Sorry for the lack of update last week - I'm getting slack aren't I?! That week we'd been mustering Mittigudi and Boggy paddocks, those closest to the house, and then went out to No3. The mustering went pretty well, although we had a few hairy moments in Boggy, as we had this huge mob of cattle that wouldn't move off with only 5 working men on horses, as Alan (and Billy) was effectively out of action as he was tied to Billy's horse as she was a youngster and it was still part of the breaking in process. She was going loopy, leaping about everywhere, alternating between throwing herself on the ground and trying to rear up, meanwhile the cattle finally decided they would move off - at about 100mph in completely the wrong direction. They took a lot of blocking up, and I was very glad to be riding Afra again for the first time after her holiday. She's just so reliable, and really knows her job inside out. After about half an hour's worth of drama we had them back under control (with the help of the chopper) and the walk back to the yard was pretty uneventful. That week was made up of long days, especially when we were doing Mittigudi - starting about 6:30am and not finishing until 7pm some nights, as we tried to get the cattle in, through the yards, and out in the same day.

By the end of the week we were out at No3 again as I said, mustering the top paddock, and sure enough my crazy red friend with the black eyes was as unwilling to go in the yard this time as she was last time. Last time she actually made it into the yard before charging out again, this time she only just made it past the wing before making her escape. Once again it took a Toyota to roll her and bring her back. We drafted them all again and dipped them, letting the ones to be sold go back into the starvation paddock, and processing the steers which were let back into the 20mile or Waring. We finished on Sat eve, and I was up again at 4am on Sunday to go with Bev to pick up Bridget (Anne and PJ's sister) and the new baby Charli from Charters Towers and bring them home.

It was good to get out and do something different and see a bit of the countryside, although it's a very long drive - about 8hrs, not including stops. Bev and I shared the driving, but despite leaving on schedule at 5am, we didn't get to Bridget's until 3:30pm. Charli is very cute - 4 weeks old and very good. Bridget and I took her to raid the mulberry tree while Bev got ready, then we all went to Bevan's (Bridget's boyfriend) parents pub to watch the rest of the Cowboys game (rugby) then I look after Charli while Bridget got Chinese and pizza which we took home to eat, along with Bevan's brother Kerry and his wife Laura, who've got a 2 month old little girl. I was very excited by having two types of takeaway in one go, let alone not having had either in 6 months! We stayed the night and left about 10:30 the next morning as we had to wait for the airconditioning belt to be fixed first. I had strawberries and mulberries with custard for breakfast, which I really enjoyed, and then takeaway leftovers for lunch - a definite (very nice) change! Bridget and Bev shared the driving on the way back, and Charli was very good, although she did begin to be sick of being in her car seat after about 6 hours. It took longer on the way back as we had to stop for feeds, and we were presented with the dilemma of whether to go back at all when Anne rang to say she, PJ, Alan, Josh and Lee had all come down with a sickness and diarrhoea bug that Billy's family had had the week before, and all except Anne were in bed. In the end we did come back to Nardoo (arriving about 10pm), but Bridget and Charli stayed in isolation at the other end of the station until we were all better.

Tuesday we were out at No3, bringing the cattle in and loading road trains. I ended up flying out there with PJ as the others had all left at 5am to have breakfast with the truck drivers, leaving me to get up at normal time, as I hadn't made it to bed until 11pm. We loaded the trucks, but by lunchtime I started to feel weak and dizzy with some stomach pains and no appetite - I'd caught the bug too. I survived until about 5pm back at the station when I went home, had a shower and went to bed, and pretty much slept straight through until 5:30am the next day. I got up thinking I felt better and packed my port, as we were meant to be going to Mellish for 2 days to walk some cattle over the range to the new bore, but by the time I'd only managed to have a piece of toast for breakfast and was still feeling dizzy, Alan and PJ put their feet down and said I wasn't going to Mellish, that I should stay here and get better. So I was left behind with Bev and Bridget and Charli and had a sleep at lunchtime, though didn't really do much for the whole day. By Thursday though I was better again and able to help Bev around the house feeding calves etc and doing some cooking, all ready for their return. Friday we spent all day mustering around the house out to No6 and back. All went well, except when I had to tie my grey mare up to shut a gate as she'd been spooking at it, and she pulled away, untying herself, and galloped after everyone else! Luckily it was just across the road from the yards so it wasn't far to walk, I just hoped they'd managed to catch her. As it was PJ picked me up in the chopper anyway so I didn't have to walk - they really don't go in for walking out here! Saturday morning we were in the yards, I was branding the calves as usual, and we let the cattle go before lunch. After lunch I went with Billy to get a killer (a really huge white bullock) and I even did some skinning and cut off the brisket meat. Today has been day off as usual - Anne's manically cleaning the house for the 8 visitors she and Josh have arriving tomorrow and I've spent most of the day until now trying to figure out the very complicated thing that is an Australian Tax Retun - fun fun fun! All done now though thank goodness.

As for Nacho, he's improving more and more every day. He's drinking well and going for walks and eating his pellets. He even followed me up to the horse yard and back the other day, but got a bit scared when he met Windy, Anne's huge black 2yr old ex racehorse (who wouldn't hurt a fly), and came running back to hide behind me. He's so funny, he's started trying to bull fight things - mainly Chip the dog and the ever-growing piglet, which is just hysterical. When he's in high spirits he'll also throw in a few bucks and spins too!

Better go - I have to go help make tea...