Going Twice

G’Day Mob,

You may have thought buying an opal mine was big enough news for one year …. but wait: there’s more.

We have bought another farm.

Nestled at the foot of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland will be our new adventure – 1500 acres of rolling box, ironbark and brigalow country running down to red gum creek flats,

watered by bores, a lagoon and dams

with a large set of cattle yards.

When we inspected the place in May there was a huge body of grass (though I have been farming long enough to know that there is no such thing as a drought-proof place) and we couldn’t find a skinny cow within 100kms.

The top of the property looks west to the Carnarvon Ranges and will be terrific for sunset drinks. I am already planning the construction of a stubby hut and fire pit.

The house could use some renovations – though if the stubby hut construction has sapped all my building energy there is always a verandah to sit upon and I can gaze out upon a jacaranda.

Or if all else fails, I can camp in the old house by the windmill.

And get this: the property is only 6kms from a pub, which will be a bit like ground-hog day. Mind you the little town is a touch bigger than Coolatai. We will move from a population of about 40 to a population of about 400. I am not sure how I will handle the crowds.

My only real concern is dingoes – native wild Australian dogs. I worry how they will cope with fox terribles.

But all of this means we will be leaving Rocky Springs, which means there is just enough time for one more blog post …….