My last week of paid work here at Nardoo - I can't believe the time has gone so quickly. Monday we mustered No1, which wasn't too bad as we'd trapped pretty much all the cattle into the trap paddock. The downside was that there was about 700 of them! We got out of the paddock ok, then they started to go in all directions, so there was a lot of chasing involved, which wouldn't have been a problem if it hadn't been for the trees first, then the ridiculously holey ground later. Both meant that you couldn't go too fast to try and reduce the chances of your horse falling, but try telling that to the cattle! They were all just taking off flat stick, so they took a bit longer to bring back than usual. It was a pretty hot day as well, and we were very grateful when Bev turned up with lunch and lots of water. The last couple of weeks have been much warmer - often up to 35C or 36C in the shade, although we did get a big thunderstorm on Wednesday. Tuesday we did the usual processing of the cattle, with PJ, Josh and me branding, and let them out back to Wallaby Dam. Once again they were very uncooperative and kept trying to take off, rather than be held in one spot while the calves mothered-up again.

Wednesday Alan and Bev took Bridget and Charli back home to Charters Towers before heading down to Toowoomba for Bev's mum's 90th this weekend, and PJ tagged along for the ride as he was going to visit his girlfriend in Cairns. It's been very quiet here without them, although Josh's family have been to stay for the week, and Billy and Amanda have had lots of visitors, so there hasn't been a lack of people around the place. I've been at home with Anne doing Bev's jobs, keeping the house in order and cooking, and I feed the calves while Anne does the goats. It's been a nice change, but it's much harder work than mustering! You're up before everyone else and don't finish until they've all cleared off to bed at night - there's no let up. The visitors all left today though, so there'll just be Anne, Josh, Kev, Lee and me until Tuesday when the others return.

Nacho has had a bit of an up and down week - he went off his milk for a couple of days and had a badly upset stomach. He just wasn't himself and was beginning to look a bit hollow and in need of a drink, but thankfully he's beginning to pick up again now.

Better go - have to feed the poddy calves, unfortunately they don't know it's meant to be a day off...!