City chic to chicken keek.

It all started as a joke but I think the more I said it I actually started to believe it. I thought farming was going to be Brokeback Mountain meets Little House On The Prairie down to my hair in ribbons feeding chickens in the fields. That hasn't happened.

So far farming has been wet, dirty, grimy, heavy, hot, freezing cold and all extreme levels of difficulty. I have been banana humping (walking 60kg bunches from tree to moving trailer on my back), blue berry picking (picking berries 10 hrs a day in the mighty heat of the farm tunnels), egg farming (you couldn't even imagine) and construction working all without even a sight of jake gyllenhaal in a cowboy hat. 

It's a strange one probably because at any other time in my life this "experience" would have been hell for me but farming a few hours west of Cairns on Australia's Tablelands has been quite the opposite. 

I mean who can complain when you live here...

When kangaroos are regularly seen hopping past, when big spiders are always spotted, fires are sat around with guitars, long bush walks are walked and the red dust in the air is the eternal creator of an amazing sunset almost every night. 

Dare I say it up until recently I have been BORED. I mean I was working more when I first got here but I always felt like I wasn't getting up to too much except work. I have inevitably been working less now bananas are off and the berry season has ended (for me at least) but I have to say its only in the last while I have felt the best about myself and the pretty amazing environment I share here. 

So far I have been to see this beauty. The Peter Andre Mysterious Girl video waterfall.

The Mareeba rodeo was an experience... 

and the farm as well as a few others have seen a few parties too. 

This place is pretty awesome. Strange when I say place I can't even say exactly where but I can tell you I am between Marebba and Atherton somewhere in North Queensland. Middle of nowhere doesn't even say it but recently with a bit more time off to explore I think i am really starting to fall in love. 

My Aussie farming experienece has been chilled. The most chilled I have been for quite a while. I mean the work is hard but the lifestyle here more than makes up for it. You might not have shops and a social scene outside of your farmhouse but you have lots of time to think, read, write and to talk to yourself when others aren't too busy talking. 

I feel blessed for that time. The time to contemplate. Don't get me wrong the times to drink and smoke are not to bad either. 

My first few weeks here were turbulent (for me at least). Being split last minute from the fabulous travelling duo, Scottish sweeties Claire and Ashleigh, and ending up on a red dirt, all boys and prison at first glance farm I felt out of my depth. So far out of my depth I felt like I was just about to drown. Until I met this woman... 

Sue is our farm accommodation caretaker. She lives out back in her big 1970's Crome and sky blue bus. The love bus. I think that says it all. 

From the scariest of days (day one!) until now Sue has been an absolute star. I have talked about my angels before and with sues help in everything from rent to the odd cake that appears in the kitchen she is most definitely in that category. 

On the farm itself I live with all men. It's pretty blokey. I mean almost everyone has been amazing but having some female company from Sue and her daughter Shawna  here plus meeting and seeing some amazing girls when at work has been great. 

I have never appreciated how much I need the opposite sex in my life but as it turns out I really do. I have never loved some female company here more than when it's with those select few. 

I think I've settled here now. Previously the idea of settling, becoming comfortable and having the time to discover new things about  yourself would have scared me but I feel content. 

I am content in the knowledge that even if I leave here penniless I would have at least learnt something about myself, experienced some things I would never have experienced and met some amazing people I would not have met otherwise. 

Happiness is so hard to achieve but looking around I think I might be happiest in places just like this...

My Melbourne in 10 pictures...

To say I haven't written in a while would be a bit of an understatement. I'm now writing from an avocado farm a few hours east of Cairns. Quite a change from Melbourne. The big place where I blogged last. 

I have just had a read of my last blog from a few months back and how things have changed. 

Truthfully I stopped writing because I thought what was turning into a daily routine was probably going to be boring reading for a bit, god I was so wrong. 

In that time I found a good few jobs, the Italian, catwalk and the day I almost turned labourer. I also got off the tram and started using Betty (my bike) everywhere until she was stolen. I fell in love with save yourself some more and fell head over heels for Aidi, the turf crew and a few boys along the way. I rediscovered the bottom and in trying to get back up I discovered a little more. I might have momentarily forgotten the universe but by good fortune I found good health and amazing memories.

There's so much to say I almost can't put it into words. I smell a picture story. Ok then..

Betty.

Kevin's supermarket sweep!

Jenny and Tony's :) 

The dream.

:(

Nah mate. 

Sir Turfs Alot. 

Wedding day :) 

My Cafe Noturrno workmate...

The final picture. 

I am going to start writing more, promise. This one is really just for me.

Peace and love. Always! 

. 

Tram Wanker!

Tonight Matthew I'm going to be... A tram wanker.

I never actually understood the point of "Stars In Their Eyes" but on a somewhat more relevant point I've ditched the bike and I'm on the tram with a wet work shirt and a soaking hairstyle that makes me look like Kim Jong Un on crack. The joys! 

It's been raining the last few days and although I have been bracing myself for this over the last few weeks its still pretty wet. 

The truth is I would never "ditch" Betty the bike for no reason,  I have only had to stop riding in the wet until I get a suitably fashion conscious rain jacket but do they exist? Shall I go all Lycra shorts? I think not! 

The last few days from the start of last weekend until now have been great! Like really great! 

I had a trial with a local vegan accredited and all round environmentally friendly clothing and accessories store in a super hip part of town, the grafitti baked Brunswick.

Save Yourself, as this beaut of a store is called, is pretty cool inside and out...

It all started with a walk up Sydney road the week previous when I stumbled upon the shop whilst looking for a few extra bar work shifts and i seen this.... 

In store I was bedazzled by their Melissa collaboration Karl Largerfirld and Vivienne Westwood shoes, their accessories where like nothing I had seen before and the clothing, although for the ladies was pretty inspiring all the same. 

I think Save Yourself reminded me a little of a more creative me, immersed in fashionable ideals and pretty pieces. I let them know that i loved the shop  design and products and I was told that my complements would be passed on to the owner. On walking back down the street I got a shout by Adriana, the owner herself that had just popped back and after a brief chat with the her, a quick flick of my digital portfolio and a few laughs I practically had the job in the bag. 

I was so happy! It's so funny how these things turn out.

Over the weekend I worked behind the bar at Brickmakers and on Monday morning I had my first trial shift for a few hours at Save Yourself. Tuesday came quick and I stayed my first full shift in the shop with some of the other staff. It was amazing. I had so much fun rearranging and being creative styling windows as well as every other piece of visual merchandising I could get my hands on....

Although I worked over the weekend I have also been lucky enough to eventually have enough money to have a few, or a quite a few drinks. 

Sunday night seen me with my first day and no night shift at the bar and I arrived home to all my friends at The Turf cooking all the makings of a fabulous Sunday roast. I, being late to confirm and as I am the awkward veggie, decided to opt for some last minute noodles and veg but I did sit with my foreign family for tea followed by lots of after dinner drinks. 

Those drinks have pretty much continued every day until now. I'm currently dying a deathly hangover but with a light heart I sit happy with the knowledge that although I may be a tram wanker I think Australia might just be starting to really work out again. 

Peace and love. Always <3 

Kate Moss Monday...

So I didn't stop smoking. There I said it! 

In fairness I had stopped for about 2 hours on Monday morning. That was until I seen my bank balance and found a spare 10 cigarettes below my bed. 

My bank balance was not to allow me the backpackers privilege of food but if I had nothing else I reasoned surely I could have a cigarette. 

Monday was a Kate Moss. A day where "eating was cheating" and smoking those 10 fags became my sole luxury. 

I know I am talking absolute shit. I mean its an excuse but stopping smoking whilst ever so stressed over your rent is no mean feat. I failed. 

This week though (forgetting no food monday) I have been much better on all my other previous blog challenges. 

I have been riding my bike every day. My diet, although mostly bolstered by packet Mi Georeng, has improved and I have been thinking lots on other ways to challenge myself both now and in the future. 

In comparison to probably every other week of my travels this week has been pretty terrible but as next week approaches and with a few hours in work over the weekend I am happy to say I'm starting to feel happy again. 

Exercise has been great for when I feel down. What's been better are the amazing people I live with at the Turf and other friends I have around the city.

Im missing my family and friends at home but yet again my foreign family has came together. As I head into the weekend I'm looking forward to spending more time with them. 

Next week I'm challenging myself to stop being a depressing mess. Positive and forward facing. 

Next week I am going to be me.

Peace and love. Always! 

From binge drinking to biking.

Siobhan, my roommate and I have just turned the heating on! It seems as my Facebook is being filled with comments on Spring and since I have even watching summery catwalks autumn has most definitely started to descend on Southern Australia.  

In fairness I'm not too sure if it is a actually freezing (it's still 20 something) but as I have spent my last few months on or around the equator and I am for sure feeling the chill! 

It's may be cold now but my last few weeks in Melbourne have been red hot. It all started with me getting a job and the fun only ended, with my money, a few days before pay day. 

St Patricks day here was definitely one of my favourite Paddys in a long time! 

My new job celebrations went all weekend and seemlessly ran into the twins' 21st followed by St. Patricks Day on the Monday. It was messy... 

Between drinks I've had my first few shifts in my new job at Brickmakers too, it's been pretty sweet.

It's an upmarket kinda place. The sort of joint where people order their coffees all machiato, skinny and part esspresso with  milk on the side. It's the sort of place I would usually avoid like the plague but its actually been amazing to work in a new environment and with people who take their jobs as seriously as they take their coffee.  Everyone at Brickmakers has been so friendly. If I can get the hours I think this job is a keeper.

This week was the first week I got paid. It also seen me almost instantly poor again after a shopping spree I have been waiting months on. When I say spree I use the word in its loosest terms. I actually only bought super sensible things that I desperately needed. Things like socks, belts and sensible shoes. I hear you ask "what has happened to you?" but in fairness reality bit pretty hard when I realised I could no longer walk barefoot and wear wine stained and holey harems. 

I also bought this beauty!

Ooh and not forgetting some new running shoes to match. Essential! 

After the drinking and diet carnage of the past few weeks and now that I am probably the proudest owner of the most wonderful bike and runners in the world next week I have decided that I'm going to get healthy. 

For starters I plan to ride my bike everywhere if not il be walking. My previous personal trainer Jennie Hales would be proud as I have plans as the weeks starts to start eating clean once more.

I'm vegetarian and although I still eat very well in the way of bread, pasta, cheese and probably everything else meat free I think as of next week I also need to start thinking about my meals and the nutrients Im getting from them. I blatantly need more protein and I suspect my iron level is super low so high protein fish and veg along with supplements is going to be my first stop. 

As of next week I will be stopping my once again ludicrous consumption of coke zero and diet coke and here's the big one... 

Next week I'm stopping smoking! 

Yes it seems I can hardly afford food so affording cigarettes at $20 a packet is out of the question. That and cycling with a fag is probably not the best of looks.

This blog is starting to feel just like where it all started so many months before. 12 Hours To Travelling is challenging me once again! 

God love Siobhan. She's in for it with nicotine withdrawal and weary me... 

Wish me luck!!

Down Under Angels!

Its Saturday, my 4th day in Melbourne. Today I got up early, went for coffee with a friend from Thailand, visited a sweet little book shop for a bit, aimlessly wandered Elizabeth and Exibition Street and had a walk through Chinatown taking pictures of graffiti and so many great things along the way. 

I'm not usually a big fan of big cities of any kind but in this place I think I might have just sown the seeds for a love story. I'm happy, maybe even the happiest I have ever felt. It's possibly the stark contrast to Asia that's amazing me most. The fashion, the scene, its people, it's rush and the romance in the chaos of one of Melbourne's  busiest weekends is just that though. Amazing. 

By reading this you would think I was a small town boy that had never left the country before now but the truth is I have travelled many times and many times I've been underwhelmed. New York, London and Paris pale in comparison... So far anyway.

Leaving Bali and knowing my first time travels in Asia where over was hard. To me I was leaving the first true sense of freedom I have ever felt. I was leaving living on a whim, going and doing who and what I please and leaving some great friends along the way. 

I had an amazing final sunset with two particular good mates Mead and Elle. It was a relief after a hectic last day shopping for sensible clothes, getting my c.v finalised, packing and preening myself at the salon before I couldn't afford to be beautiful down under. It's a hard life! 

I just made my flight and after a apotek visit that day I slept right through to 7am the next morning. I woke up as we touched down in Oz and through bleary eyes I grabbed my bags and set off for the sky bus. 

In Bali I had a fleeting meeting with one of my many 'angels' that I have been lucky enough to meet on my travels. My angels are those people that have helped me when I have been in trouble or otherwise I would have been completely lost. My Oz angel is a lovely Scottish girl called Ash, a girl I had met in one of my Indo hostels for no more than a few hours. After finding out she was living in Melbourne, the city I was planning to visit first, I gushed all my fears for the real world to her and in return she settled my nerves and gave me a few super helpful pointers. We exchanged emails and I thought that was that. 

Me being me I was going to travel on a whim. I hadn't planned anything. 

I had no accommodation booked, I didn't have a job, I hadn't contacted any Aussie friends and I hadn't even worked out how to get from the airport to the city. It seemed I was going to be lost in Oz until the day before I left Asia when I received a very special email. 

Ash's email was a god send! She had went out of her way and found me a place to stay at hers and she told me how to get into the city easy.

On arrival above the Turf pub in North Melbourne I found this... 

... welcoming me to "Melbs" and with yet more info welcoming me to the area! 

I have now settled right in. Everyone at the Turf are absolutely lovely! My room mates have been great and I've been a busy boy with their help to find a SIM card, bank account, the library, getting my responsible service of alcohol cert and my way about. 

Yesterday I finished off my landing list. The list I make in every country to get settled. It had just been a few days but that afternoon i found out that I had GOT A JOB!! 

I start on Tuesday and can't wait. Here's to a new chapter! It seems Australia isn't too bad after all.