At Attention

Wednesday morning I saw the earliest I have seen in a long while. It was a 3.30 start to ensure we got to the dawn service by 5.00. The morning was fresh but as you stood there with the cold air it was hard to even imagine what some of the soldiers go through! I can’t say I have ever been to a dawn service but every other year have either participated or watched the march and attended the horse races. This year really put a twist on things a dawn service at the beach! 

It was fantastic. I really did not know what to expect! I thought how are they going to ensure a crowd of thousands can see and hear what is going on! Well how shocked was I when proceedings began with a voice over and the noises from the war. Here I was looking around the sky for a plane and covering my head ( that is actually no word of a lie, you know the first 3 seconds before your brain, at this tender hour of the morning, kicks into gear).

I always think ANZAC Day is remarkable in the way Australians becomes so reverend and thank full for the amount so many have sacrificed! I hope yours was splendid!

Lest We Forget.

Take care, 

PP xx

Women

Seeing as it was International Women's Day this week (Thursday) I would like to share this little passage that I read. It was a letter that I read in my Parish bulletin from Natalie Linder L'Huillier whom is the Chair of the Australian Catholic Women's Council. It went like this...
"Michelle Bachelet, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations reminds us that of the estimated 1.3 billion poor in the world, more than sixty percent are women. Furthermore, women work two-thirds of the worlds working hours and produce half of the world's food, yet earn only 10 per cent of the world's income and own less than one percent of the world's property."

I thought this was a little bit scary!

Hope you had a wonderful week.

PP x

Ridiculous

Right so it would not be such a good idea to fill you in on the errands of the last month and more so I shall just leave you a thought as I ease back into blogging. I hope you are well wherever you maybe.

Take care,

PP x

A Mixed Bag

I promised an update around the 2 week mark... I think I over stepped the mark by quite some time but I shall share with you a bit of a photo story of the last little while.

We have been doing a fair bit of this....

And some have been practicing on the new addition to the skiing family, a sky ski. Not I thank you. It took some time to master but they are getting there.

                           

We celebrated festivities where we all ate far too much and got far too spoilt.

                           

                         

                                           

Sent some sheep off!

                              

                             

I had some friends out for a catch up. Oh what fun we had, far too much talking and giggling. Some I had not seen for over 12 months so it was lovely to hear of their adventures. The Christmas to New Year period I had a lot of ‘how lucky am I’ moments. I have so many gorgeous friends and a beautiful family that I got to spend some time with.

All prettied up the girls got and it was off to the races for us! 

                                     

                                         

                        

                                               

                       

Then we did some of this. Camping whilst helping some friends with cattle work. It was a little warm but we did it, although I was glad to see my own bed and shower when arriving home.

                     

                     

A quick trip to the beach with a little more engagement celebrations and returned home to shearing as the weather returned to the 38 degree mark.

Now that is a whole lot to process.... sorry I have been slack I will try to get a bit more organised (that will be the day!).

I hope all is very well,

PP x

A Touch of Christmas

We have been a bit slow to get into the Christmas thing this year. As we recovered from this....

I decided that it would be a nice idea to add a few festive decorations around the place. I threw a few bits and pieces on the tree as things kept on ticking around the farm as there are always things to be done. I insist each year that a special decoration that was made in preschool or primary school become part of the tree even know we range in age from 21 to 15. I like it as Christmas for us is a very last minute thing. We don’t spend months organising presents, decorations and food. It just sort of creeps up on us very quickly and we realise that we have to pull a few things together but we always have a nice day surrounded by family and friends.

Just thought I should check in as update that the engagement party was a complete success as we had perfect weather and plenty of food and fun.

I shall post some photos in the new year with a 2 week wrap up (well I plan to but you may gather that plans aren't a very good idea around these traps as there is never a dull moment!).

I wish each and everyone of you and your families a beautiful, peaceful and restful Christams and the very best wishes for 2012.

Merry Christmas from the paddock,

PP xx

Brewing

Excitement along with storms are brewing around the traps at the moment! Tomorrow is my older brother’s engagement party. The gardening, the food (the cool room is chockers), the logistics, the setup has all really bounced into full swing. I am a little nervous about the weather as we are hoping to have it in the garden and we just had a down pour. I am talking 16.5mm in half hour and looked something like this.

So I shall be saying my prayers tonight that firstly we have a good time, secondly we are all safe and sound and thirdly no serious downpours! I wondered if I put on my best rain dance that I would scare it all away, just a little indication there of my dancing skills!!

Take care,

PPx

Sunsets, Storms and Harvest By Night!

The two-way (UHF radio) sounds. “Are you on channel?” The thoughts on the way to the two-way that go through your head are along these lines. Will I have to go to town to pick up something (possibly a part that I know nothing about), will I have to race out to the paddock to assist in some way. Are they requiring food? As I answer with my best “Yes Dad” as the thoughts run through my head, he replies with..... “Have you got your camera, have a go at the sunset.” Just quietly I love sunsets, I miss them ever so much when not at home and I am often know for just pausing to admire as everyone else races around.

So I grab the camera, dive into the closest vehicle and off I race as I was told to be quick! Here is a little of what I got, you can see the storms rolling in.

Just as I realised that possibly I could capture some lightning, I worked out pretty darn quickly that that is actually a skill that is difficult to master and I could not seem to get anything. So I had a little bit of faith as I put the camera in a few different settings and pointing in the right direction I would be able to come up with something. Here is the one photo with any lightning in it... mind the blur, it was pure luck! Oh and then the battery went flat! Yes another rookie error.

I returned home realising that I would not get harvest by sunset I gave it a rather quick charge and the sun had fallen and dinner had been prepared for the troops. Off Mum and I went to the paddock at 8:30pm. Here is a little of harvest by night. Mind the blur! The older trucks have been around for many years. The all green one (if you can decipher) has been around longer than me and the other two are additions to the famous “fleet”. They are very treasured around these parts especially this time of year. The little red one is my favourite by far ever so cute!

An incoming road train

The fleet by night

Trying to store what we can before the storm hits

Being a little biased towards the little red truck!

This morning's storm rolling in!

PP xx