Jan 1 1831 Saturday. Another year has gone by and left me for one I fear not much better in condition than it found me With choice of all professions who but myself would have selected a settler's life Have bartered the comforts & luxuries of home for either going between the plough handles heaving the hoe or some other delightful occupation with about 3 acres of tobacco 400lbs wheat, 6 acres of corn 600 sheep 70 or 80 cattle & 2 horses. I begin this year encumbered with difficulties not very trifling, yet full of hope and confident of success, sheep shorn, harvest reaped. Feby 18th January has passed by & so much of this month in which time many things have taken place which should have been written down by me. Twice I have been at Maitland once to meet the Governor whom I [saw]. 8 days I have spent in the upper district of Hunter River have cut some tobacco & planted good deal Built a tobacco shed & churned some ground for wheat which I fear I shall be unable to plough, this day began planting potatoes & yesterday planted 20 plants of tobacco as an experiment have had rain nearly every day which is most prejudicial to everything have hired a tobacconist A. Long for one year at the rate of £25.0.0 per annum. An agreement entered into this eighteenth day of February 1831. Between Mr Boydell of Paterson River and Andrew Long whereby the said Mr B agrees to hire A Long to twelve months and to pay him wages to the amount of twenty five pounds sterling [ ] his rations. In consideration of which A Long duly engages to serve the said Mr Boydell for that term and to do what he may be required. Witness to the signatures [J Edmonds] Charles Boydell Andrew Long March 2nd Finished planting potatoes last week mightily busied with my tobacco which comes on mightily well except the latter crop which after flourishing exceedingly for some has been in equal measure blighted occasioned I should presume by an extremely hot sun following immediately after a shower whereby the plants got [XXXed] which their appearance much indicated. Corn looks well everywhere but not much of it in the County. Sale of [ ] having been advertised for the First of March, on that day I attended but it had been put off. However, came in at the tag end of [Griggins] sale when everything was disposed of at low rates 3 steers for2/6 eaxh sheep 3/5 lambs/40 and wheat very low went on to Glendon where I passed a most splendid evening with a large party agreed to give Daniel O'Hara wages at the rate of £ 15.0.0 per annum until he is free ~ things altogether in a thirsty way - 5th Saturday night. Altogether the week has passed well tho not much done during it. Been attempting to clean out part of the stockyard [XXXX] tobacco & chipping the ground for a second crop which was mightily [foul], cattle & everything doing well and not giving much trouble. One rainy day with which exception I never witnessed a [XXXX] week. April 27th More than a month has elapsed since opening this book I may say altogether to my satisfaction having in that time paid Mr A B Sparke's bill of £40 and Townshend to [cul] tobacco with 14 Bushels of wheat….have had much visiting 2 Pic nics by Scot & Allman where plenty of fun & everything that was good was going on. Such things can do no harm whilst they enliven the monotony of a settler's life…