With my fridge loaded with food for over a week, I was prepared for the rain to come. To be honest, I didn‘t mind having some quiet and slow days after being in the hustle and bustle of the city for two weeks. Stressing about jobs and other things.
It was definitely quiet when it wasn’t raining. But it definitely wasn‘t when it rained. There were buckets of water coming down like waterfalls – nonstop. Within two days the surrounding fields, highways and towns were under water. Nothing like this, I thought would happen while I was in Australia – but it never turns put the way I plan anyway.
Now, I was officially stuck on the farm, with no way out or in. Hardly knowing the people I‘ll be volunteering for – I just had to trust them. And trustworthy they are.
Alright, let‘s get to know the farm. As I mentioned before, on this beautiful 115 acres of land are living Paul and Rebecca. They bought this one (and another farm up river) seventeen years ago, after they sold their business. Both of them are in their late fifties / early sixties and share this land with their four dogs, fifteen goats, eight donkeys, three kettle, a couple of chickens and some other feathery animal. Of course there are one or two kangaroos who jump over the fence every now and then (, which will make the dogs go crazy – day or nighttime).
There‘s no money made from any farm work. It is purely a lifelong dream they made come true. Living peacefully in the middle of nowhere with lots of land and some animals to care for. Just lovely.
As you might know, Down Under everything is a little bit different. The seasons are opposite to what I‘m used to Europe or anywhere in the northern hemisphere. Which means, at the moment I have autumn moving into winter. Nothin like the winters back home or in Canada though. Mild twenty degrees and sunshine – still warm enough to go for a quick swim in the ocean, long bike rides, mesmerizing sunrise and sunset walks. Nevertheless, the temperature can go down to around three to five degrees – especially at night.
With that being said, Paul wanted to make sure I’m stocked up on firewood, because there‘s no other heating system in my little cottage. So one of the first tasks I helped with on the farm was cutting firewood. Just like back home.
Ah, funny. How everything comes full circle sometimes.
Every morning now or sometimes in the afternoon, when I come home from work in the cafe, I‘ll start by getting the fire going. Lucky for me, my dad showed me how to do all that at a young age – starting a fire, storing the wood, getting the kindling and cleaning the fireplace.. I was more than well prepared for this. (Thanks, dad.)
Okay, now I had a warm cottage. Still it was raining hard. No outdoors farm work possible (or wanted). Though, I got to assist with something way cooler in one of the maintenance sheds.
Ever since Paul has served in the Australian Army, he has a fascination for military vehicles. (I should remember what they are being called, because he told me a couple of times. But my interest in these things is very low.) He owns three in a total – two smaller ones, as you can see in the video, and a bigger one, which was used for transportation of soldiers. The vehicles in the video were used to drive infront of the army to scope out the area and see where the enemy is. Apparently you are able to go 100 km/h with them – forward as well as backward. Kind of fascinating.
That‘s how I spent my first week at the farm. For a couple of hours a day I was working with Paul on his toys, read a lot, made fire, drank tea. Got my travel blog, which you are reading right now, up and running again – still need to do some altercations. There‘s more to look forward to. And also started a new writing project, which I will be sharing, with you wonderful people, soon.
You could say I kept myself busy. Nevertheless I was more than happy after eight whole days stuck on the farm, to leave and get groceries in the next bigger town, which hasn‘t been flooded.
The second week got also more exciting. Of course there was more firewood to cut, fences to recover and rebuild from the floods (on the second farm upriver), weeding, feeding animals and cutting the toes of the goats. (Do you call them toes or is it more of a hoof?) Anyway, it definitely felt good to get some physical work done again.
I should have started the job in the cafe, but because of the floods, that fell through.. Even more keen to get some income flowing, I had my first day on Thursday last week. I never thought I would work in hospitality, but look at me now..
Stay tuned for more! So long.
marie louise travels 