Fri, 15th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

5am I heard a noise and a big roo had broken through the tarp over the pool. We didn’t get to put a new cover over it so that will be today’s job as the tarp is ripped now.

7am 30 degrees, blue sky and puffy clouds, nice northerly breeze.

Gave the cattle in the yard some hay – still a lot of cattle hanging around outside. There is one little calf that doesn’t seem to have its mum and there are some mums outside doing a lot of moaning – silly thing, just go in and be with your baby and you can eat and drink.

The cattle had bent the pin on the entrance gate which Steve tried to straighten then he closed the gate a bit more – if they come in they won’t be getting out now. Took photos and emailed them to Rob.

Steve heard a big bang and walked down to check the yard. The cattle had pushed the rails inwards where the hay is on the trailer. They moved it so much the pin that links the panels together had popped out. Steve got 2 cows and 2 calves out then got some wire and wired them the panels together as well.

Had a cuppa then headed off to pick up the water pod again – trying to keep our tank full as well as fill the top one. The windmill’s shaft T piece has broken so Steve climbed up the frame work and wired it so it stayed straight then put tape around the T piece. Will email Rob as that will have to be replaced which is too big a job for us to do.

Back home, put some water on the grass, looking a bit greener then put the rest down the well. When Steve turned the tap to send the water up into the top tank he got wet. The hose had come out of the top of the tank. With me watching Steve climbed up the old ladder then had to hoist himself up through the broken timber that the tank sits on. Not the easiest for him as he is not very flexible. He got it back in the hole on the side and then put wire on the pipe as he climbed down. Unfortunately it popped straight back out. The tank must be nearly full so the pipe won’t stay in. Steve got the thinking cap going and made up an elbow with some wire and chain hanging down from the pipe bit that goes into the tank, that way it will stay inside the tank. Up he went again and got it in place. Worked well.

Had lunch, 40 degrees in the van and the wind comes and goes.

Took the pod back and when we returned we noticed a heap of cattle under the tank. It was overflowing and the outside cattle were lapping up the water on the ground. They are getting very thirsty since they won’t go into the yard for a drink and haven’t walked the 5km down to the other trough either.

Sprung another bull drinking the water from the goanna bath, that’s getting a bit close to our pool. Had a cuppa in the pool feeling guilty that the outside cattle were so thirsty but we can’t do anything about it otherwise they won’t go into the yard.

A vehicle drove in which we saw had Round Oak Minerals on the side, sprung us in the pool. It was Claudio the geologist and a lady, missed her name, who is the health and fitness person for the mine. Interesting challenge for her getting people interested in their fitness etc after 12 hours work. She was from Townsville, her parents were fine with the floods but her sister has had a lot of damage. Claudio brought the maps showing where they were drilling and told us about different things to look for and how gold and quartz if formed etc. Very interesting. We got out the bits we found to show him as they are exploring for gold with these drill holes and he said it was ok for us to detect as long as we let him know what we find, where and what type of gold it is, rough, smooth etc. After a great chat he said he will be back to show us some more maps etc. Very helpful chap.

They headed back so we got back into the pool with our drinks. The birds are making the most of the water we put back in the water feeder and bath. The pigeons are funny to watch.

Even the crow came down for a drink.

The cattle are still hanging around under the tank, looking up hoping for more ‘rain’ to fall down on them from the tank. They are staring at us too so I think we had better make a good cover for the pool.

Steve got to work on the cover while I gave Erica and Terry a call. They are fine, having a big clean out in the shed after taking the pool table down to Woodgate at Christmas. Aunty Maree is still in hospital but she has been given her marching orders – she isn’t very enthusiastic about things, I think she is lonely since George passed. Terry’s aunty Eva will be 97 in March and has just been through Chemo for cancer but it has appeared again so hopefully she won’t have to suffer for much longer.

Steve found an old footon bed frame which fits over the pool perfectly. There was some shadecloth on another frame so we put that over the bed frame and we have a new snug-fitting cover which hopefully keep the roos and cattle out of our pool.

  

The galahs don’t mind sharing the trough with the cattle.

Gave the cattle in the yard some more hay and put some molasses on hay at the entrance hoping the others will go in.

7pm 38 degrees and no breeze. Glad we have our fans as we can’t use the air conditioner until we get a bigger generator!! Had dinner then while we were watching a movie I heard some mooing close to us and our lawn was covered in cattle. I shone the torch and told them off – they slowly walked away. I put the verandah lights on hoping that will discourage them.

Later on 8 kangaroos arrived. I refilled the goanna bath but the roos didn’t return quick enough and one of the cows managed to score a drink.

Hope the cover over the pool works as between the roos and the cattle it is going to be a busy and noisy night around the cottage.