July 2022

Chapter 11. The First Calf

Barry our original cow dad was delivered from up north. Arriving home that day we could see a trailer with its back door open, a young bloke sitting on the curb, beside him on a lead cute teenage Baz calmly nibbling the nature strip.

We watched with bated breath as he sauntered into the paddock, sniffed his new mate Sally then made a beeline for the expensive bale of lucerne in the corner, no fence jumping or running off this time, we were learning.

But this compliant beginning didn’t last.

Chapter 1. Emigrating to Oz

A young couple, Nurse/Midwife and Marine Ecologist, leave cold, rainy Scotland for the sunny climes of sub-tropical Queensland, Australia.

He likes adventure, change, excitement, she prefers calm, order, peace and quiet.

Their bond, an overdeveloped care factor for all living things

One small block of land and many animals later, how does it all work out? What could possibly go wrong?

Chapter 9. The Runaway Cow

Acreage and animal ownership brings joy and pain in equal measure, responsibility and hard work, you have to be up for it all. We’ve learnt on the job, made a few mistakes along the way.

Our first ever cow (Sally) arrived in a hired trailer. It was dusk. Rob drove in , shut the gate, then peered at her wondering what to do next?

Hindsight and many cows later, we should have left her exactly where she was, in the trailer with fresh hay and water till the morning.

Seems obvious? Right?