WEEK EIGHT

I woke up knowing that it was my final day in the City until I was off to live on a dairy, and to be honest, I was starting to think it was a bit of a stupid idea, but there was no getting out of it, so I packed up my bag, trying to figure out what I will need for the 2 weeks - I started with a manky pair of trainers, and then about an hour later I finally closed my bag, ready to go. I still hadn't actually asked where I was going to be sleeping, or how meals would work, but that was something to ask when she phoned. And so I waited for her to phone all day. And then I phoned her at 3pm to find out where she was - and left a message. And then I got a call, but missed it. So, I called up again, and eventually got to speak to the lady, and was told they would collect me tomorrow. What a waste of a day!! And so the waiting game began again, apparently she was going to phone me 'late morning/lunchtime'. 

 So, waking up today I wasn't sure if I was ever going to the farm or not, and so, waiting for the phone call again I just pottered about the house and got ready, just in case. And eventually at 4pm she phoned me to let me know she was 10 minutes away - or actually half an hour. So, I grabbed my bags, tried to figure out exactly what I had packed as both bags weighed a tonne, said goodbye to Will and braced myself. Once in the car and on the way, with both the lady and her son, and some of the awkward conversations had been bypassed, we were off about 250km north, and it seemed, a long way from civilisation! And, so, after a few hours we got to the signs directing to 'Locheilan Farmhouse and B&B' and we followed them, off the main road, off the sealed road, and ten finally I saw it. A lovely little house in the middle of a lot of fields. So, I was shown my room - which is in and B&B side of the house, but actually is just their store room for a lot of crap. So, with all my stuff vaguely put into the chest of drawers, and some on the shelf, I went outside to see the cows!! Well, I was on a dairy farm after all!! They were all rounded up ready for milking, and getting quite agitated, and with my already dubious relationship with cows, I stayed behind the fence!! Not a great start! I did spy a farm hand who was slightly closer to my age than my hosts were, and had a quick chat with him. First impressions wise, they actually seem really nice, they guy seems pretty ill, so I hope that is why he is a bit of a grump(?) they are also completely scatty, but are really nice, and have welcomed me into their home, so they must be quite nice really! They have 3 dogs, and 3 puppies at the moment, and they are great - sadly they are trying to get rid of the puppies, but for now I get to play with them!! Hurray!! On a little wander about, I did however catch a view of the swimming pool, which, looks slightly different to the photo on the website. The one on the website didn't look like a stagnent pond. Oh well, so much for that! I have also noticed a lot of tiny little bugs everywhere if you dare to leave a light on. That could get annoying. What I didn't realise was that there was also a few mozzies - they can't do that much damage can they?!

The first day was spent trying to be useful, so was ironing and mowing the lawn - not exactly the farm life I thought of, but all this work was punctuated with bouts of playing with the puppies, so I can't complain too much. Apart from the fact I learnt that the mozzies here are terrible, and whilst I was mowing the lawn they must have gotten into my t-shirt and just had a field day. Not the best start in the world, but smothered in anti-itch cream, I set off to finish the mowing. I had asked about helping out making the cheese and learning how to do it, but I was told that they only have one other person who helps the guy. All very secretive! I did help separate some cows though - they were all penned into one area, and we had to sort them out. I think I was a bit useless to begin wit, but once I had gotten over the fact I was surrounded by cows, I figured out that it is just like herding goats, but you have to be bigger, and shout louder cos' they are a bit more stupid! In the evening we went to dinner in the local pub, a cool 12km from their house! As we were running late and the lady had poured herself a glass of wine, there was no time to finish it, that didn't seem to matter, as she drove down the highway sipping on the wine. You know you are in the country when stuff like that happens. Anyway, dinner out on a Wednesday was a weekly ritual that they have, every week they meet their friends, and gossip about everything. So, having been introduced to this collection of the elderly, I picked up the menu and started flicking through. Nothing vegetarian. Nothing at all, not even the crappy token gesture, so rather embarrassed I had to go to ask them if they could make me something WITHOUT meat - they took on the challenge, and in the end I got a risotto. Hmmmm. Oh well, the night was finished, and we headed home. I must say now, that this 'lovely' pub that they were loyal patrons really was not that great - it was like an old man pub, trying too hard, and the seats and tables are all surrounding a plastic table cloth under a bunch of fake carnations. Oh god! 

The next couple of days were just spent helping out with random things around the house and factory, I hoovered floors, and packed cheese, and moved cheese, and made beds - all getting ready for the markets and the guests in the B&B at the weekend. They even trusted me to drive their car back from the garage, which I couldn't believe! Admittedly it was only about 10km, but, it was still nice to drive again. They also keep mentioning that I could help out hay carting by driving a tractor. Oh shit! But, they haven't actually made any concrete plans, so I haven't had that to deal with too. I also took to making them dinner, as they worked so hard in the dairy, I would feel guilty if I didn't at least do that!! So, on Friday night everyone went to bed early as we all had to get up early to give us time to get to the Farmer's Markets. I had chosen to go to Bendigo with the lady, so this meant we had to leave by 4:30am. And so I set my alarms.

I woke up when my door was being knocked, and I fell out of bed and into the shower as quickly as possible, and was outside, ready to go in 5 minutes, I even had time to make some tea in travel mugs to take with us. And so, into the darkness to drove, laden with cheese. It was beautiful watching the sunrise over the fields, and as it started to get light, it was also time to stop for some breakfast - is it wrong to have a cheese toastie at 5:30am? No, not when it is the only veggie thing the service station sold! So, back in the car we ploughed on through to Bendigo, and set up the stall. It was pretty rubbish weather, so I was grateful of the big gazebo, but was cursing my stupid choice in clothes, which left me wearing sandals and a skirt, in the pissing rain. Once the market was up and going I went for a little wander about Bendigo - with one place in mind. The Chinese Dragon Museum. I just thought this was such a strange place for it, so had to go and investigate. There is one section of the town which has a lot of Chinese Gardens, and Temples, and a massive museum depicting the history of the Chinese in the area. It turns out that they originally went there for the gold rush, but then stayed, and has resulted in a massive Chinese community there. Anyway, within the museum, there was the world's longest Chinese Dragon, and also the world's oldest Imperial Dragon, which are part of the Chinese New Year celebrations and the parade down the main street. Incredible to think that this was in a small town in Northern Victoria. As the rain continued, I went back to the market and started selling some cheese, and had a wander about to see what other stuff people were selling, and fell in love with some Christmas Puddings. Not really something I have every enjoyed, but I have found some that no-one could hate. They are just amazing, and sparked an idea, that I might have to start getting stuff at market's in time for Christmas,  however, it was still 5 weeks away, and therefore, after finding out they will be at other market's I'll be at, I reluctantly left them behind. Once we had fought with a lot of wet tent, and tables, we went off to an embroidery exhibition that my host wanted to go to. The joys of living with people who are born int he 40's! Actually some of it was really nice, but hardly any of it was for sale which was annoying, because some of it was actually lovely. I did  however fall in love with a blue and purple bag which was handmade and only $12 - I had to have it, so did. One day I will be able to compact everything into it!! After we'd had our fill of sewing, it was time for home - not before we went to 'Cold Rock Ice Creamery' an incredibly ice-cream shop!! They have about 50 flavours, and have all sorts of toppings and things to mix in with your choice of ice cream. It was amazing - so back into the rain we headed with a huge ice cream, and headed home. To say the next two hours was scary is a slight understatement - it was terrifying. She kept falling asleep on the wheel, and when I offered to drive she would insist she was fine. Eventually we pulled over to let her have a nap, and I was glad of it - I even managed to sleep too myself for a bit! That night we went out for dinner at one of their friend's houses, and having it described to me as a shed, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was like the kind of big metal building you would find on Grand Designs rather than something you'd find at the end of a garden, and we had a lovely evening, drinking, eating and having a laugh - I am getting used to socialising with people 40 years my senior!! And so, after a lot of wine, and a lot of chatting we headed home again - it is probably a good thing that it was tiny roads all the way home as I am sure we were all over the drink-drive limit! When we got home, we all went straight to bed as another early morning tomorrow as we were off to Rutherglen Farmer's Market. 

Thank god we got a relative lie-in compared to the day before, and we were on the road by 6:30am off to flog some more cheese. We drove through some pretty terrible weather, and we both thought that if it was a bad as that in Rutherglen, it would be a crap market - people don't like going to markets in the pissing rain normally. When we arrived we set up again, and knowing how everything was done this time, it was done in record time, and as the first people started wandering about we were ready to go. It was a bit slow compared to Bendigo, so after a while I decided it was time to go for a walk about the market to see what other stuff people had, and got stuck on someone selling Nashi Pear juice - it was awesome, and to think, two months ago I had never even heard of a Nashi fruit! After buying some stuff, including some fresh pasta, yum, I went back to help sell some cheese. I couldn't have done much wrong, because people were parting with their cash in exchange for some lovely lovely cheese, also I caught the eye of the man selling coffee next door, as, once it got quieter he offered me a job at a music festival selling dumplings!! Hilarious, but if I get a free ticket to a festival I am up for it - free ticket, and get paid to be there, not bloody bad!! He also mentioned a couple of others later in the new year, but, after looking at when they are, I realised they are smack bang in the middle of Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival, which is a bit gutting because Belle and Sebastian are playing at one of them!! That would have been awesome!! So, once the flow os customer got fewer, I went for a walk around Rutherglen, which is a tiny little town, but it does have some great shops, so after poking through the antique shop, and the book shop it was time to get back to the market and pack up to go home. On the way back we headed over the Murray River, and, once we got to the other side we were in New South Wales - I had officially been to another state - even if it was just for 10 minutes! We also stopped at a vineyard to taste, and ultimately buy, some Muscat, which is the best Muscat I have ever drank in my life, but chickened out of buying a bottle. Really regretted that once we had left, but hopefully I might go past there again at some point, and then I will have to give in!! I drove some of the way home today, and had my first chance with an automatic car - it is a really weird sensation, and the whole left hand side of my body felt really redundant!! 

So, I had managed to get through the first few days of my days on a dairy, and was really actually enjoying myself! They still keep mentioning me driving a tractor, but still no plans, so maybe I will get to do that this week, part of me is really excited, and the rest of me is terrified at the thought of it!! So, 2 weeks to go....