ello all!
Yes I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated this and I am really sorry! Heaps of stuff has been going on and I’ve been working pretty hard (and playing hard of course!)
During June and July we did a lot of mustering and branding, my horse riding skills are definitely improving and can only get better! I’ve ridden a few of the horses here now which is really good as they all have their own personalities and move differently.
We branded 972 wieners in 3 days during July, really hard work but so satisfying!
The end of July was the Quamby Rodeo, day full of bull rides/bronc rides to name a couple and a fair bit of drinking. It was great being behind the scenes as you see how much work goes into it.
I entered two events, the barrel race and the station buckjump. The barrel race is where you have to do a clover shape ride around three barrels in the shortest time. Some of the women and horses were amazing as they basically just train their horses to do barrel racing so the competition was incredible. I managed my run in 35 seconds which was pretty good and I have something to aim to beat next year! The barrel race is a womens only event however my other half has started a tradition of entering dressed as Edwina Hamburger! I think we must have been the first couple to have entered it before!
The station buckjump is where you have a station stock saddle on the back of a bucking horse…silly idea but I’m so glad I did it! I think I got thrown with the first buck but it doesn’t matter because I gave it a go! I did land on my head, literally straight up and if I wasn’t wearing a helmet it could have been so much worse!
Ed was driving the water truck and so for most of the day we were able to sit up on top and have a really good view of everything. We even chucked the swag up there and that’s where we camped, best idea as we were completely out of the way from everything and everyone, though we had be careful when getting dressed in the morning that we didn’t inadvertently flash anyone!
The weekend after Quamby Rodeo was the Merry Muster Festival in Cloncurry. This is the single biggest payout rodeo in Australia and lots of pros come down as it’s before the Mt Isa Rodeo.
We hit up the races Saturday morning which was really good, love going to the races! The Rodeo started at 5ish so we went there next and straight to the bar, didn’t actually see much of the rodeo in the end but there were some amazing buckjumps and bronc rides, the horses are so powerful its scary!
August has been pretty quiet so far, Ed is back in the UK for a month so I’m keeping myself busy!
Have been getting into governessing, teaching Georgia (6) at Jessievale which is…interesting! She’s pretty hard work but it can be really good fun and though it’s not what I came out here to do it’s such an important part of outback life that I’m really enjoying it!
Starting to ride more now as well and I didn’t think I would love riding as much as I do. When I’m at Jessievale I ride Holly who is Tom’s horse…little bit on the fat side but he’s a brilliant horse and is teaching me a lot! With no riding lessons I’m just picking stuff up as I go along so it’s a pretty steep learning curve and it takes a while to get it right! People like Mark, Tom and Willy have been riding since they have been walking though so I don’t feel to bad!
We’ll be starting the second round of mustering soon and I can’t wait! Ed is going to teach me how to ride a motorbike and since doing that buckjump I think I can give anything a go!
September should be pretty chilled, I’m heading down to Brisbane to meet up with Ed when he gets back and also see the family again. Will be spending my birthday there to so it’s going to be perfect! It’s 24 hours to Brisbane from Cloncurry on a bus so I reckon I’ll be taking a lot of books!
I’ll also be going back to Glenoak farm for a few days and catching up with them, hopefully Nhera (the white horse) will be good to ride…have a feeling she would be awesome!
You all probably know that I’ll be in England on the 2nd December…I’ll also be coming back out here for new years so I’m hopefully leaving the UK on the 28th December so it’s going to be a quick trip round to see everyone!
Will update this again soon…don’t think it could get much more exciting though! Maybe a few more Quamby nights!
Loads of love to whoever reads this and I miss you all!
Thursday 20 August 2009
update!
Hello all!
Yes I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated this and I am really sorry! Heaps of stuff has been going on and I’ve been working pretty hard (and playing hard of course!)
During June and July we did a lot of mustering and branding, my horse riding skills are definitely improving and can only get better! I’ve ridden a few of the horses here now which is really good as they all have their own personalities and move differently.
We branded 972 wieners in 3 days during July, really hard work but so satisfying!
The end of July was the Quamby Rodeo, day full of bull rides/bronc rides to name a couple and a fair bit of drinking. It was great being behind the scenes as you see how much work goes into it.
I entered two events, the barrel race and the station buckjump. The barrel race is where you have to do a clover shape ride around three barrels in the shortest time. Some of the women and horses were amazing as they basically just train their horses to do barrel racing so the competition was incredible. I managed my run in 35 seconds which was pretty good and I have something to aim to beat next year! The barrel race is a womens only event however my other half has started a tradition of entering dressed as Edwina Hamburger! I think we must have been the first couple to have entered it before!
The station buckjump is where you have a station stock saddle on the back of a bucking horse…silly idea but I’m so glad I did it! I think I got thrown with the first buck but it doesn’t matter because I gave it a go! I did land on my head, literally straight up and if I wasn’t wearing a helmet it could have been so much worse!
Ed was driving the water truck and so for most of the day we were able to sit up on top and have a really good view of everything. We even chucked the swag up there and that’s where we camped, best idea as we were completely out of the way from everything and everyone, though we had be careful when getting dressed in the morning that we didn’t inadvertently flash anyone!
The weekend after Quamby Rodeo was the Merry Muster Festival in Cloncurry. This is the single biggest payout rodeo in Australia and lots of pros come down as it’s before the Mt Isa Rodeo.
We hit up the races Saturday morning which was really good, love going to the races! The Rodeo started at 5ish so we went there next and straight to the bar, didn’t actually see much of the rodeo in the end but there were some amazing buckjumps and bronc rides, the horses are so powerful its scary!
August has been pretty quiet so far, Ed is back in the UK for a month so I’m keeping myself busy!
Have been getting into governessing, teaching Georgia (6) at Jessievale which is…interesting! She’s pretty hard work but it can be really good fun and though it’s not what I came out here to do it’s such an important part of outback life that I’m really enjoying it!
Starting to ride more now as well and I didn’t think I would love riding as much as I do. When I’m at Jessievale I ride Holly who is Tom’s horse…little bit on the fat side but he’s a brilliant horse and is teaching me a lot! With no riding lessons I’m just picking stuff up as I go along so it’s a pretty steep learning curve and it takes a while to get it right! People like Mark, Tom and Willy have been riding since they have been walking though so I don’t feel to bad!
We’ll be starting the second round of mustering soon and I can’t wait! Ed is going to teach me how to ride a motorbike and since doing that buckjump I think I can give anything a go!
September should be pretty chilled, I’m heading down to Brisbane to meet up with Ed when he gets back and also see the family again. Will be spending my birthday there to so it’s going to be perfect! It’s 24 hours to Brisbane from Cloncurry on a bus so I reckon I’ll be taking a lot of books!
I’ll also be going back to Glenoak farm for a few days and catching up with them, hopefully Nhera (the white horse) will be good to ride…have a feeling she would be awesome!
You all probably know that I’ll be in England on the 2nd December…I’ll also be coming back out here for new years so I’m hopefully leaving the UK on the 28th December so it’s going to be a quick trip round to see everyone!
Will update this again soon…don’t think it could get much more exciting though! Maybe a few more Quamby nights!
Loads of love to whoever reads this and I miss you all!
Yes I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated this and I am really sorry! Heaps of stuff has been going on and I’ve been working pretty hard (and playing hard of course!)
During June and July we did a lot of mustering and branding, my horse riding skills are definitely improving and can only get better! I’ve ridden a few of the horses here now which is really good as they all have their own personalities and move differently.
We branded 972 wieners in 3 days during July, really hard work but so satisfying!
The end of July was the Quamby Rodeo, day full of bull rides/bronc rides to name a couple and a fair bit of drinking. It was great being behind the scenes as you see how much work goes into it.
I entered two events, the barrel race and the station buckjump. The barrel race is where you have to do a clover shape ride around three barrels in the shortest time. Some of the women and horses were amazing as they basically just train their horses to do barrel racing so the competition was incredible. I managed my run in 35 seconds which was pretty good and I have something to aim to beat next year! The barrel race is a womens only event however my other half has started a tradition of entering dressed as Edwina Hamburger! I think we must have been the first couple to have entered it before!
The station buckjump is where you have a station stock saddle on the back of a bucking horse…silly idea but I’m so glad I did it! I think I got thrown with the first buck but it doesn’t matter because I gave it a go! I did land on my head, literally straight up and if I wasn’t wearing a helmet it could have been so much worse!
Ed was driving the water truck and so for most of the day we were able to sit up on top and have a really good view of everything. We even chucked the swag up there and that’s where we camped, best idea as we were completely out of the way from everything and everyone, though we had be careful when getting dressed in the morning that we didn’t inadvertently flash anyone!
The weekend after Quamby Rodeo was the Merry Muster Festival in Cloncurry. This is the single biggest payout rodeo in Australia and lots of pros come down as it’s before the Mt Isa Rodeo.
We hit up the races Saturday morning which was really good, love going to the races! The Rodeo started at 5ish so we went there next and straight to the bar, didn’t actually see much of the rodeo in the end but there were some amazing buckjumps and bronc rides, the horses are so powerful its scary!
August has been pretty quiet so far, Ed is back in the UK for a month so I’m keeping myself busy!
Have been getting into governessing, teaching Georgia (6) at Jessievale which is…interesting! She’s pretty hard work but it can be really good fun and though it’s not what I came out here to do it’s such an important part of outback life that I’m really enjoying it!
Starting to ride more now as well and I didn’t think I would love riding as much as I do. When I’m at Jessievale I ride Holly who is Tom’s horse…little bit on the fat side but he’s a brilliant horse and is teaching me a lot! With no riding lessons I’m just picking stuff up as I go along so it’s a pretty steep learning curve and it takes a while to get it right! People like Mark, Tom and Willy have been riding since they have been walking though so I don’t feel to bad!
We’ll be starting the second round of mustering soon and I can’t wait! Ed is going to teach me how to ride a motorbike and since doing that buckjump I think I can give anything a go!
September should be pretty chilled, I’m heading down to Brisbane to meet up with Ed when he gets back and also see the family again. Will be spending my birthday there to so it’s going to be perfect! It’s 24 hours to Brisbane from Cloncurry on a bus so I reckon I’ll be taking a lot of books!
I’ll also be going back to Glenoak farm for a few days and catching up with them, hopefully Nhera (the white horse) will be good to ride…have a feeling she would be awesome!
You all probably know that I’ll be in England on the 2nd December…I’ll also be coming back out here for new years so I’m hopefully leaving the UK on the 28th December so it’s going to be a quick trip round to see everyone!
Will update this again soon…don’t think it could get much more exciting though! Maybe a few more Quamby nights!
Loads of love to whoever reads this and I miss you all!
Monday 18 May 2009
Saturday 16 May 2009
Shits and Giggles
Well back at Carsland for the weekend and bloody hell what a weekend!! The past few days at the other station have been seriously cool and I'll be back there next week!
Still spraying prickle bush...arsey job but oddly satisfying at the same time! I've tried my hand at shooting with Ed's guidance and very pleased that I'm a better shot than he is even though I can barely see through the sights! Mainly guess work haha!
Also been chasing the wild goats that live in the paddocks, so funny and we decided that we wanted one soooo we chased it down in the Ute then I got out and caught her! Named her Sheila which is think is very appropriate!
Came back to Carsland on Saturday, just in time to go to the races! Being a slummy backpacker the last thing im going to own is a dress so I borrowed one from my boss and shoes from Jess and didn't scrub up to badly! Headed to the races about lunchtime in time to tuck into the champagne!
We left the races about 5 and then headed to Quamby where the drinking began!! Was with another governess called Skye and we all hit the tequila....oh it definitely doesnt make you happy!!
This week I reckon i'll be mustering and probably doing more spraying! Got lots of things to go to over the next few months so there will be some funny posts im sure!! Will do a seperate photos post :)
Still spraying prickle bush...arsey job but oddly satisfying at the same time! I've tried my hand at shooting with Ed's guidance and very pleased that I'm a better shot than he is even though I can barely see through the sights! Mainly guess work haha!
Also been chasing the wild goats that live in the paddocks, so funny and we decided that we wanted one soooo we chased it down in the Ute then I got out and caught her! Named her Sheila which is think is very appropriate!
Came back to Carsland on Saturday, just in time to go to the races! Being a slummy backpacker the last thing im going to own is a dress so I borrowed one from my boss and shoes from Jess and didn't scrub up to badly! Headed to the races about lunchtime in time to tuck into the champagne!
We left the races about 5 and then headed to Quamby where the drinking began!! Was with another governess called Skye and we all hit the tequila....oh it definitely doesnt make you happy!!
This week I reckon i'll be mustering and probably doing more spraying! Got lots of things to go to over the next few months so there will be some funny posts im sure!! Will do a seperate photos post :)
Saturday 9 May 2009
G'Day!!!!
Wow so much has happened since I last posted and it's compeltely my fault for not keeping on top of everything!
When I left Glenoak I went and spent the weekend (Easter) with my Uncle Pat and Aunt Helen with my cousins Erin and Laura...we ate way to much chocolate and worked our way through the LOTR triology because it wouldn't stop raining! Had my first experience of branding/drafting there (Branding = putting the stations brand on the calf, Drafting = seperating the boys/girls cows/calfs), really good fun but you do have to watch out for kicking and charging! Had a really funny time and there place is such good fun, really out in the middle of nowhere and pretty cold!
The Thursday after Easter I flew up to Townsville, skipping out the Whitsundays as I'll do that on my way back down...i really liked Townsville but the best part of being there was Magnetic Island! Was a spur of the moment thing and was the best thing I could have done. It fringes the reef and is only 8 miles long I think, not many roads but so stunning! Stayed in a hostel which was right on the beach, great atmosphere and the beds were in theses tent looking chalets with decking everywhere! Met a girl called Emily and the two guys she was travelling with on the second night I was there and man we had a laugh! Drank far to much beer and were dancing something stupid! Also managed to do a trail ride which was two hours of riding through the bush and along the beach, i even cantered and went in the sea bareback with mine! I'm becoming more ozzie by the week :P
Skipping out a couple of days I'm now on a WWOOFing station at Cloncurry which is in the arse end of nowhere! The station is called Carsland and owned by Mark and Chelsea with their 3 kids and nanny, Jess. This and the surrounding stations are all owned by the same family so it's like 800,000 acres in total and everyone works together which is so nice! I've been doing some teaching with the school of the air for the oldest kid Fletcher, and I haven't done to badly with it either! Also been doing mustering (rounding up the cattle to be drafted) and there are a number of ways that this can be done depending on the size of the paddock (field). Here they have horses, quads, motorbikes, ute and helicopter...yes helicopter! The acreage is so big that a chopper is the only way to find them sometimes! Very cool, its only a little two seater and the view is amazing from there looking down over everyone else doing stuff! Mark is the pilot and is seriously talented, especially when he gets really low over the top of them! I have done a bit of riding here to, totally different saddles then the western ones and much more comfy, my horse was called dickhead and really lived up to his name, definitely testing my patience and how far he could push me. The muster went really well and we were only walking weeners (calves which are old enough to be weened) so pretty easy! Also been doing drafting here as well but on a larger scale and branding. Here you brand the weeners, castrate the male ones, and dee-horn as well...it looks cruel but its really necessary and it doesn't really hurt them. I managed to get my finger trapped in a door on one of the days we were there, nice black nail now, definitely look like I've been doing hard work!!
Where I'm staying its about a 20 min drive to the main road and once you get there its another 30 mins to the town or 20 mins again to the pub...The pub or Quamby as its known is the best pub this side of the hemisphere, its in the middle of nowhere, really "rustic" and a massive veranda outside where you can drink your stubby! Had a couple of very funny nights there, because it's so chilled out and a laugh with great music. I am now an avid country fan and won't here a word against it...yey for garth brooks!!!
The nanny at Carsland is awesome and we get on really well, Jess has been keeping me on the straight and narrow...sort of!!! We recently went up to Gregory for a weekend as they had a rodeo and canoe race, group of about 7 of us and it was awesome, just awesome! We went very unprepared for camping, taking no food just an esky of beer plus a couple of slabs more! Biult a fire the first night and that was it! Second day we spent drinking by the river and mum if you read this dont worry it was all very social and chilled! Got a massive bruise from going swimming in the river and hitting a tree, and yes that was after a couple anyways! The rodeo was a bit rubbish but should be going to see some better ones soon!
I love it so much here, the way of life is spectacular and you cant describe the feeling waking up in the morning and not being able to see anything for miles!
At this moment I am on one of the other stations owned by the family which is near winton about 5 hours from where I am based. There is nothing as far as you can see in any direction, its so isolated we flew in on a 6 seater plane owned by one of the brothers! Living the high life I know :P I'm here with a guy called Ed who is completely awesome and its going to be a week of keeping an eye on 3000 cattle, fixing fences, checking waters and spraying herbicide on this horrible weed called prickle bush and the name says it all...its a prickly bush!! Ed's going to teach me how to drive a tractor hahahah bet you never thought I would be doing that!!!!
Well thats the general run down for now...will also now be staying until december!!! 6 months isnt enough time to do things and im so looking forward to it!
When I left Glenoak I went and spent the weekend (Easter) with my Uncle Pat and Aunt Helen with my cousins Erin and Laura...we ate way to much chocolate and worked our way through the LOTR triology because it wouldn't stop raining! Had my first experience of branding/drafting there (Branding = putting the stations brand on the calf, Drafting = seperating the boys/girls cows/calfs), really good fun but you do have to watch out for kicking and charging! Had a really funny time and there place is such good fun, really out in the middle of nowhere and pretty cold!
The Thursday after Easter I flew up to Townsville, skipping out the Whitsundays as I'll do that on my way back down...i really liked Townsville but the best part of being there was Magnetic Island! Was a spur of the moment thing and was the best thing I could have done. It fringes the reef and is only 8 miles long I think, not many roads but so stunning! Stayed in a hostel which was right on the beach, great atmosphere and the beds were in theses tent looking chalets with decking everywhere! Met a girl called Emily and the two guys she was travelling with on the second night I was there and man we had a laugh! Drank far to much beer and were dancing something stupid! Also managed to do a trail ride which was two hours of riding through the bush and along the beach, i even cantered and went in the sea bareback with mine! I'm becoming more ozzie by the week :P
Skipping out a couple of days I'm now on a WWOOFing station at Cloncurry which is in the arse end of nowhere! The station is called Carsland and owned by Mark and Chelsea with their 3 kids and nanny, Jess. This and the surrounding stations are all owned by the same family so it's like 800,000 acres in total and everyone works together which is so nice! I've been doing some teaching with the school of the air for the oldest kid Fletcher, and I haven't done to badly with it either! Also been doing mustering (rounding up the cattle to be drafted) and there are a number of ways that this can be done depending on the size of the paddock (field). Here they have horses, quads, motorbikes, ute and helicopter...yes helicopter! The acreage is so big that a chopper is the only way to find them sometimes! Very cool, its only a little two seater and the view is amazing from there looking down over everyone else doing stuff! Mark is the pilot and is seriously talented, especially when he gets really low over the top of them! I have done a bit of riding here to, totally different saddles then the western ones and much more comfy, my horse was called dickhead and really lived up to his name, definitely testing my patience and how far he could push me. The muster went really well and we were only walking weeners (calves which are old enough to be weened) so pretty easy! Also been doing drafting here as well but on a larger scale and branding. Here you brand the weeners, castrate the male ones, and dee-horn as well...it looks cruel but its really necessary and it doesn't really hurt them. I managed to get my finger trapped in a door on one of the days we were there, nice black nail now, definitely look like I've been doing hard work!!
Where I'm staying its about a 20 min drive to the main road and once you get there its another 30 mins to the town or 20 mins again to the pub...The pub or Quamby as its known is the best pub this side of the hemisphere, its in the middle of nowhere, really "rustic" and a massive veranda outside where you can drink your stubby! Had a couple of very funny nights there, because it's so chilled out and a laugh with great music. I am now an avid country fan and won't here a word against it...yey for garth brooks!!!
The nanny at Carsland is awesome and we get on really well, Jess has been keeping me on the straight and narrow...sort of!!! We recently went up to Gregory for a weekend as they had a rodeo and canoe race, group of about 7 of us and it was awesome, just awesome! We went very unprepared for camping, taking no food just an esky of beer plus a couple of slabs more! Biult a fire the first night and that was it! Second day we spent drinking by the river and mum if you read this dont worry it was all very social and chilled! Got a massive bruise from going swimming in the river and hitting a tree, and yes that was after a couple anyways! The rodeo was a bit rubbish but should be going to see some better ones soon!
I love it so much here, the way of life is spectacular and you cant describe the feeling waking up in the morning and not being able to see anything for miles!
At this moment I am on one of the other stations owned by the family which is near winton about 5 hours from where I am based. There is nothing as far as you can see in any direction, its so isolated we flew in on a 6 seater plane owned by one of the brothers! Living the high life I know :P I'm here with a guy called Ed who is completely awesome and its going to be a week of keeping an eye on 3000 cattle, fixing fences, checking waters and spraying herbicide on this horrible weed called prickle bush and the name says it all...its a prickly bush!! Ed's going to teach me how to drive a tractor hahahah bet you never thought I would be doing that!!!!
Well thats the general run down for now...will also now be staying until december!!! 6 months isnt enough time to do things and im so looking forward to it!
Monday 30 March 2009
McGrory Farm
Hello all! Yes it's been a little while since the last post but a lot has been happening in that time! I'm currently on a farm near a place called Kenilworth which is a little bit inland from the coast, its run by Terry who is just ace and Stef and Barry live in two cabins on the property. They have so many different farm animals including sheep, goats (one is now called charlotte!), ponies, horses, cows, ducks, chickens and dogs! I've been learning so much its amazing and the animals like me quite a bit! I milk the cow Daisy twice a day now, got it down to a fine art and because she is a jersey the milk is just super and the cream you get off it is about an inch thick! Stef has been wonderful, teaching me a lot about farm life and animals...such a steep learning curve! It's very relaxed here as well, beer o'clock is about 5pm and its so perfect sitting outside chatting with a stubbie, god its a good life! Terrys two sons are great fun to, Daen lives on the next property over with probably the best view in the world, piece of heaven right there when you wake up! No big spiders yet but I do have frogs in the toilet!!!! Also I may bring a dog back with me...god he's just the best! Cattle dog breed and so smart, just knows how you are feeling and wants to learn! Here are the pictures and there will be more to come!!! (tried to upload but playing funny buggers so will try again soon!!!))
Thursday 19 March 2009
WWOOFing
Now for those of you who think I might be mad WWOOFing is Willing Workers on Organic Farms and basically means that you work for a few hours a day n exchange for food and accommodation!
At the moment I am on an ALPACA farm (Dandaloo Alpacas google it!) and wow I am loving farm life! I have hoovered up poo, literally with a big hoover...made chutney for the Cassies Country Kitchen company which is here as well...weeded...and chilled out!! Alpacas are gorgeous, I could definitely have a couple! Will post some pictures soon to! Next week I am going to a dairy farm where they actually butcher their own meat so I'm really looking forward to learning a new skill!
At the moment I am on an ALPACA farm (Dandaloo Alpacas google it!) and wow I am loving farm life! I have hoovered up poo, literally with a big hoover...made chutney for the Cassies Country Kitchen company which is here as well...weeded...and chilled out!! Alpacas are gorgeous, I could definitely have a couple! Will post some pictures soon to! Next week I am going to a dairy farm where they actually butcher their own meat so I'm really looking forward to learning a new skill!
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