Big day.
Travelled more than 600kms from the farm in NSW to my sisters place in Vic.
Took 8 hours, and when we got here she was about to go out to dinner for a family birthday so we hastily changed and off we went. Was a great night out but now am seriously tired so will turn the computer off and do more of this in the morning when I have had some sleep.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Saturday...27 October 2012
"You will soon witness a special ceremony."
That folks is the contents of the very first ever fortune cookie I have ever opened, and it was given to me by a Chinese gentleman last night. I will await the outcome!
Today was another big day.
We have just got home from the Tullibegeal Sports and Gymkhana day. This one had it all people.
After lunch we took a nice slow drive across the paddocks and down a dirt track which led to a dirt road and eventually after half an hour or so, we came to the little town of Tullibegeal.
The car park was full to overflowing with good town cars and bashed up work vehicles. There were trucks unloading livestock for the various events. Everyone near and far had turned out for the biggest day on the calendar. A large number of the crowd were related to us as this little town is part of the history of Himself's family. Whole families were there in their nice new outfits, jeans, boots, akubra's and crisp cotton shirts; one mob all wore the same colour shirts, some of the younger set wore skimpy shorts and singlet tops with beautiful cowboy boots. Our uncle said he had seen better legs on tables! I even saw a couple of much older ladies who should have known better wearing similar attire. The akubra's were all sizes and shapes. Big belts and shiny buckles abounded.
There was the usual over chatty loud speaker person and the crying of tired children and babies amid the buzz of conversation as neighbours and old friends greeted each other and relaxed while watching events such as the kids walk, trot and gallop race. That one was actually harder than it sounds as horses are naturally competitive and it is hard work to hold your mount back to a walk when the one in front reaches the mark and starts to trot or gallop. What usually happens is all the other horses want to trot or gallop too! There were full on horse races for the adult riders and some of them were very exciting.
Then it was back to the kids for the rooster catch and the wild pig chase. Fun to watch the kids trying to hand catch the roosters or the baby piglets. As part of the day, numbered bob tail lizards are auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charity and then the lizards are set free and a 'race' is held as they slowly or quickly leave a designated race zone. There was running races for all age groups and an egg throwing contest and yes the eggs were fresh, not hard boiled!
Then the action moved to the rodeo arena and the kids had a go at poddy calf riding or steer riding depending on the age of the contestant. The adults did some bare back buck jump riding and one very talented lad managed to ride a buck jumper while cracking a whip!
After all that excitement the crowd headed to the food stalls for a steak sandwich or a sausage in bread. Of course the bar was open and doing a roaring trade. The good ladies selling tea and coffee were not as busy but they too did a fair trade.
There was a bouncy castle, hey come on, a local event is no good without the bouncy castle. And right next to the castle was the soft serve ice cream van. Yum!
It was pleasing to see many of the dads pushing the prams and doing their bit to let mum have a bit of time off.
After the tug of war, the band started playing and we took that as our cue to go home as it was getting late and we had to negotiate the dark dirt roads and tracks back to our place. So pleased we went.
On the way out we saw a couple of kangaroos and lots of emus. On the way home it was rabbits galore.
No animals were harmed during our great day out!
That folks is the contents of the very first ever fortune cookie I have ever opened, and it was given to me by a Chinese gentleman last night. I will await the outcome!
Today was another big day.
We have just got home from the Tullibegeal Sports and Gymkhana day. This one had it all people.
After lunch we took a nice slow drive across the paddocks and down a dirt track which led to a dirt road and eventually after half an hour or so, we came to the little town of Tullibegeal.
The car park was full to overflowing with good town cars and bashed up work vehicles. There were trucks unloading livestock for the various events. Everyone near and far had turned out for the biggest day on the calendar. A large number of the crowd were related to us as this little town is part of the history of Himself's family. Whole families were there in their nice new outfits, jeans, boots, akubra's and crisp cotton shirts; one mob all wore the same colour shirts, some of the younger set wore skimpy shorts and singlet tops with beautiful cowboy boots. Our uncle said he had seen better legs on tables! I even saw a couple of much older ladies who should have known better wearing similar attire. The akubra's were all sizes and shapes. Big belts and shiny buckles abounded.
There was the usual over chatty loud speaker person and the crying of tired children and babies amid the buzz of conversation as neighbours and old friends greeted each other and relaxed while watching events such as the kids walk, trot and gallop race. That one was actually harder than it sounds as horses are naturally competitive and it is hard work to hold your mount back to a walk when the one in front reaches the mark and starts to trot or gallop. What usually happens is all the other horses want to trot or gallop too! There were full on horse races for the adult riders and some of them were very exciting.
Then it was back to the kids for the rooster catch and the wild pig chase. Fun to watch the kids trying to hand catch the roosters or the baby piglets. As part of the day, numbered bob tail lizards are auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charity and then the lizards are set free and a 'race' is held as they slowly or quickly leave a designated race zone. There was running races for all age groups and an egg throwing contest and yes the eggs were fresh, not hard boiled!
Then the action moved to the rodeo arena and the kids had a go at poddy calf riding or steer riding depending on the age of the contestant. The adults did some bare back buck jump riding and one very talented lad managed to ride a buck jumper while cracking a whip!
After all that excitement the crowd headed to the food stalls for a steak sandwich or a sausage in bread. Of course the bar was open and doing a roaring trade. The good ladies selling tea and coffee were not as busy but they too did a fair trade.
There was a bouncy castle, hey come on, a local event is no good without the bouncy castle. And right next to the castle was the soft serve ice cream van. Yum!
It was pleasing to see many of the dads pushing the prams and doing their bit to let mum have a bit of time off.
After the tug of war, the band started playing and we took that as our cue to go home as it was getting late and we had to negotiate the dark dirt roads and tracks back to our place. So pleased we went.
On the way out we saw a couple of kangaroos and lots of emus. On the way home it was rabbits galore.
No animals were harmed during our great day out!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tuesday...23 October 2012
Busy day today.
I was shown how to make marmalade or as it is called here, orange jam!
We carefully picked just the right number of oranges from the tree in the garden then they were washed and dried just like doing the dishes. Then I peeled them with a peeler and the aunt used a sharp knife to cut the pith off them. This was then put into a muslin bag along with the pips when the oranges were cut up ready for cooking. While that was happening I was cutting the peel into fine shreds. Now the whole lot are soaking or resting ready for cooking tomorrow. Making orange marmalade is very labour intensive and time consuming.
Tomorrow we will cook and bottle our orange jam.
Lucky me, I also got zucchini slice baked for my lunch. I love zucchini slice!
Must have been my day for computers today.
I was asked this morning about USB sticks then this afternoon I was asked to the show the aunt how to copy photos from her camera onto her computer. Then we were able to print a favourite one onto the special paper for transferring to fabric so that she can make a wall hanging as a xmas gift for some lucky person. Then I used the power of the internet to locate information the aunt needed for a problem she has.
The men are still rattling and banging their way to being ready for the harvest. Much angle grinding and welding as they convert an old piece of equipment into something more useful at a fraction of the cost of new stuff. Good work boys.
I was shown how to make marmalade or as it is called here, orange jam!
We carefully picked just the right number of oranges from the tree in the garden then they were washed and dried just like doing the dishes. Then I peeled them with a peeler and the aunt used a sharp knife to cut the pith off them. This was then put into a muslin bag along with the pips when the oranges were cut up ready for cooking. While that was happening I was cutting the peel into fine shreds. Now the whole lot are soaking or resting ready for cooking tomorrow. Making orange marmalade is very labour intensive and time consuming.
Tomorrow we will cook and bottle our orange jam.
Lucky me, I also got zucchini slice baked for my lunch. I love zucchini slice!
Must have been my day for computers today.
I was asked this morning about USB sticks then this afternoon I was asked to the show the aunt how to copy photos from her camera onto her computer. Then we were able to print a favourite one onto the special paper for transferring to fabric so that she can make a wall hanging as a xmas gift for some lucky person. Then I used the power of the internet to locate information the aunt needed for a problem she has.
The men are still rattling and banging their way to being ready for the harvest. Much angle grinding and welding as they convert an old piece of equipment into something more useful at a fraction of the cost of new stuff. Good work boys.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Saturday...20 October 2012
Yesterday, as is our routine, we went into town late afternoon to do some shopping then went to the local RSL club for dinner before coming home after dark.
We may have stayed a little longer at the club as they had a group playing reasonable songs , (insert original rock and roll from the late fifties and early sixties), however they persisted in playing at force 10. Honestly, I like my music but I was in full agreement with the elderly aunt and uncle who insisted on leaving because of the volume. It was ear and head hurting and sadly there was no need for it. Most of the diners who were of a similar age group to ourselves left. Why the club didn't ask them to play at a more reasonable volume for the initial dinner time then allow them to crank it up at say 10pm is beyond me.
Anyway, on the way home we saw a few bits of wild life which is what prompted me to make this entry. We nearly run over a hare and not much further down the road we saw a fox. And on previous trips we have met up with kangaroos and varied birds usually around the local grain depots.
Closer to home as we turned off the bitumen and onto the dirt road leading to this farm we spotted a mother fox breast feeding her two tiny little cubs in the long grass on the side of the track. They quickly high tailed it out of there as we came closer. And tonight a couple of young lads who are related to the owners of this property came out from town and have gone shooting. They are hoping to find some wild pigs. They are sure to find some kangaroos and maybe a fox or two as well as rabbits if they are quick enough.
There are some sheep and a few cattle here, but most of the ground right now is sown to crops which are rapidly ripening in the current hot and windy days. In another couple of weeks harvest will begin and there will be no time for the people on the land to enjoy themselves. It will be hard work from daylight to well after dark for days and even weeks on end. Life takes on a sort of frantic panic as the farmers try to get their crops out of the paddock and into the silos before Mother Nature thwarts them by dumping unwanted rain or dust storms or cold snaps on them. It is a mad duel between farmers and the weather. If they are lucky they will get their harvest done and be able to relax and enjoy Christmas before the whole cycle starts again in the new year. If not, ah well there is always next year...if the bank manager does not foreclose!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday...14 October 2012
Took a very pretty drive yesterday from Condobolin to Orange via Forbes. Lots of lovely rolling green hills and views of sheep or cattle grazing in the paddocks along the way. Very serene.
We stayed with Keith's cousin for the night. Lovely girl. Much laughter and wine and we watched a 007 movie. And the weather was merely cold instead of snowing as it did the night before!
Then this morning we got up and drove the half hour to Bathurst.
When we got there we drove THE circuit x twice! Finally I have been to the home of car racing in Australia. Mount Panorama.
My goodness that track is much steeper and the corners much sharper than they look during the race. Those lads do a wonderful job to make the track look flat and wide! Another must do ticked off the list.
After all that excitement we drove back to Orange, did a spot of shopping, had a cuppa with the cousin then hit the road and drove back to Condobolin in time for dinner. Had the sun in our eyes all the way home. Perhaps next time we should leave a bit earlier.
We stayed with Keith's cousin for the night. Lovely girl. Much laughter and wine and we watched a 007 movie. And the weather was merely cold instead of snowing as it did the night before!
Then this morning we got up and drove the half hour to Bathurst.
When we got there we drove THE circuit x twice! Finally I have been to the home of car racing in Australia. Mount Panorama.
My goodness that track is much steeper and the corners much sharper than they look during the race. Those lads do a wonderful job to make the track look flat and wide! Another must do ticked off the list.
After all that excitement we drove back to Orange, did a spot of shopping, had a cuppa with the cousin then hit the road and drove back to Condobolin in time for dinner. Had the sun in our eyes all the way home. Perhaps next time we should leave a bit earlier.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Thursday...11 October 2012
Still in Condobolin.
It is raining today and the weather mob say it is going to be very cold tonight. There is also a seriously nasty storm front heading our way, we have our fingers crossed it runs out of puff before it gets to us or it will ruin the crops that are only a matter of weeks from being ready to harvest.
I managed to get the Aunt's rose garden mulched before the rain started so they should be happy for another year or so. She has some very pretty roses. If the rain lets up and the weather stays reasonable I will mulch the other garden beds too, but those plants are hardier than the roses.
Himself has been making himself useful where possible. Feeding out hay to the sheep, moving mobs from paddock to paddock, helping the machinery person do a service on the big harvester ready for harvest time, he even went to a clearing sale yesterday and came home empty handed. I am astonished!
It is raining today and the weather mob say it is going to be very cold tonight. There is also a seriously nasty storm front heading our way, we have our fingers crossed it runs out of puff before it gets to us or it will ruin the crops that are only a matter of weeks from being ready to harvest.
I managed to get the Aunt's rose garden mulched before the rain started so they should be happy for another year or so. She has some very pretty roses. If the rain lets up and the weather stays reasonable I will mulch the other garden beds too, but those plants are hardier than the roses.
Himself has been making himself useful where possible. Feeding out hay to the sheep, moving mobs from paddock to paddock, helping the machinery person do a service on the big harvester ready for harvest time, he even went to a clearing sale yesterday and came home empty handed. I am astonished!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Sunday...7 October 2012
Miracles happen. We are back on line even though we are still in an internet black hole. Himself bought a very very large antenna, which is now mounted on top of our caravan. The signal is weak but it is working!
Today Shannon Noll gave a concert in the main street of his home town, Condobolin, which is where we are visiting. Shannon has never forgotten where he came from and who helped him get there and comes back at least once a year and puts on a free concert for the town. So we drove the 40kms into town to join in the fun.
Brilliant concert. Worth the trip into town.
He was also making a film clip for Target which they will feature in their next advertising campaign. As an added bonus Target was giving away free white T Shirts so we had Shannon autograph one at the end of the concert. Sometimes it pays to have family who grew up with his family!
Today Shannon Noll gave a concert in the main street of his home town, Condobolin, which is where we are visiting. Shannon has never forgotten where he came from and who helped him get there and comes back at least once a year and puts on a free concert for the town. So we drove the 40kms into town to join in the fun.
Brilliant concert. Worth the trip into town.
He was also making a film clip for Target which they will feature in their next advertising campaign. As an added bonus Target was giving away free white T Shirts so we had Shannon autograph one at the end of the concert. Sometimes it pays to have family who grew up with his family!
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