A Sisyphean Task

It was misty and cold Saturday morning at NC, I'd already put my thermal gloves on at the bus stop, but I needn't have worried as Giles had leaf clearing in mind, a job certain to warm anyone up! With rakes and barrows we trooped out to clear the paths and driveways of the big house and I was soon acquainted with the industrial petrol leaf blower, efficient but pretty heavy so us girls took it in turns to save our backs and arms. Boring work it may have been but the farmer had put the tup into his ewes and it was quite amusing to see his antics, getting more and more tired as the day wore on, at one stage he was just stood resting his head on the back of one of his wives! Clearing the leaves turned out to be a full days task, one that we will probably have to repeat next week looking at the amount of leaves still clinging on to the branches. The very end of the afternoon brought high drama as Giles and Derrick who had been attempting to fell one of the dead eucalyptus trees, caught by the severe winter last year, moved in for the last stage. The tree must have been fifty feet high and getting it to fall in the right place and not demolish the wall or farm buildings was no mean feat, but with Lord and Lady Graham and the rest of us looking on that's exactly what they accomplished. I have a sneaking feeling that Mondays first task will involve carrying logs to the barn!

Falling leaves
Hide the path
So quietly.
A haiku by John Bailey

NEWS FLASH- Dave has just given me a beautiful sparkly
diamond engagement ring! I'm not sure we will ever get around to doing the deed, but as a statement of commitment it's very gallant and romantic!