Snakes & Ladders & H20

Usually by end September the ‘shorts and sock’ tan is already happening however with the arrival of a series of northwest cloud bands over the last two months the temperatures have stayed at a balmy 25 degrees. It’s a marked change after so many years of drought. The stock feed is lush, the dams are full, waterways are brimming and in regional centres water restrictions have lessened. Of course the drought had to end with a bang. Those who have acquired the age of wisdom have been pontificating on the flood we had to have, four months before we had it. Well it’s been here for a while now. 5 weeks in fact. We’re not complaining too much. Water is the most precious commodity. I can clearly recall daily carrying water from our last rain water tank the 500 metres to the main homestead about four years ago while waiting for the water carrier to arrive from Mungindi with a fresh delivery of H20. I felt I was living in a third world country, especially when the main homestead’s underground rain water tank collasped after a horse fell through the reinforced top-I kid you not. We managed to retrieve the horse and after two days travelled 105 km to Goondiwindi for a shower! We had dinner out, saw a movie and stayed the night. It remains one of the highlights of the drought for me. We have lost crops, those still standing have had their quality affected by the continual wet conditions and I for one do have web feet, however you can do alot more with water than dust. What I’m not partial to are the numerous snakes; black, brown and myall wriggling around the bush at the moment, I guess everyone and everything has to enjoy the change in the weather, however must they do it