Just your average Sunday morning....

Well we have been lucky to have a long weekend off as Sammy took the kids up to Townsville to visit Bruce for the weekend. They left Friday morning and after Dan and I finished our work we decided I needed a bit of practice on the motorbike so we headed off to the airstrip to do some figure eights. I think Dan will attest to how unbelievably good I am at riding it and once I return home I will not say "I told you so" to everyone who thinks I need to improve my driving skills but instead will point out a certain sister of mine who backed into a car in the Tim Horton's parking lot. Her name starts with a Court and ends with a ney. After our very successful driving lesson we headed off in search of koalas. We have yet to see any of these furry little fellows and were told that they live in and around a creek on the property. Sadly we still are yet to spot one though we did see a bunch of wild baby pigs .... and got out of there pronto before their mother returned.
Today we headed over to the neighbouring station just to pick up a few things... or so we thought. When we got there Bluey (pronounced BLOO - ee), the owner, was just about to milk the cow - not like at the Van Dinther farm, the good old fashioned way. Of course he made us have a go and Kelly, today, I milked a cow. I must say it wasn't enjoyable as the cow peed while I was mid-milk but I managed keep the situation under control. I must also add that those teets have incredible range as I was sitting up on a fence about 4 metres away and still managed to get sprayed at one point. Just when I thought I had had enough excitement for one day good ol' Bluey told Dan he needed a little help with the pig. Doing what you might ask? Just a little old fashioned castration. I didn't really help with this too much except to hand over the scalpel and disinfectant but Dan had the admirable task of holding the pig down during the "operation". I must say that if you think you have ever heard a pig squeal you haven't heard anything until you have heard it squeal whilst losing its manhood. My ears are still ringing.
As our morning was so action packed I think it is about time for me to head off and relax with a book; that is, if Dan hasn't hidden it on me again.
Much love to everyone, ash and dan xxoo

Teach and be taught

Mellaluka Station

What a life! After 3 weeks WWOOFing (volunteering for room and board) on a cattle station in central Queensland Dan and I hit the jackpot and started a job at a nearby station working as a governess and a stationhand. We are working with an awesome family and I am teaching the kids, Tom -7, Josie -5 while Dan works with the cattle. The people we work for are Bruce and Sammy and they couldn't be more accomodating. Sammy has been working with me in the school room for the past couple of weeks helping me get the hang of the distance ed system the kids use as they are 150 km from the nearest town. Dan has been busy working for the station next door as Bruce has been away getting his pilots license. In fact, tomorrow he is working for yet another station and is getting picked up for work and dropped off in a plane. Needless to say he is pretty excited and we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We work from about 7-6 and have the weekends off though tend to spend most of our time playing with the kids and learning more about the station life. Last weekend we headed off with Sammy and the kids to set some red claw traps. To me they appeared to be a cross between crayfish and lobster and were mighty tasty. All was going well as the first three traps we set caught us probably 50, however, the 4th trap was stuck to something on the floor of the river bed. Now one might think that Dan would wade in to get the trap out, but no, he sent me out on a log to try and fish it out. My balance isn't the best and of course I fell in - but not up to my knees as expected, up to my neck in muddy brown river water. Now grandma, don't fret as there aren't any crocs up here but I will tell you it was disgusting!! Fortunately I was able to get the trap out and as you will see below Dan didn't help, he just snapped pictures.

Yesterday was especially exciting as we saddled up the horses for the first time and got to ride! As Dan has slightly more experience :) than me he was allocated a lovely mare named Gemstone while I got to ride Tommy's horse named Goldie. Goldie is 20 and very gentle so she was wonderful to learn on and now I can trot! Believe me, it's not as easy as it looks but I feel as though my days at the VanSlittenhorst farm are long behind me.

Needless to say we are having the best time and really enjoying living in "the bush". It is unbelievable how skilled you have to be to survive out here and everyone at home would be shocked to see how often I drive - manual AND offroad, sometimes while dragging dead cows - it's an interesting life. As you can imagine Dan is in heaven with the 4 wheelers and motorbikes as well though I tend to stick to 4 wheeled motorcars.

We aren't sure how long we will be here at the moment but for a few months at least so if anyone cares to contact us our number is +61 749835002 and if anyone cares to send us anything our address is

Mellaluka Station

Clermont

Queensland

4721

Much love, ash and dan xxoo