So having been in Australia Australia
I’ve also managed to explore a bit more of the city and its
surrounding areas, having spent the colder days wandering round the museum and
marvelling at how big a kangaroo actually is and spending the nicer times
exploring the Hills and all the little villages it holds. So having explored a
bit of Adelaide and all it has to offer including a night out in the city when
I learnt that its impossible to sit and have a drink without picking up a few
stragglers and also to never trust a man’s view on what makes a good cocktail-
telling me it tastes like apple pie would be great, except the actual thing
just tastes like southern comfort and cinnamon- I decided it was time to
experience my first workaway. (I know many people are surprised by my choice, I’m
not exactly cut out to be a farmer that’s for sure)
Having been given the instructions to get a train to Gawler
Station and we will be met there by “Penny” and taken to the farm, being
completely honest I was wondering what we were going to find and having images
of horror movies floating through my head for a few days beforehand, however
when we met Penny, my worries seemed to be completely unfounded. I don’t think
I’ve met a nicer and more genuine person.
The farm, being only about 10 minutes away from Gawler was
nothing short of perfection. Located on a hill with beautiful views that made
you feel like you were in the middle of the nowhere and roads where passing a
car was a rarity, it was nice to escape the city without having to go very far
at all. We were made to feel right at home and one of the family from the
beginning. Tim and Robin- Penny’s boarders- helped us to fit right in and it
definitely felt like I’d known them for much more than a week when we had to
say goodbye.
It wasn’t just the people I met on the workaway that made it so special, there was
also the furry variety of creatures that helped to make the experience. From Brian
the Ram (who became quite fond of our pruning method when it meant he got a lot
of trimmings to eat), Lucy the sheep, Rogers and Elizabeth the chooks
(Australian for chicken for those of you who like me had no idea what a chook
was) and Poppy, Molly and Oyster (who helped to fill my dog quota of my trip
having not seen Billy for three weeks). It was quite endearing to have a dog
around wanting to play (although I was tempted to take the squeaker out of
Poppy’s bottle and I’m not too sure that Molly playing basketball was the best
for her arthritis) although trying to ignore them and do some work was always
quite difficult.
On the farm itself, we helped with general maintenance,
weeding the vegetable patch (and occasionally picking some strawberries to have
with dinner) to pruning the hedge (let say that letting me or Kate anywhere
near a hedge with a chainsaw is probably not advisable- especially when you
throw in standing on a bench to trim the top- health and safety at its finest),
walking around the vineyard shoot knocking and riding on the mower (until it
miraculously stopped working when we needed it and we became horses lugging a
trailer around). It’s safe to say that although I could have easily stayed on
the farm for the year in our little bubble, my body definitely needed a rest
(10 o clock bedtime most nights says it all really)
Penny opened not only the farm to us but also her life,
taking us everywhere with her and introducing us to the many people in her
life. Apparently this is a very Australian thing to do and with her neighbour
Sandy and her sister Jo, who offered to take us to places after exchanging
little more than a hello, I’m starting to think that it may be their culture. From
taking part in Sing Australia (where apparently the fact we were British meant
they excused the fact we’re tone deaf) to neighbours popping in for dinner and
ending with us having a ukulele session singing Australian songs (think Tie My
Kangaroo Down and Waltzing Matilda), the house was always full of music and
laughter.
We were also treated to a tour of the Barossa Valley (think
lots of wine- you’ve heard of Jacobs Creek right? and homemade produce and you’ll
be just about right), taking us through the small town of Tanunda and to the
farmers market where there was lots of samples of Olive Oil, homemade sausages,
jams, bread and much more. Having heard that we had yet to see a kangaroo since
we arrived we were piled in the car, along with four ciders- because you don’t
pass a car and so driving with a cider between your legs is quite ok- and taken
to see the Whispering Wall (not much to look at but the concept is pretty
amazing) and to the nature reserve where we got our first glimpse at the
creatures I’d probably wanted to see most of all. Penny even made the brave
decision to let us come to Kindy with her where we were thrown into a world of
Finger Painting, laughter and singing, both of us walking away with migraines
and reminding me why I don’t think working as an au pair is going to be the
route I will be taking in Australia
I don’t think I can thank Penny enough for the amazing
experience she has provided. I’m just grateful that she allowed us to share a
little piece of her life for a while.
And now I guess it’s onto the next adventure….
