Well, gotta say it’s not every day that I turn 40. I’ve said before that approaching this big birthday, I wasn’t at all worried. I was grateful to be able to celebrate it because plenty of people I know haven’t had that privilege. That was until my sister rang this morning and said: ‘Just think…
Dear Nana P and Nana H, It’s Mother’s Day again. I always think about you today. How could I not, with the beautiful memories of Mother’s Day. I wonder, if you were here, if you’d talk about the handmade cards I used to give you when I was young. If we’d laugh about how I’d…
This is where we spent most of our Sunday and it’s ‘that’ time of the year again. I guess there is a few ‘that’ times of the year on a farm, but this particular ‘that’, is lamb marking. This year, we have about 10,000 lambs to mark. No small number and it will take weeks,…
In a couple of weeks I’ll have a phone call from mum telling me the story of the day I was born. I get it every year… Does your mum do (or has she done) that? It goes something like this: ‘The creeks were up, as your Nana drove me across to Booleroo to…
I know my Mum has told me I have a warped way of looking at things at times, but I’m sure there are other people who see things and think the same as I do. Isn’t there? Tell me what you think of when you look at these lunch boxes. Go on, leave me a…
For those of you who have been visiting me for a while, you’ll probably have a good idea of my family and me. For those of you who haven’t, I thought it might be time to reintroduce ourselves! I’m Fleur. Mum, farmer, writer. In about that order! I grew up in the mid-north of…
Every so often things go slightly crazy around here. I’ve written a few blogs about when it happens. One is here and another one, here. They always seem to involve snakes, frogs, chooks, kids and the Jack Russell. Today was one of moments. Teenagers seem to like their music up loud. We have a new car…
I love Australia. It’s in my nature to be very patriotic! When the strains of ‘I still call Australia home’ or Advance Australia Fair ring out, I get goosebumps! I love our beaches, our cities and I ADORE our country areas – hopefully that comes through in my writing. I’m grateful that we are able…
A few weeks ago, you might remember I posted a ‘Beware, rant ahead‘ blog. I need to tell you all again, I don’t usually rant and I don’t usually get so uptight and upset. To sum it up quickly, buying a house in town, so the kids could be educated was turning out to be…
I’ve alway thought of myself as reasonably strong. I’m pretty pig-headed, can be opinionated, (but usually only in my head. Even though I have them, I don’t often say them out-loud) and if I put my mind to something, I’m not usually dissuaded. Stubborn. (Our kids have a double cross of it, because The Boss…
I rarely rant on my blog. I don’t think it’s fair you see me wear my heart on my sleeve. However, I am so angry, I am going to. And, I know a lot of you who read this are country people. You will understand how difficult it is to educate kids from where we…
Christmas this year, will be different for us. Like so many families across the world, we will have an empty chair at our table. This, in itself, brings thoughts and feelings I’m unable to express – I haven’t worked out how yet. It will be a quiet one for us too – just the four…
In the lead up to Christmas, I’ve been trying to work out, which Christmas’s was most memorable, weird, sad, happy, so on and so forth. I thought it might make a cool little series to read. Anyway, one that I came up with was my most disastrous Christmas. I need to give you a little…
**Spoiler Alert: You are NOT to read this post if you are under 16** I remember a Christmas, many years ago, when I was about 10. I was SO excited. My family from Alice Springs were coming down, I’d get to see my cousins, whom I ADORED, my Aunty who was even better and there…
Last Christmas, I had my first Christmas back on ‘home soil’ in more than 18 years. My husband took me ‘back home’ as a thank you for caring for his mum. I guess I should explain that, for farmers in Australia, Christmas is held at the wrong time of the year! It’s really difficult for…
View from the top of the header We’re still harvesting. This must be one of the most frustrating harvests we’ve had in years! The wind has howled from the east – cool, moist gale-forced winds, which doesn’t let the moisture come down in the grain enough, so we can get it into the silos. A…
Even during the busiest times of the year, down time is necessary. I always know when it is needed, depending on the various levels of grumpiness that comes home, from the paddock. Sometimes, the men of the farm, work it out for themselves, other times, they need a woman to suggest it’s time…
This post is inspired by a piece Barry Nicholls from ABC WA Statewide Drive had on his show last week. I’ve written before about how I’m an avid ABC radio listener – so much amazing information and ideas can come from that radio station. Many people texted and phoned in to say who their heroes…
I was so lucky to be asked by Margie Arnold to attend and speak at The Rural Women’s Gathering, which is a yearly event that has more than 300 women from across South Australia, attending. I have been to many Rural Women’s days and I love them – the camaraderie and networking opportunities are brilliant.…
I’m not a material person. Neither is my husband. In fact my mother-in-law used to joke we’d be happy sleeping under a barb wire fence and a broken one at that, just so long as we were happy and healthy. But I do have two possessions which are treasured. I think anyone who reads my…
My husband (also known as ‘The Boss) is a mad keen fisherman. He will go to the beach when it’s raining, a howling southerly or when it’s a beautiful calm day. The only thing that stops him from getting a line in the water, is if there is ‘weed’ out in the holes he’s trying…
