Changes

This is just going to be a short one as I do not have much time.

It seems like so long since I wrote my last blog but I guess that's because so many things have changed, instead of it just being routine like I was talking about last time. So, I guess there's one big change which I'll get out of the way first. True to form, I am moving again. So.. if you have contact details for me here.. they will no longer get me as of.. probably tomorrow.

Another change last week was that I got to be cook for a few days as the younger boys went into town for a few days to participate in a swimming carnival with the local school. While it was fun and a nice change, I don't think I would like to have to do it all the time.

And the third change which I can think of is that we had the first muster of the season yesterday. It was good to be able to get out for a bit and fun watching the boys go at it. Plus, we got to join in bringing up the back in the ute.

One thing which all of this really reminds me of is just how much God is in control and actively shaping our lives. It's good for us to plan ahead but we shouldn't be against that changing if that's what ends up happening. I am so thankful that my life is in His hands, and not my own!

God Bless.

Routine

It's hard to believe that another week has passed already. Don't really have much to say.. everyday is the same. Drag myself out of bed, shower, grab breaky, do school prep, find and chase the kids for school, and again after smoko, and again after lunch, review the day, give some feedback, do some more prep, break, dinner, sleep, and then start all over again.

Have been writing a few letter which is a good reprieve and finding plenty of little things to do. Am finding that I really need to try to be a bit more organised with school than what I am though, we'll see how that goes considering my reputation with organisation isn't, ahh, the best.

Sunset was gorgeous tonight. And then dusk, it looked so peaceful. You could see the end of sunset on one side of the sky and the full moon rising bright orange on the other. It was kinda cool.

Still haven't been off the property since I've been here. It's kinda weird but also I haven't really noticed all that much, maybe because I don't know anyone around here yet or what there is to do. Really looking forward to home tutor workshops a few weeks from now. Not only for the workshop side of thing, which will be really helpful, but also for the opportunity to really meet some other people.

Am missing christian fellowship but still getting on alright. Makes me think about what it would have been like out here for the first settlers, and that just makes me extremely grateful for all that I have, all that God has blessed me with.

Same thing goes, if you want to hear about anything in particular just comment. And if you want a letter, email me your address to me or send me one with the reply on the back.

God Bless

Laying the Foundation

Not much has happened in the last week. The boys went piggin’ again but I opted to stay back this time, had a great weekend primarily catching up on sleep. Nice, relaxing time. The girls I met in town when I first came here, from Ireland, came out to go piggin’ with the boys. They leave real soon and wanted to do it before they left. It was good to see them again. The boys have all gone into town again this weekend but I’ve stayed back again. It’s nice having some quiet time without them around as well as needing to do some paperwork, and organise school and uni stuff back here.

The two boys are still a battle most days getting them to do school but once they get going they’re fine. It’s so different being at home while doing school than going somewhere else. They go yabbying a lot during their breaks. That’s one thing I keep thinking, it’s not every kid that has a creek for their playground. Am still finding teaching them exhausting but it’s getting better all the time as I’m understanding more and more the way things work and what’s expected.

Haven’t had too much rain this last week I don’t think, it’s hard to remember though because after a while the days all start running into each other and you forget when things happen. There was one downfall where the rain came in more horizontal and managed to put a nice size puddle in my bedroom as well as the other one.

The frogs I think have learned to keep out of the toilet most of the time or they get flushed, which is a good thing. The bad thing with that is that I am having to chase them out of the shower more now. Some may have heard my complaining about the mosquito’s at Barmera after Christmas as they just swamped the area every night and I got covered with bites and had a reaction to it. I’m now very thankful to that as it means I don’t complain about the mosquitos out here as they are nowhere near as bad as that week. Joining the wildlife indoors which resides with us is now also some lovely butterfly’s. Nice change from the other creatures.

Got a few more letters this week which was nice. Which reminds me, if you would like one either send me one with your address on the back or email me your address as I didn’t bring any with me.

Time seems to be passing faster now which is good and I’m sure in no time at all it will be Easter. One thing I’m noticing is how different it is going from there to here in how many different things I would do with Christian brothers and sisters. I am extremely thankful that I am not the only Christian out here and that we have the freedom to study God’s word on our own but at the same time some real fellowship with other Christians would be great! Thankyou to all who helped me with gathering Christian resources to bring out. I don’t know what I would be doing without them. Currently developing a daily routine which is good. Days always turn out better when started with time with God and his word.

And same thing as before, if there's anything in particular you'd like to hear about or see a picture of just leave a comment and I'll try to include it in the next blog.

God Bless

Settling In

So, it’s been a week. I’ll tell you what though, it feels like a lot longer.

Last Saturday was my first day of work. Just had Toby (the younger one) for the day which was good. Sunday I had Dan on his own for the day.. then Monday through Friday had them both. This much I’ll say, they’re a lot better on their own, especially as they’re brothers. Other than that, they’re not too bad. It’s just getting used to everything. Plus, they’re starting to get used to me too, learning that I won’t budge as much as they might try to get me too.

Still haven’t figured out the best way to deal with the fella’s but they always give you a laugh which is good. Some of they’re drunken comments has kept the others going for days. Despite that, they’re not bad guys though.

Went piggin’ on Sunday. Well... sort of. Was invited to go piggin’, so I went. Normally this means chasing them around in vehicles and a bit of running. The dogs do most of the work, just have to make sure you keep up with them once they get on a scent. This time though they parked and got out to walk to find the pigs. It was still alright until you got to the muddy ground of the swamps and it just.. kept.. on.. going. I was in thongs or bare feet depending on the ground the whole time as well. I gave up following them after about a kilometre at least half of which was through creeks and mud because I was afraid if I kept on going I might not make it back. Made it back alright but was having trouble breathing a bit by the time I got back. That was the first time I got to use my puffer (which I’d left behind) since I’ve been ‘officially’ diagnosed with asthma Monday before I left.. yay! Oh yeah, the got some pigs and brought a couple back to train up the pups. Shout out to H, anklet survived that I don’t think it’s ever going to accidentally come off.

There was new foal in on Monday morning which had everybody smiling but regretfully it didn’t survive the storm that night. Poor Bell’s been back up looking for her foal since too.

We’ve had a couple of storms in the last week. So far this year they’ve had enough rain here to fill the normal yearly quota. The creeks are up even further than when I came here, so we’re going to be stuck here for a while because they’re only going down slowly. This isn’t normal, they normally go down a lot faster. One of the comments was “we’ll be lucky if we’re out by March at this rate”.. sounds hopeful hey. Despite this the storms didn’t bring as much rain as we thought they might which was a good thing. And the lightning display from one of them, well actually there were two, one on either side of us, was absolutely gorgeous! I mean bright, lighting up the whole sky, cloud to cloud, and cloud to earth, multi path lightning, lasting at least an hour! This was made even better by the fact that because of where we are, I didn’t need to worry about bush fires starting!

My place needs a real proper clean out again already because of all the bugs, and other creatures, think it’s going to have to be at least a twice weekly thing. There was one of those flying cockroaches which I really hate but it went so that was okay. I’m getting used to having frogs reside in my bathroom and there normally being one in the toilet. Most of the time they just jump into the water as soon as you go near it though so there’s not much else you can do. Thankfully I’ve only had one come into the shower while I’ve been there so far. Keep finding wasp nests around to knock down too but that’s easy enough done. The second bedroom floods out, well gets a nice puddle in the middle of the floor, as it has now, whenever there’s a heavy rain as it all runs in under the door. I’m going to wait for the wet season to settle a bit before I bother cleaning out that room properly.

I have finished reading the only ‘pleasure reading’ book I brought with me. Thankyou Michelle, I loved it. So now I’m moving onto Dutch. We’ll see how much I can remember by the end of the year, my only problem will be pronunciation.. which is already quite hopeless.

Not sleeping great but amazingly am still sleeping on a bed after a week. I really am starting to appreciate air conditioning only it’s not because of the temperature, as the heat really doesn’t bother me. It’s the humidity that’s getting to me but air conditioning dries out the air as well.. thank you! Only thing is they make a lot of noise, and I get cold.. still I think lack of sleep due to these things is a worthy price for non-high-humidity.

The boys invited me to come into town with them last night but I decided to pass. I think it was more the really wanting to chill now that my first day off is here, and not spend the little money I have until I get paid rather than the having to swim across a creek with a reasonable current /flow rate at dark with no lights while carrying things in order to actually get there.

Can’t think of much else to say except that I got my first ‘letter’ on Thursday; it made my day! Thank you. If you have any questions about anything, or would like to see a photo of something in particular, just leave a comment and I’ll be sure to respond to it next time.

God Bless.