so here i am, packing to come home... wow time has flown eh?! Seen Arlie beach today and came home back to jess's in Blackwater. been a good driving day today, with 5:30 am start, enjoy the scuba sam (ah angela) pics lol. be home soon!

thanks aunt jeannie, so true and i try to run as hard as i can from sun up to sun down most days too. so glad you could talk to your family there :) mentioned you the other day, met tourist from some where outta africa and thought of you straight away ;) hugs.

Uncle barry, no one hit the target, we just liked the bang i think lol

so went on beautiful waterfalls/swimming hole trip couple days ago... rainforest here so amazing falls and chilly swimming but.. first in mostly and last out lol. cant little thing like cold(and lack of swimming ability ;P) stop you!?! was great trip.

Scuba dived on.. the Great Barrier Reef! Yup you heard me.. dived! WOO HOO! AMAZING and breath taking.. wait that might have been the pressure of the water.. lol. had cute staff hold my hand so all i had to do was breathe... and not smile (lets the water in mask.. who knew? lol) absolutly amazing and so scary and yet so worth every fear and penny!

couple mor days and home i come! :) headed back toward blackwater today (jess's home) and then briszy (brisbane) on monday for early flight tues. hugs all!

In Cairns now! :) Jess took me on tour of your papa's station Sirron out in the outback.. so went to the Gorge and swam in the swimming hole and seen some dams (dugouts for cows) and seen lots of wild roos and wallies. oh and wild pigs, with babies in tow :)

then drove to Cairns, seen BEAUTIFUL country along the way... green rain foresty and hillls and wow is all i can say :) stopped at tourist check point with crater (amazing) and falls,(gorgous). so all in all great drive!

did some shopping this am in cairns and booked tours for next couple days.. looking forward to that big time! hugs all and home soon! :) :)

so today I got to shoot a muzzle loader :) and went swimming again ;) packed the swags and fridge and diesel in the ute and leave bright and early for out road trip up to the farm and then to Cairns and back down the coast for next sunday to pack for home! so if outta touch... thats why! lol
the cattle are brama/angus for the most part around here, the ones me moving my angus red and black i would say. hugs all!

so went out last night, WOW what a night, thinking tame time for a bit now lol though we will see. shopping today some and swimming in Jess's cousins pool.. so cool! :)

oh and... i seen lots of roos and a herd of piggies that are ugly and wild lol oh and a turkey that isnt a turkey and a mickey (young bull) lol. and aussies he he he ;P

So today i went mustering :) burnt but had fun lol. rode a little appy that was good for me and we chased 2 mobs of cattle. so fun in a stock saddle and bush in the land down under! so glad i got to do that before coming home.. which btw way is soon :) :( how is canada weather? HOT here. well for me anyhow he he

here are a couple pics too.. :)

In Queensland! long drive to Jess's but worth it.. so beautiful out here.. well except for the hugs asss fruit bats and a loooong python on the road. Well ok meybe not so long, but scarrry like halloween LOL. off chasing cows tomorrow.. woo hoo mustering here as its called :)

2 weeks till home and lots planned inbetween i hear!!! :) :)

so saturday turned into a rainy cold (see breath in air cold) day at Claire show.. but managed to get 2 1sts and 3 2nds :) Judge commented on the improvement in Captain so that helped warm up the cockles of my insides LOL

off to Queensland tonight! wish me luck! :)lol

So.. Wed I ended up going on a self tour of the adelaide hills which are absolutely gorgous to the Melba chocolate Factory in Woodside. yummmm... then from there to the Rocking Horse Toy Factory... WOW.. Santa has nothing on this place lol. and petting zoo with kangaroos, and lots of wood toys so beautiful and great day! home Thurs and drank wine and bubbles with Marg and Sue and her mom Margaret.

Today (friday) miserable day out, windy and rain.. so rode Captain cause showing tomorrow and washed him etc. some packing done and car cleaned out, its almost time to go to QLD! big job packing it seems like overwelming actually lol.

so show tomorrow and off the city sunday and leave monday pm for Jess :) :)

5 more days in South Australia! Queensland, watch out Im comin! lol

So I got my bad greyhounded up to Brisbane yesteraday and ice cream eaten. Then last night i jumped in with a friend and away we went to "show me the city mountain view". Switch back windy roads and dense fog were the start, me hanging on as watch for koala and kangaroo signs were warning us and headlights coming down the steep and loong hills very close when past us. Finally reaching the "view" I looked out and realized the city had a blackout, well that or the fog was covering it? But thankfully the tourist boards expained what i was looking at (though couldnt see) and I oohhh and ahhhed lol. Off back down the mt, to a major accident and detour, to another accident, and yeah you guessed it, detour. So now we on this "back way" into the city and on the opposite side we started on...

now picture this, one lane areas to slow cars down? what happened to speed bumps?! anyhow stopped at another view, "windy point" i think, and this time the lights has come back on and i enjoyed the lights and wind of the view there!

Also yesterday learned to navagate the city, going to visit Melissa and greyhound.. so pround of that! ;)

today maybe Wildlife park or.. not to sure yet actually.. lol

well hello and Happy Thankgiving! Not a holiday they have down here, sadly no turkey meal lol. So sat I had a show in Burra, where Stech kindly agreed to show the hack horses and I the jumpers.. WOO HOO!! so Conrad and I did the 50cm, 60 cm, and 75 cm. the Jumps were bold so had to ride him hard and had one refusal on both the 60 and 75 cm, so no jump off for him :( Brogey I had in the 60, 75, and 90 cm, and he dropped a rail in the 90 but other than that went great! and I had a blast!

Sunday was Pony Club so took the 2 boys again and just jumped, did 100 cm! (3' 3" for everyone else lol) so happy with Conrad and me! :) and hope can find jumpers back home to ride now that kinda getting the hang of it.. sorta anyhow he he.

last week here.. did laundry today and need to start packing.. sorting into piles and weighing.. so fun... :( ttfn!

LOL Step, yeah sorry about that i was home teached lol ;)... love ya mom he he... so lets see, sat show i got 4 firsts and one 3rd. Two firsts and 3rd were in Show Jumping... yes jumping is getting all figured out!! and I LOVE IT! my boy, Conrad was great and didnt refuse not one jump! and hacking sadly still not my "thing".. me looking pretty? people.. you surprised?!? lol

Mon we just took Judge and Captain (no jumping in Jamestown :() and steph's hay fever was acting up so back to Jeff and I.. 4:30am start and warm.. shall i say hot? day.. I of course in Wool show jacket and helmet and boots, you get the pic.. lol.. but did good with 4 1sts, 3 2nds, and 2 3rds, beating some good competition finally! so happy with my "boys" and me.. might make a "hacky" outta me yet was told.. OH NO!!

Met lady there that from Alberta but living here now, with cattle, so could go camp drafting there if had time.. or next visit!

Sent Black Pony home today (remember her? the Thing I called her?) going well now and owner ready to continue to next level of her training. one down! :)

Off to the "big Smoke" today again, get dry cleaning of wool coat done and maybe some shopping etc. oh and the countdown begins! :)

Well its Thurs, been a busy week but good, got 8 horses rode tues and wed and 6 today, two washed for show weekend also. thinking to go to beach a bit today to relax and enjoy, not much longer here... kinda sad actually, finally in a groove and liking it quite a bit, though yes Dad i miss you too.. and our meals together :) hugs!

so tomorrow is preparation day with a show sat and mon, both a little ways away so both looking at 3:30-4:30 am wakeups with time change here sun to make mon just lovely LOL (and will be 16.5 hrs with time change from MSt:) Jeff's bro passed aay so they be gone tomorrow, however steph who will be helping and riding at both shows, is coming up tonight to help me so all good on the home front!

Working on another beach ride and might hit Gelitine (sp?) place just down the road (home made ice cream.. mmmmm... :)

hugs all!

hello!! so had show on saturday and as Jeff and Marg were off judging a show i was in charge of the place as well for the weekend, Just took Captain to the show, and well fri and sat were both LOOOONG 6 -6 days, got 3 thirds, 3 seconds, and one first outta 7 classes, so all in all happy with it all..

And was looked after even with my cook gone, she had premade meals to pop in the microwave, and lots of eggs, which i havent collected since childhood... brought back memories of the bogey man that used to chase me up the hill from the coop lol. Melissa made me supper and hot tub Fri night (yummmm) and Sue had supper for me sat night, no wonder i like it here!!! lol people sure are amazed how much i eat LOL

Pretty much relaxed today (sunday) except for chores and laundry.. was tired lol. And yes Aunt Jeanne getting close! leave here for queensland the 18th of oct and there for home the 2nd of nov.

The stuff im shipping is mainly Christmas presents, which i go all bought i think so aussie Christmas this year and hope it gets back by then! 3 months via sea... lol

Ok so.. I RODE ON THE BEACH! :) :) So much fun cantering through the water!!! one thing to cross off my list:) thanks to Sharon and Sara for their wonderful company and horse :) :)

Shipped first box home.. 4.490 Kg and $57.10 sea mail! :O was shocked but gotta go, fricking expensive i reckon! lol

Off to shop today and figure out how to get stuff to Brisbane for flight home.. busy girl lol

what no replys!!! :( anyhow hello out there again, had a show in Moonta on Sunday, so friday trimmed horses and sat washed horses, rode horses, washed tack, and loaded truck. 5 am start on sunday with 4 horses going to the show, 2 hacks and 2 jumpers :) :) was a very busy day but good with the 2 hacks being in 6 classes and i came away with 4 2nd places and one 3rd place :)

Jumping, well.. i love it but was i ever entertaining lol started first round on Brogey, jumped before bell on first round the jump off and told off for that lol then 2 refusals on Conrad, but happy with him, then to hacks, then back to jumping, which conrad refused first jump and i didnt expect him to and came off LOL and got on and continued with my pride hurt, lost rein on Brogey second time out, LOL LOL but grinning from ear to ear :) :) :)

Off Wed and Thurs so beach ride planned for wed am.. let you know how it goes! :) Cheers!

well its Wednesday now, so on the weekend i worked saturday and took Conrad to Pony club (which Im a member of.. and have the card to prove it lol) and jumped him, he needed work on that as will refuse and jumping him and brogey on sunday i hope! :) rode a couple others and took some time to go walk along the beach and collected a couple shells.

Monday and Tuesday were flat out days, yesterday started at ten to five and finshed at ten after five lol. Today i took Conrad to pony club grounds to jump course again and Leanne brought her horse to. Was fun and definately successful.

Off to Melissas tonight for supper. Also looking into surf lessons... keep ya posted on that!!

well another week has come and gone... tues i once again enjoyed the lovely weather and riding in it, with a quiet night even.. then off to the Royal Adelaide Show Wed with Jeff, watching the horses there mainly, met lots of people as jeff knows alot of course :) Thurs was long day but good working from 6 till close to 5 with lunch on the road.. rode the horses but had to also take one to the vet for x rays, hence the longness of the day, which by the way, started with no power due to thunder storm etc at night :) :) but turned beautiful and loved riding in a t shirt again and horses all went great! Today (Friday) went to Royals again this time with friends and watched the World Cup show jumping and sheep dogs and oh show bag shoppin... now i gotta know.. is this something any of you back home know about? (showbags?) cause they HUGE thing to do at fairs here, WOW...

back to riding tomorrow and pony club sunday where ill hopefully take Conrad jumping before competing next weekend on him lol. Hugs all from the land down under... :)

hey all! thanks for hugs aunt and uncles :) they mean alot! I wanna get back safe too!

so.. 6 weeks till fly to queensland!!! will be long stint before but worth it once there Im sure! yea Jess!!! :))

Friday nigth went bowling, which was an absolute blast and i am VERY rusty at it lol. glad i went though! Major rain storm friday so was off too and lightening and thunder.. LOVED it! kinda like home ;) sat went shopping a bit (starting on Christmas presents :) and to the movies.. was nice day, though not outside ha ha and sunday came home, did chores (fathers day was sunday here) and to footy game, finals in couple weeks to enjoying while i can! Chinese food and movie in my camper sunday night :)

Beautiful today! no wind really and sun, down to t shirt for most part and loving it!!!!!!!!!!

well finally a real storm with thunder and lightening and RAIN! :) loving it! and off today for most part, dont wanna die by lightening lol. so everyone back there got requests for what you want? not that you will get it just curious lol.

off this weekend, their fathers day here on sunday. thanks for calling Kelly so nice to catch up with you! :)

so yesterday i gotta go to Balakava Cup (the biggest country horse race in South Australia) with Jeff... wow so much fun!!! wore a dress and even one of those things in your hair.. fasterner i belive thel called :) Bet.. and lost.. made friends.. met Crows (AFL Footy) players.. wow TALL! ;) and had a generally great/fantastic time!

Today was FULL out, wow; but gotta talk to Mom and Kelly today, so nice to hear from home! tonight im on way to mellisa and james' again for i hear spaggetti and hot tub?!!! :) so better run, later all!.. happy trails

so another weekend come and gone... and it was.. well lets start with friday.. after a wonderful time in a hot tub and good food and company the night before i still awoke at 5:30 so i fed up, did chores and rode the paint before breakfast, right after Jeff and I headed to horse sale in Dublin (about a hour and half south). Leanne and Melissa showed up also, so was my at home typical horse sale with lots of bs and not much horse meat to look at lol.

On was home were 1st/2nd on scene of bad head one car/mini van accident. So i helped keep people consious and best as could outta too much shock, while waiting for rescue to get there and cut them out. 4 into ambulances, one air lifted. Prayers there. Then to cop shop for statement, bu time down was after 7 so home to shower and then into the "big smoke" (adelaide) for the weekend off.

Sat tried to go to AFL footy but after driving around for a hour to get a spot and walking up informed was sold out. boo hoo hoo :( so shoping before a wonderful supper at a mongolian resturant with food cooked on wood heated oven right in front of you.. was so yummy and fillin!

sat night the bute netball team was in for there girls night out and i was invited to join.. so i did lol partied it up and stayed in my first backpackers hostel! finally a real working holiday like experience! lol :)

Sun went to the zoo and walk in the park with friends and their dogs :) hi dakota! and home today after ice cream.. again.. he he

What happens here stays here! lol so another week going by, by tomorrow have worked 11 days straight, this weekend is off... hmmmm... what can i get into!??! ;) posted another pic of Brogey and I.. love him to death! :) and a appy that reminded me of home SO much!!!

Got a new pony in to start.. OMG! so she is a blakc welsh, oh so cute.. till she ran me over and tried to two foot kick my head off! the kicking thing more than once lol. so she is getting manners 101 haha.

Off to Melissas tonight for "tea" and "spa" maybe (hot tub for the home crowds lol). horse sale tomorrow in Dublin, about a hour and a bit south of us. should be fun Leanne (a friend) coming with Jeff and I :)

well here i am again, another weekend come and gone.. so sat i showed captain.. dark horse on right :) and got no ribbons :( but was beautiful out and jeff was happy so i was happy! showing with carly (girl that lives in victoria now but worked with jeff over like 11 years on Judge so that was cool. then sunday... i jumped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 :) Im in LOVE lol did 50 cm then 65 cm and finally 80cm.. knocked a rail on the last two rounds but horse (Brogey, gray one with tongue out at camera lol) rocked! so much fun! Melissa (who owns the paint) came and kindly took these pics to email to you all back home :) love and hugs!

so last night at sues she made a apple/quangdong cobbler (just for me :) they are a wild sour type peach that grows in wild here, not ripe yet but she goes and picks them from her horse when are in nov ish. good heated with ice cream! (yeah healthy for my cough i know lol)

Gia, wine, always good! I am so into wine and bubbles go me! LOL

had nice long nap today, full next 3 days.. clipping and washing and riding tomorrow and show sat and sun here in Kadina. later all!!! :)

well another day done, cough getting worse :( going for nap before supper at sues tonight. had to throw horse today just to clip her (the one i quit riding cause didnt feel safe on her). kinda entertaining i guess lol. well off to get petrol (gas lol) and maybe cough syrup and wine lol

hi again! well sat dawned with terrible wind.. at 4:15 am! not good start to day here windy in best of times (no thanks!) so off to crystal brook show with Captain in the float (horse trailer :) warming up around 6:30 am and wind and rain started during the day, driving into my head, nasty wet and not cold, he kept me warm lol. was in 8 classes between 2 judges. skipped 2 classes and came away with 2 1sts, 3 2nds and a champion show hunter hack!!! was so happy with "my boy" and drenched right through lol.

ok a double bridle has 2 bits and two sets of reins. a snaffle and a shanked curb. and more reins to figure out lol.

lunch here is lunch or dinner. supper is tea. then afternoon and morning tea sometimes too lol.

Two day show here in Kadina this weekend. were taking 5 horses (and another rider :) but one lame right now :(. will be show jumping too!!! so much fun jumping down the lane way now on brogey.. like a steeplechase sorta set up but log jumps :)

ok hi all again! so i have been jumping and hacking and eating and shopping and seeing people and tryin to sleep and roosters wake you up at 5 and yeah.. you get it lol yeah i bought a couple jean jackets from Allingtons in adelaide and got to see some horse stores (of course he he) and had south australian msa rump (ie steak) for lunch at the lion pub (and bubbles lol) and chicken parma for supper (tea they all call it??!) at a another pub/hotel. was a great day out for sure and yes very pretty city, has park downtown you can ride in even like central park new york i guess?

so got captain going to show this weekend, 8 classes but one horse should be better (i hope) and yeah working with four that ill be showing the following weekend or some of them anyhow. so ar only flat work (hunter hack and show hack). double bridle stuff which is new for me. jumping soon, doing it around the place up the laneway a jump course there so using that too! so fun! :)

sure enjoy the comments thanks all! :)

well... so i survived! lol the weather held, windy and chilly but no rain at least. horses well... they were full of piss and vinegar spooking and kicking and generally playing it up! not so good at a show lol. anyhow was in 8 classes, two then two off and then 6 back to back, switching horses in between.. zoom zoom! so the results.. 1 2nd ribbon in captain (my fav) and a 3rd and 2 3rds on Judge (not so my fav lol). so all in all i was very happy and the judge said i did well for only being here as long as i have so that was pretty confidence boosting :) got lots of pics, sorry cant get them on here at present :( off tomorrow being long day sunday (got up at 5:30) so off to adalaide with sue to see her mom and shop! later and thanks for the prayers :) :)

hey! so tomorrow is the big day! first show.. in 8 classes depending on how horses and i fair lol. fingers crossed for good weather and horses.. and me :) and yeah plaiting and bobs not so fun at all much prefer western long manes and tails encouaged he he. not much going on today, did touch ups on horses and loaded what can into van, early start tomorrow.. next post.. how the show went :) :)

well i remember.. we eat alot of pumpkin soup.. and it is very good for everyone wondering.. and sponge cake lol :) did my laundry today its now on the line, was running between that and the farrier was out too kinda funny watching me im sure.. got the shetland (ruby) in a cart behine the ute (tied to the back.. yup yup..) and me in cart we got pics! tomorrow we clean and plait horses for show on sunday.. not that much fun im thinking but thats what im here for lol.

All the kids here wear school uniforms.. kinda good idea not so many worries about being different. speaking of which, people confirm what you all know.. im weird!!!! ;)

hi again! so another weekend lived through! lol watched the footy again on sat, our team won but was close and even some "hockey" fights as i called them lol. then took part in games, ie scooting around the floor on a towel through a course (which was tiring ha ha) and eating a oreo cookie off my forehead withough hands! out team (the grizzly bears :) won woo hoo! then to bed and up early sunday to go on footy bus/wine/pur crawl tour all day.. home by 11 what a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! started riding horses in double bridle and will learn how to plait a bit today.. fingers crossed... first show on sunday... 2 horses in 7/8 classes.. and here we go!

hi there! well its friday here.. so its Kathys Birthday! not till tomorrow there but here already, still find that all strange lol. go almost all the horses rode, jeff was not around so went quicker, no bs lol... what men bs??!! he he. couple more to work but with him so decided o come online now.. had gar fish (i think thats it) for lunch and chips, my loely fish and chips! oh and desert, of course! so good to hear from you all back home, thanks for writing :)

well hi again! been a crazy busy week, hard to find time to post most days! one more horse to ride today, jumping 26" now.. go me! lol and then take others on about a 3 mile trot down the road :) work off my delicious meals he he. roast lamb last night at friends.. mmmmm. Last weekend off this one.. so party sat and bus tour with the footy clob from bute of the wineries sun.. lol ill be beat by mon im sure! lol

so on the weekend i spent a day in the life of a aussie family (i called it that anyhow lol). off the footy for the 8 year old.. so cute to watch the little tykes kil each other out there lol.. then netball for the ladies.. then worked in the canteen and met lots of kids getting candy.. and they footy for the big "kids" . ok girls.. this is the hottest sport out there to watch! boys running jumping and tackling in tank tops and shorts... LOL (hi mom)

started jumping today! WOOHOO! exhausting but what fun!!

hey so.. got names mixed up.. not Captain.. Judge.. lol worked horses today and hauled wood and watched Jeff fix fence. Friend came over and we rode together :) grandkids over tonight so guess ill be meeting them lol weather is great for the most part.. some wind and rain but mainly nice. considering its "Winter" its gorgous! nights get a bit chilly.. got horse races tomorrow in port augusta (about 2 hours away from Kadina) with jeff.. so just chores and up up and away!!

well one horse is lame :( captain one ill be showing.. so was asked about the washer... it has a tub on one side that you fill with water from a nearby tap sink.. dont over fill water is castly here compared to us.. being its free lol.. and turn on.. then into shaker thin that didnt seem to shake.. or i was doing it wrong and basicly into sink to rinse and back in shaker to clothes line still dripping was quite funny im sure watching me!

well hello all! ok gia... who are you? lol well my weekend ROCKED! sat lunch thing was so good was SO stuffed!!!! then onto to shower and get dolled up and off the black and bling party.. wow more food and dancing and yeah... sunday i recovered and had homemade ice cream at a shop by moonta :) :) then early to bed and back at the ponies today :) all went well worked 8 today. did laundry as well.. bit old fashinoned washer (hence why Marg very kindly offered to do my wash :) but i got it done and they hanging on the line to dry as i type.. then off to friends for steak supper! later!

well its the weekend! so i went wine shopping.. yup the cashier was cute so i got help lol.. my normal drinks are not so cheap lol so worked 3 horses today in am and lunch with jeff and marg and their friends and dinner.. black and bling thing for footy team! :) so dressing up (fun and very kind neighbor dressing me and taking me :) thanks sue !!!!) and should be a blast!

hugs all!.. let you know if i recover monday! lol

hey so i got my first bounce off today.. unexpected on all parties, a 16.3 hh grey mare who is been ridden lots, came unbroke lol IM OK!!! :) so from little shetlands to big throughbreds, all in a days work lol.. and the food.. oh my im not gonna lose weight at this rate! lol

hello all!! well i hope there is an all following lol.. i started riding today.. four horses worked.. one welsh, one paint, and two HUGE throughbreds... Kathy... our horses are all cute lol big and beautiful horses and english!:) Jeff says im doing good.. sure hpe he is right! lol first show is august 8th.. hope me and horses get toether by then! so i have 3 meals a day if i want them, these people are really trying to treat me SO good, though i miss home, not as much now once riding though :) have a cell and talking to people helps and my dear mom called this morning, was great catching up! How are you all?

well.... Im here!!!! landed yesterday.. 15 hours ahead of AB time .. IM IN THE FUTURE BABY! lol working onmy bank account, phone etc today.. got my own little place and car... think im pretty lucky :)

well here i am... through the first check out station... Calgary International.. waiting... my dear parents having driven me here and fed me... lots lol

well... today is the day!! scared and excited.. hope the flight goes better than last time! lol stay in touch, you are my way to stay connected with home :) ttfn now, back on when i can!

well..... so last night i had my party.. dresses and high heels.. go me!!! lol was a blast thanks all the people who made it a hoot!!!!!!! :) Hot today and 3 days to take off... with cold temperatures hitting me on landing... what am i thinking???!! hmmm, well i dont so why start now? later!

well i survived this weekend!!! i picked up my friend from the states on friday and it turned into my normal crazy weekend... saturday went well with a 1000 km run through the mountains and icefields before ending at a local rodeo dance were my friends and i preceeded to help the drink industry! :p Sunday was very tame, getting the privledge to recouperate at one of my good friends cabin on a lake.. then off to watch some aweome chuckwagon racing and rodeo action :) now im home and packing for the land down under....

hi me again! well done with bus and onto packing, oh wait.. and trucking lol got most of my shopping done i think just have to get it all put together! :(

hmmmm

ok so... here i am again.. on the weekend i got second on my first endurance ride!!!! was a 25 mile gallop pretty much!!!!!! what a blast im hooked lol

Well hello! this is a new idea for me, thanks to my aunt, who has one! Is it a good idea?