Springbrook Farm, Goomeri

It's the end of the week and near the end of my time at Springbrook Farm here in Goomeri, an hours drive from Rainbow Beach. And it's been the most amazing week of my life.

At the beginning I wasn't too sure about all of it. The first evening, Monday, which we arrived here and settled in was an hour or so on the motorbikes. Now, the other four people here had already driven motorbikes before, and I had only been a passenger. So I was extremely nervous about it. As you friends in Cambridge will know, I am much more suited to a non-motored two wheeler. However, I was getting used to it, it was actually quite fun after a while. Though I stalled like a gazillion times and couldn't kick start it or drive off without releasing the clutch quickly and so it all went to pieces, by Wednesday, which was the second time we took the bikes out round the farm, I was flying about. Getting up to fourth gear, driving up steep hills and what not, I was absolutley loving it. So much so I am determined to get my motorbike license when I get home. Santo, the trainer here, was simply amazed when I misjudged a turn and went down a really steep hill and into a ditch with tall grass in (so you couldn't tell if there were logs or rocks in the bottom) and came out the other side ok. It was scary when it happened, but such a rollorcoaster thrill when I came out alright on the other side.

Now, moving on from the bikes, we go onto the chainsaw. Not quite as much fun as you may think. We were trimming down trees for room for a fence to go up and it's bloody hard work I can tell you, but good all the same. However, unlike the motorbikes, I'm not so much of a natural at it. Plus, it was absolutely tipping it down when we were doing it - so the moisture on my back was a mix of rainwater and sweat. (That's an attractive image for you just there ;) )

We also did many other activities, we did build build such fence that we were cutting down a tree for, which looked bloody good if I may say so myself. Basically, the wooden posts had to be alligned so we dug holes to adjust the posts already in place to make a straight line, as well as Santo pushing them with a tractor. The we pulled new barbed wire through the holes, in one hole we found a frog which made us laugh, and then strained the wire to make it tense. You feel such a sense of acheievement when you stand back and look at it and say 'I made that fence'

Ok, now we get onto the horses. We took them on two hacks in total, and the land and the sights and everything were simply gorgeous. I rode this beautiful lazy boy horse called Prince, who had two girlfriends named Duchness and Princess. People, I call out to you, come to Australia and do not only travel the East Coast. Go inwards and see the sights properly on horseback, it's simply superb, and this farm is only fifty acres and really hilly but oh my word, you cannot image it. When I nick some pictures from Veronika I'll show you. We also mustered the cattle on horseback too, which was fairly easy (I think the cattle know it's Thursday and so have to walk back to the yards) but it was fun all the same.

Now, the other motorised vehicles. Namely a tractor - so much fun on a tractor! We mowed the olive grove lawns in the tipping rain on a tractor and then with the bigger and older tractor we moved some hay bales with the front end forks. Also, I learned how to ride a quad bike, which is the easiest thing in the world as there's no clutch and you can't stall it (a winner for me, since that's my downfall) and good as I am going to be riding a tractor and a quad bike at my new job. But the final thing was that Santo allowed me to drive. He took us all onto a paddock a bit far out and allowed me to drive the ute. He sat in the front seat and taught me the basics of driving, though I can't brake and can't do smooth gear changes but still, I DROVE A CAR!

Furthermore, here is the best place in the world to live. All of our meals have been exceptional, thanks to Santo's wife, Jo, who has also been an amazing help in pushing us to call our perspective employers and making sure we are generally ok with ourselves and our wellbeing. She's an absolutely lovely woman who'll get along with anyone. Also, there are six absolutley gorgeous puppies here, which we can go and pet when we want. They're collie pups and I so want to take one home. Maybe a 50th birthday present for Dad eh?

We're all leaving tomorrow, and I'm actually quite sad to go. I really wouldn't mind staying here for a few more days with these people here. Not only the fantastic people who look after us and train us, but the people I've met and been trained with. There are five of us here. There's myself, and another english girl named Amber who is absolutley fan-bloody-tastic with horses, and is going to a horsing school in the Gold Coast to work. There's Veronika, a German girl, who's off to Alive Springs to work on a really big cattle station. Also, Pierre, a Niambian who's very lucky and had his job sorted by Monday and is going somewhere near the coast. And Dean, a South African who has his job in Western Australia in a few weeks and so is staying here to work and gain more experience until that time comes. After only five days of knowing each other we've become quite good friends and I hope we keep in contact! (*HINT HINT*) :P

As for my job, I'm going to a town near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, where I would probably die of the humidity, to work on quads and tractors cultivating and sowing seeds and what not. I think there's also work feeding horses and cleaning their stables. To be homest I'm not quite sure, because the job I was offered on Tuesday fell through today (which makes me what to slap the woman who offered it) so I was quite desperate for a new one, and this woman was keen for me to come on board also. I hope it'll all be ok.

I don't know when I'll next be able to come on tinternet - but don't forget to check this - you could be missing out on my new found amazing life.

Goodbye from Goomeri!

xxx
Anyway, it's our last night and we're watching a DVD.