Hi guys, sorry it's been so long since my last blog entry. Suzie (one of the girls I met on the OutBackPackers course) and I have spent the last month working on a property about an hour's drive from Clermont, Queensland. So hot - it reached 40degrees quite a few times. Worked from 6.30am - 5.30pm six days a week. Was tough but amazing!! Got to go mustering on horseback quite a few days. The first day we went out on the horses we were out for over 9 hours and only got off the horses for an hour at lunch! [View Full Entry]

---

---

Quick post as only have a few minutes on the internet. Loving my first week working for Liz and Barry. We're on a 60,000 acre cattle station an hour away from Clermont, NW Queensland. No phone signal or internet (Liz is kindly letting us use her computer for a few minutes tonight!). Being eaten alive by mosquitos!! Other than that it's fab. Luckily we haven't had any storms here at all but have seen lots of lightning in the distance. Hope everyone in Brizzie is OK! Will get back in touch with everyone in a few weeks! [View Full Entry]

---

---

Finally got myself a job! It's in Clermont, Queensland on a cattle station which should be awesome. It's with one of the other girls I did the OutBackPackers course with - Suzie - so nice to be with someone I already know! We left Brisbane yesterday at 2.30pm and arrived in Mackay at 7.15am today - luckily we slept most of the way! Stuck here until 1.30pm then got another bus journey (only 6 hours this time!) to Clermont. I think we're going to be in the middle of nowhere to be honest! Job sounds good - the guy checked we [View Full Entry]

---

---

Not much to report this week. Still in Brisbane. Was persuaded to go out with some Irish guys on Wednesday night for "a few drinks".....MESSY!! Great fun though. Big night out tonight, think I may need a powermap first though. Still trying to sort out a job fingers crossed I should have one for next week. Went in to town today - really weird having the sun shining but the shopping centres were all decorated for Christmas! Went to Wagamamas for lunch - AMAZING! We were so excited when we found it. Apologies for the lack of photos - there are [View Full Entry]

---

---

Just arrived back in Brisbane - four of us have come back to the hostel we originally stayed at while we finalise jobs. Absolutely loved the OutBackPackers course. On Wednesday my group went out on the horses for a few hours and tried mustering cattle for the first time. It was so different to riding at home, but the horses were fab. In the afternoon we went quad biking...so much fun. We were back in the 400 and 100acre paddocks and were going around at 45km/h. On Thursday morning we were split in to two different groups. My group (5 of [View Full Entry]

---

---

Arrived at the training ranch yesterday - we are literally in the middle of nowhere! First job was to go to the nearest town and get kitted out with a hat, boots and work shirts (I'll try to upload the photos tonight!) We are staying in a 'hostel' around 15 minutes from the ranch. It's awesome - one big dorm room, a big social room and a dining area (which last night was full of insects as we ate our dinner...yummy!) Today we left at 6.30am to head to the ranch and it was already so hot outside. We split in [View Full Entry]

---

---

On Saturday we decided to all go to Steve Irwin's zoo. It was amazing!! First we went to the crocoseum, a 5000 seat stadium where we saw snakes, birds and a crocodile called Monty. We then split into two groups and started working our way round the various enclosure. The afternoon was particularly exciting...some of us had our photo taken hugging a koala bear...so cute! We also saw tigers swimming in a pool with their handlers and fed some elephants. Best bit of the day was probably hand feeding the kangaroos. They have a massive bit of land and just roam [View Full Entry]

---

---

Finally arrived at Brisbane Airport around 7am on Thursday morning but had to hang around there until 9.30am as one of the other flights was delayed. Once everyone arrived we got transfered to a hostel in the West End of Brisbane. There's 9 of us on the Outbackpackers course and everyone is fab! With 8 of us in one room we all got to know each other very quickly!! Desperate for a shower, we were told that we only had 10 minutes before we were to be taken into town to sort out our visa, medicare cards etc...GUTTED!! In the afternoon, [View Full Entry]

---

---

37 hours after leaving Kingswells...I'm finally almost in Oz! At the moment I'm in New Zealand at Auckland Airport waiting for my fourth and final flight. No dramas so far, although we had to sit on the plane for an hour and a half in Aberdeen while they de-iced the runway. Couldn't believe how much snow fell on Monday night. Was quite a contrast to the sunshine at LAX!! Lots of people missed their flights out of Heathrow but luckily I managed to get through check-in in time. Well I better head to the departure gate, boarding in 15 minutes. My [View Full Entry]

---

---

It's my last night in Aberdeen...still haven't started packing!!! Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to the house yesterday. I had a fab time - hope everyone else did too. Thanks for all the lovely cards and gifts as well. Will miss everyone heaps, but will try my best to stay in touch. Fingers crossed I'll be able to add lots of entries to my blog so you'll all be able to see what I'm up to. Thanks again, will miss everybody loads!! Alex xxx [View Full Entry]

---

---