We've had ongoing water problems, all fixed now; we've been to Bris for 3 days of budget work (which still continues); we've been to a rugby match in Twba where we saw the Reds play the Chiefs (or someone); we've been to a chiller assessment that started at 2am an hours drive away; we've been to the funeral of a colleague who was also a good friend; I've set my bike and wind trainer up on the verandah; my little brother turned 48 (that's startling); we've become the owners of two pigs with more to come; Drew has had his last day in Geneva and flown to Vienna while nursing tonsillitis from a strep throat and Meg has dazzled her co-workers with an amazing baking effort and is now enjoying a weekend at the Gold Coast. I have random notes and photos to record all this - in no particular order.
Gibbo hooked up a new trough to the main water line two weeks ago, so now every paddock has a water source; unfortunately a glitch when turning the water back on caused some of the green weed in the main tank to clog the feeder lines to the 3 troughs at the top of the farm. We moved the cows/calves and weaners to the two dam paddocks and tried to clear the blockage by backwashing - to no avail. We hooked the main line to the new green tank, recently purchased. We had to leave to go to Bris for the budget meetings and had to wait for the next weekend (which was last weekend) to finally fix the problem. The water was only cut to the 3 troughs at the top of the farm; the rest of the troughs/house/chooks had water and all the cattle had access to dams. Lucky.
The new trough, not yet hooked up.
At least the blockage gave us a good opportunity to clean out the troughs.
When the backwashing with water didn't work, someone suggested we use an air compressor to push air through the trough hole backwards to try to dislodge the blockage and send it into the main line (which had water running up it from the started bore). The theory was that when the weed blockage dislodged it would meet up with the water being pushed up from the bore and travel with the flow and pop out of the main line (which was disconnected from the storage tank and open onto the ground) at the top of the hill - and that's exactly what happened. The little ball of matted weed came out of the top and plopped on the ground. We then cleaned out the troughs, reassembled the fittings and watched gladly as the water poured back in.
This trough still looks dirty but it's base is painted black.
The ball of green weed plopped out of the black pipe and onto the ground.
Water to the new trough.
Since this photo the float valve and cover have been added.
I made an amazing
Our three days in Bris were full on, long days. The first night we took some marble score 8 product to the same restaurant as usual and they cooked it up for the 7 of us; the second night we went to Gambaro's, the place where Drew works (when he's in the country). Both nights were very enjoyable.
This is Crepe John - here he is making our entree - garlic prawns; magnificent. He also made our dessert - Crepe Suzy, named after swimmer Susie O'Neill. The 8 of us had a great night with great food. We received complimentary entrees too, because of Drew.
Last weekend was the Reds game; we were at a function and watched from behind the glass. Meg was with us (which made it all the more bearable) and we stayed with her so that was a bonus.
Very early on Monday we left home (12.45am) to drive to a chiller assessment at an abattoir an hour away. Some vendors travelled up from way south to view some of their product being assessed and digitally photographed for more accurate marble score grading. It was cold but I dressed as if I was off to the Antarctic! We managed to make it home again to catch another 2 hours sleep before going to work; then we met the same people in town later for a lunch meeting.
We attended the funeral in Brisbane of a man we've known as an industry and work colleague and friend for over 20 years, long before we met up again in The Company. He and Gibbo travelled to Korea and China in 2011 (the year EVERYONE ELSE WENT OVERSEAS and I rode my bike from Gundi to Brisbane). RIP PD.
I've set my bike and wind trainer up on the verandah and have managed a few rides. There's a bonus in stationary riding - I've discovered I can read a book while I'm pedalling! However, I won't be reading the book I grabbed from the bookshelf to prop up the front tyre (the back tyre is a couple of inches off the ground when attached to the wind trainer so if you don't want to feel like you're riding downhill, the front tyre needs to be propped up). I sent the below photo to G when he was travelling to Gundi to inspect some cattle. He wasn't particularly happy with my choice.
I have been overcome by budgets and tiredness; budgets drain my mental ability and render me incapable of thinking about anything else, hence the lack of blogging. This process started on Feb 3 and is still going. I aim/hope to be finished by tomorrow night. There's a lot of cattle to move and a lot of feed to calculate $$ for.
Three week today we will have sailed out of Brisbane heading for the open ocean and the first of our island stops. I'm looking forward to the food, the reading, the Singapore Slings and the gentle rolling motion as I lie in bed at night; whether that's caused by the ocean swell or the SSlings, I don't really care.
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