Spider! Where? Kill it!

Having now been on the farm for two weeks I thought it would be a good time to fill you in on what we've been doing. 

Job wise we have (so far);

Packed apples

Put down fertiliser

Pruned

Rolled wire (a lot of wire, and a few different ways)

Packed apples

Cleaned and packed eggs

Fed and released dogs and chooks

Packed apples

But enough about work! We have walked the 2 hours to Adelong (and back), walked around the farm and surrounding land to explore and find good vantage points to look around at all the....land. In short there's been much walking. 

There is also a dog / puppy business here (next door, run by our bosses mum). Chloe has attempted to adopt a puppy. Fortunately at $2,000 it's well out of our price range, so the occasional walk (or drag and carry) will have to do for now. 

Last weekend we visited the Kosciuszko National Park. Google tells me the Park is 6,900 square kilometres (everything is kilometres here, what happened to miles?!?). We drove towards the caves and thermal pool. Unfortunately we were too late to walk though the caves, but did walk down to the thermal pool area. After waiting for the 3 people in jumpers to inspect the pool and look around (not an actual inspection!) we got changed and slowly got in. Having been told its always 27 degrees we where expecting some warmth, alas there wasn't much! We had also read the information sign which stated that frogs can live in the pool...along with other things. 

We didn't stay in the pool quite as long as expected. 

On the way to Kosciuszko National Park we saw a few kangaroos. The first ones we've seen in the wild. We've been looking since we arrived on the farm for Roos, only to see dead ones on the side of the road, not exactly what I'd been hoping for. Fortunately on the way back we saw a few more which was cool. At this moment in time I think I have now seen as many live as dead Roos. Fingers crossed for spotting some more live Roos.   

We have enjoyed meeting Lach and Belinda's family and friends. Joining them at the pub and watching rugby (still not sure which ones league and union, despite asking "why is that a foul?" "What is he doing?" "Are they allowed to do that?"). Everyone is so happy when I sit down to watch sport here. 

Yesterday I found our first spider, which I showed Chloe who was less than pleased to see it in the box we were working on. In fact she went as far as to demand it's killing!

We have enjoyed having the opportunity to see, and be part of an Australian family here in Adelong. It has already been a great experience. Still few more weeks / months to go yet! 

I nearly forgot the drinking! They have it all in moderation here. Never before 5 in the week, and never before 11 on the weekend. 

Usuall visual display below. 

Walking to Adelong

Around the farm

Fertilising Team

  Kosciuszko National Park

Chloe's puppy (it's being sold next week)

Chloe's 'friend'

The house

Farm Life

It's been funny. Writing this after a few ciders means this could be disjointed, and could overlap with previous posts. 

So part of the reason for coming to Australia (for me) was to find out about the Australian universities and meet with staff and students. Fortunately at the start of our second week there was an open day at the universities. So I got up early, not always easy in hostel life, and visited the University of Sydney, University of Notre Dame and University of Technology Sydney. I took tours, lead by Student Ambassadors at each, so plenty of walking. I also managed to talk to some staff and ask questions of the Ambassadors. It was great. Information gained and a few contacts made. The Open Days where very interesting and i was able to see how they are different to UK Open Days quite quickly. 

That evening we both took part in the Puma (Sydney) Glow Run. It was a great event, which we had only seen information for 2 days before. But having just missed the colour run which was a few days earlier, we (especially Chloe) wanted to do the Glow Run. It was 5k starting at 7.45pm, there was music in some sections with DJs and in other sections you couldn't see the floor, so it was interesting, but great fun. We finished just as the Darling Harbour fireworks went off which was great. We rounded off our evening with KFC with Liam (formally from our hostel). 

Our hostel, while being a hostel, was nice. The bottle noises in the morning, the music late at night aside, it seems a fairly safe place. We did have great room mates in Abbi, Liam and Matt (Chloe said I should add in Mark too). The rest seemed to come and go, but those guys were/are sound! 

We possibly did other stuff but my next picture (I'm going from my camera roll to give some sense of order) is of the Sydney Sky Tower. From here we could see most of Sydney, there were some amazing views. It's from here I tried to work out where we would be going the following day to meet our new boss. 

Having got our location slightly wrong a few days previous Chloe wasn't taking my directions very seriously though (apparently from a distance the Sydeny Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour Bridge look 'slightly' similar). 

When we left the hostel we took our bags, our very heavy bags, and walked the hour plus to Sydney Growers Market. Where we met Lach (aka Mr. Roche) for whom we would be working. After 20minutes we were selling on the stall, after 40 minutes  we had the money bag. We thought this guy was relaxed and cool. We had a good afternoon at the market followed by a quick pack down. Then on to the 4 hour drive 'home'. We chatted and got to know a little about Lach, his house and family. Having got stuck in traffic and stopped for gas and KFC the journey actually took over 5 and half hours. As sound as Lach had been, just as we turned off the highway and onto quiet and dirt roads, Lach asked if we'd seen wolf creek. We nearly crapped our pants hahaha. 

Our second day Lach had to help out a friend so we were put to work by Blinda. We gardened, I don't really think it requires much more information than that. It was hard work, but good. Our third day we pruned, washed eggs and packed apples. It's great to be doing something so different (but also know its only for a little while). I would, so far, recommend the WWOOFing. Lach and Blinda have been great and we are enjoying the work and being on the farm helping them. 

This evening (Friday) we went to the pub (which has been hit 3 times by lorries / trucks and once by a motor bike, yes we are in australia!) for dinner (and drinks). It was lovely to sit and chat and listen to stories with their family and friends. I can't see, in fact, I know this is not what it's like on a paid farm. This is much better. We both enjoyed the evening. 

We plan to do as much of our 3months agricultural work as possible here, so should we want to, we will be able to apply for our 2nd year visa. After being here we will return to Sydney or move on to Melbourne, which is more likely (where we would catch up with Abbi from the hostel). 

There has of course been other things going on, but after a few ciders I think that this is a reasonable good account of the last few days. 

Sydney Glow Run

 

View from Sydney Tower

Walking to Sydney Market 

WWOOFing