Christmas is almost here!

So a month and a bit has passed & lots has happened since I last wrote...

I've finally been granted my visa - which I still have to get granted as "permanent" but at least it allows me to live & work freely here!

I had a fantastic time in New Zealand, with Marie (Ma), my goddaughter Kimberly and her family, enjoying Kiwi culture & hospitality.  We visited vineyards on Waiheke Island, dining at Stoneyridge - reasonable food & a really peaceful setting; just a pity that the service was lacking...  Whilst we didn't have a booking, we were given a table, but sadly it took 25 minutes before any member of staff approached us for our drinks order (they weren't going to take our food order at that point!).  Although it was busy, there were still staff floating around; perhaps Ma and I arriving by bus (sensibly so that we could drink, without driving) didn't fit in with their other clientele, who glided in from gas guzzling 4x4s and even a helicopter!!  Still, we enjoyed relaxing with some rather crisp riesling, despite one of the waitresses looking like we'd asked her to eat cow dung, when we enquired as to whether it would be too much trouble to have the bread which was supposed to accompany our platter.

I think next time we visit Waiheke, unless we bring the private jet, we'll be eating elsewhere next time.

Our evening was spent in a fabulous little beach bar, with a great Jazz band, quaffing a wonderful sav blanc from Malborough...  At this point, I have to thank "Mel", the singer of the jazz band, who kindly took Ma & I to the ferry port, after us missing the bus & almost the ferry back to the mainland!  The fact we actually ended up on the wrong ferry, is another story altogether!

The rest of the week was awesome, visiting some of my old haunts & doing a staggering amount of Christmas shopping in Auckland (thankfully I was just over my baggage allowance and Emirates were kind enough to waiver any fees!)  Finally we ended my stay with a visit to the Coromandel Penninsula & a "hot spot" of Darren's, where I had a very successful morning fishing.  The 4am start was well worth it as I reeled in a beautiful 10lb snapper (photos of proof to follow!)

So...back to Australia.  I returned on the Thursday, applied for a job on the Friday & was hired by Tuesday, at a fantastic grammar school about 90 or so minutes from Brisbane.  Ben & I managed to find a lovely house in the area & we're set up as a little family, with Angus & Marcel.  Angus (Gus...Guts) is growing rapidly, no longer a little fluffy ball, he's now a 15kg puppy, which at 4 and a half months, is pretty impressive... He's going to be a big boy!!!  Marcel is still a fluffy ball, although the summer heat means he has shed some of that fluffiness and is looking far more svelte these days...  sadly I can't quite say the same about myself... months living on the farm with restaurant food (German food in particular) has meant my waistline has slowly been expanding...  Yikes.

We've just got internet up and running at the new place, I'm waiting to sort out the wireless connection, so that I can chill in the hammock Ben bought me for my birthday, whilst enjoying the balmy evenings here in Toowoomba.  (Too-wum-ba : it means Spring - as in water, in Aborigine - ironic as we're on strict water restrictions here, due to the lack of water in the dams...)

I've just realised how much I've written and how dull this must look on screen, so I must make an effort to add photos soon...

Until next time - have a wonderful Christmas & a peaceful New Year!

warm wishes from sunny Australia xxxxx

Time for an update...

Apologies for not writing sooner, but we've been so busy with both work on the farm - I'm trying to modernise/update Ben's parents' website, plus do marketing stuff for them, as well as working in the restaurant from time to time - more excitingly, we've been on the road again!

After spending a few days catching up with our good mate Paul aka "Drabs", from the salmon farm we worked on in Scotland... yes it's true, I really did work on a salmon farm, we headed north-east to Brisbane, to catch up with some of Ben's friends.  Packing our tent, eski (cool box) & assorted camping gear, we were planning to journey inland from there to a "secret" location, just outside of Toowoomba, a small city, about an hour an a half west of Brisbane.  The reason - "Bush Mosh".  Created last year, Bush Mosh brings together a talented group of Australian musicians, who originally met at University in Toowoomba itself.  In short, it's a mini festival, out in the bush, with BBQ, beer & bugs...  Oh and not forgetting of course the iconic festival portaloos.

After waking early (and surveying the aftermath) we headed for the highway & south east towards the Gold Coast, bypassing fields & hills in search of the sea again!!!  I was pretty excited at this point, as a trip to the sea isn't so easy since we're now a couple of hours from it. It does make me miss being able to jog down to Poole Harbour, or along Bournemouth sea front.  We arrived on the Gold Coast just as dusk was setting in, so we headed straight for our campsite, located just minutes from the beach and beside a beautiful river/creek, in an area called Tullebudgera.

The next day we headed out, bought some fishing rods, tackle & bait & went off in search of fish!  It wasn't long before we were catching Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Tarwhin & Sole...  Sadly, they were all just under size, so back into the water they went.  My calls of "Go tell your big brothers about us" unfortunately didn't work.

It was great to chuck some steaks on the barbie, (since there were no fish to grill!) in the evenings & to eat outside in the warmth, under the stars.  I hear it's pretty cold in the UK just now & you've been having freak weather again, so just to rub it in - it was about 20 degrees until 9pm!  Having said that, we were in bed most evenings by 8.30pm, meaning we were up by 6am and off out - fishing!  

Now I would never have seen myself as someone interested in fishing - other than having worked with fish on the farm in Scotland, but I seemed to have quite a talent for it, either that, or beginner's luck.  Over the next few days, Ben & I went fishing in several locations, each time, with me out-fishing him.  My best being 8 fish to 2... or was it only 1????

Tuesday saw us head down over the border into NSW (New South Wales), to the legendary Byron Bay.  It wasn't disappointing.  The white sands, crystal clear, aquamarine water & bright blue skies...should I continue???  Yep, it was gorgeous!  Sitting overlooking the bay, we enjoyed the customary fish 'n' chips, before going for a walk along the beautiful, long beach, afterwards heading up to Cape Byron & the lighthouse, to take in the amazing panoramic views.

Once again, we returned to the campsite, fished until we couldn't see the hooks or bait, then cranked up the barbie!

(To be continued.... I'm off to phone the UK for my Visa interview - hopefully the last hurdle...)

We Care Animal Shelter

I've just heard that the animal shelter which we rescued our dogs from, is probably going to have to close down, since financially it cannot support the number of cats, dogs and assorted other animals it takes in.

The Stanthorpe Shelter in the Southern Downs/Granite Belt is a saviour to many abandoned, abused & unfortunate animals, who for one reason or another find themselves homeless. The nearest shelters after this are over 100km away & without the We Care Animal Shelter, many cats & dogs would be put down, or left to die...

So...how does a shelter like this continue? Although we need to organise fundraising events to support the shelter, we also want to try & prevent animals turning up on its door in the first place & this means both education for those with animals (even simple reminders about desexing animals can limit the number of "mistakes") As well as looking at ways of providing cheaper vet fees to encourage people to desex animals - espcially cats & dogs - and to help those who take on animals, to be able to afford increasing vacination bills etc.

We Care currently charges $20 per animal, excluding vaccinations/desexing - although a generous discount is offered throught them for vets in Warwick.

Suggestions for fundraising ideas would be more than welcome - add your ideas to the comments page, or e-mail me using the link to the right.

Oktoberfest is coming to Stanthorpe!

I'm really looking forward to this weekend, as Oktoberfest arrives on Thunderbolt Farm! It'll be a busy weekend, with lots of work, but the German Beer, wine & food on offer will make up for it! Claudia's Restaurant is ready though, with traditional sausages, sauerkraut & strudel busting out of the cool room! If you happen to know anyone in Southern Queensland, tell them to take a trip to the mountains/Granite Belt - Stanthorpe to be precise - and pop in to see us!

Prost!

For those of you wondering....the dogs are doing well, we now have a third puppy on the farm (well a yearling!), currently called Petal, although all may change - photo to come soon! Angus has grown lots in his first week, he's going to be one big boy!!!

Rescue me!!

Hello my name is Angus!

7 Weeks old - Ben & I had to help out this little guy and take him home from the rescue centre.


Below is Tess - 4 month old Kelpie (Australian Cattle Dog), which Ben's parents also rescued.

More lambs arrive!

First steps

I was lucky enough to actually watch two lambs being born last night! Which brings the total count to 4 so far... I won't share the photos with you... all I can say is, it was beautiful, yet gooey!

More photos of the lambs so far...

The first of the spring lambs have arrived!!!

Emily gave birth to twins this morning!!! They're so cute!!!