Getting back into things

Good morning to my fellow southern hemispherians!

I'm home again and have been for about a week now. I do so love Melbourne though. My last days there I made the most if but now back to reality. Except for another coat of paint I've finished the main back wall and wow does it look better than it did. 

Only thing is now you can really tell how badly the ceiling is flaking. That's the next job, then the other walls then the carpet comes up, because hiding under there are some quality cedar boards. I've pulled up the lino in the kitchen and it already looks better. It might take a while but if you pulls it all out/down and start again (depending on quality) it is definitely worth doing the right way.

We've had our bore water tested too. We have rain water for drinking but the bore is plumbed and leaves red scale everywhere. I've cleaned it with some success with CLR but have decided why not hit the problem at the source. Results found all levels to be within normal parameters except for the iron, which is 8 times the recommended maximum. This answers our query on the red scale. Unfortunately our bore is shared so it's not so easy a fix as buy a treatment, attach. It's shared with vegetable farmers across the road and owned by the Forests so is essentially their issue. I don't want to become unpopular by demanding upgrades to do with something that's been left untouched for years with no issue, especially at the cost involved with removing the iron (one of the most difficult minerals to remove). So I'll be thinking on how to approach this in the meantime.

Otherwise, the garden is coming along swimmingly with some good showers and equally hot days to get the summer veggies fruiting. 

Here's an quick shot before it all took off and I had to mow the middle section, with my trusty garden help. 

Concerning summer fire work we've been told not to get complacent because it's times like these a fire can creep up and our season could potentially get going. So here's to remaining vigilant and somehow retaining what energy I have for the rest of our hot summer days.

Oh and the other half is finishing his classes of his first term of engineering this week, and has only two exams next week! The excitement :)

Melbourne in Summer

I was intending to update before heading off but I figured I should take the opportunity to share my Melbourne travels!

As far as cities go (that I've visited) this has to be one of the only ones I could live in for an extended amount of time. So many parks, public transport, culture, accessible history and some family. We've done the invaluable free tour which I recommend for every city that has one. From there we've seen Southbank markets, the rooftop bar, Fitzroy swimming pool star-spotting (in 35 degree heat, who said Melbourne was always cold?) and the Immigration museum. 

This is a shot of the rainbow delivered by a short burst of passing rain last night. We had dinner at the permanent truck stop and bar at Thornbury which my auntie, who is way too young and trendy to be my auntie, found to share with us. It consists of an onsite bar that plays host to a number of different street food vans, different every night. A reasonably priced, cultural cuisine experience. We sampled Mexican, Brazillian and Indian last night but I'm told there's often a range including German and others. Really worth the 20-30 minute trip from the city. 

The immigration museum was brilliant too. It gives you a great in depth look at all the different cultures that have gone in to making Melbourne what it is today. At the moment they have a visitor created piece which allows people to write a little something about their background and home. Some of the replies are about how lucky they feel to be Australian and others are shocking descriptions of what individuals have gone through to now finally become residents, or citizens.

I caught the tram to Ripponlea Estate this morning too, for a colonial, upper-middle class view of Melbournes history. The mansion is set on 14 acres along with gardens, an archery hut, ballroom, pool, fernery, lookout tower and a lake complete with grotto. It even has servants quarters, which give a great little snapshot into how different life was around a century ago and back. I also became a member of the National Trust, something I've been considering for a while now. For only $45AUD (concession) I can get free access to most of the world's National Trust properties. 

Even meandering through the streets of Melbourne is great. The public transport is so efficient and the middle of the city doesn't have the hectic feeling other cities seem to possess. There's history around every corner too which is brilliant for me. 

That's enough from me today, time to get back out there and check out some shops and museums!

Happy travels! :)

Caitlin

The main reason behind this blog!

Now my mother has always advised me, whether in a job application or essay and all alike, it is always best to be clear, concise, straight to the point and enough of the flowery language (I apologise for the bits and pieces of flowery language you may find throughout this blog). 

We visited Europe last June (2016) after years of yearning. As a teenager I always fantasised about doing a working holiday of up to 2 years or so in Europe. We're now thinking about visiting again in 2017, hoping to spend Christmas with a good friend in Germany. 

It's all very exciting!

So our small amount of research has resulted in a number of options. This includes:

     -volunteering and receiving food and board in return, 

     -house sitting,

     -any form of farm work,

     -workaway.com, wwoof.com, helpx.com or others,

     -couchsurfing,

     -possibly nanny/au pair work (using my nursing as a lever, as one of my teachers advised and did),

     -anything else we may come across!

Our main places of interest are the British countryside and Germany, at this stage. Obviously we will only be able to make so much money and therefore travel so much. We would love to absorb the local culture as opposed to the party scene as tourists like last time. The only part I would miss would be my darling dog, but luckily my mum has offered to take good care of her, as well as (hopefully) my hens and my horses will be under the care of the father in law. Its all sorted! Hence why we'd love to stay at places with resident animals. I found it hard to live without them the month we were away from home last time and any we stayed with along the way benefitted from our hugs I'm sure (alas I couldn't offer much help with the household pets of the airBNBs). 

This blog will serve as both a journal of preparations and to introduce ourselves to you so you know who it is that intends to fill your home, work your farm or mind your kids!

So let this be a journal of preparation to our next big adventure. I invite you to follow us through this journey! 

:)

Happy Hens

First of all, Happy New Years!!! To one and all.

Christmas and New Years is a fabulous time for us all to reflect upon those we hold dear and near and what makes them so important in our life. It also, for some of us, brings about a time where we feel obligated to enjoy each others company. I had an argument with my sister who refused to join mum and I to visit mums mum, my affectionately named, Granny. She felt, as we all did as teenagers at one stage, judged and criticised by our relatives who asked her questions about what she was doing with her life. To be fair, one of my aunts can be a little over-bearing at times, but thats beside the point. My argument back was that family is important to me. Despite what others in the family may do, or not do as it may be, I was making it my priority to visit and tend to the relationships I have with other blood relatives, even with our self-described 'favourite cousins/nieces' not being around for this Aussie Christmas due to being Canadian this time. I was tending to these relationships as I tend to plants in my garden or a sick patient. I may not necessarily feel a deep connection to them all but once you get to know them behind that first exterior wall there are levels you will connect on. I see it as my mission to find where we can connect and make the best of it.

Now you may feel a tad confused at this point as to why my heading is 'Happy Hens'...Here the actual topic begins...

Two new Buff Sussex, yet to be named

I have finished a project that has taken a few months. Due to the hot dry weather and the seasonal employment as a firefighter, I've been getting a lot of hours with the Forestry of late. Say hello to our new and improved, permanent, in-ground chicken palace.

It is fully enclosed with wire sunk into the ground a foot to prevent foxes getting in and chickens accidentally scratching out while dust bathing in the future. The corner post's are sapling gums cut from my partner's father property and the tin was salvaged years ago from a shed and had been stored also at my partner's fathers property. The door frame was bought from the local 'Junktion', a marvellous idea of selling perfectly usable things salvaged from the tip and given a clean. I'm a massive fan of 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' and am rather happy with the end product. The only bought thing was the netting, even the timber screws were a neighbours, left over from building a shed.

Here's to keeping resolutions. Mine?
-less facebook
-more blogs
-more journalling
-more mindfulness

So far, so good.

Jobs and politics

Just a quick note to get some things off my chest.

There is major upheaval of the mining sector happening in my hometown region right now. My own father was put off from his job as a miner Friday just gone. It is going to have a devastating impact on the town. So many of the business in the area depend on the mines for income.

Now capitalism is taught on the basis that economic wealth must prosper and the fact of bubbles in an ever-expanding economic climate happen, and can burst, seem largely ignored or blamed on someone other than the very system itself.

To make things clear, I am not a revolutionary committing myself to the cause of communism here. I am simply trying to illustrate that the mining boom of the early 21st century is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is a train coming straight on, in the form of both the prevailing social climate behind the movement for a cleaner, more sustainable future for our earth.

This mine closure, or waylaying of process to proceed mining in the area, is inevitable. Whether or not it is sudden or a slow wind down, does it especially matter? People are still going to be in debt and perhaps the shock of the sudden-ness of it all may indeed push those who have grown used to not needing to pursue a life outside of the realm of what can at times seem like a closed community out into bigger and better ventures. There are some amazing people in the area. The nostalgia for the town's past may still stick but the reality of the situation is that the continual mining is both economically non-viable for the businesses and not sustainable for the environment.

Time would be better spent on focussing on the future, both long and short.

Of course our government is not helping the problem by trying to privatise every aspect of the government, which begs the question-where does my hard earned tax money go? May I have a say in where it goes? I would certainly not choose the answer 'to line politicians pockets' as it seems it does mostly. Educate Australia's people to buy Australian made, and grown. We are one of the luckiest countries in the world with a wealth of resources at our fingertips and instead of using them to build our industry, we sell it off for a short term profit which makes the current government look good. We're not all mindless. Why can the government not work together for a future for Australia instead of constantly harassing each other like a group of school children about who did what last. We all need to work towards a sustainable future. Shift the conversation from 'us' and 'them' to concentrating on the ideas and not vilifying each other. We're sick of it.

Long awaited return + snow!

We have returned to our little cottage in the forest into the tumult of mid-winter, from the warmth of mid-summer in Europe. Within the first fortnight we awoke to this, our first proper snowfall, relieving me of work for the day (despite it being but a light scattering compared to some European or American folk). The view of our front yard from the lounge room.

A reminder of why I love where we now live.

My car with a good 5-6 inches of the frozen H2O. Such brilliance. As an Australian I'm happy with 2-4 good snowfalls in the region every year, it retains its sense of novelty. Some old, grumpy types will always complains just for something to do I believe but a good snowfall is always enough to lift the spirits, only when you have the option of retreating inside in front of the fire after some frolicking.

Two of the three in the herd, those retaining their 'winter stores' shall I say and have no need for a rug. My father in laws property, quite a serene, magical spot.

Yes, I may have gone a tad snow mad with the photos. #noregrets

Changing winds

We have moved, mostly.

Who knows how so much dust collects within the space of a year. Tomorrow I begin prac nursing at the local small hospital near my parents place. I'm a bit apprehensive. 

How will I go?

Will I like it?

Will they like me?

Will I be any good as a nurse?

Things are getting real.

Besides that, we moved this weekend

Yay.

Stress stress stress

I've been reflecting an awful lot more on so many things recently. Such as;

-Isn't it peculiar how when you're 18 you have an image of how things are for all 23 year olds but now I'm sitting here thinking 'Shit, I'll be 23 this year, 'da hell am I doing with my life? Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? As long as I'm helping others right?'

-If you hear that an ex who went behind your back with good intentions to introduce you to your penpal of 12 years, 5 years ago, just posted on social media about how he got a post card from 'his' penpal. Should I be angry? How do I bring this up? I'm conflicted because I love this girl to bits but eugh. I don't know....

....we are heading off to Europe in only a month though so that will give me a good chance of catching up and having a good old chat.

-Other half+I are marvellous, thanks for asking.

-Speaking of which I can totally see us two and another friend I met in the most unseemly of places and his other half being one of those groups where they get on really well and go camping on holidays together and stay up late having great long conversations about 'imagine if we had a commune' or beekeeping

-Moving to the mountains where it actually rains and isn't stinking hot when it's meant to be Autumn

-I'm running out of those ideas I had backing up in my mind when I was driving through the misty rain with the wet dog sitting in the back on her towel, well away from my nice clean, pet-hair-free prac uniform for tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

(P.S: Apologies for the abrupt ending. I was never very good at goodbyes...have you spoken to me on the phone?)