Busy, Busy, Busy | The Travel Diaries

Since my last travel diaries, a few weeks ago now, I've been very busy but it doesn't feel like I've got much to say. That's one of the things about the outback and rural work, you're constantly busy doing all range of things but when you looks back its hard to remember what you've done and it sometimes feels like you've not done a lot but you always have.

Jack and I are still out enjoying outback life and all that has to offer. We've been doing a fair bit more cattle work in the past week which is something we both really enjoy doing. It's always a knackering and dirty day when you spend it on the four wheelers and in the cattle yards but it's often fun, if sometimes stressful and you always feel like you've done a good days work. We've also been doing general farm maintenance as well as always which despite what I'd have though doesn't get tedious, or at least hasn't yet.

We celebrated Jack's birthday here last week. He turned 21 so it was a big one but spent quietly which suited him perfectly. He build a BBQ, got his favourite cake made for him and ate steak and drank beer so he says he had a really good day which I'm happy about. 

He said he didn't want anything for his birthday which some of you may know is the most annoying thing to hear. However, we're going up to Cairns next Friday so hopefully I'll be able to get him a good present then. Something he'll treasure. So I suppose Cairns is the next exciting piece of news.

We'll be chasing the warm, sunny weather up there next Friday for a week. We've got lots planned and lots we want to do but there will be a blog posts about it all so I won't spoil it now. I'm definitely looking forward to the sun and the sea for a few days. After that back to the farm for a little while to help with the big yearly muster and weening.

And after that, well that's anybody's guess.

Until next time 

Emily x

P.S. Jack's dad and a group of his friends are cycling from The Royal Oak/'pink pub' in North Bersted, a local village, to Paris. They're doing it on bikes they bought for £25 or less and for the Snowdrop Trust which is a great charity. If you want to know more or want to sponsor them just based on that, which you should cause it's a great charity and they're doing a great thing, visit their just giving page and sponsor generously. Thank you :) 

https://www.justgiving.com/pink-pub-to-paris/

88 days outback

If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram, or even if you've been following the blog for a while, you'll probably know that I've been spending an awful lot of time in rural Australia. A lot of people think we're a bit mad spending so much time in the middle of nowhere when there's so many beautiful, relaxing and cool places out here. So today I thought I'd share with you my 5 top reasons you should make sure rural life is on your to do list if you plan to venture to the sunburnt country.

T H E  P R A C T I C A L.

A lot of people don't realise, but your first working holiday visa allows you a maximum of 12 months in Australia, and head my words that 12 months goes in a flash. More than likely you will want to apply for a second year visa, if you can, I don't know why you wouldn't if you're entitled to one. However, to do this you have to have worked a minimum of 88 days in a certain area of work. One of these areas is farming and it can be any type of farming. Vegetable farming, fruit picking, sheep, cattle, dairy anything. Jack and I have worked exclusively on cattle farms and have loved every second however there's a lot to be said for a ol types of farming. 

O N E  O F F S.

There is no where else I can think that I would have been able to do the things I've done. Drive a tractor, herd cattle, load cattle onto a double deck, double trailer humongous road train. I've learnt to weld, fix pipes, and cook different and new things. I've learnt more practical skills in just over a year here then in an education I've been through. And the same can be said for other types of farms. 

S A V E. S A V E. S A V E. 

It's an oppurtunity to save the money to visit places you want to visit. Not all rural work is paid, some is based on accomodation and food, but if it is paid it's likely you're only outgoing will be food which, if you can budget well, doesn't have to be a lot. Therefore you can put money away for a reef dive, the bridge climb, a great ocean road drive. Whatever you want. You'll find in a big city your money doesn't go as far.

B E A U T I F U L  C O U N T R Y

Yes there's Byron Bay, Albany and Cairns but there's no other landscapes like those in outback Australia and they're beautiful. Unspoiled and natural. They're the perfect landscapes for putting things in perspective, relaxing and learning about yourself. Basically great for some philosophical stuff.

T H E  P E O P L E. 

The people we've met have been exceptional. Kind, hard working and inspirational. I've never met people with so much grit and such big hearts. We've been welcomed into homes and families and made to feel at home. And you don't get those sorts every where. We've been lucky but it's not uncommon. These are the people that will teach you about hard work and what it really feels like to be shattered at the end of the day. 

There's a quote 'At the end of the day your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling.' Of all the places I've been in Australia I think the outback has done this for me every day. No it's not for the front hearted but I don't think anyone would do badly from this experience.

So why not put yourself out there and have a go?