Back to the farm as newly married I was. ( Late 1970s..) More outgoings than incomings there were, so dad decided to buy calves, feed them up, and sell them as yearlings. Calves, as in weaned ones..poddy calves? Anyway. Every now and then, Dad had what we now call a senior moment. Just lost the plot bigtime. so, truckload of calves arrived late in the afternoon, and were offloaded into the cattle yards. Early in the day was fine, let them settle down then put them in a paddock with enough food in it to grab their attention.
So, late afternoon. Too late for them to settle down and be moved in the daylight remaining…so, locked up overnight. They were having a natter amongst themselves, as calves do. Well, ok, rather a loud natter…sheesh, ok, they were bawling their heads off, having a great time, keeping us all awake. But..they were Safely Enclosed in a bawling calf proof enclosure. Or so I thought. Dad decides they are thirsty..and lets them out. Bawling decreases, Dads happy, so he toddles off to bed. So. Recap. We have 40 head of cattle, in the dark, roaming around in Unfamiliar territory. Fences and things in the way don’t mean much to a cattle critter under these circumstances…
So, next morning, I go and have a looksee. Gate wide open, not a cattle critter to be seen, main gate was shut, he got that right..but it was 2 days before the last one was where it should have been. Onto the main road, wandering around near the nearest town, across the road..some of them had actually gotten to the paddock they were supposed to go into the next day..through three closed gates…so, up to see Mum and or Dad…who had made himself scarce..funny that! Mum..yaas, they were keeping us all awake, and your father…enough said. three fateful words I was to hear more than once in the ensuing four or five years..