April, 2003:

Mark's friend Mark came to stay for a few weeks on his way from the USA to Australia. At least his name was easy to remember, although it caused some confusion when calling "Mark!"... we'd either get two responses or none at all!

Anyway, Mark arrived very keen to help out on the farm, so within a day or two, we were out in the fields with the tractor loaded up with electric fencing and the pole basher to set things up in readiness for moving the cows out. Our friend Annabelle also stayed for a few days and got caught in this little job. As the sun beat down, we worked up a sweat and after a good day's work it looked very good. 12 steers and heifers we duly herded up there with much cavorting around and took to the grass with great enthusiasm. All was well until we decided to move the horses in with them. This was a situation that worked very well last year... but... well, one thing we're learning is that no two years are the same! This year we have a few more horses and a different set of cows... and a couple of the horses decided that chasing cows was a really great fun game... and the cows decided fairly quickly that this wasn't what they had in mind so they left the field in whatever way they could - usually through the electric fencing.

Mark and I were invited out to a "gig" very near us that Mark's cousin's daughter's boyfriend (?) was playing in. We decided to check the cows before we went out and found one chomping his way very contentedly through the grass in a field we have rented to the neighbours. It took a while to persuade him that being with his friends was a good idea. Fortunately, we arrived at Riff's Bar just as Borah's boyfriend's band, the Fold (I think), took the stage. It was a brilliant evening of foot tapping "yee-hah" folk rock with a great fiddle player.

By the time we'd had to round up the cows a few times, Mark (the other one) decided we needed some technological assistance, and bought up some walkie talkies. The next day, pandemonium reigned supreme. Not only had the cows escaped but the horses were practicing flat out gallop, canter lead changes and looking wild, beautiful and free as they visited every field on the farm, flying through the long grass with the wind under their tails. I wish I'd had the camera. After everyone was re-grouped and settled back where they were "supposed" to be, and the fencing had been reworked for the umpteenth time, we concluded that Mark (the other one) had somehow conspired with the animals to give us the opportunity to test the walkie talkies!

We continue to wait with bated breath for the arrival of calves and goslings and ducklings. Perhaps we'll have more news for you next month.

In the meanwhile, we have three little pigs in residence. They are 8 week old Gloucester Old Spot x Large White and VERY cute. Our Helping Hands possy set up their sty and fencing for them and they are now happily rooting around in the field, grunting conversation with the earth as they make a start on digging the area that will be a willow bed at some point.