We read lots of books to our kids as they were growing. One book was "War of the Worlds". Our copy was an old, bashed-up op-shop bargain, cheap print, with occasional mediocre illustrations.

I remember scoffing at the image of the panicking crowds running away from the alien's death ray, when the narrator first sees the Martian's in action. "Who runs like that, with their arms up in the air?"

Park that thought, we'll come back to it.

When we moved here I discovered there were some jobs that were not nice. But there's no one else to do it. Better to just get on with it, get it done as quickly and efficiently as you can. So, say, an injured animal that needs to be put down. Do it fast and minimize the pain and suffering.

I don’t like it, and sometimes it is an incredibly sad thing to deal with, but I can take on board the necessity and the importance of doing it well. It doesn't stop me thinking about it later, but I don't dwell on it and I think I'm dealing with it ok.

So, today I got in the buggy to go and feed livestock. In the back is a chook pellet bag. The geese and chickens get an afternoon serve of pellets. The back of the buggy gets used for lots of things…tools for pruning are there most the time, tubs for food, the bag of pellets, spare wire for repairs….you get the idea.

The Jack Russells get clipped in, to avoid any incidents with the geese. They are beautiful dogs, happy and loving, but give them access to poultry and its mayhem. Even so, despite the leads, we have had a number of incidents.

" My feet haven't touched the ground, so technically I am still in the buggy"

They have worked out they can lean out to the extent of the lead. But occasionally they miscalculate, and fall out. They either jerk free of the restraint, or they hang there, feet scrabbling for a foothold, while I rush over and stop them being strangled. The rooster seems to trigger this the most….they hate him, and if he dares to saunter past they become enraged.

But we've had a chicken jump into the buggy…a bad move. And sometimes its just one of those days and the dogs go nuts.

Anyway, I am used to dealing with it, the dogs are used to the procedure and mostly are well behaved, as they know I will take them for a run after the geese are done.

But yesterday as we were setting off, something in back, directly behind me, was rattling. It sounded like, say, a sheet of particleboard vibrating as the buggy moved. I looked over my shoulder. Nothing like that in the back. But it rattled again. Maybe it was something dragging? I stopped to check properly. As I got out of my seat Cleo jumped into the back. She was faster than me. She plunged her head into the feed bag and pulled out a female Bower bird.

If you don’t know them, they are beautiful birds. We have lots at our place. The males are a rich dark purple, and we see one or two of them each year, but we see lots of females. Shocked at the sudden sequence I paused…and Erick jumped at Cleo and grabbed hold of the bird. Aghast, I heard the breaking of bones…I won’t go on, you don't need to hear the full gruesome details. I actually turned away, and found myself standing with my hands on my head in horror.

Then recovered, intervened and extracted the corpse. The dogs, as always, were thrilled with their performance and very happy.

Maybe I would run away with my arms in the air, if it was horrible enough!