A round of Catch Up

After several years off writing, I'm about to start a new blog. Before I do though, I think a quick round of Catch Up is in order.

After I finished my trip around the big island, I had a quiet few months in Tasmania. This time was spent preparing for an Australian basketball training camp in January and to leave for a year of ag college only a few days later...

My year at Marcus Oldham, studying for a diploma in Horse Business Management was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I had enrolled not knowing if I would even be able to complete enough of the course components to graduate with the full diploma. By the start of the school year I had been awarded a scholarship, which went a ways towards paying for my year. I cannot speak highly enough of my experiences at Marcus. We have regular classroom classes, but we also had many practical lessons, including breaking in horses, farriery, handling mares and foals and many, many other lessons. For me, it allowed me to be involved in a world I had found inaccessible since my accident. I was expected to participate in 'stable duties', which involved getting up before breakfast one of every three weeks, to make sure the stables were cleaned and kept in good order. While part of me found this difficult, I loved being 'back'.
 

Fariery classes

I had three work placements throughout the year. One of these was an office placement, learning about breeding matches,but the other two were on thoroughbred studs. Again, I was spending time mucking out boxes and cleaning water buckets, jobs that made me feel completely at home. I was also spending time with vets and seeing all sorts of other things, but I loved the manual labour component. The class also had two study tours throughout the year, one to the Hunter Valley and the other to New Zealand. They were both amazing.
All in all, I had a fantastic year. I was challenged. Marcus was challenged. I learnt so much it fills a shelf on my bookcase. And after their worries before I started, I graduated second in my class!

I came home from Marcus in December 2013. This turned out to be a HUGE month for me! Throughout the year I had been looking at several different properties around home. There was one that came up near my parents and my offer for it was accepted the day I made it! So I had 232 acres and a 3 bedroom house to my name. At the same time, I got a position assisting with the running of the 2014 Devonport cup, so for a month, I was travelling to Devonport every week day. And while all this was going on, there was one final big change going on. His name is Tim. Over the next few months we were busy getting things sorted on the farm and with Tim moving in with me at Mums. By the middle of the year we were flat out renovating the house, ready to move in, as Mum and Dad headed over seas for 6 weeks and we took over the running of their new business and care of my youngest brother. They were back just in time for our engagement party/housewarming, where we hosted 150 people at our house for a spit roast!

The new farm!

A few months later half of them were back for Christmas lunch, only 9 days before we got married. I had wanted a summer wedding, since I feel the cold badly. Well, at 36 degrees, we got the hottest day of the summer! We had an amazing day and apart from the heat, it all went off without a hitch!

The beautiful bridal party

Our family and friends

Over the past 12 months, I have been working part time as a disability support worker, filling in the rest of my time with helping out with the house and farm and making up for being such a lousy friend to so many people the past few years.
I have also been back playing basketball this year with the Kilsyth Cobras. They are an amazing group of girls and we had a great year, completing the season undefeated and coming home with the premiership! Can't do much better than that!

Go Cobras!

So now, it's almost time for the next adventure. Watch this space!

Melbourne - HOME!!!

I made it!! I apologise for my tardiness in this final post. If anyone was worried my boat sank (it didn't) or I had run off the road (I didn't) I'm sorry for making you fret. I somehow think that may just be me and my overinflated sense of importance though.
My final two days in Melbourne were spent on the couch feeling awful (Monday) and final organisation and goodbyes (Tuesday). Strangely enough, the most scary moment of my trip came about on Tuesday evening, lined up on the pier, waiting to board. I had about an hours wait between security and getting out of my car and I was terrified!! I have been on the boat before- this trip made crossing number five, but this was the first time I had done it a) solo, b) on wheels and c) as the driver. Those things combined, made it a really scary experience. I hadn't even thought it might be an issue until I got there and my heart was racing and I could me myself wanting to be anywhere but on that pier... I had been looking forward to it- it wasn't meant to be scary!

I eventually settled down and was guided into a prime parking spot beside the lift. The staff were very helpful and got me out a ramp to get into the lift.
While I was waiting to board, I had noticed a couple of horse trucks also waiting. Being the sticky beak I am, I had a look to see if I knew anyone. As it happened, I did, so I sent Jo, an ex-jockey from Tassie, a text and we met up on board. One of the horses she was carting had a few nerves too and had had to be reloaded on the pier.Good to see I wasn't the only one feeling a bit anxious...
After my shakey start, the boat trip actually went pretty smoothly. The only one hic-cup I had was when I went to leave the boat. When I had got on, the staff had all been very helpful directing me and helping me up the steps. When I went to leave however, there was no one to be seen! Good thing I can get down steps by myself, or I think I would have been heading back to the reception desk.
It has become a bit of a family tradition with us to stop off at Uncle Graeme's (Mum's youngest brother) when we get off the boat in Devonport, so I had a family breakfast with them before the final leg of my journey. It is amazing how travel can make you appreciate the beauty of your own back yard. I found myself taking in the countryside in a whole new light.

Since arriving home, there have been several things have noticed about Tasmania. For instance, I had never really appreciated Tasmania's sped limits. Our three major highways are all 110km/h. Mostly just two lanes, with the occasional overtaking lane, and no lane divider up the centre. Yet we have very few head on collisions. Maybe its because we have less traffic. Speaking of traffic, in Launceston, peak hour last 15 minutes and two blocks!!! These are wonderful little treasures we tend to underestimate when we experience them everyday. At this point, I would like you to look up Hometown, by Carrie Underwood. It always reminds me just how lucky I am to belong to such an amazing small town community.

Not long after I arrived home, I lost a good friend. I had been going to visit him and his wife on the way back from the boat and had put it off because I was tired. I missed my chance. If you take nothing else from this post, take this. Don't put off spending time with your loved ones because you never know when they may be taken away from you, when it will be too late. I discovered Zac Brown Band while I was away and their song Who Knows was one I listened to a lot over those first few weeks.

The last two months since I arrived home have seen some exciting things happen. After my scholarship application experience in Birdsville, I was much more organised with I got to the next lot. I was very excited to get interviews for all three of the scholarships I applied for, which I will be attending later this week, so wish me luck!

I have also been riding in a western saddle after Kristy (in Tawoomba) got me thinking. I went for a ride up the bush with Ellie, Keygan and Hayden a few weeks ago. Everything was going great until we were riding through the lake and  Ellie tried to splash me with her horse, right when I went to trot out of the water. Shamrock, my horse has a very sensitive go button, so when he thought we were racing, he went to take off!! Fortunately Ellie worked out what was going on pretty quick and jumped off her horse (still in the lake) to grab me so I wouldn't fall off. By this stage I had stopped Shamrock, but I still needed her to hold him while I pulled myself back up on top from down his shoulder. All in all it was an exhilarating ride and we all made it home in one piece. Since then I have borrowed a barrel racing saddle, with a much deeper seat, from a friend and I have found that even better. I was even able to canter Shamrock around the paddock at home, something I haven't been able to do since my accident. The first time he cantered I was pulling him back to a walk straight away, then I realised that I hadn't moved or slipped in the saddle like I usually do! So I am now in the process of buying a new saddle, which is very exciting! I haven't got a horse to go under it yet though. So if anyone knows of a quiet, sound, cheap horse that might suit me, please let me know!!

I would like to thank everyone who voted for and shared the documentary Owen Elliot made about me. We didn't win, but it was one of a select few showed on the silver screen at Fox Studios at the presentations, and was very well received. It is also part of Focus On Ability Film Festival airing on Aurora (Foxtel 183) at 7pm tonight (2/12/12). Personally, looking at the videos that did win various categories I think the judges may have been looking for subjects with intellectual disabilities. I don't know if I'm allowed to say that, if its politically correct, but that was how it appeared to me.

I have one final song to leave you with, Scotty McCreery's Dirty Dishes. Great song about seeing the good in the bad. 

My one other piece of news if my mare foaled and we have now a gorgeous little filly, Missy. She is doing very well, though still deciding if she wants to be a racehorse or a bronc! She s very friendly though!

Well, I guess that's it for me for now. Thank you all for your support and encouragement over this journey. It was so good to know I had friends behind me all the way. This adventure may be over, but its only one chapter in a pretty kick arse book.

Just imagine the places these boots won't walk..

Distance travelled: 90km
Time travelled: 1 hour

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 12, 480km!!!!     (plus another 2000 or so to Birdsville)

Melbourne (Sunday)

Well to be honest, this morning wasn't very productive. I slept in, and laid around on the couch. This afternoon, I went and met Ellie in the city. I thought she was catching the train into Flinders Street, but her train only went to Station street. Then they kicked her off the train onto a bus anyway. So she ended up catching a train to meet me anyway.
We had an hour so before we had to go to the airport, so I took her round to the Lindt Cafe. We got a mix off the menu to share, but of course we couldn't finish it, could we. If you haven't been, (or even if you have) I highly recomend it- Collins Street.
After I dropped Ellie off, I headed to Leanne's (otherwise know as Dori). Dori is one of my teammates from the Dandenong Rangers, and she was also part of the Gliders team who won silver in London.

Charlie dog

We have spent the evening catching up. She's made me feel suitably silly about burning my feet again. And I've had lots of cuddles from Charlie, her dog. Now watching Mrs Browns Boys for a giggle before bed...

Melboure (Saturday)

I was amazed last night, just how good it felt to be in Melbourne. I was so sick of Melbourne when I left, so happy to get away from the city, but driving into the city yesterday, it almost felt like home. It was so good to drive familiar roads, to not have to be constantly checking the map to see where I have to go. And I suddenly had a new appreciation for how pretty the city is at night..
Today Des and I went to Caulfield to the races. I though we had decided to go to Pakenham, so I was a bit confused when he started driving off into the suburbs. At least I had put on a nice top, or i would have been a bit under dressed. I had a great day, catching up with people I hadn't seen for a few months.
I did a talk last year to the first year apprentice jockeys about being an elite athlete, and looking after your body. One of the kids I spoke to then, Jake, was riding yesterday. It was good to know that he remembered me and my talk, and that I had made some kind of impact. Jake's a great kid. The first time I met him, I thought he was carrying his dad's gear- he only looks like he is twelve... I had to google him before I believed Des he was a rider!
Walter McShane is a trainer from Tassie who has had a couple of runners in Melbourne over the last few months. He had a runner in yesterday again, so it was good to see him again.
After the last race, Des introduced me to another couple of people on the way out, one of which was Peter The Trainer. After we left the races, I found out Peter The Trainer, was Peter Moody!! Blasted Des!! I had only been thinking half an our before that of all the people Des has introduced me too, Peter Moody wasn't one of them. Then when I did, I completely missed the opportunity to pick his brain!! Devastated!
Des introduced me to another trainer earlier in the day with the line, 'between him and Bart Cummings, they have won thirteen Melbourne Cups. (For those of you who missed that, Bart Cummings has won thirteen Melbourne Cups by himself). I did pick up on that one..
After the races we went to see friend of Des's, then we went and met up with Walter and some of his family at Zagame's, which was really good.
Again, I was impressed with how pretty the city is.....
Well, that's it for me today...

Bendigo- Melbourne

I had a great night catching up with Ellie and Adam, and even managed an almost early night. It was a bit miserable this morning, trying to rain. We packed up, since they were changing carvan parks, and headed down the road to their new 'home'. After a while I had to leave, so I said goodbye and hit the road again.
The road between Bendigo and Melbourne must have hundreds of thousands of dollars of fencing along the road. The idea is to stop the wildlife getting on the road, and in the way of traffic, saving lives and money, but it seems a bit extreme to me. I guess they do have much bigger roos to worry about here though. And apparently much more intelligent wildlife. They have signs everywhere saying 'help for wildlife call....' our roos down home can't read, much less use a phone!
I drove past Hanging Rock on the way down, as in Picnic At Hanging Rock. It does look rather impressive driving past! I didn't get any photos though, since I was almost past by the time I realised what it was.
Once I got back to Melbourne, I headed straight to Talbot, the rehab center, to go see Louise (Lauren's sister). She is in the rocess of trying to order her own wheelchair, so I went to see her so se could try my chair, and to have a chat about the options. She looked really good in my chair-tall and stable. And I felt very disabled in the truck of a chair she's currently using!
After catching up with Louise, I headed to one of my favourite cafes in Middle Park (St Kilda) to meet up with Ella. We got there just as Hot Honey was closing, so we grabbed a piece of their amazing raspberry and ricotta cake, and went down to the Victorian Wine center, which is also a great place to eat (and drink I guess).
Then it was time to head to Des's, where I'm staying for the next couple of days. We've been watching the swans slaughter the pies...
Time for bed before I pass out on the sofa...

Driving into Melbourne

Cavendish- Bendigo

Well I slept well-I didn't even hear the girls get up this morning! That may have had something to do with my early night becoming midnight. Pat got home about nine and the four of us sat up talking. As a result, it was after eight before I woke up today and Lauren and Pat had already left for work.
Once I left Lauren's, I headed north east towards Bendigo. I stopped off at Ararat to go look at the jail, but I had missed the our, and didn't have an hour to wait for the next one, so I grabbed some lunch and hit the road again.

Ararat Goal

 The country is very pretty out here, not very different to Sheffield. I passed acres and acres of canola crops- yellow as far as the eye could see. There were lots of lakes and waterways everywhere, with wet lands full of birds. I also drove through the Pyrenees Ranges.

Canola and the mountains

 The speed limit here is driving me mad! I'm having to be really careful not to speed. A week ago, I was able to drive 130km/h, so 100km/h feels really slow... The trucks suddenly seem really small down here too. I was driving past trucks with 3 or 4 trailers- none of these are bigger than two. I keep expecting them to keep going and they just stop!
I think the cats on the fence Sunday may have been foxes. The fence I saw today definitely had foxes on it. I haven't been able to confirm or reject my ideas as to why they were there yet though.

Foxes

I also found another novelty mailbox too...

Mailbox

I got to Bendigo a bit after lunch time. I have been back a couple of times since we came through in 2006, so I remember it pretty well. My favourite thing here then, was the dragon museum, which was really interesting. It freaked Ellie out a bit though...
We spent the afternoon talking and catching up, then Adam cooked us tea.
I'm going to give this 'early night' thing another go now...

Distance travelled: 300km
Time driving: 3.5hours
Total distance travelled: 12,000km

Hamilton-Cavendish

I tell you what I struggled getting out of bed today! We packed up and made it just in time for the start. I had made plans yesterday to stay with a friend tonight just north of Hamilton, so I could go to the burlesque show that was on tonight. Except when I went to book my ticket this morning, I realized the show is actually wednesday the 17th. Of October! Whoops! Guess I'm getting an early (ish) night.
This mornings program was pretty god. I missed Annes presentation this morning, after it started twenty minutes early- I have no idea why!
One of the ladies noticed I was freezing yesterday, so she found me a blanket. She brought it out again for me this morning.
Annes second presentation finished at 2.15 and Mum and her rushed off to catch their plane. I went back for the last few sessions, but I was so tired that I hardly tok any of it in. I had to have a sleep before I drove out to Lauren and Pats!
I met Lauren a few months ago after her sister Louise broke her back. Des put me in contact with her and I have been trying to help her whenever I can, through my own experiences.
After my nap, I headed north to Cavendish, where they live. Lauren has two gorgeous little girls, but they had had a bit of a long day, so they went to bed quite early. I answered the phone for Lauren while she was getting the girls ready for bed, and there was a tellymarketer on the other end. I told him I was the babysitter and they weren't home!
A little while later, the phone ranf again. Some guy was on the phone, asking for Pat. I told him he wasn't here and he asked if I was Pat's new wife. Something like that I said. Anyway, he asked to speak to Lauren. I asked who it was before I handed the phone over. Pat. I couldn't stop laughing! It was pretty funny....
Louise's husband Matt was working up this way today, so he is staying here tonight too. I haven't seen him for months, so it was a good chance to catch up, and to see how Louise is going before I go visit her this week. Lauren made roast lamb for tea- I hadn't realized how hungry I was! We all had a good chat about my trip. I think its good for Lauren and Matt. I'm an example of where Louise will be in a couple of years.
So much for the early night, but having a great time catching up witheveryone.