Blog for Sunday 20th April 2025

I was up at twenty past eleven last night with Ken and Raafie, and then again at half past one, and I eventually got up at just before five o’clock after having had a rather broken sleep! I normally sleep right through but was ultra-aware of Ken with his sore hip in bed with me and was there to help him up!

You will be happy to know that I have won the “argument” re: the walker.  Not for my sake, but for Ken’s! He almost had another fall last night in our bedroom, so that sealed it.

I contacted Noel and Sandra this morning and asked if I could fetch said walker this afternoon. It will be a great help for Ken as he did not realize that being home is so different to being in hospital. Things here on the farm are not flat and level!

Once Paddy and Matt’ had had their coffee and breakfast they headed off to finish doing the fencing where Paddy almost drowned the quad bike! Yes, that area where the bovines had managed to get through.

Thankfully Paddy cleared out a large area in the main shed for me yesterday and we managed – or rather Paddy did I just watched – burn the large cupboard that was in the way. That has given me a much larger area to work in and I am hoping that if they have time, that Paddy and Matt’ can bring in those two large wooden boxes that have been outside for months now. I am concerned that all my books therein will be ruined, and I also need my slow cookers, as we are heading towards the cooler evenings now.

I did several loads of washing this morning, and had the sunshine to dry it all, which is always a blessing.

I watched a helicopter hovering all over this area and wondered what it was doing – maybe some survey of the Highway maybe?  I love that sound of a chopper the whop-whop-whop of those blades as it reminds me so much of my youngest brother who flies them and is an instructor at Farnborough in England.

At about lunch time I went across to Ellenborough to Noel and Sandra’s to pick up the walker for Ken to use. My goodness, gracious golly gee! What a swishy one it is and ruby red nog al, brakes and a seat too!

I managed to get the ute’, and myself across and back over the river again without getting stuck which is always  a huge plus!

When I got back Paddy and Matt’ were working on the lane way fencing and I quickly made Paddy a toasted ham and cheese wrap for a bite to eat whilst they were working.

Tonight, we are having boerewors (South African sausage) on bread rolls and Paddy suggested we braai (barbeque) them over the fire so Ken can come and sit outside with us. We will just eat very early so that there is still a lot of light so no chance of him falling or tripping.

Ken and I went outside earlier and sat there just to enjoy nature and the beautiful day, but it was not comfortable for Ken and we came inside after a while and he lay down for a rest.

Ken’s hearing aids were not paired to his new i-Phone, and so I started to try and do that for him, I managed to pair them to his i-Phone but no to the hearing aid app! I battled for a bit but then called in the expert – Matt’. Who then determinedly sorted that problem out! Yahee! Father can now hear!

Shame, and while we were sorting the hearing aid problem out Paddy braaied the boerewors (South African sausage) on his own outside.

We had some sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and custard after that and then we all retired quick smart to our respective beds for the night.

It had been a long, long day for both Paddy and Matt’ – Yoh! They have worked hard and non-stop this weekend! Fencing, grinding, working on the aerator, quad bike, welding fencing equipment, dosing the cattle to get rid of the wretched Buffalo flies, attempting to stop the shower from dripping, planting some jacaranda trees, burning a large cupboard, and blah-blah-fish paste.

They have done well.

What lesson did I learn today? To help Ken be patient with his healing!

What am I grateful for today? All the work Paddy and Matt’ have done again here on the farm. They are legends!

My saying for today is