For those amongst you, who believe that a long
journey as mine proves to be, leads from one highlight to another: let me
puncture that dream. On the other hand: who am I do to so, when realising that
I am all, except for the role model of the average tourist.
My exploration is rather a journey in
search of the values of the society in which I find myself. Visiting sites is
not really my thing as after all, in most cases, an image is presented to you,
which does not even radiate the real spirit of a country. Give me the real
world please
All I can say is that the real world
surprises me most of the time. Jo, my hostess, showed me around their beautiful
house and then enthroned me to her secret room: a room where all her
creativity comes to life. Walking into it, I spotted all kinds of different
fabrics, feathers, tulle and god knows what else. It soon dawns on me that Jo
has a very special hobby: in her spare times, she designs hats. I become
speechless (and that means something to those of you who know me) when she
shows me some of the work she has made. Why is someone which such a creative
mind, trapped in an office job? That is the question that springs to my mind.
Today, Jo is selling hats throughout the world, just have a look at her website
on www.etsy.com/lillianlovehats
. This lady fills me with awe.
Gosh, I do enjoy my stay here, even though
the weather is trying its very best to remind me of the Belgian summer: in
other words, it rains! Not that it makes much of a difference to me: with
exception of the sporting event of yesterday, all the rest happens indoors.
As reported, my first stop yesterday took
me to the local sport grounds, where the son of my hosts is a member of the Australian
Rules team. Even after a 3 months stay in Oz, I have to confess that I still
dont master the rules. Somehow, the intention is to get the elliptical ball
between the posts on the other side. Only 10 meters may be bridged
holding the ball in the hands after that it has to be passed on either kicking
or hitting it with the fist (no throwing allowed). Other than that, it seems
that everything is allowed above the belt. Last nights downpour had recreated
the field in a real quagmire, making the game resemble some artistic form of
water ballet at times but ultimately, the kids had great fun. The fact that
they lost the match brilliantly didnt even seem to make much of a difference.
Time for a quick lunch before making our
way to the coast. We were expected at a housewarming party, a social event with
the necessary drinks and the inevitable barbecue. I get the taste of this
country more and more and not only though the sausages! A long journey back
(very unlikely that we would have covered the distance to Brussels for such a meeting!) and time to go
to bed wondering whether I am in for another warm night last night the
temperature didnt even drop below 20 °C! And then to say that Jo had brought me
an extra blanket: having read that I had struggled with the cold nights in Australia, she
just wanted to assure that this wasnt going to be the case in Rockhampton. Not
a chance to feel cold here, not in a million years!
This morning we were expected at the
neighbours for a breakfast. Rain, rain, rain but the temperature remains high,
so we all sit on the terrace. It turns out to be a fascination meeting with
several neighbours, although I am soon to learn that this word has a slightly
different interpretation here: one couple lives some 300 km away. They prove to
be farmers, who used to grew watermelons but ever since that market collapsed,
they switched to growing cotton. Sitting at the breakfast table I learn that
they are spending a week in their town house before returning to the farm.
But even then, they dont live on the property: their home is in on the edge of
the settlement where as they have managers living on the premises. Ok, this is
something one doesnt learn in a tourist brochure!
Meanwhile, we are back home. It will be a
calm afternoon, enjoying a quiet Sunday. This morning Darcy, (the son of the
family) departed on a school trip to Sydney,
which is being described as economical education. The youngsters will be
visiting the stock market and Chinatown. I can
not even imagine that Flemish youngsters would be flying 1400 km for this purpose!
When will I come to understand that distance is measured in a different way
here???
A little bouncer Yesterday, I received an
e-mail, pointing my attention to a newspaper article on Varlet Farm, which had appeared
on a forum. I can not deny being unpleasantly surprised over the fact that a
journalist, who takes himself seriously, doesnt even seem to see the need to talk
to all parties involved. It wouldnt be difficult at all for me to rectify some
on the information provided in the article. Having said that: if people prefer
to gossip, who am I to deny that pleasure to them? Professionalism seems to be
word that doesnt mean to much to this journalist. It surely covers a wide area
(or perhaps not? ), doesnt it???
I have left rainy Brisbane behind me, on my way to my next
destination. For the umpteenth time, I find myself in an airport, a habitat
where I really feel at home. That teenage dream of mine, of becoming a
stewardess one day, wasnt all that crazy after all, since I feel at my very
best amid the busy squirming, that is to characteristic of an airport.
Oho, this will be something else: the
plane, waiting on the tarmac, looks like a relic from a distant past, almost
like an oversized coffee grinder.In
reality, this is the Aussie equivalent of a bus. Given the fact that the
distances here are that much greater, it was a matter of searching the right
way of transport which means coffee grinders for short distances!
Yesterday, I have been able to experience
what loyalty means in the mind of a dog. Since my hostess had to catch an early
flight, I had been asked whether I would be willing to take care of little Ted,
meaning that I had to take him on his daily walk at 7 am in the morning. No
major problem to me, since this walking woollen ball has decided to consider me
as part of the family after my stay of 8 days. Full of enthusiasm, I get out of
bed at 6.45 am convinced as I am that someone is waiting for me.The magic word walking didnt go past
unnoticed: Ted started to dance wildly, ready to get rid of his energy (and a
full bladder) in the coming hour. To play on safe, I put him on a leash, one of
those flexible things, which gives him the freedom to explore the world in a
range of 10 meters.
The distance between the house and the woodland was being covered with the
necessary amount of pee stops, before we retreat in the tranquillity of the
green, far away from civilization. So far for the planning of the trip or
should I say MY planning. Once Ted had gone for a number two, he had his mind
set on returning home to check whether his mom hadnt returned yet. Well, no
matter how stubborn a little poodle can prove to be, I for one, had not got out
of bed for a walk of barely a 100 meters. Right now, I only wish that I had
put his little face on film!Bad luck
for him as he clearly hadnt realised that Belgian stubbornness outperforms him
with a couple of sizes! I simply lifted the little one and turned him a 180 °C, saying This is the
way we will go! Was it my voice or the fact he had been turned around??? Fact
is that his logic soon made him realise who was on the winning side. For the
past few days, I have often been walking in this forest although I was always
being led by my hostess where as now I had to find my own way in this maze of
paths and roads With a very reluctant little dog, staying 2 meters behind me, I hit
the road. After a few miles, Ted started to like it : he came just next to me
with a wagging tale, making clear that this was good fun. The last couple of
miles, Ted actually took over the lead, guiding me home, proving his sense of
direction might just be that little bit better than mine!Where as we had set of on this walk in a
atmosphere of mistrust (at least from his side!), we returned as sworn
comrades. A lesson to be learned: put trust in your partner, give him/her time
and space to prove that they know what they are doing and believe that the
intentions to do the right thing are pure as they can be!
For the rest of the day, I keep myself
occupied, answering e-mails. When I sent the message to all my guests,
informing them of the fact that I was leaving Varlet Farm, I had never
suspected what a storm of reactions that would cause. In a few weeks time, I
received over 400 e-mails months later, I am still trying to catch up with
everyone.
The morning walk must have suited Ted very
well: at 4 oclock, he approaches me, almost begging for another walk. At that
time the rain is coming down heavier than I have ever seen before let it be
clear that not all the rainwater is being splashed over Belgium!
Had someone ever told me that, one day, I
would be walking a dog in a downpour, somewhere in a wood in Brisbane I know what I would have said at
the time!
Never say never that is what I stick to
from now on A very wet poodle (who has no objection) and as far as I am
concerned, ditto feet, that is what I remember of this walk, just as as well as
the feeling that everything is possible, on the condition that you are willing
to put in an effort to meet the challenge.
High and dry, above the clouds, that is
where I am now. Bad luck forme, since
the plane is barely half full, there isno one in the seat next to me. Not to worry, in a good half an hours
time, I will get to Rockhampton, my destination for today. I will keep you
posted!
Half a day later The reunion with John and
Jo (after 10 years!) was more than cordial. This country has something to offer
to it s visitors: a hospitality which is so sincere that it is rare to be
found in these hectic times, we all live in. Leaving Australia
behind next week, I am wondering whether New Zealand will be able to surpass
this warm and hospitable feeling
The day was rounded of with a fundraising
meal for the club of lifeguards (it made John smile, asking if they were the
equivalent of Bay Watch). In reality this club does a lot more; it organises
events for children, it makes them aware of the dangers of the ocean, it trains
youngsters to be fit and encourages them to take up some responsibility. The
meal proved to be excellent, as was the company. In other words : an evening
not to be forgotten.
This very moment, I am sitting on the patio
(8.30 am), enjoying the view over Rockhampton (approximately 70000
inhabitants). Cloudy skies but that can not be a worry: the temperatures are
close to 20 °C!
And that is what they call winter over here!
Time to shoot off as I am invited to attend
a match of Australian Rules. Since the son of my hosts is an avid player, I
will get an opportunity to see from close by what this sport means. The huge
hole in my culture, when it comes to sports, will thus end up being a little
bit smaller
This has got to be the first Flemish
holiday, I am celebrating a long way from home. In all honesty, if it werent
for the fact that there was a reference to it on facebook, I wouldnt even have
known. Somehow it amazes me that, barely half a year after I left the country,
I have lost the bond with the homeland. I dont feel the desire to remain
informed on Belgian politics ( when it comes to politics, it seems to be very
much alike in every country) and whilst I do enjoy, receiving news from the area I used to live, I am not
really eager to learn about what is going on in daily life over there. In all
fairness, I do enjoy to receive reactions to my blog from anywhere in the world
No doubt about it that this is the quietest
week I have enjoyed in the last 5 months. Holidays, written out in capital
letters! Relaxing all the way! I had been warned that it would take me several
weeks to kick off of the hectic life I used to live. I can only agree with that
statement. Fact is that I have been living without doing any hard physical work
for months now (doing dishes does not meet that description). In the early
stages of my trip, my hands were often tickled to be active, it almost felt as
if I was suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The hardest part however, was to
adjust mentally to the changed situation. Only since this week, do I feel that
my mind is truly free. I can now enjoy doing nothing without hearing that
little devils voice in my head addressing to me reproachfully I am now
sufficiently hardened to make all choices, no longer feeling guilty by the
reaction of the outside world. Sorry folks, I am definitely past that stage
now.
The calm before the storm, that is how I
would describe this week. Although, a flight to Rockhampton on Friday, can not
be described as a storm. It will get a lot busier for me when flying to Auckland, New
Zealand, next week Friday as I do have a
wonderful busy program awaiting me there and that sure is something I look
forward to. Twiddling my thumbs is nothing for me really.
How many times have I been told that
travelling broadens the view? Having been a layman in this field for all of my
life, I guess I can now claim that I have earned my spurs. Earlier tonight, the
first line of a poem by Shakespeare, came to my mind
This above all:
to thine own self be true
This will be my motto from now on. I finally
found my balance; it feels as if I have been reborn in this earthly life. Yesterday,
one of my contacts mentioned that Edith Piafs song Non, je ne regrette rien
was his motto. Ill stick to that one as well from now on!
Phew, a blog without travel impressions
this time. Rather one with impressions of the soul and believe me when saying
these feelings are anchored in my heart.
