The Face that launched a thousand footballs

My Dad is a man dedicated to all things football.

Personally, I can't stand the sport.

Cowboy - well.... somehow.... is also a man dedicated to all things football.

League and Union variety here.

I hate it with a passion, Cowboy plays it, Cowboy watches it - and it is ALL my Father and him talk about - even in the off-season.

Kill me now.

But, today an opportunity came around from the NRL (National Rugby League)  that could make me view the sport a little more favourably.

They are looking for a farmer to appear on their commercials for 2010.

They asked my Dad for his recommendations.

He put forward the Cowboy.

So today, in the crazy 40 degree heat, Cowboy put on his best Cowboy get- up, hat and all and headed over to my Dad's to do his screen test and audition courtesy of Skype.

Very Jetsons.

He looks so nervous and innocent here... I was nervous for him!! He did a great job!

Two other farmers from town came around and nervously waited in the loungeroom for their turn to sit in front of the webcam, introduce themselves and  spout the lines "Have your Faith tested"

One by one they went in and said their lines.

It reminded me of that Seinfeld episode when Kramer had a line in a Woody Allen film "These pretzels are making me thirsty" hahahaha - we mucked around with all sorts of variations of delivering this line.

I waited in the loungeroom as Cowboy delivered his first audition.

I say first because I'm convinced there is some James Dean in there and this will be the start of his new career.

When it was all over, I cheekily stuck my head in and asked "Does the farmer have to be a guy?"

"Well, no" they said diplomatically and then invited me to audition.

Oh shit!

 I hadn't even brushed my hair today !

Well that didn't matter because Cowboy plonked his Cowboy hat on me!! (laugh it up, yeah go on laugh it up!)

 I adjusted the webcam....


and next thing I too was auditioning for the NRL advertisement!

I would DIE if my anti-football head was to be associated with the NRL but oh it would be a laugh.

Talk about never a dull moment!

I am pretty confident I not only looked like but sounded like a complete goose!

We all laughed afterwards and we can definitely tick this one off the life list.

Who says you can't have exciting opportunities in a OHT?

 Cowboy and I felt very happy about our audition today.

I hope that Cowboy gets the gig.

If his acting career takes off maybe we will move from the One Horse Town to Tinsel Town.......

Cowboy's Photos

Did I tell you that this One Horse town is literally the Earth's flattest part?

The Earth is so flat the walls are jealous

(sorry talking about flat made me remember when I was pre-pubescent my cruel brother once said to me I was so flat the walls were jealous, it never left me--)

I would hazard a guess it is also the Earth's hottest part.

Geeeeez it was hot yesterday - I actually wrote a letter to Winter (in my facebook status update anyway) pleading for it to make a guest return... and, oddly, it is cool today.

Since some people loved the Wedge Tailed Eagle pics last time here is another. Cowboy risking limb and nose to capture it for me.

Some other Aussie outbacky scenes from out and about where Cowboy works.

A far cry from my days of living smack bang in the middle of Sydney's Oxford Street.

I am building a website at the moment.

I lie - my talented friend is - I am thinking of having a "Cowboy's Picture" segment.

What do you think? Do you like them?

in between emails

awake at an ungodly

something in the sixes

try and prolong baby in bed with me

but he nearly crawls off the end

and I know I am only prolonging the inevitable

time to rise

and face a 40 degree plus day

well at least I am not mustering sheep

Cowboy is running late

has no time for brekkie

we wave at him and the dogs

before our morning ritual

inclusive of me trying to check emails in between

spoonfuls of weetbix

of singing incy wincy spider too loudly

and getting odd looks from neighbour when I take an item off the clothesline

that I use like a wardrobe

on a need to wear basis

I do the hokey pokey and I turn around

and then we hit the street

pay some bills

small talk about the heat

cringe at the local radio station in the car

and back to it....

blogging in between nappy changes

singing in between emails

mashing up pumpkin

in between air-conditioned rooms

writing down ideas

as they scurry into my head

begrudge the heat

then feel guilty because despite working in it all day

Cowboy is going running tonight

and I have decided I can't

that I won't

Instead I am going to scoff a packet of Retro Party Mix lollies

in between emails

Cafe Dreams

This morning was like each Saturday.

Cowboy cooked up a breakfast delight.

I reminded myself of the good one I snagged before I devoured the bacon and eggs with luuurvely coffee.

(and give some to Monte who is like a seagull these days which, incidentally is proving helpful for portion control )

Having a great brekky and nice coffee is mandatory at least once a week.

In the OHT* there are only 3 cafes - they aren't great - but we frequent them for something to do.

But, when it comes down to it, Cowboy's brekkies have it all over them.

We have often thought it would be great to own a cafe - not in the OHT but somewhere pretty.

Somewhere with more horses** and less dust.

With more rain and more sourdough bread.

Cowboy raves about the Blue Pumpkin which is a bakery/cafe we went to a couple of times in Siem Reap - Cambodia.

Aside from its scrumptious food we really enjoyed the upstairs part which was filled with massive bed like lounges (see pic)

You could sprawl out with your shoes off, people watch in comfort and eat delights from the sumptuous menu.

You could even plug your laptop in and laze the day away blogging, drinking coffee...

We could have spent all day there.

We have always said that we would love to start a cafe similar to this.

It is in the 'maybe one day' category, not the must-do list.

We would have someone called Sonia working there for us.

I'll explain.

One of the ways I like to attract things in to my life is by talking in specific detail of how I would obtain them.

If nothing else it is fun.

The dream cafe we have spoken of is in a lovely coastal town.

A town filled with interesting creative people, great scenery, shops and festivals and farmers markets.

Small enough town for the Cowboy to be happy, but close enough to a larger centre to satisfy my whims.

After much detail about how we would like our life and cafe to be, we arrived at the decision our cafe would be run by a fantastic lady named.... Sonia.

Why not?

It stuck.

Sonia.

We realise the reality of running a cafe is more hard work then a social occassion.

Baking, cleaning, waiting, wiping, cooking, chopping -

Nup

This is where Sonia would come in.

She would do all the cooking and cleaning.

The customers really respond to her - and she manages the cafe like a dream.

She's a real personality - and so efficient.

We would just be the fun duo that would pop in from time to time to charm the customers and arrange the furniture.

Sonia would double as our nanny.

And our personal chef.

Did I mention our holiday home?

It would be just up the road from the cafe, and I would be working there, as a writer.

Cowboy would be a carpenter (but still a Cowboy - we own a farm in the Southern Highlands- we are on a working holiday) Cowboy likes to knock around in his workshop and build things in between taking dips in the ocean.

Sonia would duck over a couple of times a day to bring us lattes.

She makes a fine one.

Nothing is too much trouble for her.

Oooops when we came up with this dream sequence we didn't really factor little Monte in ....

Well its holidays so ... he'd be at playgroup???

haha

the cafe dream

it is a half - arsed one

the town and the farm minus the cafe would still be great to me

I don't know if we ever truly want to own a cafe

its out to the universe now

if we ever meet an eager to please us freak of nature named Sonia, we'll take it as a sign.

Images from here

* One Horse Town (if you have not read here before)

** I am not a horse person

No, no you can read it when I'm 55

The One Horse town is about to celebrate its 150th birthday. Events lined up ahoy.

One of the special things that is happening is the loading of a time capsule that will be opened in 25 years.

Cowboy and I are writing a letter to Monte.

I was going to post it on here but thought, no - that is just crossing the line.

It is for Monte's eyes, and Monte's 25 year old eyes only.

It was a little trippy writing it.

It made me start thinking about scary things like 'what if I am not around anymore when he reads this?"

Then I factored this in to what I wrote and soon I was thinking about my own mortality - which no-one likes to do.

It also made me ponder possibility that Cowboy and I might not be together then.

I know - not a possibility. I feel sick writing those words.

But this exercise certainly raises a few of those possibilities that we don't like to entertain.

I tried to cover these things off by letting him know how much I love life and how much I love his Dad just in case one or both are not around in 25 years.

It is strange to write a letter to someone who although I know and love dearly - I have not engaged in conversation with yet.

At 10 months of age I don't know much about who Monte is - aside an adorably cheeky little chook who inspires me to do crazy dance moves and sing all day.

It was a little hard to drop that present reality and write to him woman to man.

haha - that feels funny to write.

Monte - a man???

Imagining your 10 month old baby boy grown up is bizarre

So I wrote to him about what I hope for him in his life and what I love about him now.

I wrote about how he had changed my life for the better and helped me to find myself.

Actually maybe I should include my Lost and Found poem. What do you think?

I hope he gets it in 25 years and that we'll all be around to laugh about it and reminisce the last 25 years. Laugh at what I wrote today and how daggy it might sound in 25 years time.

I hope the 25 years between now and then will be filled with so much to laugh about, smile about and love about.

I know they will be.

Who would you write to if you had the chance?

What would you include in a time capsule to be opened in 25 years time?

What sort of things would it make you consider?

The Cowboy (he may kill me)

This is my Cowboy - and these are some of his pictures.

He works out in the heat and the dust and though he is a cowboy, he works with sheep.

I don't get it. Anyway.

Yes he is gorgeous.

Yes he is good to me.

Yes he climbed up to a nest with Wedge tailed Eagles in them so he could show me the pic.

Yes sometimes he works in Armageddon-like conditions.

Yes he comes home dusty.

Some days resembling a negative.

Sometimes even the whites of his eyes aren't white.

I never thought I would end up with a Cowboy.

Let alone one that works with sheep.

I had always imagined I would be with a city slicker.

I am so glad that things don't always pan out how you imagine.

I have snagged myself a great one.

Since I have known him my life as I knew it has been turned on its head and I haven't looked back.

He is a great Dad, great de-facto (haha) , great cook and is very supportive of my every whim.

What more could a girl want I ask?

He will be so embarrassed that I wrote this.

Just another thing I love about him.

God, we are opposites.

Permission to be Cranky (expires midnight)

I have been trying to write a blog post on and off today but it is not happening.

Not going to force it.

Mind has been bothered .

One of those days where the mind has been elsewhere - and my reactions have been of the over variety.

I warned Cowboy this morning the tides were a-changing - so to enter a conversation with me at his own risk.

Part PMS , partly the fact I haven't done the dishes and they are giving me dirty looks...

partly because I skipped on training tonight cos didn't feel like it (even though I made a rule training was non-negotiable)

Meh.

I hereby give myself permission to be cranky pants today .

Tomorrow I will don my joyous pants.

If they don't fit I will just breathe in until they do.

Deliver me from Booligal!

Preface:

(The inspiration to take a trip to Booligal was due to the challenge sent to me by Edwina from Maisie and More - by giving photography a go, my only regret is that my toes look like skanky crab sticks, I took many more photos which I will use over the next few posts - thanks Edwina - though it was a pretty gruelling experience to go to Booligal - I am out there, making the most of where I live - which is why I asked you guys to challenge me!)

Today I gave up mother duties for the afternoon and spontaneously announced to the Cowboy I was joining him in his truck to pick up some rams in Booligal.

Where?

Booligal.

The formal name for "whoop whoop"

The town that Banjo Patterson famously detested in his poem "Hay, Hell and Booligal" :

"Just now there is a howling drought

That pretty near has starved us out -

It never seems to rain at all;

But, if there should come any rain,

You couldn't cross the black soil plain -

You'd have to stop in Booligal."

"We'd have to stop!" With bated breath

We prayed that both in life and death

Our fate in other lines might fall:

"Oh send us to our just reward

In Hay or Hell, but, gracious Lord,

Deliver us from Booligal!"

Banjo hit the nail on the head in many ways.

The trip with the Cowboy really made me aware of the drought that surrounds us and it dawned on me that the hot season is definitely upon us... grrrrrrrr

The trip with cowboy confirmed my hatred for flies and dust.

It confirmed that I don't mind living in a small town - but don't make me go out and have flies near me, or dust near me - or heat near me.

It confirmed my continued bewilderment that I ended up with a Cowboy.

We drove for 1 hour on the most boring, flat, straight hot and dusty road on Earth.

I read once that the road here is LITERALLY the flattest on Earth.

Combine that with a Banjo Patterson poem and there are some impressive claims to fame.

We drove in a truck without air-conditioning.

It was just under 40 degrees today.

I was in charge of picking up snacks for our long journey and made 2 fatal errors:

1. I bought Salt n Vinegar Chips

2. Accidentally bought a bottle of Sarsaparilla

Please note, I have NEVER tried Sarsaparilla and no-one had ever told me it was equivalent to drinking a piece of licorice.

So please imagine if you will , driving in a hot truck on a boring road eating salt n vinegar chips - getting damn thirsty and only having a piece of licorice to drink?

Cranky pants.

Scenery included shrubs, dirt, shrubs, dirt, the odd feral cat, bull and a couple of kangaroos.

When we got to Booligal Cowboy loaded the truck up with the rams, while I took photos of their heads and backsides.

I was trying to be creative Edwina - but there wasn't much scope for it!

The old bloke that lived out there came out and started talking to us.

Lovely as he was I just wanted to get back to the civilisation (and air-conditioning) of my one horse town!

The more flies that hovered the angrier I could feel myself getting.

I know it was my idea to come out here but why did it take so long to load sheep?

I didn't know.

Cowboy finished his 'sheepboy' duties and then came out and had a quick chat to the old bloke.

Little droplets of sweat started beading down my face and I thought of my little boy who I abandoned to come out here for the afternoon.

What I would give to be changing a nappy right about now.

Old Banjo came into my head and I muttered under my breath

"Deliver me from feckin' Booligal"

"What?" Cowboy asked.

"I love you" I said swiping the worlds biggest fly out of my eye.

We jumped back into the truck, adorned with flies opting to dehydrate rather than drink Sarsparilla and headed back to Hay which now seemed like the big smoke.

You can read entire Banjo Patterson poem about Booligal (and Hay for that matter) here

When the teacher is not looking

Tonight after training I began to realise the way you train when the trainer is away gives insight into what kind of a person you are.

PT has been away somewhere so Cowboy and I were business as usual even in the rediculous heat that has struck the one horse town.

Tonights session really showed how different the Cowboy and I are.

Let me illustrate the different personalities at play here through what happened tonight.

PT normally makes us run (or for me run/walk/run/walk) five laps of the oval.

Tonight I walked, jogged for a few metres, then walked hmmmmm say 3 or 4 laps.

Cowboy ran without stopping - 5. Exactly 5.

(important note: this followed a 12 hour working day where he was mustering or drafting sheep or other such cowboy lingo)

Then after the laps are completed we are to commence our individual routines.

For me this is 5 sets of ab crunches interspersed with oblique kicky things (not technical name)

I do this like a pro.

Actually to toot my own trumpet I am really getting good at these - despite, dear people the fact that my stomach muscles were cut open merely 10 months ago.... to reveal the Prince.

Sorry, off the subject to gloat.

So anyway the Cowboy is off to the grandstand doing squats and other such things to make him into a bulk of a man , or to do something for his knee which is dodgy.

He does it without taking a rest, a breath and I did not hear so much as a whinge about how hot it was, or the flies.

Maybe he was complaining and I just didn't hear him over my own complaints.

No, I know he doesn't. He just isn't the type.

I have not met this type of person before.

One who doesn't complain.

Cowboy is sort of a superhero.

We have to do 5 sets of everything.

So then there is me - running up and down a step for 25, then knee lift thingys for 25.

After about 3 knee lift thingys I decide poetic license is allowed with routine so I stop and go for a little stroll to the duck pond instead.

Meanwhile Cowboy is nearly having a cardiac arrest from the intensity he is building with his routine.

I leisurely stroll back and collect the weights from the car.

Admittedly, I then went on to do 5 sets of 25 weight thingys pretty well...

THEN.... Cowboy does his with much heavier weights - even with his little pile of rocks to count how many sets.

As for me I say to myself 1 set, 2 , set - Cowboy will say "How many are you up to?"

and I will say "This is my last"

I know I am only cheating myself.

I'm all about the shortcut, wagging, making it easier on myself - getting away with it when the teacher is not there kind've thing.

This is why we pay the trainer though.

I know this about me.

This is why we have hired help.

I was always the kid in class that wanted to do something naughty if the teacher had to go out for a bit, and there was always a Cowboy in the class that went on with their work.

Because their motivation and work ethic was so much better than mine.

Cowboy impresses me so much.

He is driven to achieve what he sets out to and never ever takes shortcuts.

If he says he is going to do something, he does it- no matter who is watching or who isn't.

He is true to himself, doesn't make excuses or EVER complain - I am absolutely baffled by him - but in awe.

I am an excuse making, whingy machine who is always thinking "How can I get out of it?" and then complain because the muffin top is not decreasing at the rate I desire.

Just writing that makes me feel like I am being hard on myself because I have been doing well - but just trying to illustrate the differences here.

Tonight I learnt what character traits come to the fore 'when the teacher is not looking'

it seperates the women from the Cowboys... that is for sure.

putting my blogging ideas down before they fly away

Bloody flies.

One thing about living in the one-horse town that drives me up the wall.

I am sitting here trying to blog and god knows how but a flurry of flies have arrived - swooping me in every direction. GO AWAY!!!

Excuse me, did I blog that outloud?

I have been thinking of some things I'd like to do with this blog.

One, i wish I could make my photos look prettier.

A lot of blogs I visit have amazing photos and then some writing, amazing photos and then some writing - how does one accomplish this?

Layouts I admire include - well everybody on my blogroll basically.

I do really like the look of the Maisie and More blog - Edwina has a clean layout.... clear pics - nice fonts and some pretty funny stories to boot.

I know beauty is blog deep but I would like to inject a little bit of botox for my blog, just to smooth out a few wrinkly bits. Is anyone qualified in this area?

You might be thinking - "but you have a fancy banner that looks terrific" alas, I cannot take the credit for the genius of my friend Olena. (more about her soon, hoping to interview my very interesting and talented friend when she returns from Nepal and India)

The Cowboy takes pics at work quite often and shows me sunrises and sheep and dust-storms and dogs and I thought to myself he should be snapping some up for my blog! All this talk about the town but no pics!

So I have challenged him to a photo a day for me - I asked for this to be at 11:11am (lucky time) and he is to snap something different each day.

Truth be known I asked him this about 3 weeks ago, but think he set a reminder to do it today, so I hope to unveil some pics of life in the country soon.

It would be good to have a few more pics in my posts other than crazy ones I google and may get arrested for doing so.

I also have some other ideas zooming around in my head... I have jotted down these random thoughts for my blog:

Speed Blogging - I was thinking about all the blogs I love and thought, I wonder if X blog knows about X blog - they really should meet. So am trying to think up a way of introducing blogs I like to other blogs I like

There are bloggers that need to meet.

I could be like a blog match maker.

What do you think?

Any ideas on how I could do this?

Oh look I have to go these flies are a joke. I finally understand those rediculous hats with the corks hanging off them now. I tell you if I had one, I would be shamelessly sporting it as I type this post.

Corkman image not my own

Buns of Steel here I come

Me to Cowboy just then: "In the not too distant future I will have buns of steel"

Cowboy: (pause) Cracks up

I mean it! I think the endorphins and sense of achievement from week 3 (or 4?) of our personal training is starting to kick in!

We ran 5 laps of the oval today.

Yes 5 (which is apparantly 2kms - that is big-time to me who hasn't run since Grade 6) and that was before launching into the maniac repetitions of weights and ab crunches and other such things I had never before in my life encountered!

Although my falubadas (that bit under your arm that dangles like Grandma's when you touch it) are still gracing me with their presence, I can feel a bit of a muscle coming on.

Now if you stood me next to Madonna, it would probably look about as toned as an elastic band (NB would prefer this look than above!) - but for me - I think PT is starting to leave slight evidence!

As you know I'm not doing it for vanity (well not completely) but it is nice to feel I am getting results for all the effort - and let me tell you it is EFFORT.

Tears come out when I run the first lap.

And as I run I mutter to myself in a defeating, whiny voice "I can't do this" - well actually "I (puff) can't (pant) do (puff) this (pant) "

I could probably do it if I didn't use all my energy on these sentences that no-one but me hears!

Cowboy usually laps me which fires me up and then I launch into a sprint for 20m- which is totally counterproductive!

But I do not want to be lapped!

Twice anyway...

Cowboy takes to the challenges well, but he has played football all year and is used to physcial work. He is a farmer. He helps me out when he sees me struggling, tells me to focus on something else instead of the pain... it works for a bit.

I have a massive psychological cross to bear with this physical excertion.

It is true. If I could just drop the 'this is so hard' mentality - I could run a lot further,

Realising this in itself is liberating.

PT is GREAT for Cowboy and I's relationship too.

We leave the Prince with his Grandies and afterwards we are high on endorphins and actually have massively long conversations.

PT for Mayor I say!

If I ever try and stop this - please remind me of this post .

I would love to hear how you cope with the psychology of pushing yourself physically?

What tricks do you use to keep on going when it HURTS?

pics are not my own:

found picture here and here

Jack (the dog) receives Indian Head Massage

This was back in the day where I worked on the farm for a month... hence my charming attire!

I felt sorry for the working dogs (and myself) because it is so damn hot working on a farm in the middle of Summer!

So, come "smoko" time they were able to visit the Dog Day spa (aka some old shed) for an Indian Head Massage. Truth be known, I still am not sure what an Indian Head massage is - it just felt right to name it this...

Sadly, Jack who features in this clip passed away last year. He was the Cowboy's favourite dog. I'm glad I was able to treat him to this ... he didn't seem to mind at all!!!!