Show Day 2

So...tonight we are in Brisbane after leaving Frogknot about lunchtime today after packing our bags and leaving the place shipshape.Tonight we were at QPAC (The Queensland Performing Arts Centre) to see 'Matilda' the musical.It was a Christmas present from Andrew. It is such a great show and we first saw it in London and thought it was the best show we have ever seen. Andrew saw it recently and loved it too and wanted to see it again so got tickets for himself, Ros and us to see it tonight.If you get the chance...Go see it!(Part of Will's outfit!)

Show Day 1

So...yesterday was the start of the Stanthorpe Show 2017. We went in the afternoon after Mr Muffet stopped playing with his curds and whey.We were expecting it to be packed out as it was a holiday for the local area but it was very quiet and it was probably down to the heat. Everyone and everything appeared to be wilting.We caught up with our neighbours at the Wine Pavilion where there was free beer and wine tasting going on. Knowing I do not 'drink' Dave asked if I fancied a ginger beer. I tried it and smiled but didn't like it and it was definitely alcoholic.Will, of course, enjoys wine and beer, in moderation so I had to drive home. Just on the other side of the town we came across a policeman standing in the middle of the road and he waved us over. I pulled up."Had anything to drink Sir." He asked."Just a few sips of Ginger Beer at the Stanthorpe Show,"I said.He handed me the breathalyzer and I blew into it."And did you like it, the ginger beer?""No," I said "it was horrible and I gave it to him," I said, nodding at Will."Only my friend entered some Ginger beer he'd made into the show this year," said the Policeman." I liked it!" chipped in Will.I wondered if I might get detained for dropping a brick."Is it alright?" I asked nodding at the breathalyzer.He waved us on.

Hot and Bothered!

So...another scorching day as the time drags on slowly for our escape to colder climes.The 'Cheesemaker' was home early and after a cooling dip in the dam we moved the free range 'chooks' into their high security compound. What a fuss some of them made!Later I had to nip into town for a few essentials for our trip Up Over and just as I got almost to the town centre there was an almighty 'BANG' and the tyre we changed the other day blew!It was the spare tyre and we are not sure how old it was. It was a good job I was not going that fast as it was a built up area but a few minutes earlier I was doing 100 kph on the highway.As the tyre that went flat the other day was still flat I had to ring Will to come in Sky Blue and we took both the flat tyres to a local tyre place to get repaired. The owner did not have new tyres for us but luckily had changed some off another, similar, car the other day and chose the best ones to temporarily replace ours until we are back from the UK when we will replace them all. He only charged us $35 (£20).After endless dry days we got rain this evening, nearly 20 mm. Let's hope that it keeps our garden alive a bit longer.Tomorrow is Will's last day at the Cheese Factory for a while and the start of the Stanthorpe Show. We will go in the afternoon for on Saturday our journey 'North' begins.

High Security Fencing.

So...we have 'ummed' and 'ahhed' about what to do with the chickens while we are away.Our neighbours are going to look after them and keep them fed and watered but do we leave them 'free range' or coop them up again in the old pen while we are 'Up Over'.We finally decided to coop them up again and this decision was based on a number of factors, firstly, and most importantly, with them free range there is no guarantee that, even though fenced off, they won't get into the garden and eat everything. Secondly, if the boys next door come alone to feed the hens we cannot guarantee that Odin will not chase them if he is loose. He chased Phoebe when she was here and even attacked and scratched Ros on her last visit. Thirdly, the old pen is nearer to our neighbours and handier for refilling the water container rather than lug water up the hill to the new pen and the nesting boxes are more accessible for the boys. Lastly, Isis still has not worked out how to get back into the new pen at night though she can use the ramp to get out. Everyone else now comes and goes easily but if we are not here Isis will end up sleeping rough.As there is no guarantee that the existing fence in the old pen will keep them in and out of the garden, now they have had a taste of freedom, today I have surrounded their enclosure, for the next month, with high security fencing! (More of the free hail netting we acquired)...

I doubt they will get out of that!It was tiring work made more difficult by the fact that the temperature was well, see for yourself...The forecast is for more of the same for the foreseeable future...I doubt we will have a garden when we get back. It will all have shrivelled up.

Cheeky Rats!

So...we are almost on the verge of leaving Frogknot behind for a month and heading Up Over to much cooler climes.There must be something in the air, apart from the dead 'thing' in the ceiling that is adding an unpleasant 'pot pourri' to the atmosphere in the house, for the vermin are stirring and moving in of a night time.The traps are set and have been for weeks, with the recommended peanut butter which they, apparently, cannot resist but they eschew it as if they have grown wise to the danger.They scurry about rattling the cutlery by the sink, clinking bottles and rustling about amongst the plastic storage bags under the bed."Get out quick or I will find you and I will kill you!" I cried this morning channeling Liam Neeson, not that I have seen any of those films of his.As if to mock me one cheeky rat scampered right up the pole by the bed up to the ceiling and then turned around and came back down again...in full view!The brazen beast!I cannot let them get away with this.