We only found out this morning. S had heard some commotion from the horses late last night, and she heard M and L too, so she knew something was going on but figured it was under control. It was only this morning when she went to check - when she was opening the gate - expecting to see a foal in the paddock with her - that she saw Lindy on the ground, covered. She raced over to see if perhaps she had had a false start last night and was foaling this morning when she realised that Lindy was gone.
We had never for a moment considered that Lindy, being the veteran mother that she was, would have any trouble. When we realised she was gone, we had hoped that at least they would have been able to save the foal, but when S spoke with C this morning it seemed that the foal was already gone by the time Lindy went into labour.
When S and I were talking about it a little while ago, she said she could just imagine Lindy and the foal galloping around in a paddock somewhere - because surely animals must go to heaven if there is such a place.
S sent our condolences with C this morning and hadn't seen L and M by lunchtime and didn't want to bother them. C was saying that they were both very upset - so much so that they may not be breeding on the property anymore. I spoke with M on my way home this afternoon and she was not at all happy with the vet and thinking they may have made the wrong choice with him especially since he had said he would be on call all weekend and they hadn't been able to contact him last night. But they were able to contact two vets who were there for Lindy at the last. It's all just too sad.
The other animals (not just the horses) obviously sense that something is up. Pearl has been at S's side all day, resting her head on her knee when they were both on the couch; and E had taken up her "comforting" position on S's chest when she was in there earlier in the day. For our part, we have given everyone an extra hug, cuddle, pat and chuck under the chin - for us and the traveller - so they all know they are especially loved - because they are. I can't imagine what we would do if anything happened to any of them.
But at least Hermes finally gets to share a paddock with Holly. I'm not even going to think about how much more distraught that might make him the next time she leaves him and goes off to play with Gundy.
We are apparently inching slowly towards a LNP Government although it is not yet confirmed. (Shudder.) Postal votes stop this Friday which surely must be a hangover from the days when they had to carry the mail throughout the land on horseback - or from overseas by ship. Or it could speak to the amount of trust the Australian Electoral Commission has in Australia Post's ability to deliver.
There have been more informal votes this election than ever before. While some of Queensland's informals may be intentional, there is some suggestion that the State election "put a 1 in the box of the candidate you're voting for" policy may have confused people who this time had to number every box.
And so we arrive at rubbish day again and I resisted the temptation to tow the garbage bin up with me this morning. But it had to go. When I asked S if perhaps the third-full bin might not wait until next week, she reminded me of our little Rattie who was still there from last week ... enough said. So off we went, bumping our way over the newly-graded road. Where did I hear someone say "has to get worse before it gets better" and why did they have to tell the road folk that? The macadamiser has been joined by a tiny grader, a wee steam roller, and a truck to carry the little things on. Not quite sure how much (more) they're planning to do - but hopefully they won't leave it as it is now. It wouldn't be so bad except that the newly graded bits don't quite cover the width of the road. Let's see what they do with it tomorrow.
