It was my day off yesterday, and so I joined Lionel on a trip to the local town, Katherine, as a lot of stuff was needed for the station to be picked up from various shops and stores. This meant an early start, one I haven't ever seen i my life before. 2.30am. I think I actually groaned as my alarm went off.
Anywho, by 3.30am we were on the red and dusty road listening to some weird Australian music on the tape player. Lionel was driving, as of course I can't, with a trailer, which meant we went slower then usual. By 8ish I think it was, we hit Makarankah and got some toasted sarnies for brekkie and kept moving onwards towards the town.
Our time in Katherine was limited, and with a trailer and an open ute back meant that only one of us could leave the car at a time to protect the goods from being stolen, which meant that more time was being used if we both needed to go into the same shop etc etc. Anyway, we managed good and obtained everything we needed, but here comes the best part...
I needed to buy another pair of jeans since my working pair had gotten covered in battery acid which eats your clothes (there was a growing hole in the crotch) and I as trying on my normal size. These were too big for me. Strange, I thought, I knew I had lost weight, but I didn't think a lot. So then, I go and try on the size smaller, and bloody hell - they fit perfectly!
I was on such a natural high after this, and even bought a salad for lunch. :)
Lionel was laughing at me because I was grinning so much.
Anywho, a bit of dietary advice for the rest of you - eat beef! It works wonders.
I've got to go to bed now. Night y'all.
xxx
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Thursday 26 March 2009
The Kitchen Sink
I cannot believe it has taken me this long to investigate the world wide phenomenon of which way does the water turn when you flush the toilet. Here I was on my day off happily talking to a bunch of lovely people on MSN Messanger and all of a sudden a crazy welsh lady asks me to find out.
And GUESS WHAT!
It goes ANTI-CLOCKWISE!
I first tried out the toilet, which was fairly annoying and goes straight down because that's how toilets work here. So then I was at the bathroom sink, which wasn't very clear. But then the kitchen sink. It went the other way around!
Blimey - I'm amused by the smallest of things.
xD
And GUESS WHAT!
It goes ANTI-CLOCKWISE!
I first tried out the toilet, which was fairly annoying and goes straight down because that's how toilets work here. So then I was at the bathroom sink, which wasn't very clear. But then the kitchen sink. It went the other way around!
Blimey - I'm amused by the smallest of things.
xD
Buchanan Love
It's strange here how you can adjust to the life. Getting up at five thirty am when in England - sod off. Australia - bring it on, as long as there is a hot billy and coffee available fairly soon. I'm finding things a lot easier now then I did before, despite the fact that I am still terrified of my boss. But I've gotten used to the life, the hard work. My body has toughened up. I've lost weight and gained muscle (seriously, you should see my guns - I think they put my rowing captain sister to shame :P)
I remember I used to complain at the burns and scorches I used to recieve from a milk steam wand and panini grill at Starbucks, saying how my hands hurt and were dry from the work. I think if I met that person who was doing that I would say 'Go build and strain four kilometres of barbed wire fence, then see what your hands look like' - mine, at the moment, are calice and feel like sandpaper. Furthermore, the barbed wire cuts like a *censored word* and then I cook and clean with these hands (because, as I have explained, I have breasts) which means washing up liquid, washing powder, potato juice and salt etc etc all land in them, as well as the dirt from the jobs I do in the day.
But then again, I wouldn't give up this experience for anything. For me, the glass is half full. I help build a four kilometre fence (which actually isn't that long in comparison the some of the others) and tear my hands, and clothes, apart - but I built a fence with barbed wire and strainers and everything. I know how to do it. Isn't that cool?
The people here I've grown close to as well (apart from my frightening boss) and Gordon makes a joke about us being like a family unit. We have the poms, who are brother - Paul - and sister - Me - as all aussies think England is inbred (I rolls my eyes everytime) and then Uncle Ray, which is what we actually call him behind his back. There's Gordon himself, who is like a grandad, and then Lionel, who is the 'alpha male' of us as it were. It's a strange collection of people, but I've grown to love it. They've also found out the fact that I'm easily cranked up, which they exploit every moment of my working life.
It's weird to think that I've settled, considering I haven't actually been here very long. I sort of know my place, know my way around and understand what were doing and why we're doing it. The fence, or example, was to enclose a paddock properly so when the mustering begins the cattle can go in that paddock as it's closer to the yards. I'm shovelling sand into the middle of the newly grown lawn to make it level and presentable. I'm killing weeds with poison because otherwise the plants the cattle do not eat will overgrow within the paddocks. It's all hard work, but that's what I am hired to do and what I'm paid for.
I'm grateful for the experiences I am collecting whilst I'm here. I cannot imagine a better place to learn all of this. Who else can say that they learned to drive in a twenty-one year old yellow ute in the Australian Bush?
I'm slightly worried though that I'm beginning to enjoy it too much. But never fear, my chumleys, the Nicholin Man will be back...she just might consider emigrating in the far future...
Lovage
xxx
I remember I used to complain at the burns and scorches I used to recieve from a milk steam wand and panini grill at Starbucks, saying how my hands hurt and were dry from the work. I think if I met that person who was doing that I would say 'Go build and strain four kilometres of barbed wire fence, then see what your hands look like' - mine, at the moment, are calice and feel like sandpaper. Furthermore, the barbed wire cuts like a *censored word* and then I cook and clean with these hands (because, as I have explained, I have breasts) which means washing up liquid, washing powder, potato juice and salt etc etc all land in them, as well as the dirt from the jobs I do in the day.
But then again, I wouldn't give up this experience for anything. For me, the glass is half full. I help build a four kilometre fence (which actually isn't that long in comparison the some of the others) and tear my hands, and clothes, apart - but I built a fence with barbed wire and strainers and everything. I know how to do it. Isn't that cool?
The people here I've grown close to as well (apart from my frightening boss) and Gordon makes a joke about us being like a family unit. We have the poms, who are brother - Paul - and sister - Me - as all aussies think England is inbred (I rolls my eyes everytime) and then Uncle Ray, which is what we actually call him behind his back. There's Gordon himself, who is like a grandad, and then Lionel, who is the 'alpha male' of us as it were. It's a strange collection of people, but I've grown to love it. They've also found out the fact that I'm easily cranked up, which they exploit every moment of my working life.
It's weird to think that I've settled, considering I haven't actually been here very long. I sort of know my place, know my way around and understand what were doing and why we're doing it. The fence, or example, was to enclose a paddock properly so when the mustering begins the cattle can go in that paddock as it's closer to the yards. I'm shovelling sand into the middle of the newly grown lawn to make it level and presentable. I'm killing weeds with poison because otherwise the plants the cattle do not eat will overgrow within the paddocks. It's all hard work, but that's what I am hired to do and what I'm paid for.
I'm grateful for the experiences I am collecting whilst I'm here. I cannot imagine a better place to learn all of this. Who else can say that they learned to drive in a twenty-one year old yellow ute in the Australian Bush?
I'm slightly worried though that I'm beginning to enjoy it too much. But never fear, my chumleys, the Nicholin Man will be back...she just might consider emigrating in the far future...
Lovage
xxx
Thursday 19 March 2009
Buchanan Downs Station #3
Hello there, my fellow chums.
Now this piece is going to be for my Father, who keeps nagging me about doing more blogs, when I blog when I have something to say he wants a daily update I think. So, as not a lot has happened in my daily routine I have found this to satisfy my father's blog-tastebuds.
Now this piece is going to be for my Father, who keeps nagging me about doing more blogs, when I blog when I have something to say he wants a daily update I think. So, as not a lot has happened in my daily routine I have found this to satisfy my father's blog-tastebuds.
1. My uncle once: had a go at clay pigeon shooting with me at the Kent County Fair.
2. Never in my life: will I become a vegetarian. It's true, I have become a beefaholic. I think it's the taste of steak which you killed, skinned and sliced up on the afternoon before you eat it that does it to you. (Apologies to my friends who are veggies/vegans)
3. When I was five: I drank watered down wine in a resturant in France.
4. High school was: an interesting experience. Especially as I think half the school didn't know my name but knew me as 'Mr Martin's Daughter' or 'Big T's lil' sis'
5. I will never forget: how to ride a motorbke, as I am definitley getting the license when I come back to Pommyland.
6. Once I met: Billy Ocean, my biggest claim to fame. He shook me by the hand and said "Hello Nichola," after my Dad introduced me.
7. There’s this boy I know: who is too pretty.
8. Once, at a bar: I put my bleeding toe on top to show the barman.
9. By noon, I’m usually: just going off for my three hour lunch break, since it just gets too hot during those hours.
10. Last night: I dreamed a fabulous dream.
11. If only I had: more strength, and previous mechanical knowledge.
12. Next time I go to church: will probably be Christmas - unless someone wants to get married?
13. What worries me most: is the thought of something serious happening back home, because it'll take me at least six days to get back.
14. When I turn my head left I see: sliding doors, the veranda, the house lawn and a gate.
15. When I turn my head right I see: a dining table, with plastic garden chairs on top with bedsheets drying.
16. You know I’m lying when: my stories don't match.
17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: being in the womb??
18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: Horatio, he doesn't get murdered.
19. By this time next year: I will have grown up so much, and be a student again.
20. A better name for me would be: Nicole the Uppity Pom, at least that's what I'm called here.
21. I have a hard time understanding: fencing.
22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: play some rugby with the team.
23. You know I like you if: I want to talk to you all the time.
24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: my Mum.
25. Take my advice, never: think that the British summer is hot. It's postively lukewarm.
26. My ideal breakfast is: Grandma's Christmas breakfast, but in bed with someone I love.
27. A song I love but do not have is: Jackson - Johnny Cash and June Carter.
28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: go punting, proper Cambridge style.
29. Why won’t people: stop buying and selling other human beings.
30. If you spend a night at my house: you'll be on the sofa. Fact. But it's a very comfortable one.
31. I’d stop my wedding for: David Tennant?
32. The world could do without: wars.
33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: drive in the bush in the dark by myself.
34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: *smirks* Now that's one I'm no answering at the moment.
35. Paper clips are more useful than: banks.
36. If I do anything well it’s: driving beautiful Eric around the station.
37. I can’t help but: be easily cranked up. Sadly, everyone else here has realised this.
38. I usually cry: at reality TV shows. Nicole winning Aussie Ladette to Lady!
39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: 'Look to the future. The past will sort itself out'
40. And by the way: if you've read this far, you must really be bored.
Happy now Father?
xD
Thursday 12 March 2009
Darwin and Buchanan Downs Station #2
I had four days off after ten straight days of work, so I went to Darwin avec Paul, who is another backpacker at the station. We had only two full days there, as it takes nine and a half hours on a coach (which also costs a lot of money) to get there. Long time. Thank God for James (for those not in the know, James is my iPod. Yes, I am that weird) It was lots of fun, it was good to get out of the station for a while and actually lie in past 6am. We went to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory for a bit of culture, and then the pub, for a lot of drink. Speakng of which, can you, whoever is reading this, source out Coopers Beer in England for me. It's simply superb, and I am currently addicted. We did normal things, like shopping and going to the cinema and eating takeaway (that isn't beef)
Darwin is an awesome city, I highly recommend people to go there and see it. The crocodiles and the military history is so interesting. I advise you to visit.
So, now I've been back at work for five days now. Fun times have occured. Along with the general cooking and cleaning and basically doing the little jobs I have learned how to use an ancient front end loader, a grader and a Hino, which is a small truck. I've - I wonder how many people are going to laugh at this point - greased nipples on the grader and the front end loader as well. (Technical term - go here to see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_fitting) I laughed a lot, don't worry.
Furthermore, I've moved up in the world! To make room for the builders in the worker's quarters I've moved out of my room there and moved into the guest house, which is lovely with double beds, air conditioning and (this is the best part) no mosquitos!
[[For those not in the know, go to my facebook and see my mozzie bites. I had to go on anti-biotics to rid of the infection.]]
I live with Lionel, who is an awesome guy and my boss (sort of) He's really good because he understands that myself and Paul are just two pommy backbackers with no experience in this cattle station shizz and so explains and teaches, and doesn't get annoyed when you don't know what to do. It's rather cool. He also appreciates my 'I'll try anything' attitude.
A big shout out to my Mum, who is wonderful and lovely, because she posted a parcel containing two Cadbury chocolate bars (one Bournville - yum) because Cadburys does not taste the same here, a pot of Marmite because Vegemite is truly disgusting, and 80 PG Tips tea bags so I can have my builders tea! THANKS MUM!
Anyway, it's nearing 3pm, when I have to get back to work.
From your friend in the Southern Hemisphere,
Nic
xxx
Darwin is an awesome city, I highly recommend people to go there and see it. The crocodiles and the military history is so interesting. I advise you to visit.
So, now I've been back at work for five days now. Fun times have occured. Along with the general cooking and cleaning and basically doing the little jobs I have learned how to use an ancient front end loader, a grader and a Hino, which is a small truck. I've - I wonder how many people are going to laugh at this point - greased nipples on the grader and the front end loader as well. (Technical term - go here to see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_fitting) I laughed a lot, don't worry.
Furthermore, I've moved up in the world! To make room for the builders in the worker's quarters I've moved out of my room there and moved into the guest house, which is lovely with double beds, air conditioning and (this is the best part) no mosquitos!
[[For those not in the know, go to my facebook and see my mozzie bites. I had to go on anti-biotics to rid of the infection.]]
I live with Lionel, who is an awesome guy and my boss (sort of) He's really good because he understands that myself and Paul are just two pommy backbackers with no experience in this cattle station shizz and so explains and teaches, and doesn't get annoyed when you don't know what to do. It's rather cool. He also appreciates my 'I'll try anything' attitude.
A big shout out to my Mum, who is wonderful and lovely, because she posted a parcel containing two Cadbury chocolate bars (one Bournville - yum) because Cadburys does not taste the same here, a pot of Marmite because Vegemite is truly disgusting, and 80 PG Tips tea bags so I can have my builders tea! THANKS MUM!
Anyway, it's nearing 3pm, when I have to get back to work.
From your friend in the Southern Hemisphere,
Nic
xxx
Saturday 7 March 2009
Eric - The Ute
This is Eric.
He's 21 years old.
The door handles don't work. For the driver's door to open you reach inside and pull on a wire that's sticking out of the door.
He's three different shades of yellow.
I even told my boss that if she wants to sell him, I'll pay for the container to bring him to England.
I now understand the bond between a person and their first car.
Sunday 1 March 2009
Buchanan Downs Station, Northern Territory.
Hello again - have you missed me?
Now, this blog is going to be in three parts. You may wish to read them in any order you would like, seen as they aren't interlinked or in chronological order. To make this easier for your decision, I'm going to give you a table of contents.
1. A general summary of where I am and how come there hasn't been a blog in so long.
2. A day in the life of the 'Uppity Pom, Nicole'.
3. A few brief descriptions of my most exciting and scary jobs so far.
Hope this helps :D
1. A general summary of where I am and how come there hasn't been a blog in so long.
Ok, so here I am in the middle of the Northern Territory in Australia, and I mean in the middle. For those not in the know, NT is more or less a square wedged in between Queensland to the right, and Western Australia to the left. The nearest town to where I am is called Dunmarra, which isn't really a town at all. It's a service station on Highway 87, and that's it. That's about 50 kilometres east of here (google map it if you'd like) That's the next bit of civilisation around here. So to put into context about as far as Cambridge to London I should think (Don't quote me)
There's five people (at the moment) working on this farm full time, and these people you spend all your time with, as it's quite a trek to see a new face, especially if you are an unlicensed driver like me. There's no local supermarkets, shops, banks, general convience stores. The nearest 'proper' town is Katherine, three and a half hour drive away, and the Woolworths (which is a supermarket here, strangely) deliver food here about once every fortnight, and we only get post once a week.
As you can probably guess it's pretty hard to communicate with anyone outside the quarter of a million acre cattle station we have here. There is no mobile signal in Australia outside the cities. Don't try and call me or text me. I won't recieve it. We have a phone, which has limited use, due to the fact that I can't really give out this number or call from it. I have a phone card but it's quite expensive, and the parents are highest on the list to call once a week, sorry guys!
The internet has only just been set up here - so of course it makes it easier now - however the hours here are long and the work is tiresome so I'm not going to spend more then forty minutes on it at a time, because I need my sleep!
2. A day in the life of the 'Uppity Pom, Nicole'.
You start work at 7am here, so my alarm goes off at 5.30am for me to have my twenty minutes of waking up time and then get up throw on my work clothes and go have breakfast. We sit and talk whilst the sun rises and at 7am, when it's nice and cool (around 28 degrees) we start working. There's a range of stuff to be done. For example, feeding the horses etc. At the moment one horse has a gash on it's neck, so I catch him and clean his wound every morning. Furthermore, because I am the girl of this station I clean the homestead of dead mosquitos, grasshoppers, big flying bugs and of breakfast.
We work through to 9.30am, when we have 'Smoko' which is smoke hour and a cup of coffee and a bit of rest. So then, after that, we begin to work again, either continuing what we were doing before or something new. For instince, since I was named 'the better driver' out of the two young 'uns here - I've been entrusted with the runaround ute, which I have fallen in love with, so sometimes I pick up the rubbish from the shed and take it down the tip or go out a few kilometres and do some fencing. We stop work again at noon, simply because it's too hot to work from the hours of noon till three. The other day it was 37 degrees in the shade, and you do sweat out our own body weight every day. So from three till six, you do some more work and then you shower and get changed into some undirty clothes, and eat dinner, which I usually make as, again, I am the one with breasts in the homestead.
We watch some tv - have a chat and go to bed between eight - ten pm - and then get up the next day to do it all again. It's a good job. I'm learning new things everyday. For example today, I'm learning how to fix a lawnmower. Yesterday we put up guttering around the shed so it drains into a tank and I learned from that. Of course there are also things like cleaning out a caravan and basic things like that, but when you're in the shade and cleaning, you're happy.
Throughout the day, I am called Nicole, because Australians are strange and don't quite get the concept that Nic can be a shortened version of another name, and Gordon, the manager, made a joke about expecting Nicole Kidman to arrive. I also discovered that when on the phone, the boss thought I was 'uppity' compared to the other Pom here (who is a Geordie). I think it's the accent I have - so god only knows how Graham is going to be recieved with her posh accent here ;)
3. A few brief descriptions of my most exciting and scary jobs so far.
First of all - I did not make a very good impression on my boss. She comes to the farm on the weekends, as during the week she is a helidoc for WA. One of the other blokes, Ray, went out in the Toyota in the evening, and then didn't return for a few hours. Anthea, naturally, was a tad worried and asked me to drive up the access road to see if he had broken down. There was a bit of miscommunication on my part and I drove on the highway and it got dark really quickly. Now it was night time and I didn't find Ray so I was just driving back. Now this highway is a dirt road with bush either side, and the entrance to the farm is just a gate on the left hand side. For three hours I could not find said gate and was lost. Thankfully, I knew Ray was driving out later that evening so I sat and waited whilst the mosquitos bit the - pardon my french - shit out of me and waited for him to save me, which he did. I got back to the homestead at midnight and got a true and royal bollocking the next day. Looking back on it, it's quite rightly so that she did since I took an unregistered car on a public road and I'm an unlicensed driver. Luckily, I'm still here.
As I said before, I cook for the homestead on most days. The kitchen consists of a gas cooker a work table with a toaster, a kettle (more commonly known as a billy) and a couple of old paint tins for utenisils, and about five fridges. Each night, there's a different cut of beef. You look in the meat freezer here and it's different parts of beef. Those who know me very well know that I don't actually enjoy beef that much, but have know, weirdly, discovered a liking to it. Maybe it's because it's all we have. I've been here 16 days, and two of those days we've not had beef. Generally it's a meat and two veg sort of deal. There's fresh pumpkin though, which is gorgeous cooked any way, shape or form. I can now make corned beef from a brisket cut. See - learning eveyday. And I have had some of the best steaks I have ever eaten here. Seriously yummy tucker.
It's a very different way of life here. It's hard, and testing. You've got to have the endurance to keep going and the motivation to do sometimes what seems like a pointless job, because eventually, it will be of use to someone or something. Being so isolated was a down point, but you become used to it, and now - God forbid the feeling get stronger - going on the internet is a chore that I don't particually want to do because it seems a touch unnecessary. However, I shall never stop as I know that you lot want to know what I'm doing and where I'm going and what I'm seeing (Ha - as I type that four kangaroos appear in the garden) :D
Now - I have some requests for you people who are coming over the the land of Oz sometime soon - tell me when! So I can finish work, meet with you and tag along ;)
Furthermore, a thank you to my uncle Gary, who I have been told is printing this off and handing it to my Nanny to read :D Hello Nanny!!
I've got to go get some lunch now.
G'day from NT
xxx
Now, this blog is going to be in three parts. You may wish to read them in any order you would like, seen as they aren't interlinked or in chronological order. To make this easier for your decision, I'm going to give you a table of contents.
1. A general summary of where I am and how come there hasn't been a blog in so long.
2. A day in the life of the 'Uppity Pom, Nicole'.
3. A few brief descriptions of my most exciting and scary jobs so far.
Hope this helps :D
1. A general summary of where I am and how come there hasn't been a blog in so long.
Ok, so here I am in the middle of the Northern Territory in Australia, and I mean in the middle. For those not in the know, NT is more or less a square wedged in between Queensland to the right, and Western Australia to the left. The nearest town to where I am is called Dunmarra, which isn't really a town at all. It's a service station on Highway 87, and that's it. That's about 50 kilometres east of here (google map it if you'd like) That's the next bit of civilisation around here. So to put into context about as far as Cambridge to London I should think (Don't quote me)
There's five people (at the moment) working on this farm full time, and these people you spend all your time with, as it's quite a trek to see a new face, especially if you are an unlicensed driver like me. There's no local supermarkets, shops, banks, general convience stores. The nearest 'proper' town is Katherine, three and a half hour drive away, and the Woolworths (which is a supermarket here, strangely) deliver food here about once every fortnight, and we only get post once a week.
As you can probably guess it's pretty hard to communicate with anyone outside the quarter of a million acre cattle station we have here. There is no mobile signal in Australia outside the cities. Don't try and call me or text me. I won't recieve it. We have a phone, which has limited use, due to the fact that I can't really give out this number or call from it. I have a phone card but it's quite expensive, and the parents are highest on the list to call once a week, sorry guys!
The internet has only just been set up here - so of course it makes it easier now - however the hours here are long and the work is tiresome so I'm not going to spend more then forty minutes on it at a time, because I need my sleep!
2. A day in the life of the 'Uppity Pom, Nicole'.
You start work at 7am here, so my alarm goes off at 5.30am for me to have my twenty minutes of waking up time and then get up throw on my work clothes and go have breakfast. We sit and talk whilst the sun rises and at 7am, when it's nice and cool (around 28 degrees) we start working. There's a range of stuff to be done. For example, feeding the horses etc. At the moment one horse has a gash on it's neck, so I catch him and clean his wound every morning. Furthermore, because I am the girl of this station I clean the homestead of dead mosquitos, grasshoppers, big flying bugs and of breakfast.
We work through to 9.30am, when we have 'Smoko' which is smoke hour and a cup of coffee and a bit of rest. So then, after that, we begin to work again, either continuing what we were doing before or something new. For instince, since I was named 'the better driver' out of the two young 'uns here - I've been entrusted with the runaround ute, which I have fallen in love with, so sometimes I pick up the rubbish from the shed and take it down the tip or go out a few kilometres and do some fencing. We stop work again at noon, simply because it's too hot to work from the hours of noon till three. The other day it was 37 degrees in the shade, and you do sweat out our own body weight every day. So from three till six, you do some more work and then you shower and get changed into some undirty clothes, and eat dinner, which I usually make as, again, I am the one with breasts in the homestead.
We watch some tv - have a chat and go to bed between eight - ten pm - and then get up the next day to do it all again. It's a good job. I'm learning new things everyday. For example today, I'm learning how to fix a lawnmower. Yesterday we put up guttering around the shed so it drains into a tank and I learned from that. Of course there are also things like cleaning out a caravan and basic things like that, but when you're in the shade and cleaning, you're happy.
Throughout the day, I am called Nicole, because Australians are strange and don't quite get the concept that Nic can be a shortened version of another name, and Gordon, the manager, made a joke about expecting Nicole Kidman to arrive. I also discovered that when on the phone, the boss thought I was 'uppity' compared to the other Pom here (who is a Geordie). I think it's the accent I have - so god only knows how Graham is going to be recieved with her posh accent here ;)
3. A few brief descriptions of my most exciting and scary jobs so far.
First of all - I did not make a very good impression on my boss. She comes to the farm on the weekends, as during the week she is a helidoc for WA. One of the other blokes, Ray, went out in the Toyota in the evening, and then didn't return for a few hours. Anthea, naturally, was a tad worried and asked me to drive up the access road to see if he had broken down. There was a bit of miscommunication on my part and I drove on the highway and it got dark really quickly. Now it was night time and I didn't find Ray so I was just driving back. Now this highway is a dirt road with bush either side, and the entrance to the farm is just a gate on the left hand side. For three hours I could not find said gate and was lost. Thankfully, I knew Ray was driving out later that evening so I sat and waited whilst the mosquitos bit the - pardon my french - shit out of me and waited for him to save me, which he did. I got back to the homestead at midnight and got a true and royal bollocking the next day. Looking back on it, it's quite rightly so that she did since I took an unregistered car on a public road and I'm an unlicensed driver. Luckily, I'm still here.
As I said before, I cook for the homestead on most days. The kitchen consists of a gas cooker a work table with a toaster, a kettle (more commonly known as a billy) and a couple of old paint tins for utenisils, and about five fridges. Each night, there's a different cut of beef. You look in the meat freezer here and it's different parts of beef. Those who know me very well know that I don't actually enjoy beef that much, but have know, weirdly, discovered a liking to it. Maybe it's because it's all we have. I've been here 16 days, and two of those days we've not had beef. Generally it's a meat and two veg sort of deal. There's fresh pumpkin though, which is gorgeous cooked any way, shape or form. I can now make corned beef from a brisket cut. See - learning eveyday. And I have had some of the best steaks I have ever eaten here. Seriously yummy tucker.
It's a very different way of life here. It's hard, and testing. You've got to have the endurance to keep going and the motivation to do sometimes what seems like a pointless job, because eventually, it will be of use to someone or something. Being so isolated was a down point, but you become used to it, and now - God forbid the feeling get stronger - going on the internet is a chore that I don't particually want to do because it seems a touch unnecessary. However, I shall never stop as I know that you lot want to know what I'm doing and where I'm going and what I'm seeing (Ha - as I type that four kangaroos appear in the garden) :D
Now - I have some requests for you people who are coming over the the land of Oz sometime soon - tell me when! So I can finish work, meet with you and tag along ;)
Furthermore, a thank you to my uncle Gary, who I have been told is printing this off and handing it to my Nanny to read :D Hello Nanny!!
I've got to go get some lunch now.
G'day from NT
xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
