Moved.......again!

So a fair few changes since the last post.................

It was a pretty good week finishing up our wwoofing time at Hilary and Tony's before moving (again) to Sandy and Cliff's.
Lot's of pruning, weeding, lumber-jacking and generally getting down and dirty (literally) and discovering a whole new garden! It's been pretty cool to see it change. I have decided I actually like gardening a lot. I'm a green fingered geek!

Nice Crocs Dawn..............

 We also had a get together on our last night and drank a few wines, ate more chocolate and played Articulate. Ginny came over again which was good as we got to see her before she cashed in her 'Community Chest' card and left Bungunyah to go back to the UK.

Freedom Ginny Yeah!

Me and Wal took a trip into Brizzy (Brisbane) last week and although we have passed through it a couple of times we have never actually stopped to have a mooch about so it was good to have the chance.
We started in 'The Valley' which is a pretty rough area full of drunk Aboriginals and obese women falling asleep whilst sitting upright on the floor.  Don't reckon I would like to be there on my own on a night! But we went as they had a few tattoo shops we wanted to have a look at.

Brisbane fish and chips not as good as Hulls.

We had a wander through China Town and the plan was to hang around and get lunch there but 10am in the morning in Chinatown is not the most exciting place to be so we headed into the city.

Brisbane's city centre is not much to shout about to be honest. I kind of reminded me of Hull on a larger scale. Very grey with a muddy river. There was a lot of construction going on and it just wasn't that nice. I have been told a lot of this could be to do with the floods that they recently had but  I'm guessing even before that it was a pretty grey city. But when you have been to Sydney I guess most city's probably seem pretty dull.

Bit like the River Humber

Brisbane toilets are say the nicest things

They had a pretty good art gallery though with some cool things in (and a lot of crap too!) and then we headed off to the cinema to see 'Paul'. Not a patch on Shaun of the dead and Hot Fuzz but it was still pretty funny.

Goodies in the cinema.......I'm pretty sure my Nana Stan used to say these hang from your bum??

The move over to Sandy's was pretty swift as it's literally round the corner from Hilary's so no stress there. After we got settled in we took a picnic and some wine to the Botanic Gardens which was lovely until an hour in when the skies opened up and we got absolutely soaked. The rain was so bad that even my kagool  that i had so smartly remembered to take didn't stop me from looking like a drowned rat. Nice One.

A rare photo of Wally enjoying wine........ How very middle class of him!

Work at Sandy's has been pretty varied so far which has been good and I'm enjoying getting filthy in mud to dig, mulch and pave around the vegi patches.
Me and Wal have also managed to get a bit of paid work thanks to Therese (Hilary's neighbour) at Eagle Heights hotel. just helping wait on tables, washing up and helping with functions which means we can hopefully get a bit of moolah together to pay for a campervan when we move on to Darwin. So along with that and that there is plenty to do at Sandy's we are gonna be working pretty hardcore over the next 5 weeks! Then party time after that! Can't wait to start travelling again and seeing new places. It's getting bloody cold up here on the mountain too (winter is coming) and I don't have enough clothes to layer everyday so we need to move on where the sunshine is!

We did have a lovely day of sunshine though last week and went to Broardbeach again. It's so lovely there. Much nicer than Surfers Paradise. Plus I managed to buy the most awesome 'Whitesnake' Tshirt. Fabulous.....80's rock Rules People!

I Love you Whitesnake

Right now it's weekend time again so 2 days of relaxing which I just enjoy so much after wwoofing all week! Bought some local 'moonshine' (not the illegal kind!) which I'm gonna enjoy whilst doing sweet FA all day.

There is a 'Garterbelts and Gasoline' carnival on tomorrow which we are gonna head to. It's 40's and 50's style carnival, lot's of hot rods, motorbikes, fashion and bands. Should be good.

And last but not least I'm sorting out my travel arrangements to get my arse to Sydney for a couple of days to see my mama! Won't that be just fine and dandy.

"Hard Yakka"

So new week new home new people.......and it's all been good so far!
After a very un-emotional leave from Bungunyah (not even a goodbye scat from Herman!) we settled in pretty easily with Hilary and Tony in their home. Work is much more enjoyable (even though quite hardcore at times) and the atmosphere is so much more relaxed. We actually have conversations around the dinner table.
It's been really nice to actually feel like you are wanted and we even got treated to a pint at the local Irish Pub.......lovely.

Hilary, Tony, Wal and me having Guinness and Kilkenny's  in 'Clancy's' Irish Pub

Their home is really cool and their garden which we are trying to turn into a tropical paradise is actually more like a rainforest it's so huge. I've been doing well though and got loads done in the short space of time we have been here and I'm quite enjoying it.

Before my green fingers took hold

After my green fingers took hold..........Not quite finished but on my way!

Wal's been working his arse off doing a fair whack of manual labour (or 'Hard Yakka' as Hilary calls it!) so his new chill-out place on the hammock is well deserved at the end of the day!

Wally's new favourite place

Wal making friends with the locals

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Me and Walster had a day off on Friday so took a trip down to Dreamworld which was fun. It seems to be aimed more at younger kids but still had some pretty cool rides.

Tower of Terror was the favourite of the day, it basically shoots you backwards super fast up to a high point so your facing the ground from about 100 metres high then shoots you back down again.

There were quite a few strange people there though, really inbred dopey looking folk, a few bowl haircuts and a hell of a lot of really, really obese people. 

Dreamworld locals

 On one of the rides they kept telling the really overweight people they had to get off. (They were pretty obese) Don't think they were too happy especially as they had queued for 30mins before being told.

There were lots of Aussie animals there too so we chilled out with the Kangaroos, Tigers and Crocs. 

Sneaky Croc

Me getting up close and personal with a Roo

Bad Ass

Wally's been Bad!

 We got an offer on the tickets so we have unlimited entry to Dreamworld and the water park that's next door until the end of June so we may be going their every week if we can! Something to do eh!

Ginny escaped Bungunyah prison on Friday night and came round for food and wine along with Hilary, Tony's daughter Kate and Therese the next door neighbour. We played a few games of Articulate which both me and Wal are surprisingly good at!

Saturday night was a bit random, I managed to get a few hours paid work on a 'Titanic' themed evening. I had to dress up in a chef whites jacket and serve 6 courses of food which was apparently the same food served on the Titanic. All the guests got dressed up in 1910's clothing, big hats, dinner suits, lots of velvet and lace! Pretty bizarre but no sign of any icebergs..............

We had another 'Hard Yakka' day on Sunday carrying on with getting the garden sorted and also laying a concrete base for the new shed. Who would have thought me and Wal would ever be doing something like this AND enjoying it!

Working hard

Wal doing some 'Hard Yakka'

Lost in the garden

We all signed our initials in the concrete so our mark will be here in Aussie forever!

Imprinted in Oz forever!

 Beers, wine and steaks were much deserved in the evening. Four paracetamols and a Berocca were needed in the morning...........oh the pain.

Prison Break

So as the conversation went last Wednesday night...........
Me: mmm Kerrie this bread is lovely
Herman: CUT BACK GUYS!
Kerrie: Yeah so can Dawn and Wally please move out

Bit out of the blue but seeing as we had already started looking for a new host the day before as we are getting a bit tired of it here it wasn't the worst news. So we got our arses into gear and I got in touch with a woman called Sandy who I had spoken to the previous weekend about wwoofing and it turned out that the people who where supposed to be staying with her didn't turn up so she needed some people.......enter Dawn and Wally. :-)

Would you hire these 2 beautiful people??

We can't actually start for another week and a half with Sandy as she is away but she has some friends who needed a bit of help too so we are going to go stay with them for a bit first then switch homes to Sandy's. We went to visit our new homes and hosts on Saturday and they all seem like really lovely people with amazing houses. Huge and overlooking the Botanical Gardens. Sandy is also a fashion designer and has her own studio within her home so it will be a little paradise for me and she has already said she will get me roped in in helping her make things on the rainy days when we can't work outside so all good!

It seems to have fallen into place for us and although it will be a little strange living in someones actual home (rather than a resort like we are now), hopefully we will all get along ok. I'm sure we will.

So other stuff in the wwoofing world........we had a good start to the week as had yet another day off and took full advantage with a visit to the Gold Coast. It was an early start for our day off but it did mean I finally got to see that early morning sunrise! It was brilliant.

A lovely Aussie sunrise view from our apartment

Me and Wal got the bus to Surfers Paradise and arrived around 8.30am and it was lovely that early in the morning. Sun was blazing and although the scenery of the beach was surrounded by construction workers we had a chilled morning just relaxing and making plans for when we have to get back to the UK. If they all happen things will be good!

Surfers Paradise

We met up with Marc about half 10 and trotted along the sea front to Broadbeach. It was a bit further than we thought and Wal was getting more and more agitated as he was starving! He's not a right lot of fun when he's hungry......the vein came out so you know he's not a happy bunny! Found a fab gourmet burger place though so he was ok after that and a cold beer.

"THE VEIN" can often be reduced by in the intake of food and beer!

Back to Surfers again after dinner and after a bit of a mooch and spotting of the unique 'Meter Maids' (fancy golf bikini clad laydees who top up your parking meter) we ended up in the pub as predicted and it was just in-time as the dark clouds came over and it chucked it down until we had to get our bus back! Weather is so messed up in Queensland!

The Surfers Metermaids!

So back at work again Tuesday and although it stared well with me and Ginny actually working on the farm with the Guys it ended with us having to clean Kerrie's house. I actually got the better end as I was on blind cleaning whilst Ginny was asked to clean Kerrie's bedroom/bathroom and pick hair out of the shower plughole! She flat out refused and asked why Kerrie couldn't clean her own house and pick out her own hair from the plug holes. Very proud of Ginny. :-)

mmm.....drain hair

We have been working outside the rest of the week which has been better and I have been developing my machete skills!
We found a hurt little Larakeet which was sad. It had damaged it's leg and seemed in a lot of pain so gave it some food and put him in a little cage to try and get better but he went into shock and died poor little thing. Then Wendy put it in her freezer! When I asked her why she said it was because she couldn't decide whether to bury him or throw him in the bin! He'll be joining the snake I reckon..........

The litte Larakeet before he perished. Boo.

Still not been able to have a go on the tractor, I don't think Herman is interested in showing me and Ginny how to drive it which is unfair. Women are good drivers too you know!
So a lot of weeding, raking and looking after the dickheads. (Chicks)
Our last working day at Bungunyah was pretty relaxed and the sun was shining which was nice and so me and Walster celebrated our Prison Break with some nice cold bottles of Miller. Lovely. 

Binbag Funeral

So finally we had a day off!
Nearly a month of non stop work is not good for the mind or the soul, but finally we where blessed with a full 24 hours to be human and what do we decide to do??? Er......went for a scenic walk to the bottle shop (off licence for you English!) and then bugger all except eat pizza and drink beer and wine!

Wal on the way to the bottle shop

Me on the way back from the bottle shop!

We could have gone to Surfers Paradise for the day but just couldn't be bothered, just wanted a day off from the world! Plus it was frickin' freezing. (At least in my head) I think it was still between 19 and 27 degrees but there was a icy wind and was raining like mad and I just didn't like it. I've not got my British beer coat here to protect me!
So instead I found myself drunk on 5 glasses of white wine and soda (what a loser), had a brief drunken snooze around 6pm (much to Wal's annoyance.....but he was making me watch a Ben Affleck film so his own doing really) and then I woke up with a slow burning hangover and stomach cramps that lasted until about 7am the morning after! Damn I know how to party.

So life on the mountain.................
Well me and Walster moved apartments and we now have a lovely little 1 bedroom pad with an ace view of the Gold Coast from our Balcony. It's probably the best apartment we have lived in.....and it's free! (well sort of)

View from our apartment! Lovely!

I've been told by Wendy (the crazy live-in housekeeper for the resort who I'm pretty sure has some kind of drugs or alcohol dependence) to watch the sunrise from our balcony as its amazing but as much as I try to get out of bed at 5am to watch it I just can't seem to! I must try, me and Ginny watched the sunset over the mountains the other day and it was really awesome.

The blazing morning sun as early as I have seen!

The sky was so many different colours and it was quite unbelievable. I felt like Brendan Fraser in Bedazzeled.......apart form I didn't have any dolphin friendly tuna. (If you haven't seen that film you will have no idea what I'm going on about there!)

Sunset over Tamborine Mountain

Me malling like Brendan Fraser!

 I had a little afternoon to myself last week which was cool so I went for a venture down Gallery Walk. It has lots of little quirky shops, wineries, gallery's and cafes. It's a bit like being the midst of a fantasy film sometimes with the weird scarecrows, trees, fairies and strange creatures all around you!

Treebeard!

I did manage to blag a fair bit of free food though in my travels! Fudge, nuts, jams, chutneys and some awesome flavoured oils and spices! Felt a bit sad going in for free wine on my own though so gave that one a miss this week. (Stupid mistake Dawn)

Strange creatures!

Ayumi left to go back to Sydney so we had a little party with plenty of vino the night before. She was really sad to be leaving and cried quite a lot bless her! I really can't see that happening with me and Wal! We can't wait for the wwoofing sentence to be over so we can carry on with the travels! It's pretty cool being here and it's defiantly a new experience but it can also be a bit monotonous and you do feel a bit isolated at times. Me and Ginny found 4 chocolate bars and a bottle of Coke in one of the guest rooms after they had checked out and it was like we won the lottery! It's amazing what you find for excitement when there is very little of it!
I love it when we get to work outside in the gardens and on the farm but me and Ginny get caught up in a lot of the crappy housekeeping work and that's not what we came for! Wal and Marc get to do loads more outdoor work and I'm not reet happy about that but no matter what we say nothing seems to change........... but obviously these people know nothing about me because I'm the  most cut corner cleaner and worst pot-washer in the world!
We may have the opportunity to move to another host in a few weeks which may be better so we'll just see..........

Wal's been learning lots of new outdoor tricks this week like whipper snipping, learning to drive a tractor and also having an easy time bezzing round on the mowers whist I've been busy grafting the boring in-house shit and having daily fights with the dickhead chickens. (They have been called that numerous times this week)
I did get to do a bit of axe-work which was cool. Reckon I was a Canadian Lumberjack in my former life..........Strong like bull!

 We have come across a few new Aussie creatures this week too.
We found the biggest stick-insect I have ever seen in my whole life. It was amazing! You could hardly see it against the tree (which is obviously his talent) but managed to get some cool snapshots with him!

Massive stick insect!!!!

Wal found a massive carpet snake in the Sauna, about 7 foot long! He must have liked it because it was warm. Unfortunately I think whatever he had for his lunch was a bit of a mistake as he died the day after! You could still see the lump of un-digested food in his body and there was a lot of foaming at his mouth. Poor fella. We gave him a very honorable funeral......hWal double bagged him and put in the dustbin. It was very emotional. ;-)

Huge "dead" Snake

His final resting place....awwwww

RIP Sauna Snake