Sat, 9th Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA (Uncle John’s birthday)

7am 30 degrees, clear sky and gusty wind.

Rang Uncle John for his 91^st birthday. He and Jocelyn had a lovely lunch yesterday with all the family. He is a bit put out as today is also International Women’s Day so he wants to do a protest and get it moved off his birthday. He is such a card. He said it is very smoky on Mornington Peninsula as the south easterly wind is bringing all the smoke over from the fires that are again burning in Tasmania.

Sent Tracy Pink a birthday message too as she wasn’t answering so I figure they are off camping somewhere for the weekend.

Hot days are back again, 37 degrees at 10am and forecast for 42 today. What to do on a hot day – bake. I made some banana muffins and Anzac cookies – used the oven in the cottage of course.

Erica returned my call. They are at Woodgate. She was sad about Val’ passing but glad she didn’t suffer for too long. Aunty Maree is still in hospital waiting to have a stent put in.

Drove out to Holding Paddock to make sure the float was working ok and the tank was filling again after the big flood yesterday. All good.

The musterers arrived to move the tank but we haven’t drained the home one yet. They rolled the cream tank over and then set it on its base. We will drain the tank back into the well (25,000 litres) then pull it out and put the other one in its place. After a few drinks and plenty of chatting the guys left.

Had lunch then a dip in the pool. Haven’t used it in a while but it was nice and refreshing. Steve put on the sprinkler for all the birds wanting to cool off too. He has connected us up to the top tank while he empties the other one.

Decided to set up the air conditioner for the van again since we are in for a few hot days again. The south easterly wind is very hot and everything in the van is starting to feel like it is on fire again. Clouds are building in the north west but no rain predicted.

Rick and Kaylene rang for a chat. Rick is trying to see if he can fit in a trip over to do some detecting with us.

The home tank is empty so we put a big strap around the base and Steve towed it away ready to take out to St Patrick’s one day. We levelled the pad and then towed the new one into position. Steve got the pipes hooked up again for the cattle trough and connected the new tank to the solar pump so in the morning it can start pumping all that water back up into the tank again. Will probably take a few days as long as the sun keeps shining. A thick black cloud is blocking the sun as it started to set. We got the tank sorted as night fell so had a nice dip in the pool with a drink. No wind so it was lovely to sit and enjoy the stars.

BBQ dinner which was quick and easy. The van was down to 27 degrees with the air conditioner on – a lot warmer outside.

9pm the wind is back again but we are all good inside the van.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.