I haven’t mentioned to much about Farmer Bob’s cows which neighbour our property. Over the past 18 Months I think at some stages it has found everyone just sitting on the deck and watching them. Gee’s at times I have felt like David Attenborough noting every possible change in behaviour, the way they move, the leader of the herd not to mention when they all went into calf resulting in some pretty spectacular specimens. At times though leaning over the BBQ cooking up some steaks on the deck I have actually felt quite guilty whilst my eyes have been fixated on the herd, if only they knew.

Still it’s something as city folk you never really think about because no one really has any interaction with a cow let alone live next door to a heap of them. They truly are a majestic creature but very regimented, they say people can be sheep but I dare say that the cow could replace them in that quote justifiably.

I remembered when we weren’t long at the farm when Farmer Bob came over to apologise about the noise they had all made caused by Mothers and Calf’s being separated. I also remember this because in fact I did hear them most of the night but I remember thinking I would so much rather fall asleep hearing them than late night sirens and traffic.

Well I can honestly say my view on this has changed recently perhaps I have become more accustomed to the farm than I think. A couple of weeks ago there was another separation in the herd on a Sunday night, a school night and yep I contemplated grabbing a steak knife, jumping the fence and putting them all to sleep, the sleep I was craving at the time. They in fact can be the nosiest animal on the planet and seemingly it’s not until the sun sets that they decide to sing. I know in the city neighbour noise disputes can be settled with a decibel analyser sensor but I hate the thought of the reaction I would receive if I was to go up to Bob’s bright and early one morning with one in my hand, I already know he loves to use and is handy with the gun. So, it is learning to sleep with the cows, it is then scenario, no choice here.

Over the past couple of weeks Maggie May (Audrey’s horse) has really grown on me, she is so sweet with a gorgeous temperament and soul. She often follows me around whilst I’m working around the farm house and will just stand there watching, she is also generally the first horse to come running when we arrive and there is nothing like being greeted by a hungry horse seeking attention. If the sign “Gympie” on the way in doesn’t instantly give me that unwind from city gratification I feel come over me this certainly does.

March 21st 2017 - Prior to this weekend "Audrey and Julie" were away leaving myself and Graham in charge of the animals

Living in the city and being part time farmers has its pluses and minuses especially where animals are concerned. I’ll never forget one of the first times I met “Farmer Bill” (my neighbour who own’s pretty well much all the land surrounding me and runs cattle – will introduce later) in a conversation leaning over a 5-strand barb wire fence in the middle of a paddock whilst he was checking on his cows, this wasn’t the usual lean over the paling timber fence talk in suburbia. He said with livestock there is deadstock and as confronting as that is the comment is so so true, perhaps his delivery and explanation could have been a little more sympathetic though for us non-hardened city folk.

I have always been very close to my animals over the years, well dogs anyways, I hate cats and I have forgotten how many fish or birds I have replaced without, feeling and without often the kids even knowing.

Each time losing a dog is like losing one of your kids and I still struggle with the memory of some of them over the years. My first very own dog was a boxer who also went on to be probably the very first thing that ever really broke my heart or make me sob uncontrollably when I lost him. I had to get him put down after everything started packing in because of his age. I kept telling myself if the roles were reversed he would do the same for me and I would want it that way. Still it never made it any easier and taking one of my own animals to its death would still to this day be one of the hardest experiences in my life that I have ever done. Sure, I have put other animals out of their misery, I have taken the family pet to be put down whilst growing up but nothing ever really prepares you when you lose one of own. I still remember him shutting his eyes and taking his last breath whilst I held his paw and for years afterwards I couldn’t even look at his photo without crying yet I could easily look at other photos of people who I have lost over time. Soft maybe but in retrospect it tells you how close I get to my furry friends, especially my dogs. I think over the years the kids have probably even got jealous of the attention I gave and give to my dogs and Moo Moo is certainly no exception.

My dogs have always been loyal and I am of a strong belief that with any animal they are what you put into them, speaking about time in this case. Someone however forgot though to send me the memo that dogs aren’t meant to sleep with you and still to this day it causes frictions in my relationships both past and present – yes Audrey “Moo Moo” is not allowed on the bed.

So now I have a horse that I also share with Moo Moo the Bulldog, who seems to be the jealous one these days and she can often be found barking or running beside me when I’m trying to ride or showing to much attention to the new love of my life “Baby Jane”. I have often found myself day dreaming on the deck at the farm “wouldn’t it be great if Baby Jane could walk up the stairs and sit beside me or walk inside and say hello – sit on my lap perhaps?” but yes given the 15.4 hands high whilst not impossible, totally unrealistic on my behalf.

One thing I must learn as the farm grows bigger into the future is just those exact words of Bills “Livestock eventually become Deadstock” Both Audrey and I have future plans of turning the farm into a self-sustainable one and yes that will mean growing and killing our own meat. Though for now it’s just the horses and our little fury friends who are part time farm animals along with us.

In the meantime, I will watch as many episodes of the “River Cottage both the Aussie version and English one” And I will admire the way Hugh and Paul disassociate themselves from their livestock seeing them at times worshipping the animals as they cook them away. I will also begin the pastime of stepping on as many ants, splattering as many flies as I can as I begin the process and practice of hardening my heart.

In time, I will introduce our animals, including the ones that have found the farm their final resting place and what a beautiful one at that. See I am already adopting Hugh’s and Paul’s farming philosophies......