April 2010
17 posts
1 tag
Ich Spreche Ein Bischen Deutsch: Bananen
The banana flower opens and Lindsey celebrates by downloading new photo editing software.
Some Germans (I told you there were lots of Madeira!) stopped me today for a chat. And I spoke to them all in German! Hooray for me! I’ve still got it; no matter how much Michelle bags me for speaking keine Deutsch! They were such friendly folks and really supportive of my ums and ahs and general...
Where Where Where i-is the German?
There he is! In all his checkered pants glory; what a Wally.
Ned and I had the lovliest weekend! We were invited for dinner with Patricia and family who were staying at the farm for the night. Succulent pork (I forgot how much you need to love pork if you come to Europe! Although, we did get some beef yesterday for lunch but it was really chewy) with homemade mango chutney, beans, salad out...
Potato Juice - Good For Mum's Bowels and Other...
Had myself a little jaunt to the local village this morning. I needed to visit the farmácia. Thank goodness for Google Translate! Saved myself a potential Bridget Jones’ Diary: Edge of Reason “mit baby” scenario, that’s for sure. Not that I think I might be “mit baby” mind you, just some other girlie problem that I didn’t particularly want shouted all...
Merino Wool is the Duck's Nuts!
Saturday: Day six in the Merino Wool Challenge. Just like The All Bran Challenge, except it doesn’t involve any poo. Me and my merino have been on sweaty pit terms for an entire week and we’re still speaking! Actually, I’m cooing sweet nothings. With a mere airing out of an evening, my top has been on my back through the tough times of weeding thousands of thankless bananas and...
1 tag
Slowly Going Bananas, or, Keeping Bananas 101
Baa. That is all.
Bananas, bananas, bananas. Who has a sore back just looking at this photo? Oh, that would be me. At least we have the gush of the waterfall to soothe the spirit.
Everything on a farm is cyclical, yeah? So finally we are starting to see the fruits (I’m so punny today!) of our labour. After countless (literally. In portuguese I can only go up to five) days of weeding...
Anne Geddes Is On Crack
Day off; woot! And perfect timing for the greatest show on the island - the annual Festa da Flor.
The Flower Festival’s promotional poster. Wow, sure wish I worked in advertising on Madeira!
Nélio, Fajã dos Padres’ lift operator dropped us into Funchal bright and early, ready to get our flower on. In a non-figurative sense, there were pretty ladies with thier flowers already on;...
Willing Weeders on Organic Farm, aka Daytime...
To write this post, I’ve left Ned upstairs watching the Portuguese version of “So You Think You Can Dance”. It’s surprisingly entertaining.
Me and Lord chillin’ at lunchtime. I think I have a new friend because he came weeding with us this afternoon! Nelson said that when he started working here a year ago, Lord was twice the size he is now because all the workers...
1 tag
Workin' Hard for the Money
Or rather, the food and beers and free accommodation. Hot shower though, not counting on it. The hot water had just about run out yesterday by our turn, only enough warm to wash out the shampoo suds.
Today we got intimate with organic banana trees - weeding 30cm around the little darlin’s feet. No BAM! WEEDS AWAY! CHEMICAL FORMULA! here, we’re all organic remember! Ned, Celeste and...
1 tag
Willing Workers On Organic Farm
We just finished our first full day of WWOOFing. If you consider starting at 9, stopping for coffee and fresh bread at 10, an hour’s lunch break at 1, with food, coffee and gut-searing liquer provided then sitting in the shed everytime it rains, work!
There are three full timers who work in the fields of Faja dos Padres. None of them speak English. Ned and I figure we’re a good...
WatchI’ve cut together a little clip to try and give you all an idea of our first day on Faja dos Padres. This place is insane! The cliffs are so high and steep and once you’re at the bottom, there’s only a 200m or narrower strip of land until the ocean. Sorry the video is sideways/generally shit but I couldn’t wait to get any better footage up on the internets! There is...
"I Want Toast"; sung to the tune of M.C. Hammer's...
After a l-o-n-g journey (yes Mum, I know it’s about the journey and not the destination!) we finally made it to Lisbon. Unfortunately, our bags didn’t. I laughed at Ned when he stood in his knickers taking photos of his pack contents in Perth, but wasn’t feeling the funny at the thought of losing all my stuff with no evidence for insurance claims. Never fear, the bags were...
Sir Pack-a-lot and his Western Australian...
To sum up our time in Perth, “Lindsey, I am sensing some anxiety. Do you need a coffee?”
Perth; well. First things first, so many females in this town need to visit this site. I thought this unflattering and downright unfortunate “fashion” choice was bad in Tasmania, but then…I got to Perth. The rest of our time here has been lovely if not a tad in-limbo-ish....
Melbs
Charlotte and Ned Shrine of Remembrance-ing.
We’ve had a lovely couple of days in “Melbs”, as SJ would call it. Catching up with loads of people and drinking heaps of coffee - just the way I like it! Thanks to Stu and Bree, Jenny, Cassie and Adam, Mel and Dobbo, Megan and Kelly and our lovely hosts, Stephen, Jane and all the rest of the family for being so excited for us and...
Gold Member...ship
Hi all, Lindsey here, making the most of the free wifi in the Qantas Club lounge. Thank you Ned and your gold membership! Which brings me to:
Lindsey’s Guide to Airport Lounges
1. DO NOT have a shower at dickhead o’clock before catching the bus to the airport. Simply roll out of bed, brush your teeth on the train platform if concerned about breath-stench and shower once you get to...
