Continuing the diary of AUGUSTUS BOSTOCK as he grazed sheep and cattle on Grasmere. He was also preparing the way for his marriage in 1864 and eventual move to Coomete at Hexham.... Thelma Birrell at Maroochydore. OCTOBER 1863 Thu 1 - Returned to BOORTKOI and at """ about sheep on the way down. Weather fine. Fri 2 - Went out to see TOM'S (Bostock) ewes. Stayed at Boortkoi all night. Weather rather warm. Sat 3 - Returned home calling at Coomete on the way. Saw ARNEL (Fred) about huts and WILLIAM KEILLAR about huts on Coomete. W. very warm. Sun 4 - Went to Warrnambool. Walked out to ERNEST'S (Bostock) and stayed there to dinner. Weather very warm. Mon 5 - Ordered ?? to go up by dray to Boortkoi. Signed deeds of piece of land sold by MacGREGOR (Samuel) to SANDERSON (Mr.) on my account. Called to TOZER (Francis) but he was not in town. Weather very warm. Tue 6 -Called to see TOZER (Francis) but he had not returned. Called to PATERSON (Robert Brand Paterson) about SNIPE SHOOTING. Returned home. DREW (T) working in the garden. Went to Mr.WARES on way to see huts erected on MR.BAYLES (William) land. Weather showery. Rained hard at night. Wed 7 - Met ALSON at Messrs.DAWSON & MITCHELLS. Went round huts - returned to MINJAH (Wares) and stayed all night. Weather showery. Thu 8 - Returned home by dinner time. DREW (T) and Mrs.DREW went to Warrnambool with dray. FRANCIS JONES got small red steer, with a white face, to kill for beef. Settled with PETER for slabs and agreed with him for posts for TOM (Bostock). Weather cloudy...fine. Fri 9 - DREW (T) working in the garden. Went into Warrnambool to attend the COURT. Stayed in town all night. Went to the CARD PARTY at PATERSON'S (Robert Brand). Weather some light showers. Sat 10 - Called on TOZER (Francis) about the sheep. Returned home. TOZER (Francis) came with me in the afternoon to see young cattle. Went round all cattle on Purnim. Weather rather cool. Sun 11 - Stayed at home all day MARGETTS (Edward) called down and MR.STUBBS called in afternoon. weather cloudy. Mon 12 - SNOW (Henry) got seven head of cattle. Went into Warrnambool. Agreed with PALMER (Octavius Frederick William) to let bank account remain until the end of the month. ERNEST and LUCY (nee Aitkin) BOSTOCK came out. Weather dull. Tue 13 - Went round the cattle at Purnim. Working in the garden. Weather dull. Wed 14 - Took the tails off the pet lambs. Branded two calves. Planted out some Laurel plants. Weather fine. Thu 15 - Mowed green in front of house. PALMER(O.F.W.) and MISS PALMER came over. ALICE (Aitkin) and myself went for a ride in the afternoon. Saw the cattle at Purnim. Weather warm - a little rain at night. Fri 16 - Deliver cattle to TOZER (Francis). MARGETTS (Edward) commenced putting in his potatoes. PATERSON (Robert Brand) called and ALICE AITKIN went with him to BOORTKOI. (Alice was sister to his wife Mary Jane (nee Aitkin) PATERSON). To Blacksmith to get him to make knives for cutting THISTLES. Weather very fine. Sat 17 - DREW (T) cleared front of house. Carting wood and mended the road at the BRIDGE. To Warrnambool with ERNEST (Bostock) in the BUGGY and we brought two horses out in the evening. STEPHENS (Mr.) came down from Boortkoi and went into Warrnambool. Weather fine. Sun 18 - The MARGETTS (Edward & Mrs ?) called and Lucy went to church with them. Weather rather warm. Mon 19 - Working in the garden. Went to MARGETTS (Edward). Killed a small pig to take up to Boortkoi. Weather sultry. Tue 20 - Went to Boorkoi and called at Coomete. Weather warm. Wed 21 - Drove down to Mr.ARMSTRONGS. Stayed at Boortkoi all night. Weather warm. Thu 22 - Returned home. MATHERSON (George) finished ploughing and harrowing TOBACCO paddock. Weather very stormy - rain in evening. Fri 23 - DREW (T) working in the garden. Went into Warrnambool with ERNEST (Bostock). Stayed in town all night, as MRS AITKIN(Mary Meacock nee Manifold) went out with ERNEST (Bostock- h/o Lucy Aitkin) to GRASMERE. Weather fine. Sat 24 - Saw SNOW (Henry) about balance due to us. Played MARRIED and SINGLES match at CRICKET. Returned home. ERNEST drove his new TRAP, bringing out MARGARET (Aitkin) and Miss HOWARD. (Margaret is to be married to Augustus in 1865 - further away than I thought).W.fine. Sun 25 - Home all day. They all walk to MARGETTS (Edward). Weather very close all day. Heavy storm of wind and rain at night. Mon 26 - Went round cattle at Purnim. Skinned cow that died there. ERNEST (Bostock) did not come. Weather very wet and stormy. Tue 27 - The wethers arrived from Coomete. MR.RUTLEDGE (William) came to see them. Sold the lot to him for 7/6d each cash. Wed 28 - Delivered the wethers to MR.RUTLEDGE (William). Returned home in the BUGGY with ERNEST (Bostock). Weather very stormy. Thu 29 - Went into Warrnambool with ERNEST (B) to see about bank account. ALICE AITKIN returned with us.. Sister of Lucy & Margaret Aitkin. Wet. Fri 30 - DREW (T). went around cattle. Went to road to meet ERNEST (B) to show him the way through ROSEHILL. Weather stormy. Sat 31 - ERNEST & LUCY (Bostock) went into Warrnambool. Rode in with MARGARET AITKIN (bride to be, but says nothing in his diary of course) Stayed in Warrnambool all night. River rising fast. Weather wet and stormy. (Augustus Bostock is about 30 years of age at this time). Just enjoy, as life seems to be going along smoothly at this time. He moves home and property in coming extracts. Sincerely Thelma Bostock Betts Barker Blease Wilkinson http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm Jas Cox Connell Collins http://matthewbirrell.tripod.com/index.htm