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build-up of soot, given that I have to sweep out the stove pipe every morning, to be on the safe side and also to keep the amount of soot storms down to a bare minimum.

She told me she gets an ordinary fizzy drink can, one made of aluminium, and puts it into the fire every so often, and that gets rid of the soot. I am in the process of experimenting with this method. I have had some volunteers supplying cans, and will let you know as to how it works or if it doesn't. In the meantime, if any of you have any favourite recipes for cleaning chimneys easily, I would be grateful to hear about them.

It seems one of our geese, the one I think of as "Mrs Compost", because she was sitting for so long in the compost heap, was broody for no reason. She was the one that I told you I saw eating the rotten eggs. Well, there are now no eggs, and she is still sitting. Now, here's something else on which I would like advice. She is eating, and seems normally paranoid for a goose. Should I convince her to get off the nest permanently? Speak to me, nice people, please. I am as a babe in the woods with this.

An interesting morning on Tuesday - I had been given three bantam roosters, as you know, and they were doing the usual male bonding bit, i.e. trying to rip each other's throats out, even though they had grown up together. Naturally, roosters not being the quietest of birds, every so often the fracas would reach the kitchen. This particular morning, the noise had been going on for some time. I looked out of the kitchen window to see Ol' Sly himself, Mr Foxy-Loxy, making merry with my chooks around the outside of the feather pen.

I was sooo angry! Screaming naughties at him (I'm presuming sex here, please forgive my generalisation), I charged after him, all the while wondering whether I would actually catch up with the little stinker. Years ago, when I was a mere stripling, I was taught about the civilizations of ancient Greece. More especially, that of Sparta stuck in my mind. The Spartan children were brought up away from their Mothers, and in very rough circumstances, like tough Army training camps, of the type to make Hitler think he was a softie.

The only rules were "Don't get caught, and don't show cowardice." To this end, the children were often put on their mettle - one instance recounted was of a boy who was hungry, which was not unusual, and he managed to sneak out of camp and catch a live fox. Challenged, he would not admit to having the fox, and he secreted it under his clothing. The fox ate out his stomach and the boy died. They buried the boy with full honours, for keeping quiet despite the agony in which he was undoubtedly suffering, and for typifying good Spartan values. That's what they wanted in the war against those limp-wristed, democracy-loving, soft-bellied Athenians! A lot of good it did the poor lad - but apparently his Mum was really chuffed, and gave a fine speech about what a great Spartan the boy was! Blah!

Also, I know about, just as you do, I'm sure, cornered animals. You just don't. So here's me chasing after the fox, hoping I don't catch him/her/it, and screaming blue murder at the little fester. I'm also calling for the dogs at the top of my lungs, who are in hiding, thinking I am screaming at them for some imagined sin. Well, they sniffed after him eventually. But that ol' fox didn't show up for the next few days at least, so perhaps the sight of a 5' 2" rampaging Leonie scared him off, at least for awhile.

I haven't had much of a chance to get the washing done, it's been mostly spring rains here, and I have been frantic. I have a deal going with the local YMCA where I do six hours of cleaning per week and it pays for Alice's gymnastics lessons. As with all such deals, I recommend that if you go into this sort of thing, do more and do it cheerfully. Why? Well, if you are Christian, you know the answer to that anyway, but there is also a selfish motive. There are days when the time alloted for the particular tasks doesn't or cannot suit me, so Tim at the Y is fairly flexible. And it helps my attitude of grattitude if I am cheerful. Also, it steers your way clear to going up further and getting on better if the cause should arise. But I am a great believer in just giving more in any case.

Peter Cundall, writing in The Weekly Times of October 8th, says not to be seduced by warm sunny days if you live in a cool district and have ready availability of tomato seedlings at nurseries. It's still too early to plant them out in the open. Peter lives in our Island State of Tasmania, and shares a similar climate to the Western District where I live. Apparently, an ideal ground temperature for strong root growth is about 22 degrees C.

"In such conditions tomato seedlings get a flying start which means strong, disease-resistant plants and amazing crops.

"The best producing and flavoured tomatoes include: Moneymaker, Sweet Bite, First Prize (great for pots), Apollo Improved, the unusual Black Russian and the vigorous but late bearing Grosse Lisse."

I recommend that you also interplant with a good, strong-smelling basil and African marigold, to ward off nasties.

Remember to be careful about how you water - sometimes overhead watering can introduce fungus because of humidity problems. If you can, just let the hose soak water in from ground level. If you have problems with time or water consumption, it might pay you to put water into large soft drink containers, up-end them near the plants, one per plant, and the water will slowly percolate into the soil.

We are really blessed in that the water from Murray Goulburn has lots of nutrients in it, so fertilising is almost automatic.

A Day in the Life of...

I am in an almost constant state of Rushed.

I have trouble remembering -

What did happen yesterday? What did I do?

Life flies past

Already my daughter, my little one, is nine years old

How many lost opportunities, how much is missed?

I rejoice on seeing her grow,

but soon she will be too big for my lap

Her independence is wonderful

but I can no longer just pick her up and piggy back her anywhere

Each day is a new challenge,

each day brings new adventures, new insights,

and each day brings more happiness and more joy

as I share with my Alice.