Wine anyone?

Welcome to Nagambie! Population abooooout 1500.... it's tiny.

It has an IGA, a bank, 3 pubs, a post office, a beautiful lake and that's about it!

I have started work as a cellar hand at Tahbilk Winery and I have to say, even though its 12 hours a  day, 6 days a week, so far I'm really enjoying it. Despite being utterly exhausted, feeling aches in places I didn't know I had and probably won't be drinking wine for a couple of months! 

Here is a quick snap of what they call the 'New Cellar'. It was excavated in 1875 (and sits next to the 'Old Cellar', which was done in 1862). We aren't doing any work down here yet but I am looking forward to it.

 The part of the winery I am working in is a little less glamorous but equally as interesting!

 I can't remember how many tanks there are exactly... but roughly about 75 i think.
Who knew so much went into wine making! Not me!! 

My job is to FLOT the tanks!

this means hooking up the machine below to the tanks, pushing a heap of buttons in a certain order and adding the many secret ingredients that make the wine taste so winey :) It takes a couple of hours per tank and when it's done everything has to be cleaned down with caustic, acid and water.

I am now known as the FLOT girl, and this is my baby...

Look out boys, these are my smoking hot work boots on day one... (thanks Mum!)

these are my not so smoking hot work boots and slightly manly looking legs on day four!!

My job today (as there were no tanks to flot) was to pump red wine into barrels (after pumping the water out of them, power washing them and turning them)

 

 which resulted in my now manly looking hands.... :/ .....

  Although getting covered in red wine (mostly because I accidently over filled a barrel and it came raining out the top.... ALL over me! I'm trying out a new 'red wine hair treatment'.... results to follow) I did enjoy this job today. It took me about 10 hours but found it quite relaxing :) 

Now all I have to do is get used to those long hours and wait for a day off to soak in a bath for about 3 hours!!

Rabbit Duty!

I have spent the past couple of weeks lazing in the sun, reading my book and feeling very relaxed!

It has been lovely! 

 Mum is away on a lovely holiday at the moment so Aunty Bernie and I are on rabbit watch!

Mel’s rabbit Spike it a cute ball of fluff is who is quite happy to snooze in his cage all day. However we occasionally let him out and he leaps and bounds around the backyard like he’s auditioning for the nut cracker!

He loves it! 

 

Today he was Houdini!

I let him out, sat down to read my book in the sunshine, all very nice, but after a little while realised I hadn’t seen him in a good 10 minutes.

The little bugger had burrowed his way under the fence and into the next door neighbours yard.

SO, after trying to shoo him back under the fence with a mop (after knocking on the next doors neighbours door and realising they weren’t home) he hid himself under their wheelbarrow and wasn’t about to move any time soon. (spot the rabbit.....!)

In perfect timing Eliza returned home from school and I decided to send her over there!! (she got the tall genes, so it only seemed fair she put them to good use!)

So she climbed over the fence, sat on the next door neighbours hot water system, I passed her a step ladder which unfortunately could’ve done with an extra step because it collapsed on her attempt to come down off the hot water system, leaving her dangling from the neighbours gutter before falling into their yard!

I, like the good sister I am, nearly wet myself laughing!

After some persuasion and promise of some fresh vegetables to munch on, Eliza caught Spike and handed him back . Then returned over the fence a little more gracefully!

Don’t worry Mel, he’s safe and sound and I’m working on filling in that hole he dug ;)

I guess the grass IS always greener! 

 

road trip!

 Dear kids, don't try this at home. 

After a massive night of drinks at Bryce's house (which involved many cloudy apple ciders and  tequila shots.... not a good mix!) I borrowed Mum's car and drove to Canberra. 

On 5 hours sleep, what should've been a 7 hour drive took me about 9 in the end. So thankful I had Mum's car with an air con that worked and tunes all the way.

 turns out I start to go a bit crazy on no sleep, many coffee's and mostly empty roads.... think I spoke to myself for about an hour! 

'Oh look Ron, there's another car!!'

 got stuck behind many utes with motorbikes...

 ...many utes with dogs...

 613 km's later.... I did it all again the next day! Crazy!

What is this strange thing they call 'Sun'?!

I can't believe that I've already been back on Aussie soil for a week! 

I arrived last Wednesday and got a little surprise at the airport (thanks Mel!) 

Clare was there with a sign and a balloon to pick me up which was so nice :) 

I then did the surprising, rocking up on Dads doorstep for his birthday! 

He was pretty much speechless and had to check he wasn't having a heart attack!! After lunch and dinner with Dad, Julie and Eliza, I made my way to Warragul to surprise Mum.

I don't think I've ever heard her scream so loud! She was definitely surprised!! 

Ive spent my time since recovering from my jetlag (which hasn't been too bad actually), hanging out with family and getting in some nice relaxy time.

Dad, Julie and I went to Frankston to check out some sand castles...

they took sand castle to a whole different level!

 Dad and I :)

they were so detailed...

 we liked the turtle best...

 On sunday we celebrated a late Christmas with Mum's side of the family... (seemed easier to do it in January when more of the family are available to come from near and far) 

We each had to make something we enjoyed cooking, so I helped Eliza make smiley meringues with blueberries and mango...

 and I made an orange cake...

 Beautiful Eliza...

 the day was very relaxed, we each bought a present for someone else and had to spin a wheel to choose which present we would receive

 It was great to see everyone after so long

 Yesterday I took Eliza and her friend Dylan to the beach for some much needed sunshine. 

It's so good to be back in my little car Henry :)

 I see the sea!!!

 The sun was out and it was a beautiful day!

Looking back...

Today I am off back to Australia.

Reflecting on my four and a half years in London fills me with mixed feelings. Mostly happy ones! 

 I have felt that I am leaving London because there is not much here for me any more. However after the weekend, my Mum would say, 'my heart is in a happy place'.

I have realised I have some of the most loving, caring group of friends here in London... and know that they will always be here if I do ever decide to come back. 

I spent the weekend keeping warm in my favorite watering holes and giving about a million hugs before I left. I have been given some lovely cards, books, photos and a very cosy blanket for the plane :) 

Feeling very lucky to have met such amazing people. 

SO.... looking back... all I really have to do is to go back to the start of my blog and remember arriving off the plane to two beautiful little girls holding a big sign saying WELCOME VERONICA, a tiny baby boy and a slightly nervous couple, and thinking "Oh my god. what am I doing?!?'

I owe Kerrie and Matt SO much. Without them I would surely be homeless and hungry (among other things!).
But even before I landed in London, I was given the push to get on the plane. My folks have always been so supportive of what ever I do... even when it means not having me around for a few years! Would never of had the confidence to make such a big move without them being fully behind me.

ANYWAY, enough of that sentimental jibba jabba!
The pack up was epic.....
I lived in chaos for about a week and a half... until Mel came to sort me out!
Bless her and her funny hair! 

 it got a lot worse before it got better....

 but we finally got my bag packed (thank you Dunker clan for the bag!)
Too bad about the rest of the room!

 it eventually got a lot better...

Until finally, I was all done, and had to say good bye :(

 BUT for months I have been wishing.... hoping.... that it would snow before I set off for the sunny valley, and on my last morning in the UK
BOOM
(well, not BOOM but it was very exciting!)
SNOW!

 Happy days!!

sunshine here I come!

Christmas in Brugge

 This might be the biggest post I've ever put on my blog but I have spent the past 4 days in Brugge and really just wanted to share all my photos! I took loads, but have stuck to about 30 I think. 

so.... bare with me for a sec ;) 

The photo above was my first impression of Brugge. It certainly didn't disappoint! The Christmas markets have always been on my list of things to do there so when Kate asked if I was interested in jetting out there for a few days I couldn't say no! 

In the centre of the of the main square was a beautiful (although quite wet) ice skating rink

 Shortly after arriving at our hostel and dumping our bags we took a walking tour. Brugge isn't that big so we were only strolling around the cobblestone streets for about an hour but it was just as I imagined... just like a fairytale ;)

 This is the Basilica which houses the Madonna and Child, sculpted by Michelangelo

 ...a slightly smaller square. Behind the Christmas tree in the middle is the Basilica of the Holy Blood which Kate and I visited the next day.

 The Belgians sure do their Chrissy decorations well...

 Christmas Day and lots of smiling faces!

 We did think it might snow but nope... it was freezing but we had bursts of sunshine which was lovely!

 We warmed up with some hot chocolate with bailies in...

 I wrote some postcards... which are on their way!!

 I was very lucky to wake up Christmas day to find Santa had visited us and bought me a nice new jumper :) (thanks kate!) and so after a horrible Christmas breakfast in the hostel we all sat down for a Christmas lunch which was delicious!! I ate a bacon salad for entree and Flemish style Rabbit for main... mmmmmmm it was SO good!

 After a few glasses of wine with lunch we strolled (stumbled!) over to the Magical Ice Kingdom and froze our butts off!!

 but it was so cool!

 Inside the magical ice kingdom was a bar... we warmed ourselves up with some Jaeger shots (which we all regretted the next morning!)

 The next morning we jumped on a bus (oh so hungover) and made our way to Brussels.

On our way we stopped at the Atomium which is a massive structure/building. It was very cool!

 We took a walking tour when we got to Brussels... 

the architecture in the main square was awesome. So many cool buildings

 Here is our group! 36 girls and 11 guys! Lucky guys!!

 We visited more markets... mmmmmm cheese!

 mmmmmm biscuits.....

 loads of doilies....

 and SO much beer!! we went to a pub that had over 400 beers!

 In the centre of the main square was a heap of scaffolding that in the day light, looked a bit funny, but at night time was lit up and changed colours.... it made a very unique Christmas tree!

 The buildings surrounding were also lit up and every half hour music was blast into the square to compliment an amazing lights show....

 We couldn't go to Belgium and not have waffles!!

 and more beer of course....

 Our final day in Brugge, Kate and I dragged our second hangover of the trip up to the top of the tower in the main square. We couldn't miss doing this because it features in one of my favorite movies 'In Bruges'

 366 stairs later....

 Boy was it worth it!!! The bells alone are incredible and we were lucky enough to hear them go off while we were up there! There are more than 40 bells!!

 The view from the top of the tower finished off an amazing Christmas in Brugge. Although it is always hard being away from my family, I had such an amazing time with Kate and with the new people I met.

Next year I'll pick somewhere a little warmer though I think!