So now I am already nearly 4 weeks on the farm and I?m still alive:)

So long it lasts for Australians to repair the internet.
Here Brent, the boss, has three different stations/farms. I was as first with Alex (English backpacker) on Sylvania. During the first day I was, actually, only the baby sitter of the small Lanz (3j and son of Brent). Only I have thought, this can become what, but I believe him has eaten a fool in me. One can be strenuous this.

The next day then I had to be also proved immediately on the bike. This are, God is owe, Quatbikes... They are not so heavy to go. Then we have brought around 100 cows from Sylvania to a watering place in the middle of nowhere.
This has lasted the whole day. It has also lasted a little longer because I have got lost, of course, but this was not my fault! The boys were just to fast and then all the dust ... and all at once were gone and I sat there in the middle of nowhere. So, and what now? I?ve decided to go back to the cattle and the water;) Sometimes I also have quite good ideas. After an half an hour Johnnie came with the shopper and then has shown me the way. Everybody has thought I would come back crying, but I knew that they would find me at the cattle:) but it was quite thrilling and also a little bit embarrassing ;)

Actually he next days I only worked together with Mark. Mark is 20y and works since he is 14j on the farm. Mark was the only one which I could understand from the outset. The rest has a really strong accent! He has shown me how to fix a tyre, has shown me how to ride a bike,...

However, we were only for 4 days on Sylvania and then we had to go to Kumarina, one of the other stations. But before we have driven there, we had first 2 days off. Yes, I had 2 days off! I could not believe it. But what do in the middle of nowhere? Of course, going to "town" (Newman).
This lasts about 1 hrs driving. Mark has taken Alex and me to show us the pub. We have spent the whole arvo in the pub and went later to a house party of one of Mark?s friends. I?ve brought the totally drunk boy home. However, I was very afraid that a weary of live kangaroo will jump in front of the car?

The next day the same question? What are we doing? Then Brent decided that Mark should bring Alex already to Kumarina. That takes about 5 hrs? then I was alone, because all the others also were already on the way to the next station. Just because I was bored I started to clean the kitchen and start to cook. Yes, on my day off;) Later Rachel (wife of the boss and mummy of Lanz) came back from town and I could play again with Lanz.

At next day mark and me have also gone to Kumarina.
When we have arrived on Kumarina I have also got to know Humpi. Mark had prewarned me already a little bit. Humpi is just a real Countryman and very raff and rude ? and very hard for me to understand! Mark has always translated;) the first experience with Hampi was.... I wanted to pet his dog .... This was a big mistake! Then he has said: "Don't touch my fucking dog !" From then on I was already a little afraid of him. The funny thing is, he calls his dog Stump? Hump and Stump? Isn't this hilarious! The poor Stump is only 5 months old. Well, he is fine. Humpi looks very well after him!

The first 4 days Alex and I have spent at a 25km fence. That was this most badly think I ever had to do in my live! It is not the work on itself, it is quite easy work. It?s to get up at 4 o'clock and to know that you will see till 5 o?clock nothing else than the fence. I sometimes had quite badly mood, first-right if Alex had to do one on "slow motion". I have taken Mark?s shoulder to cry on and then he has come along sometimes to have a check on Alex. I know, I am nasty! When we had to collect all wooden posts, I could nicely drive the car and Alex had to run and collect the posts. I found this of course very good:)

2 weeks long we mustered in different regions the cattle (with bikes, buggies and the shopper). We have brought the cattle to the yard. In one big yard are a few small yards and a race. In the race we can fix the cattle to inject, to deworm, to dehorn, to cut the nuts:) und spay them. Except for spay, castrate and dehorn I have already done everything. But mostly fun does the hunting of the cows. I know this now sounds hard, but these cows are quite silly!!!

These were long and strenuous 2 weeks. Every day get up at 4 o'clock and then first we had to go to the region where we wanted to muster the cattle. Always we had to build up and down the yard and in each area we mustered about 500 cows. Mark says this are quite a little, because in Queensland, they muster between 4000-6000 cattle per area. For me 500 cows are for the beginning quite enough. Well, there are not just the long days and really strenuous work, except of this we have to handle to really burning sun! After every day I saw like a breaded shred. I say only dust and sweat....

Now well one week ago the rain has started. Every evening storm and rain. This is good of course for the land, but not well for the mustering. If it is raining here, you can do nothing. You get boged every few meters with the jeep. The ground is not used to get wed:) Alex and I have brought some metal rubbish from one side of the farm to the other side. Yes, exactly, silly backpackers work!

Then Ty and Hanna who have come only for the mustering have gone to the next station and Mark has gone to his mum to Perth.
Alex and I were first alone with Humpi. Yuhu:( Then I have taken over the cooking, there I had to do something. When Brent and Johnnie came again, we have taken up the work at my favourite fence again. We haven?t taken off the fence without any reason. There will be build up a new fence, of course. However, we must not build up this fence. The way must be made only broader and the remaining post be collected.

But after 2 days the rain started again and Johnnie went back to Sylvania and Brent and Alex to the other station of Brent. Mountdevain or something like that?!

Then therefore I was alone with Humpi! Yuhu:(

But it has turned out that Humpi probably likes me. He is since totally nicely to me. On the weekend he has struggled to himself even by and has gone with me to Newman. This lasts even 2 hrs. We have visited a few friends of him who are really nice and do not fit at all to Humpi. I went out together with the daughters of Humpy?s friends to the pub! We have come back around 3 o?clock. Humpi was drunk at the next morning how should be different if you drink all night long without to sleep. The end of the stories is that I have had to drive back the truck. Yes, we have gone with the truck and town! Because this is the only registered vehicl:) All jeeps and buggies are only for the farm work.
This was a big favour Humpi has done to me. He goes only 3-4 times per year to town. He spends the rest of the year only on the farm.

At the moment it is quite boring because we can?t really do something, as long as the ground is so wet. I spend my time on the Internet and search recipes and baking prescriptions out to occupy myself a little bit:) Alex and Brent are still on the other farm and I feel here now already a little bit lonely. Hope someone will come and pikes me up;) It is just sooo boring!

Now I also play always secretly with Stump:) I am of the opinion small dogs need a little affection also from others. A little bit remarkable is that Stump is following me now all the time?. But as long as Hampi says nothing:)

Well, i think that's all for now:)
Was long enought....

big hug
svenja