Orange Segment, NSW: our 1st Workaway.

We got the bus, then the train, then a bus to Orange. It's a 6 hour trip inland. Felt a bit apprehensive, but it helped that the host, Fiona met us at the station. The job for the next 2 weeks is to help the family business with marketing and general maintenance.
We eat with the family each night, they have 8 children, but only 3 at home now.

Our accommodation is in a separate unit, and there's a couple of young women from France staying in the next bedroom for a few days, who have just been to NZ.
First day was interesting, traipsing round the 2 properties feeding the chooks, dogs, a gallah, rabbits, turtles, ducks and quails. We gathered some eggs and checked out the busy cafe. We work from about 8am to 1pm each day, then we go exploring. More about the town next time. All this fresh air and exercise is exhausting! 😴

Lizzie

Sydney Snuggles

I love a drizzly day in Sydney, perfect for reconnecting with family and our 4 year old grandchildren in particular. The twins.

And we need to chill and readjust with all the changes. Sold the car, left the jobs, rented out the apartment etc.

We enjoyed some great farewells with friends before we left. By the time we got on the plane we were knackered from too many big nights out.

So, back to the twins. Adorable chatterboxes; they love stories - both telling them, and listening to them. Mars has a ukulele,  which he strums while he talks. And talks... I let him help me choose the special effects for these photos.

Lizzie 

Leaving Home, New Zealand

We returned to our home in Nelson for a few days to check things before we go overseas. Our tenants for the last 6 months left things very clean and tidy, so we got stuck into the garden and cut back some of the bigger trees that had a growth spurt over the Summer.

I arranged a couple of visitors for the period we are away, using LoveHomeSwap. We really do love this home swap thing; some nice couples and families have stayed at our place, in return for free stays of our own in Oz and Spain.  

Some friends stopped by for a catch up, and as we gazed out at the big sky view across the bay, we reassured ourselves that it will all still be here to enjoy when we return. 

We feasted on figs, and crumpets drizzled with local manuka honey tonight, then polished off the last of the gin, with tonic, and juice from our lemon tree.

Feel ready to launch now. After all, leaving home for an adventure or two only makes you appreciate it more...

Lizzie 

10 Steps to Workaway

Friends have been asking how we got started. It took a bit of time and research. Workaway seemed to offer thousands of hosts, and different jobs and categories. Here's the first 10 steps we've taken...

1. Join the website. Even if you never actually travel, it can serve as a sort of 'travel porn',  where you can fantasize about lots of different countries and work experiences. It costs  $US29  to join as a single and $US38 to join as a couple: https://www.workaway.info

2. Leave your job. Why work for money when you can work in exchange for things like places to stay and things to eat? Travel can be soulless and expensive when you are just hanging out on the edges, observing other people's lives and cultures. This way you can wade in and be a part of something.

3. Write a profile. Honest and interesting, saying what you can do with some recent images of yourself looking useful. For example, painting a fence, playing your flute, pruning trees, or taking part in a meeting.

4. Start checking out possible 'hosts'. Bear the distances between jobs in mind, and the logistics of travel between them. You don't want to waste time and money zigzagging backwards and forwards between Spain and Italy, for instance.

5. Read their reviews and comments. If every second guest comments on the remote location and hard work, avoid. If a host comments about too many people leaving after only a few days, don't go there.

6. Check the timing. The site listings show which months help is needed. Also, check out what the accommodation is - it can range from a separate chalet, to a caravan, to a room in a family home, or the west wing of a castle!

7. Write your prospects a short friendly message offering your help and saying what might be relevant to their situation. If it's an animal refuge, don't bother saying you are a raging carnivore and have a fear of dogs! Just offer 1-2 weeks; if it works out well, you might be asked to stay on.

8. Sit back for a month or two and wait for the offers to come in. We sent 30 messages, and got about 20 replies, and inquiries from people who just saw our listing. It takes time to get the dates confirmed. We have nailed 7 bookings over 6 months, and we have another 7 on the reserve list, in case we have a cancellation. 

9. Choose some good sensible work clothing if you are going for physical work. The majority seem to need gardening. I want to look like I've come to help, not like a tourist.

10. Start on some prep. We are going to be at an organic orchard business, so I'm reading up about biodiversity. We are making an effort to get fitter too, running round the local park. Most of the hosts ask for about 25 hours labour per week. I want some energy left, after the olive or grape harvests, to go out and explore. 

Lizzie 

Capturing the Cuzzies

It just so happens that I've been to a few family gatherings lately. I've kind of 'rediscovered' cousins that I haven't seen for years, and met a few I'd forgotten about completely. Coming back from one such event I tried, with mixed success, to list them all from A to Z, and to remember which aunt or uncle they relate to.

This exercise has prompted some interesting conversations. I've trawled early childhood memories and tried to remember who the hell was in the room when we did those Sunday visits.

Naomi (one of my cousins) got me into Geni - one of those online family tree things, it has helped a lot, and it's free: 
https://www.geni.com

The oldest generation in our families has now passed on, and I've just realised that we are now the oldest generation. We are the ones who are supposed to know these things - stuff about who we are, where we came from, and how we all connect. It's a big responsibility, perhaps stronger in some cultures than others (Maori, Italian)? 

It probably only dawns on people like me to make more of an effort once they are over fifty.

Lizzie

Ginger Biscuits Recipe

So, I'm using up all the stuff in the cupboards before we leave. Today I made up some easy, spicy, soft ginger biscuits.

My sister was visiting, so I thought I'd make something to tempt her, with a nod to healthy eating. They've got flax seeds in them.

Here's the recipe:

Rummage round in the back of the cupboards and find 4 teaspoons of spices like ginger and cinnamon, mix them with 2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of seeds.

Beat up one egg then add half a cup of either melted butter or oil, and half a cup of sugar. And some of that left over yoghurt you might find in the fridge, and some milk or water. The mixture should be not too runny, more like a cake than a batter.

Mix and bake in big spoonfuls in 180 degrees oven about ten minutes.

Lizzie

From Suits to Boots

It's going to be an interesting transition. I spent Saturday afternoon trying out work/hiking boots for size and comfort. It was nice to do something real, and to think more about the changes ahead.

For the past 4 years I've donned a business suit and gone to work in an office - a very pleasant office, with views across Wellington harbour. Board papers, spreadsheets, policies and regulations have paid my bills.

But now, it's all going to be different. I'm trading my physical labour, and a bit of advice here and there, for accommodation and meals. I'm stepping into other people's lives and businesses, to offer my help. They are very interesting lives, in great places - Orange in Oz, Touzac in France, and Policoro in Southern Italy.

I'm going from indoors to outdoors, from cerebral to practical, from suits to boots...

Lizzie's Bloke (guest blogger)

Carrying On

We are in the planning stages of another world adventure.

It will include 6 months of Workaway jobs in Oz, France and Italy, a LoveHomeSwap or two, plus the essential 'F' things: family, food and friends.

But first, it's all about the packing, and in our case, what not to take. We are doing the carry-on thing again, so liberating. And let's face it, you just don't need a whole lot of stuff to lug around! Mascara, heavy shoes, books and pyjamas are unnecessary items. These bags weigh less than 1 kilo, leaving 6 kilos each for our essential things.

Lizzie