Males (of all species).

2y.old and I have recently had the job of delivering hay to the six boys (Angus steer) as there is just not enough grass (still not enough rain!!).  We were using 'Mummy's tractor', the ride-on mower with the trailer, but this was only delivering a couple of mouthfuls to these big boys!  Now I have to hook up the car trailer daily, drive through numerous gate and paddocks, fill the trailer with hay and avoid the other boys (Alpacas) from escaping to see the girls, and then drive back through gates and paddocks to deliver the boys' lunch.

What makes this worth-while is the way in which the boys approach their hay.  I make them walk from the bottom of the hill, three paddocks away, up to where I drop the hay off (well, they have to work for their food!).  They had been moo'ing at me, as I drive the car by, and 2y.old moo's back through the window.  Then I slowly drive up the road adjacent to the paddocks and go into the paddock at the top of the hill.  By the time we have emptied the trailer, the boys are halfway up the hill.  I have to quickly move the car and trailer away from the hay, as the boys become too excited when they see the food.

The first one up is usually Bill, and he walks calmly up the hill, until he rounds the corner and sees the hay.  Then he SKIPS (yes, 18mth old, 400 kilos of black skipping cow) to the pile of hay and completes a half-turn so that he is standing over it (and in it) facing the other boys.  Then Whitey comes up and RUNS at the hay, he always misses as he runs too fast and to stop himself he drops to his knees on his front legs and then (velocity) skids across the paddock past Bill and the hay.  He looks kind of embarrassed when he finally stops, and then saunters back.  Meanwhile Ben, not to be outdone, prances over to the hay but is much more careful about his footwork, and head-butts Bill out of the middle (immediately shoving hay into his mouth).  The other three boys enter the paddock more sedately, lumbering across, huffing and puffing (and probably whinging about the walk up).  Then with lots of pushing, shoving and no manners at all, they all stuff themselves.  I have to keep 2y.old and the car well out of the way, for the obvious reason that 2400 kilos of combined cow cannot be trusted to behave appropriately when there is hay in the paddock. 

Meanwhile, the male Alpacas have spied the females and are doing their very best to catch the girls' eyes.  Eclipse even went as far as to rear up on his back legs (hello ladies!), but the girls are just too far away to appreciate him. 

I'm behind on my blogging too because another two males have needed attention!  2y.old has been to see the Speech Therapist and we  have been given a list of activities that we need to with him.  He has 60 words now, but is still behind.  It was funny that the therapist noted 2y.old's cheeks are still very chubby, he has no muscle tone!!  Once his muscles develop and tone up, he will be better at talking (I did ask what exercises tone up cheeks and she just laughed - there are none!).

Husband is the last male of this post, he needed an editor for his application (and subsequent success) for the position as Nurse Manager of the maximum security Launceston Remand Centre and the Deloraine Adolescent Remand Unit.  He is very happy and starts his new position in two weeks!