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| Beautiful RAIN |
One of the fascinating aspects of our
new lifestyle is that the daily routine is so often unpredictable. We do plan
of course … every Sunday over roast dinner we discuss the week’s activities.
But a plan in the bush is only ever a loose guide as it can all be thrown to the wind.
Perhaps it rains (to be so lucky) or there is always the threat of the
inevitable flat tyre. The Traprock can
be unforgiving in more ways than one!
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| All too-frequent flat tyre |
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| Check out the nail in the quad bike!?!?! |
This is even worse if it happens to a
tractor tyre. The tractor not working is very
serious, as it means no ability to put out bales of hay/feed for the stock, no
way to unload deliveries or move heavy machinery around … the list goes on. No
tractor can be crippling to a day’s work.
Or your day might be disrupted because you find the stock are on the road, or in the neighbour’s or worse, the heifers are in with the bull … they do go looking for trouble!
Perhaps the Jehovah’s Witnesses turn
up at the door. Can you believe it? They come more regularly than you would
expect … driving for an hour or more to say “Hello” and basically chat about
nothing and leave some literature which is destined for the burn bin before they have reached the gate. Why do they bother? Actually, last time I
asked them not to come any more. Chris made the mistake of engaging them in
philosophical discussion for sport one visit. Regrettable! He became a target,
then, identified as someone ‘searching’. Little did they know he’d hide when
the car pulled up at the gate after that.
Sometimes the extreme heat can drive
you inside forcing you to abandon a more physically demanding task. We’ve been
severely dehydrated on more than one occasion. It can creep up on you without
you realising. In winter a nasty bitterly cold wind can keep you in, though
Chris often goes out regardless.
You might run out of fuel and need
to order a new delivery. Can’t do much without diesel to run the vehicles nor
unleaded to run the pumps, bikes etc.
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| Solving water problems |
There may be no running water in the
house or the other day the waste water wouldn't drain
away. Problems like that can’t wait; they take over.
Or there might be a power outage …
that can be crippling - no internet
connection, no two-way radio! As our water pressure relies on a pump, no power means
no running water in the house – no shower, no water to re-fill the toilet
cistern (eek). At least you can plug in a crappy old phone for emergencies.
But despite all these intrusions,
you know what? The awesome thing is that it doesn't really matter. This
lifestyle means we can be adaptable and let our day develop anyway it wants. It
just means rearranging a few priorities. As long as it gets done, it doesn't really
matter whether it’s today or tomorrow.
Wouldn't change it for the world ... my day is my own and I love it.
