Jules, Tom and Steven at the Farm

Steven has been over in Australia for business and was due to spend a weekend with us so Jules thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the farm.  Sadly Australia has been experiencing terrible bush fires and there was a particularly large one, Gospers Mountain, burning quite close to the farm (see photo below).  After a week of vacillating the lure of the farm proved too strong and the boys headed up on Friday afternoon via the airport to pick up Steven.  As Steven was about to land at 4.40pm a ferocious thunderstorm hit Sydney and his plane was diverted to Canberra where it landed, refuelled and then flew back to Sydney arriving at 8.30pm.  Jules and Tom watched all this happen on a flight app Jules has, started driving to Canberra at one stage when they thought Steven would be stuck there but then realised they could wait in Sydney.  They got to the farm gone midnight - what a start to the weekend!  

 A smokey view

On Saturday morning they went to a local fire briefing where the Rural Fire Service discussed containment lines and bush fire emergency plans etc.  A real experience for Steven.

 Steven on Tess' bike

The boys spent most of their time riding bikes.  There was a 45 minute downpour which was great but we need an awful lot more rain than that.  

The boys ate well thanks to Steve's culinary skills.  I'm impressed by the salad - green s**t is rarely seen on boys trips to the farm.  

The grass is all gone and we're spending quite a bit buying in feed for the cows.  There's even been talk of culling them whilst we're in drought.  Having cows is meant to help with the cost of the farm but feed is expensive.  There are about 16 calves at the moment and the boys saw one being born - what an experience.  

Meanwhile Tess and I drove to Bowral and back for a water polo game which gave Tess lots of driving practice.