so we took turns in banging in the posts. I look like I’m having a lovely time in the photo but it is hard work.

    Had some torte for afternoon tea (with cream) - lovely. Just have to think of someone who would like half a torte.

    Called Jenny Japp in Hay who said her daughter and family in Canada had all had the Coronavirus. Apparently Dad brought it home from Denver but fortunately they all had mild symptoms but had to isolate.

    Kevin (son-in-law) sent pictures of Hugo making pancakes. Hugo is our youngest grandchild and is 13. With holidays at home it is probably the best time to hone the cooking skills. He has shown interest in cooking before - maybe I will have a foodie soulmate one day.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day Seven

    April 6, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Went to Lex’s Falls first thing this morning. We have flow! Small but to have any flow in April is pretty good - even in the good old days we rarely had flow in April.

    Mick Pritchard dropped his dozer off with a view to starting a few jobs for us tomorrow. It may not look super impressive but he does a great job using this little machine. We need a site levelled for new cattle yards at Tiger Hill Park; a crossover at Sam’s Creek above the falls as we lost crossover access when we sold Blue Gums; a small water hole at the top of the fall’s area; and a pile of gravel to be dug from the gravel pit.Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Where were you Capewell??1

    Day Eight

    April 7, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Walked a couple of kms today - battled with one leg towards the end. Still, a cool walk through the bush is a great start to the day. Injured cow seems quite good despite holding her leg at a slight angle. She is showing signs of desperately wanting to be back with the herd. Heifer improving a little too.
    Mick arrived early and really got stuck into the work. He should finish in a day or two.    Read more

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    Day Nine

    April 8, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Off to town early to take advantage of oldie’s shopping hours. Dropped Michele’s box back and filled it with a lemon cake and some proteas which have just come into flower with this somewhat unseasonal cool spell. Her kelpie has just had eight pups and they are gorgeous and the mother is so good. Sorry I didn’t get a photo as I was dropping the box and heading off. I was already running late as I took a wrong turn getting to Michele’s which took me 15 minutes to make up. Not sure that time really matters so much at the moment.

    Finally made the supermarket and saw someone I knew in every aisle! Bron & Geoff, Helen H, Gaye M, Kathy Z, Laurie & Marie, and then Sandy down the street. Caught up with all at a distance and with gloves on! Bev (my sister who has lung problems) emails her shopping list and today I got a couple of takeaway lattes and we sat at a distance on her verandah and had a chat. She is on her own and hasn’t been out for fourteen days and I thought she might be hanging out for a latte. Lady who owns Rustic Cafe is now just selling over the counter and was explaining she is managing due to local support for which she is grateful.

    Picked up bread from the bakery and Steve thanked me for supporting them during these difficult times. He seems to be working with only one staff member and no doubt the baking staff have been cut back too. It is nice buying from folk who are so appreciative.

    Home for lunch (Hide’s pies) with John and a few farm chores before checking on how the dozer driver Mick is going. Water hole looks great. Crossovers will be done after Easter to fit in with his other commitments.

    Picked up the mail to find a lovely Easter parcel of decorated shortbread biscuits from the Cole family. It seems a shame to eat them so we will look at them until temptation becomes too great.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day Ten - Easter Thursday - 9 April 2020

    April 9, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Electrician connected power to shed - he loved the trench and John helped to fill it in after the cables were laid. Took a photo but it’s just a power point! Took a photo of some fairy martin nests in that shed. Annoying but very interesting. These birds are a bit like a small swallow.

    The thirty acre paddock can now be locked up as John finished the new bit of fencing. We bought some Umbrella Pine trees recently after seeing them in Spain. We may plant them along side the new bit of fencing. We have plenty of trees but need some more shade trees in that paddock.

    Started staining outside windows on the north side of the house as they have really weathered over time and are overdue some attention. Sanding was one thing but this painting is really fiddly so will probably take forever. Noticed the first Japanese windflowers are out - really pretty.

    Drove up to the back of the house block and found a really big dead tree over the fence. The tree is actually our neighbour's which fell over the fence into our paddock. As the neighbouring land is State Forest, and the owner is the Victorian Government, we won't wait for them to clean it up. Looks like great wood and should keep us in firewood for the winter.

    Finding it strange not having people drop in or even driving past.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Roll call
    Over the fence but good firewood

    Day Eleven - Good Friday - 10 April 2020

    April 10, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Up and out early .. well earlier than recent mornings ... to do a roll call to check cattle were all well and with us. We did lose a calf some months ago and not sure what happened to it - maybe a snake bite - but calf no. 1919 is no longer here. Remaining herd all present although they seemed to be somewhat pre-occupied with the hay (which was last year’s, full of clover, and very good quality) and forgot to acknowledge “present” when called! Maybe our teacher friends can empathise.

    Janette painted (no photos yet) and John went up to get a load of firewood from the tree over the fence. Lots of mushrooms but a bit wasted here - Janette allergic and there are only so many John can eat. Think we can see a circle starting - will take a pic if this happens after rain.

    Couldn’t resist watching a program entitled “ The secret life of cruise ships”. It seems they are ready for every eventuality except a pandemic!    Read more

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    Days Eleven and Twelve - Quiet Easter

    April 12, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Couple of days with not a lot to report. Normally we would have family up both getting together for a catch up and to help with the Molyullah Sports. We would have had bonfires this year as the autumn break came early for a change. The Cole family celebrated at home with an indulgent breakfast of waffles with all the trimmings.

    Saturday was bitterly cold and extremely windy. Good day to take it easy. Kathy (friend who lives on the border of Molyullah/Lurg/Upper Ryan’s Creek) suggested a movie “Mostly Martha” which John taped for me to watch. Had to pull the blinds down so I could read the sub-titles. Really need these cataracts done when all this is over. Great movie. Also read Tom Keneally’s “The Daughters of Mars” which Kathy lent me. John did some fencing but gave up and came in to play patience on the Ipad.

    Sunday a little better. Easter breakfast included a chocolate and a great coffee from the machine. Chocolate was not the Haig’s quality or the hand made appeal of some Easter chocolate in times past. Just some Lindt Bunnies from Woolies! Gave some plants to Darren & Catherine next door (Hidden Valley) who are setting up their garden. Found a yukka, holly tree, red and pink geraniums, couple of plumbago plants, an elkhorne fern, and an echium which had all been set aside for the plant stall at the Easter Sports which has been cancelled. They are going to a good home.

    John completed another section of boundary fence along the road this afternoon - just another 600 metres to go up a very steep hill.

    We have an evaporative cooling system with vents in every room. As it has turned quite cool decided it was time to put the covers on for winter. Took most of the afternoon up and down a ladder taking out the shutters, washing them and putting them back and then putting the covers on (which have magnetic edges so are fairly easy). Probably should leave washing the vent shutters until spring but I had the time today.

    John took a photo of the Lipstick Maple near the verandah which is starting to change colour. It ends up being a really bright pinky red - will take another pic in May.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    DayThirteen - Easter Monday 13 April 202

    April 13, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Normally Easter Monday would start early and we would run the spinning wheel at the sports. Found a couple of photos from 2016 - just so we don’t forget.

    Made up a list for today so I could keep on track to get things done. Paint one coat on two windows, collect a load of rock and put into some erosion damage, collect a load of morning wood (to save splitting kindling), file or delete items in sent box, do some mowing, and make some chutney. Perhaps this was a bit ambitious but as it turns out nothing can be crossed off this list!

    John was a bit sore after overdoing the fencing yesterday but felt he could plant a few trees. Over the last few years we have been trying to plant for more shade in the paddocks over at Tiger Hill Park. We double fenced the south boundary and planted lemon scented gums we had dug up at Kathy and Peter Z’s farm. We lost about half and have replaced with poplars, peppercorns and oaks - all do well here with very little effort and all free from cuttings or little oaks that grow under existing trees. We have also fenced off a very wet gully which also needed replacement plantings.

    Gathered our gear and trees to plant but found a neighbour’s little calf in the boundary plantation. We walked it along the fence to the gate and shooed it back to the herd next door. It called out for ages but finally found its mother and its breakfast. We worked until lunchtime and finished the boundary plantation. The gully had to wait for the afternoon. Due to the lush grass we found a cow had pushed on the fence so it could step over it - more fencing before we could plant new trees. All done but too weary to even look at my list.

    Saw a ring of mushrooms - pretty small as we have sen them make much bigger circles in the higher country.

    John did a drive around and saw a cat in the bush - no shot of the cat as he didn’t have the camera ... or his gun!    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Molly wants to keep going.

    Day Fourteen - Easter Tuesday

    April 14, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Normally Easter Tuesday is the day we spread all the unused prizes around the family room and do our reconciliation of what was won and what is left to use as the base of prizes for the next year. We write off anything looking the worse for wear and pack up in boxes and store in the shed. This year we got up late then took Molly for a walk to the front gate. Normally I take her about another kilometre down the road but John’s back was bad so we turned back. She took a bit of calling - “really ... is this it, really?” she seemed to be saying.

    The injured cow continues to improve and the heifer is on her feet a bit more but back right leg is still swollen.

    Painted two window frames but decided they need another coat ... damn! It started to rain very heavy droplets despite a blue sky and I had to pull the sun blinds down to protect the freshly painted surfaces.

    Collected mushrooms for a friend who loves them. We have oodles at present and I am allergic to field mushrooms as was my grandmother.

    After tree planting yesterday John thought he might go back to fencing for an easier day but ended up doing firewood in the morning and after lunch took the tractor up the top to clean up a lot of fallen timber. It’s a bit like housework - when it’s first done it looks lovely. This area can be seen from the road so comes under the “show-off” banner so needs to look good. Lex would often comment on various neighbours’ “show off” paddocks as we drove to town. They were either tidy with really good pasture and maybe had a good quality bull grazing or they displayed new equipment such as tractors and hay making gear. To the latter paddock he would say “That bloke must have a tax problem!”    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Test driving the new crossing

    Days 15 + 16 April 2020

    April 16, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Yesterday started with our trip to Benalla. Shopping for Bev and ourselves and I had cuppa and chat on Bev’s verandah (at a distance) whilst John did some mowing. We were getting some plantation shutters fitted in the house in town - amazing that they arrived from China a few days ago (we didn’t know they were made in China until the installer called in February to say there might be a delay). I stayed in town whilst they were fitted and love them. The installer thinks that as they were ordered before Coronavirus they were not held up as long as the later orders may be.

    Today John headed up to do some more cleaning up of fallen timber - I was to follow and start the bonfires. Bev arrived very early after being at home for twenty two days! She lives alone and needs to be sure her car battery does not go flat. Had a cuppa on the verandah, a cook’s tour of the place, and gathered some mushrooms before she headed home. Mental health visit. Ooops ... she left the mushrooms behind. The wind picked up so we will burn off another time. The paddock looks newly swept! Mick came back to do the crossover so we can now access the south west corner of Tiger Hill Park.    Read more

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    BeforeAfter

    Day 17 - 17 April 2020

    April 17, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Neighbours, Darren and Catherine, are away for a few days so we checked their cows this morning. Still calving but no new ones today. Went for a drive around and decided a crossover at the top of Burragunyah needs a load of rock as it is very soft and we haven’t had that much rain. Think some of the springs may be rising which is a good sign. After morning tea John took the tractor up with the stone bucket on and collected a couple of buckets of rock and tipped it on the crossing. We will have to smooth it out a bit another day. His afternoon was spent.... you guessed it ... fencing!

    I did manage some painting today - the wrought iron railings on the back verandah. Finding the windows very tedious and easy to postpone but they really, really need doing. Booked preg. testing the herd for 4 May. The preg. testers are still able to work. Took a few photos of the Autumn colour in the garden. It is turning out to be the best autumn.

    It’s Adam’s birthday today - 49 no less. His cake is a baked cheesecake which Guler was making this afternoon. Happy Birthday Ad.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Long drop dunny
    1Mushies

    Breaking News “Unprecedented at Cottage”

    April 18, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Today’s entry is more about a plan than a “doing”. Decided to get a septic at the cottage. Can hear the ladies cheering and the hunters groaning. The plumber is coming through the week and we hope it can go where the composting toilet is which would save too much extra building. The relatively new long drop building will make a great little tool shed and we hope to then improve the butcher shop as it won’t need to double as a workshop.

    Collected mushrooms this morning and did a food drop to Kathy & Peter, and also to Bev. All seem to be managing and getting a bit done. We returned with home made muffins and biscuits. Kathy’s lovely lemon muffins were so good John downed three within a few minutes.

    Had to go in to town to sort a few things out as we may have tenants soon. Benalla is short on accommodation and we received a request from the Headmistress of FCJ College via our friendly real estate agent. The school is getting a multi-purpose hall erected and the builders from Melbourne (the locals are so busy we need tradies from elsewhere) have had to stay in a motel and apart from this being expensive, they would like to be able to cook a few meals and do a bit of washing. May or may not work out and we don’t mind but a few extra dollars might help pay for the “new loo”.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Traffic control
    Sorting/DraftingMove down the bus please.Best part of the job!Fierce the beacon light is flaming...

    Day 19 - Sunday

    April 19, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    First job today was helping mark calves for the neighbours. This is not a job that can wait too long. Cattle were in a holding yard when we got there so they needed to be drafted. Worked them quietly and drafting went well and very quickly. Darren led the cows away with some hay to keep them happy but hadn’t fastened the calf pen gate properly and all of a sudden I saw the calves running out to be with their mums! Bit lucky we had a few people so with a lot of running, shouting, clapping and generally acting like maniacs we got them all back in the holding yard and drafted them again. More heifers than steers which disappointed Darren a little but as the season is looking good lots of farmers will want to re-stock so he will do well anyway. Back to their shed for “smoko” (although nobody smoked) where we had a cuppa and a snack sitting at a distance around their large fire pit before departing for our own farm chores.

    In the afternoon John lit the fires where he had been cleaning up fallen branches etc. l unpacked the cases of gear we had taken to town during the fire season. Hadn’t really missed much but was happy to see my really soft socks back in the drawer.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    1Born to ride
    Molyullah HallMolyullah Hall groundsPoorly maintained road after rain.Budding chef Hugo.

    Day 20 - Monday 20 April

    April 20, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Deadline date for Tattler articles so some time today spent writing up items for our local newsletter the “Tatong Tattler”. The 20th of the month comes around so quickly.

    More cleaning up along the tree line and in the paddocks. Would like to think in the event of a bushfire we are helping some areas burn cooler but the reality is we have a lot of bush ...

    I was resigning from the local Hall Committee this year but due to the distancing rules etc. DELWP (who own the grounds on which our Hall sits) have ruled that no election is to be held - they will carry over existing committee for another twelve months. Happy to hang in there as it is not onerous but will step down next year.

    Took some photos of road damage to send to the local council in the hope of getting some road maintenance done. We won’t hold our breath. Molly came for the ride - she loves coming with me as she gets to sit on the front seat of the ute (she is too heavy for me to lift into the back but she can just manage to jump into the front as the opening is a bit wider).

    Received some pictures of Hugo baking cookies. I wish I could lift one out of the pic to have with my cuppa!    Read more

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    Day 21

    April 21, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Drove up to check on a bonfire first thing - could smell smoke so hopeful it had burnt away and it had. This area will come up a treat as it is near the top of Little Sam’s Creek and has great soil. We also had to check the wombat holes as a chap from DELWP is coming out to see them. They do a lot of damage near the creeks and cause erosion. Hard to get a photo as they mainly come out at night. We don’t mind them but prefer they dig on the hills.

    Found Darren and Catherine drafting the slow calvers out of their herd - we noticed one was being suckled and needed to go with the herd. They then let the bull out. We may use their bull next season - they used our old bull for a couple of seasons and this was part of the deal.

    Second load of road surface delivered today and it makes a difference to the tracks - both in how they look and how they perform. The dirt tracks get very slippery in the wet so it is quite timely. Hopefully the last load will be soon. They are very busy and Tracy the office lady said people are worried and want to get all their jobs done. I suspect a lot are like us and want the tracks right before winter. The young cattle in particular love a sticky beak when something out of the ordinary is going on.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day 22

    April 22, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Slow day today. Little bit of painting - can’t wait to get the cataracts done so I can see what I am doing. Took a photo of some cows socially distancing. Paid some bills - looks like this is going to be a pretty expensive holiday at home - still, getting a few things done.Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day 23

    April 23, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Main event today was delivery of the Tattlers to our local area. We treat it as an excuse to go for a drive and see what’s going on locally. Collected our bundles from the Pub and all is looking very quiet there. We deliver to O’Dea Road and drop off a couple of bundles to other “deliverers”. One of them, Jan, lives at the end of Upper Ryan’s Creek Road - just short of the Loombah Weir (Benalla Water catchment) so we took the opportunity (having got approval) to take some photos of the newly renovated and upgraded weir to put in next month’s Tattler. Hadn’t been there before despite it being so close and growing up with stories of it’s construction. We found it set in a beautiful valley and were well impressed with the structure.

    Darren from Hidden Valley dropped in a large piece of corned beef from a steer he recently had butchered. Looking forward to a meal from that.

    Have been advised that my cataracts might be done around 6 May. John’s back has been bad for a couple of days so will take things easy for a bit which is not so easy when there are lots of things you would like to do.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day 24

    April 24, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Good news. We have both managed to get an appointment to have our ‘flu jabs - John on Monday and mine is noon Sunday! Also received a call confirming cataract surgery for next Wednesday. There may be a gap in this blog. John to speak to the surgeon about his back on Monday after his ‘flu jab. I brought Lex’s ‘old fart’s chair’ (John’s description) down from the shed and it has been well used today. Hoping it will help.

    Had the last load of road surface mix delivered and laid this morning. Peter arrived so early that I wasn’t dressed and John was in bother getting out to see him. We are really happy with the result and tracks should be less slippery in the ‘hopefully’ wet weather.

    The Lipstick Maple tree has amazing colour this year. Gardening Australia presenter said tonight that once they start to change colour the more sunny the weather the deeper the colour.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John

    Day 25 - Anzac Day

    April 25, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Most people of our age grew up very much with Anzac Day and the Second World War very much on our shoulders. Family members were often returned service men and whilst stories of war experience from those who returned were rare, there were stories of hardships experienced at home (perhaps more so in the UK) and efforts made from those at home for the war cause.

    As tradition often dictates medals are kept by the older descendants, I cannot show family medals. These are in the best care and much appreciated by other family members. However, I do have a few photo’s and items for a little display each April.

    Photo’s of my paternal grandfather, father, uncle (Lex), and John’s Dad. Lex’s slouch hat and buttons from his uniform have survived. There is also some ‘trench art’ in the form of a salt & pepper shaker set made from bullets in WW2. This is not a family item but something found under a house John was renovating in North Caulfield and which the then owner did not want.

    Probably my favourite item is an envelope addressed to my mother (maiden name Devitt) which was posted in Bombay, India in 1940 - from my father. It has a sketch of a soldier looking to the horizon and home. Not sure that Dad drew the picture as there is a name “E Lambert” written in pencil below the picture. E Lambert could have been the artist or a censor. It is addressed not to her home which was a couple of streets away but to her sister’s millinery shop. Mum did the books for her sister in addition to her day job.

    There is no letter - I think the only reason it survived was because of the stamp as stamps were collected in that household. Bit of an enigma - it elicits more questions than answers.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnHoliday unprecedented-isolatedJanette and John
    Lawn mown!Estimated at 140 - 150kg.

    Monday 27 April

    April 27, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Up and out early. John had his ‘flu shot early and then spoke with his surgeon by phone. He'll have another MRI to see what might have changed. We decided to do a shop for us and for Bev whilst in town. Took a couple of photo’s whilst we were at Bev’s as, whilst we were not dressed up, we were a bit tidier than when we are on the farm.

    Janette notified that she needs to be at the hospital at 12.15 on Wednesday for her first cataract surgery.

    We both did some mowing as we don’t want to do it later in the week. Hoping to cook up a few things so post cataract is easy.

    Getting a few enquiries from hunters who are having withdrawals. A neighbour reported a number of pigs near our bush recently. They breed up very quickly so we will be keen to get someone on the job soon. Photo shows a pig shot last year - that,'s why we worry. We would not know they were there but for the hunters.    Read more

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