In my last post, I was grateful that some summer storms had helped the pastures along. The Rock Farm was looking surprisingly green for Christmas—an exception rather than the norm in this part of the world. By the end of January, however, it was clear that things were drying out. So, like all good husbands, I packed up and went to sea for a couple of weeks, leaving the farm and livestock in Jo’s capable hands. Before I left I pre-positioned a couple of hay bales in the paddocks to ensure the cattle had feed ahead of them—but I wasn’t prepared for what I found when I got home.

It was a huge amount of fun to return to my old ship and sail north from Hobart back to Sydney. During the voyage we experienced all weathers, including a lively crossing of the infamous Bass Strait in 55-knot winds. As we battled large seas and rolls exceeding 50 degrees (past the limits of the inclinometer, known onboard as the “ooh-aah meter”), I was reminded of the oft-quoted words of John A. Shedd: “A ship is safest in the harbour, but that is not what it was built for.”

What struck me most on this voyage was the advancement in weather forecasting since my first voyages onboard. The ability to track conditions and predict wind changes down to the hour allowed for well-informed decisions, especially regarding the sail plan.

Back home, I returned to happy, well-cared-for stock, (thanks Jo), but even I was surprised by how much the landscape had changed. Paddocks that had been full of feed just weeks earlier were now eaten out. The absence of rain was becoming more apparent, with no fresh growth, and the cattle had begun reaching for anything green to chew.

Then came the most telling sign of all. Last week, our creek—flowing continuously at our causeway since the drought broke in February 2020—slowed to a trickle and then finally stopped entirely. It’s a small but significant marker for us.

Looking back at photos from before that drought broke, the farm was in far worse condition than it is now. But the contrast is still striking. (See here: What a Difference a Day Can Make).

With the season deteriorating and Tropical Cyclone Alfred teasing us with the promise of rain that never arrived, we decided to bring forward the weaning of our heifers. These delightful young calves quickly settled into their new routine—though a couple managed to cheat the system and sneak the occasional drink from their mothers. After a few days, we moved the cows to the other end of the farm and let the calves graze in the “weaning paddock” near the yards.

The dry conditions also presented some opportunities. A small silted-up dam had been on my radar for a while, dried out. Our neighbour and friendly earthworks operator, Lou, made short work of cleaning it out. Thanks, Lou!

Unfortunately, the news about the tractor isn’t as good. In my last post, I mentioned it was out of action. It had been running extremely rough, with no compression on at least two cylinders. While I was away, Dan—my fantastic mechanic who replaced the clutch in November 2023—pulled the head off and confirmed the head gasket had failed. Further inspection revealed scoring on cylinders #1 and #2, prompting him to remove the crankshaft as well. Full rebuild kits are available, so we’ve ordered new pistons, liners, and everything needed to get the tractor operational again soon.

And, of course, because we clearly don’t have enough going on, we decided to make the most of being empty nesters by starting renovations on our home. After seven years of waiting, we’re finally bringing the house into the modern age—and we’ve well and truly dived in.

The demolition phase is going well. Fortunately, we can stay in the small flat attached to the house while we work. Pulling up rotten carpets and ripping off gyprock gives the impression of great progress, though we know things will slow down as we move into the reconstruction phase. Still, it’s exciting to see the potential of our home coming to life.

As summer rolls on, the Rock Farm is once again adapting to the changing conditions—just as we are. While the return to dry weather brings its challenges, it also presents opportunities and is a regular feature of this area. We are enjoying the full spectrum of activities, from weaning the heifers tackling long-awaited renovations. With the tractor rebuild underway and the house taking shape, there’s plenty to keep us busy as we look ahead to whatever the next season brings.