My day should have started at four o’clock but there was still a great weariness in my body from feeling unwell yesterday, so I turned the alarm off and slept for another hour. Lazy sluggard!

But then, maybe … just maybe someone knew what I was going to be doing for the morning. I did not. That extra hour of sleep was well worth it later!

I had my day planned out, but Ken had other ideas for me! He wanted me to help him castrate the bulls - the older ones, nog al! Oh dear! Ironing suddenly sounded like a wonderful occupation for the day.

I wish we could do any cattle work early in the day as working out in the heat if the day is a killer, but my man will not have a bar of it. Seven o’clock or half past seven are his rising times and they are set in stone. Granite!

While Ken and the canines were rounding up the one herd plus the bulls to be castrated, I put the washing on then hung it out to dry. I also managed to squeeze in a few more smocking stitches while I waited for the cattle to be in the yards.

Sometimes, it is best not to know what lies ahead in life. This morning was a good example of that - for me anyway!

Okay, so apart from helping get the bulls into the smaller holding area and pushing them down the race, Ken informed me that I had to hold onto the bulls ‘under carriage’ (read ‘testicles’), whilst Ken wrapped a large thick rubber band around them. Need I add here that said bulls were not excited about that activity one bit? (Nor was I!) One of the bulls almost landed a well-aimed kick at my arm but thank goodness it was but a glancing blow. Enough though to make me want to run away and not return.

So, I stood on the one side of the crush and Ken on the other, I was told to grip onto the testicles and pull them out as far and as hard as I could. This allowed Ken to get the band wrapped around them. Yes, yes! Sounds like one smooth operation, but … it was not! The bands kept popping open, and Ken's language became more florid with each mishap. The bulls leapt around trying to hold onto their manhood, and they did their best to kick me as I hung on for dear life. Ah what fun it is being a farmer’s wife tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lah! (Use “Deck The Halls with Holly” chorus tune for that!)

I can assure you all that my life is filled with a variety of experiences. Not always chosen by me! I am trying to convince myself that all these experiences are building my character. Yeah right!

I had Ken yelling out instructions in staccato like bursts, with his hat that kept trying to remove my glasses, so I had a Mrs Mouse look with my glasses perched on the end of my nose trying to see what the heck I was doing. Added to that little scenario was the bull flick-flicking his filthy moo-pooed tail all over me and then two of the bulls let rip, and we had warm moo poo dripping off our arms and hands. Lovely! My Profit watch almost drowned in that rich, warn, dripping, re-cycled grass, but Ken’s watch took it in its stride being an underwater watch! We both had to take a break and go and wash in the bath of water nearby as there was no way that either of us could grip onto anything, dripping with moo poo.

Yes, Mrs Housewife, you who moan about the prices of veggies, fruit and meat you have NO idea what goes into producing these things for you! Whatever price you pay, let me tell you it is cheap!

When I walked out to the yards to help Ken earlier in the day, I was wearing a pale blue denim long sleeved shirt and denims. When I returned home later, I was covered in moo poo, so much so it looked as if I was wearing camouflage! Yes! Seriously!

I was into the shower quick smart and came out smelling sweet and looking ever so clean. I think everyone should be covered in moo poo at least once in their life time to appreciate the blessing of water!

Ken and Koda soon headed off for their siesta and I watched some TV while I had a cool drink and nodded off, then I did some work on my laptop, wrote some emails, paid some accounts and did some studying for our Thursday Bible Study meeting. The first one of 2019.

Again, it has been a ridiculously hot day. When will the unrelenting heat abate? We need rain desperately now. Plus, in the afternoon there was a strong breeze blowing, which dried everything up even further, if that is possible. Sad. Really sad. Here we are crying out for rain and the people in Townsville would do anything to give us their flood water. What a mess that is up there. My heart goes out to all those affected by the floods.

The day wound down gently. Ken, me, plus Koda and Shamara all relaxed in our own ways. Koda on my lap in the Laziboy armchair as I watched my programme on TV, Shamara spread out on the floor like  a puddle keeping cool, and Ken in front of the other TV watching sport with his mobile phone on Facebook. Happiness for us all.

What lesson did I learn today? That castrating larger bulls is not my favourite occupation.

What am I grateful for today? That I do not have to castrate bulls every day!

My saying for today is …