It's early November 2022 and we had our first backpacker since before the covid emergency began.  Florian (28) from southern Germany has recently completed his Masters degree in Solar Electrical Engineering at a university in Sweden and will have 12 months break before beginning his career as an engineer. Florian arrived at Devonport by ferry and stayed with us for 3 weeks.

     Contrary to this photo, his life here did not start with a beer, hahaha. Actually, Florian is a tea totaller, and the beer is really mine, I just put it there for effect. Sorry Florian I'm just being naughty.

We had a lot of timber to cut and split and as the weather was perfect for wood splitting this was probably one of the first tasks Florian helped us with.

                                                                                

Bringing some cattle into another pasture.

Prior to Florian arriving a big storm brought down some trees on our western boundary so Florian was able to help us to remove them and repair the fences.

 

 

Florian loves to swim and he went in quite often whenever we did some sight seeing.

 

On the Freycinet Peninsular.

 

While he was with us we took Florian to see some of the attractions of Tasmania, the East Coast and Cradle Mountain.

 

Time to get the hay making equipment ready for the summer.

At the end of the day, sharing a drink with a backpacker and having a pizza or two is a good combination .
 

Well the rain did come, and I need not have bothered to pump in from a spring, but this is a wonderful lead into summer.

We had been pumping from this spring when the level was quite low but then we were caught off guard by a big rain event, and this pump needed to be rescued. Now checked and serviced it's good to go again.

 

With summer approaching and being very concerned about the threat of bush fire, we get this coup of tall pine trees cut down.

 

Then to offset some of the costs the timber is sold to a local saw miller to make pallets.

Unfortunately plantation harvesting over our boundary fence is changing the scenery for us at the moment and it will be around 5 years before the trees grow back to height that gives complete privacy once more. That said, it is quite interesting to watch the machines work. 

Late August and we help our good friends Ray and Kerry to pen some sheep and lambs for crutching and tailing.

They're so cute but, On goes the ring!

This little one is next, and I can feel both of our hearts are beating at a million miles an hour.   mmmm ah well, it must be done.

The winter months of June and July have been very dry so when August came around we decided not to risk having a dry spring and asked our friend Tim to come back and dig two new dams, this is the first one.  

We are not waiting any longer for the rain to come and begin pumping in from a nearby spring.

 It's late Autumn in 2020 and due to Covid our travel plans to the USA and Canada have been put on hold, so while everything goes into lock down, we discuss the possibility and pitfalls of building a green house with construction veterans Ray and Kerry Picket.
 

 Over a warm fire, a cold beer and tasty snacks Ray and Kerry give us some good advice about green house construction. 

 Now the work begins

 Foundation is done and dry and now the wall takes shape..

 Ray along his carpentry and power tools comes up for a couple of days to help with the roof.

 Nineteen days later and it's ready for occupation.

 

The rest of the veg garden had a bit of a face lift at the same time.

Barry seems to approve of the broad beans, lettuces, strawberries, spinach, and tomatoes that are all in and doing well, even in June.