Bringing in Some Christmas Spirit!

Brellowgirl
Dec 6, 2015
4 min read

12.5.15

It’s already been a week here in Longbush. Today we set up some teepees for the snap peas in the garden so they have something to cling onto. We took Alex around the gardens to show her the progress of the week and to figure out what’s going to be needed for next week. Anna made her decision on which yoga program she wants to do and put down a deposit so that she can’t change her mind. Jamie is definitely going to Fox Glacier like she’s been wanting to. I’m the only one without much of an update.

Martyn had to pick up some groceries so we all tagged along with him to go to the supermarket. The closest one is about 30 minutes away! I bought the essentials-toothpaste (found an organic, non-animal tested, paraben and fluoride free toothpaste with baking soda for whitening for cheaaaap) and a chocolate bar. I figured that Christmas is coming up and I’m not expecting to get any presents this year so I bought myself a chocolate bar to comfort myself =P

I did some flower harvesting out in the garden to make a small arrangement for Alex. The sweet peas smell like heaven and I found some nigella, lavender and other accents.

Last night Martyn was in charge of dinner and we had some chicken wings that he made. They were superb. I didn’t get to tell you guys but my rhubarb tiramisu came out well and everybody really liked it. We’ve been spoiled having dessert after almost every meal. I thought I was going to lose weight here working on the farm but I don’t think that’s been the case… We played a few hours of a card game Anna taught us before going to bed.

I’ve been seeing everybody’s holiday pictures. Lots of Christmas trees, wreaths, tinsel and cheer. I’m not seeing that around here. I mean, I know we’re on a farm a bit remote from other places but l thought that people would have lights in their windows and trees up. Christmas is less than 20 days away and there’s no tree up here! I asked Alex and Paul about it and the workawayers are now tasked with putting up the tree this week =]]]] Can’t wait to bring some Christmas to Longbush!

12.6.15

9:20am

I haven’t visited the cows recently and I’m thinking that I’d like to do that today. We had a yummy dinner last night with all 6 of us. Alex made a pasta dish with broad beans that we picked from the garden and I made some kabocha tempura with a really delicious pumpkin that was grown here last year. Jamie made some double chocolate brownies with chocolate icing that we ate with hokey pokey ice cream (a typical New Zealand flavor of honey combs). Life on the farm is simple but rewarding. We’ve been harvesting and eating veggies from the farm all week. Asparagus grows like crazy when you water it, there are 3 different types of lettuce growing abundantly, the fattest bok choy, neon silver beets, broccoli, broad beans and soon to be gooseberries, raspberries, wild potatoes, corn, cauliflower, french beans, sugar snap peas, zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes. Plus of course all the herbs, fruit trees and the giant hazelnut tree. Looooove it!

7:49pm

It was drizzling out most of the day so we decided to do some house cleaning while the adults went to town. Anna and I washed the windows in the house and I learned that if you dry windows with newspaper it leaves your windows streak free! Super weird but I did it and it does work. We vacuumed and mopped and hung out our laundry (which still hasn’t dried and I have no clothes to wear). The house looked great. I got tasked with putting up the tree near the fireplace while Jamie made dinner for us. Anna helped Alex out in the garden with some new plants she bought yesterday in town. The tree looks AWESOME. So excited that there’s now some Christmas in the house =]] Jamie made a Thai green curry and I prepped a big salad with Con’s signature dressing. Jamie is a baking goddess and also made a sticky toffee pudding for dessert. I’m eating it as I write and it’s DELICIOUSSSS. It’s bringing me back to my days in England<333

I’m getting excited for Australia as I officially only have 3 more full days in this beautiful country. Oh New Zealand. THREE DAYS?!?!?! Where’d time go? I’ll be in south Australia first, in between Melbourne and Adelaide working on a flower farm with all kinds of crazy wildlife. Really excited but at the same time scared but all in all looking very forward to my next adventure. Totally not ready to say goodbye to this amazing family and my new girlfriends here though. It’s going to be a very sad departure.

Catch up with you soon!

Much love,

Cas