BUSH FIRE

So this is what a bush fire looks like.

Actually, I wasn't able to take any pictures of the event. I hope I don't have to explane why.

We were busy finishing off a new fence when gary recived a call from his wife saying she could see smoke from the house. We dropped our tools and went to check it out.

One of the piles we had started the day before had sparked away and set alight some dry grass close by. The wind then pushed the fire down the fence line to some trees. Thats where the real damage began as it started to burn all the dead leaves and timber amongst the bush. Luckely the flames didn't get as high as the tree tops.

We ran into the smoke armed with tree branches to stamp out as much as possible and put in fire brakers to stop it spreading to the road. Then Gary rushed to the fire engine. His father followed with the tractor to rake out a better fire brake. Luckely we were able to stop it spreading.

Here are some pictures I took from the following morning (this morning) when it was safer.

Simon Attenborough becomes pyromaniac

This week has been all about birth, life and destruction. So we will start this blog from the beginning…

BIRTH

Calving has gone very well this year with 100% success so far. But yesterday almost saw the first casualty as a cow named “green 5” was found to be having problems. So after much fun separating her from the herd, she was walked back to the sheds for Gary and Noel to assist. So enjoy this video of “green 5” giving birth to “TBA”.

Lambing is having a few casualties for many reasons. So the ewes that struggle are taken back to the sheds to have their lambs. Some of the ewes have been having twins and therefore have been rejecting one of their lambs. Here’s Gary taking one of the twins back to its mother.

LIFE

I have been busy taking pictures of some of the wildlife that is seen most days in south western Australia.

This is a Huntsman spider. He’s a goody. Absolutely harmless. But huge for a spider.

This is a ???, I’m not sure what they are called but they are huge ants. And I’ve been told that if they bite, you would know about it. And I’m not surprised looking at it.

Parrots are plentiful here. Every morning I see them outside my window sitting on a fence.


Kangaroos are also all over the place. But they are always bouncing away, so getting photos are very difficult. Especially as they always sit in the shade and blend in.

(click on the photo to enlarge)

DESTRUCTION

This mouse had somehow found itself in my bath. I have no idea how It could of climbed in. I couldn't bring myself to squash it, so I put him in an ice-cream container with some lettuce over night. Sadly he didn’t make it into the morning. Obviously mice don’t like lettuce. RIP Bath mouse!

Remember a few Blogs back I was pushing logs and sticks into a piles? Well now the fire ban has been lifted, it’s time to destroy them.

And then its Fireman Gary’s job to stop them spreading.

Just Me

I forgot to add this picture of me (as requested by my mother) to my last blog

This is a picture of me defencing.

Don't forget to read yesterdays post.

How to construct a fence.

During the past week I have been doing a lot of fencing (not the kind that involves swords). So in the usual fashion, this is how it’s done.

Two post holes are dug either end of the stretch of fence.

A strainer post is then placed in the holes. The posts are found from the many fallen trees found on the farm

A strut is then added to the post to reinforce it. That will be in a later photo.

Every 6-10 meters a metal post is hammered into the ground after being sighted up.
They are hammered in using the hand tool shown in the photo or an air compressor for the long stretches.

Then the netting is rolled out and strained up tight using the Ute. (Note the strut that is attached to the post)

Then after the netting has been attached to each of the posts, you end up with a fence like so.

And now its animal time again.

These are just a couple of the many eagles that fly around in the sky looking for food.

And this is Charles, one of the many sun lizards that I find on my living room floor. He / she has now been released from the ice cream container and is now back in the wild. (he's/she's about 3-4inches long)

It has now been over one month that I have been without a cigarette and 3 months without a TV or regular internet. So I have had to find a new hobby, other than my new guitar that arrived early this week.

That new hobby is this...

During my time on the farm I have been doing many things to improve her and get her ready for my first long trek up to Darwin.

I have been getting in touch with my feminine side by sewing some new curtains.

I fixed them up by bending some old tin to hold up some wooden dowel rails. I also replaced the carpet in the boot as the old one was torn and oil stained.

With the help of Gary I restored an old roof rack that was on the farms scrap metal pile and painting her black to match the car. I then added four 20ltr containers with hose pipe to provide me with 80ltrs of water during my trip.

I also wired up the three spot lights on the bull bar with a relay, fuse and switch to give me extra light on my journey.

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