Thirsty Kirstie: May 2011

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Some big and small events

Michael and I at mum's

Last weekend we went home to mum and dad's for Sam's birthday party. After some very crazy weeks at work culminating in the biggest wedding ever, we felt that we deserved some relax time, some non stress time, some good food and wine and friends. We went to Tatlers for tapas where I had to drink a whole bottle of Semillon frizzante alone because everyone else was driving. Alysia and Sam sneaked off to mystery appointments near the end of lunch, saying that they were getting 'shots' for their trip to Bali.

Sunrise at mums

The first day at mum's we woke up to this amazing sunrise, which I had to capture on the new camera. But also because my stupid body clock had me awake at 5:00am, and that was after a sleep in. That day everyone spent some time preparing for Sam's 30th birthday (Sam is boyfriend to my sister Alysia). I spent time sleeping and catching up on relaxing and not doing anything much (I hate structure at the moment, structure can go and jump in the river, for all the thanks I get from structure, it deserves to be ignored).

Kate, Alysia, Me

This is Alysia, Kate and I moments after Alysia's 'surprise' engagement at Sam's birthday. I cant believe I am the oldest of all of us, but the shortest. Although they say that as you get old you shrink, maybe its started already. For the record, everyone cried, then they drank and the next day there were lots of sore heads and discussions about the wedding.

Alysia telling friends about her engagement

Exploring the other side of the fence

Today I went for an explore on the other side of our fence. Though there is not much there but some giant rocks, it really shows a different perspective of our property. From above I can visualise the flood zones and see clearly how the water fell that day. The dam is still overflowing and now has reed and weed life all through the overflow, which was just paddock before. The river stones have been exposed and the dam is as full as ever. The cows constant trampling through has made the ground re-solidify into horrible shapes to walk upon and its a real ankle twister alert.

Front gate on a stormy day

A typical view on a stormy day. Looking east, it is almost impossible to avoid taking a photo of a power line. Somehow the shimmer of the power towers fits in with the broody sky.

It has become quite cold here, with nights down to 3 degrees. Its scarf weather and fires and air conditioning. Sadly we are out of firewood and yesterday I was forced to go and pick up the drift wood that floated into our paddocks on the floods. Much of it was too large to pick up or even drag. Some of it was muddy and one was a home for a giant spider who is now homeless at this cold time. I remember in Marysville that the week after Easter it always snowed. Well its definately snowing somewhere now and if we werent in QLD I would be expecting snow everyday.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Bonfire Night

Last night marked the end of our very big weekend. With a wedding large enough to rival Will and Kate's, months of planning, thousands of dollars of hires, staff in the dozens and souvenir tea towels, it would be polite to say that it was a very big weekend.

The weekend started with the rehearsal dinner, with 16 bunches of flowers on each table as a centrepiece. We started setting up for the main event on Thursday, with hires from 5 different companies. The main event was Saturday with a late afternoon ceremony, followed by an hour of canapes, then a 2 hour degustation menu of more elaborate canape style options. With 32 waitstaff on the floor, the event ran like clockwork. I worked from 8:00am till 1:30am the following day, then was back up at 6:00am for a 7:00am start, for the next part of the event...the Christening.

Sometime betweenn 1:30 - 4:00am Cieran decided to rip up the outdoor dancefloor to save the grass.

In the cool of the morning we were hyped up from the night before, even though a random guest had set fire to a wedding program in the toilets (sometime between vomiting all ofver the floor) and almost burnt down the historical homestead. We set up 13 tables in the turning circle with nice white brollies, before the guests turned up 45 mins early to lunch. But by then nothing could dampen the mood.

A long afternoon of washing glasses, moving chairs, unpacking tents, and arranging dinner for the third night of revellries.

By Monday afternoon, when all the guests had left, we were a little more rested and relaxed, just in time for bonfire night. Some time ago most of the fence at the top paddock was replaced and the old fence railings were stacked up for a bonfire. With no better excuse than the wedding of the century, we planned the big night.

Cieran spent the day making the pyre larger and more impressive looking, sticking in a pole with a flag, just for good measure. By mid afternoon we gathered, in time to watch the sunset, while Cieran made the final touches. A jerry can of petrol, a pole dance for good luck, then came the Robin Hood moment.

In a moment of inspiration, Cieran decided to light the fire with spectacular means, with a burning arrow. Followed up by a gunshot (in something more resembling a Mythbusters episode). The first try of the aroow fell short and just ignited the grass. The gunshot also made no impact. The burning arrow was retrieved and re-shot. When no amazing fireball ensure, a beer bottle was filled with petrol and thrown in. Finally the pile caught alight, after some manoeuvering.

Hoorah! And then the night got silly. All afternoon I'd had visions of running around the fire like an indian and yahoo-ing. So we did. Until I fell in a hole and we lost some of our followers to bed time and curfews and D & M's, as inevitably happen at a staff event when everyone is emotionally and physically drained. It was a spectacular night.

By the way, all of these shots were taken with my new Nikon D5000, which I am still mastering.