Working on a veggie farm | Guest Post

So today is something a little different, well quite a bit different, and a first over here on Lemon Pea lifestyle etc, but something I've wanted to do for a while and I think it's a something that a lot of bloggers look forward to doing at some point in their blogging journey. 

What is this new and mystical thing? I hear you cry. Well lovely readers, it's a guest post. Yep, once I've finished rambling through this little intro there's someone else writing. 

Who is this someone else? You ask. Well this someone else is Emily aka Reluctant Wanderlust. Like me she's from the UK and is currently travelling Australia however is doing it in a slightly different way to me and has seen other things to me. 

So after a few tweets back and forth we thought it would be fun, both for us and our readers, to do a collab and write a post for each other's blogs about an element of our travels. For my blog Emily has written a sweet post about her time spent on a vegetable farm in South Australia. It's something I think you'll all like and it also gives you some other ideas of rural work you can do in Aus to get your second year visa. 

Emily's a great presence online and I really enjoy her blog so make sure you check it out. A post I've written for her blog is up there today also. Check her out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well to keep up with her travels. 

So over to Emily, the other one. 

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Working towards your second year visa, should you be entitled to one, is always something on the minds of most backpackers when going to Australia and with so much choice of where to do it and what kind of regional work to take part in. I decided to take part in HelpX on a Vegetable farm in South Australia.

I found HelpX through a friend who was about to swap from one farm to another. I had been in quite a dire state when the offer came and felt stuck in Sydney with money running low and my morale even lower. Gumtree and work agencies were getting me no where quickly so I jumped at the opportunity. two days later I flew to Adelaide and caught the train to Gawler where my friends picked me up and we drove to the farm. On leaving the farm the farmers were kind enough to drop me at Elizabeth train station as my friends with the car had left by here and the nearest train/bus/town was half an hours drive away. I would not have been able to walk it with all my belongings.

Working on a vegetable farm is hard work on your back, I’m not going to lie to you I suffered from a severe amount of sciatica by the end of it which I had to manage with pain killers but I also figure working 88 days straight will do that to you. Luckily for me the days weren’t particularly long and my farmer was very considerate and made sure on the hot days we were kept out of the sun under the mesh or not working as long. Sun screen is pretty much going to be your friend during your time as you spend a lot of time in the fields weeding and picking and during the summer months it will be too hot to wear a shirt to cover up.

The hardest thing to weed is greens, for me at least, as everything looks so similar and your really have to pay attention to what you are weeding and one small row or greens can take over 4 hours to weed which just ended up making me feel frustrated and like I hadn’t done any work at all. Some weeds are also easier to pull than others and creepy crawlies are rife. I once found Red Back spiders in a row of rocket I was weeding, a large red back also came in for packing on some beetroot once too. This is however is a rare occurrence and mostly you will come into contact with small insects and garden spiders which are harmless but scare the living daylights out of your when they run over you hand.

Picking is easier than the weeding, you can get more done, it allows you to move around more and passes time much easier. Zucchini needs the most attention as the produce grows so quickly that​it needs picking everyday. We were actually picking around 36 buckets a day at one point. Packing was actually the most fun I had on the farm, which while it can be monotonous if you can get the radio on and sing out some tunes with your work mates it certainly makes it more fun. There is a lot more that goes into packing for a farmers market than you would think. From cleaning each individual tomato before it is packed to weighing out the bags and checking for quality all while stood on your feet and belting out the latest Taylor Swift song on repeat on the radio. Multi-tasking at its finest.

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I hope you all enjoyed this guest post. Let me know in the comments below and make sure you check out all Emily's links and let her know what you thought of the post as well.

Until next time, 

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One year on

It's been a whole year since I arrived in Australia. Yep, a whole twelve months which seems completely ridiculous and unbelievable. It seems like yesterday I boarded that flight at Heathrow, in fact since Jack and I made the decision for me to meet him in Australia after finishing my journalism course. If we'd have been told then, when we sat in one of our local pubs eating fish pie and steak on a cold September evening, what we'd do and go through together out here, I think we'd have thrown up our fish pie and steak from laughter. 

Being out here in Australia with Jack has been the best experience I could have asked for, or even dreamed off. Despite all the doubts I had, and people I love had for me, I think we can all agree that this has been the best thing I could have done. 

I've seen things I thought I might never see, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Byron Bay to name a few. I've done things that I thought I would never do, feed Kangaroo's, stroke a Koala. But more than that I've learned to do things and also things about myself that I didn't know I could learn. 

I've realised, finally and whole heartedly, that anything I put my mind to I can do. I can fix a leaking polypipe, I can jump off a cliff, even if I make a complete fool of myself doing it, I can do it and I can run faster than an angry cow who wants my guts for garters. I am stronger than I thought and without Australia I'd probably still be questioning my capabilities. 

I've seen such beautiful places and met some amazing people. I'll never forget what people in Australia have done for Jack and I and they're people that I want to be part of our lives. I've met family I hadn't met before and realised how strong family bonds really are. I can honestly say I don't want to go 10 years without seeing family members again, it's far too long even if family ties are completely unbreakable and so easily retrievable. 

Of all the things I've done and seen, the outback and my experience of Australian rural life will be what I'll remember most. The dedication and hard working ethic of those we've met in the outback will inspire me in everything I do. They've taught me what hard work and a real days work really is. But they've also taught me how to use tools I'd never heard off, how to raise a poddy calf and how to be prepared for a change of plan at the drop of a hat. 

Would I change anything? Not in the slightest even the bad days have been an experience. Not every day is for learning something or being taught something, but I've learned to take it easy and enjoy every day. 

I fear this is beginning to sound like some sort of Oscar's speech but the past year has been the most incredible of my life and my family's support has been the perfect thing to accompany me. They've been the best at helping me get our here to do all this, to listen to all the not so funny stories I have to tell and telling me to buckle up and get on when it got a little tough. Although there's things I've missed and times I've wanted to maybe go home I'm so glad I'm here and will be here for a bit longer. I'm not ready for England yet, though I'm always ready for my family and friends which makes me eternally grateful to Mr Facebook messenger and Mrs Skype. 

If anyone reading this is thinking of journeying out to the land down under stop thinking and go. Life's for the living so live it, do it, love it and enjoy every second. 

'You will never feel completely at home again, because your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for loving and knowing people in more than one place.' 

Until next time, 

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#currentlyreading

Wow! We're in June already. Let's just take a moment to realise that we're already a month from being half way through the year. It's mad how fast time goes when you're having fun and experiencing awesome things. 

Well being the first of June today, that makes it exactly 5 months, 151 days, since I made my new years resolutions and posted them here. I'd say things are going relatively well on the whole. I've been making healthier choices consciously, keeping as active as possible and being wholly postive. However my reading resolution of reading 25 books in the year has been struggling to pull through the five months of 2015.

However, things seem to be changing.

Up until May, I'd read in total two book. Yep a whole two books in four months. It doesn't take a mathematics prodigy to work out that, that's is a lot behind target. 

Now, I'm not the type of reader who tells myself that I must read a certain amount of books in a month, week or any amount of time really. I read as and when I please, and what I please.!However I know I'm more than capable of reading 25 books a year so I'm determined to succeed. 

You may know from previous posts that I watch a fair few book channels on YouTube and in their monthly reading wrap ups they list endless amounts of books. And it got me thinking how do they do it? So after watching some back catalogues and some Goodreads stalking I discovered that most of them read more than one books at once.

So that's what I've been doing. Dipping into more than one book at a time. At present I've got three on the go (it was four until about three hours ago). That may sound mad to some people but for me it seems to be really working.

In May I read five books. Now it doesn't take a mathematics prodigy to work out that that's more than I'd read in the entire year until May. 

So how does this work? Well I've found that having more than one book open means I'm never in that place where I don't read for a while because I 'don't fancy' reading the book I've got going. 

I've been reading 'The Power of One' by Courtenay for two months now. It's a hard read for me but I'm enjoying it. However I don't always fancy reading it and until last month I was going weeks without reading because I only had that one book on the go. With the four options it means I can go to something else, and read what I want when I want.

So all in all I'm pretty happy with how I'm doing with my resolutions. The thing about resolutions is, you're not alway going to get on top of them straight away some times it's a working progress and if you can look back and say yeah I did it, I got there in the end then you've succeeded but even if you look back and say I didn't get there but I had a damn good try, well that's good too.

Don't forget to let me know how you're going with your resolutions and if you have any reading habits you want to share? And don't forget to follow me on Goodreads to keep up with my reading.

And here's to a happy and bright June,

Until next time

Emily. 

Books read in May:

'Outback Stations' Evan McHugh

'Tomorrow When the War Began' John Marsden

'Wild' Cheryl Strayed

'Travelling Light' Robyn Davidson 

'How to be a Woman' Caitlin Moran 

Back to Business | The Travel Diaries

Well it has been a while ey? I write this from my phone, after downloading the 'Blogger' app which seems a bit dated and took me all day to download but alas, is better than nothing. So yes, writing this from my phone, in our little quarters, on a farm in central Queensland.

Yep, we're back doing that farming thing and we're loving it again. Of all the things I've done so far out here the rural work has definitely been the best experience I've had and one of the things that makes me glad I decided to come out here, among many others obviously. I think people who decide not to do the rural work missing out big time because this is the only place you can experience working on farms in this way. I'd highly reccomend it to anyone but it's not for the feint hearted, but more about that in a future post I think.

We left Brisbane nearly three weeks ago no, crazy how time flies. And we've been out here in the outback mustering, decorating and all the fun things that rural life entails. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for regular photo updates. Unfortunately I can't put links in on my phone but all my social media is in the side bar so make sure you check them out and hit the follow button for more regular updates.

Now I've got this app though hopefully blog posts will be more regular as well. 

I hope you're all well, remember to tweet me and comment below letting me know what you've all been up to. I hope you like the photos below and I'd love to see photos of your travels and happenings. 

Beautiful outback sunset

Our renovating efforts

Another beautiful outback landscape

Seeking cattle for mustering

Me and the still unnamed puppy 

Until next time,

Emily x

A boring, cloudy week | The Travel Diaries

As you may be able to tell from the post title and the photograph, it's been a rather cloudy week here in Brisbane. Autumn is definitely in the air. The temperature has dropped below 30 most day that's how I can affirm this. This week has really been a bit of a nothing week, I really haven't done much. Jack and I took an adventure to a little town (pictured) but I have no idea what it was called we just stumbled upon it. 

However, it's Easter this weekend and while my father and brother will be living it up large on rugby tour, and my mother wining and dining in Brighton; Jack, Connor, Laura and I are planning either a camping trip or a rainy movie/food/monopoly filled weekend. Easter is one of my favourite times of year and not just because I don't need an excuse to eat my body weight in chocolate. It just always feel so happy and fresh, even if it is supposed to rain the entire weekend.

Seeing as I haven't done a lot this week I thought I'd share with you some things I've been loving if that's okay with you?

Eating&Drinking

Vanilla chai tea latte's. They smell like Christmas, they taste like heaven and they're caffeine free which is perfect for someone like me who suffers from the odd bought of anxiety. I've been loving them particularly on these cold rainy afternoons. I picked them up in a box of 8 sachets from Coles, the Tetley variety is my favourite. 

Watching
I realise I'm a little late to this band wagon but I'm addicted to Pretty Little Liars, or PLL to us hardcore fans. Jack and I, yes Jack as well, got through season one in a week and we're ready to get onto season two this evening. Please no spoilers. 

Reading

If you follow me on Goodreads you'll know that I'm still trying to make my way through 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay. It's really good but it's quite heavy and I've just been a bit unmotivated to pick it up. However, I really want to get through it in the next few weeks so I can carry on with my reading resolution to read two books a month. 

Apping
I loved being able to sort of speak French through high school, or at least knowing enough to survive in France. However, since the two hour, three time weekly French lessons have gone from my life my French skills have depleted big time. However, thanks to Sanne of Books and Quills I discovered the app Duolingo and I love it. It's so easy to get to grips with and it's a really great way of either refreshing your brain or starting from scratch as it assesses your ability and suits the exercises to that. It's available free on the App Store.

So there's what I've been loving this week. Let me know if you like this format and let me know what you've been loving in the comments.

Until next time

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Jan Powers Farmer's Market | Discover Brisbane

A couple of weekends ago, in fact the first weekend we were in Brisbane, Jack and I decided to check out a farmers market. Farmers markets are something we quite enjoy going to in the UK and our local area offers quite a few throughout the year but we hadn't discovered any in Australia until this point. I did some Googling and was happy to find one held locally to us, in Newfarm, every Saturday morning. So of course we had to go and check it out. 

There was loads of great fresh produce on offer to try and buy from fruit, flowers, cakes and homewares it had everything you could want from a farmers markets. Jack and I were mostly interested in the food, being massive foodies, so we spend most of our time hanging around the brownie, bread and cheese stalls pinching free tasters - all delicious I might add. 

It's a great way to spend a Saturday morning in the city because it doesn't have to cost you a penny, or a cent in this case, unless you decide to buy something. It's great just to wander around looking at the stalls and indulging in the relaxed atmosphere. It's easy to forget you're only down the road from the CBD. 

The location was awesome too and if you want you can go into the powerhouse and have a look around. I would recommend rocking up early, as it does get busy and if you're driving you might struggle for a park. However, the city cat terminal is literally down the path from the market and there are bus stops near by. 

So why not hop on the ferry this Saturday, grab a coffee and a pastry from one of the coffee retailers at the market and spend your morning relishing in all the beautiful fresh food and home ware stalls this farmers market offers?

Have you tried out a farmers market in Australia? What other fun things would you recommend I do whilst I'm in Brisbane? Don't forget to let me know in the comments,

Until next time,

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Eleanor & Park | A review

On Goodreads | Buy

Eleanor and Park is a young adult novel about two teenagers who find their first love in one another during their bus trips to school. Eleanor stands out from the crown with big, red hair and odd clothing where as Park is quite happy blending in and not being noticed by anyone. Despite their differences, among comic books, mix tapes and secret meetings they manage to find that all consuming first true love.

Let's start my saying Rowell is a brilliant writer and clearly has a good memory of what it's like to be a teenager in high school and fall in love for the first time, because this story is perfectly told and completely believable. The characters were really well developed and easy to connect with. I felt like I knew them and felt them both as individuals and as a couple. What really aided to this was the flaws that both characters had which as always helps to really round a character out and make them seem more human.

The story was both heart warming and heart wrenching and had all the qualities that young adult novel with a love story should have. It dealt with all the trials and tribulations of teenage years and find love. It all unfolded beautifully to create a really fulfilling read that had be grinning like a cheshire cat.

I will be honest it's not hugely original although there are some original elements, the story and concept in itself aren't ground breaking literary work. It's a young adult love story and it's the same at it's core as most other's. If you're into that, or want to try some of it this would be a good place to start but if you're looking for something deep and meaningful I'd look elsewhere.

I also felt the ending was a bit of a let down and a bit of a rush to get there. Overall I'd give this book 3 1/2 stars and I'd be interested to try more of Rowell's writing. 

Have any of you read Eleanor and Park? What did you think? Let me know in the comments along with any book recommendations you may have. Also don't forget to follow me on Goodreads to keep up with what I'm reading. 

Until next time

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