Rain, no sleep, no more farm in Adventures in paradise

It was a nice drive out there, raining on and off. When I got up the top of the range, I couldn't see a thing through a blanket of thick fog. It was around almost 10:00am by this point and I was surprised it was still hanging around, but I guess with the rain it made sense. Once I got through Toowoomba and down the mountain again, I was in the clear.

I knew I was going to be late. I couldn't pick up the rental car until they opened at 8am, and with all the roadworks going on (sheesh!), I didn't end up getting out to the farm until about 11:15am, so I was two hours late past the starting time.

I did get a bit of a shock from the vast expanse of cars - utes rather - parked along the highway. The photo I look was about half of them and doesn't look like much, but it really was, so it was nice to see a big turnout for this, considering the weather.
Dad told me it was advertised Australia-wide.

I, stupidly of course, downed two cans of coke on my drive there, wanting the cafeine to keep me awake for the drive, as I was thriving on four hours sleep, if that, but instead it just made me need to use the bathroom twice, which meant pulling off the side of the highway, grabbing my umbrella to run out in the pouring rain, and of COURSE, getting my shoes all muddy, which I then had to drag back into the perfectly clean rental car - gah! I did my best to try and scrape the mud from my shoes using pieces of wood nearby, which helped a bit, but I still managed to get mud caked over the floor of my side of the vehicle. I'm hoping they don't charge me too much for that (but I'll get to that later).

I parked the car out on the side of the highway near some trees, and made my way in. There was mud everywhere! It was very hard to avoid, and I did my best to step on the more firm bits so I a) wouldn't get too messy and b) didn't slip ass over tit.

It took me a while to even find anyone I recognised there, there was just a sea of Acubra's and Drizabones. When I finally saw where my dad was, even he was wearing one!
I was just in my smooth jeans and my black jacket, but with the rain and being Winter, it wasn't enough to keep me warm and I went back to the car a few times to put more layers on.

People I knew started to appear and I caught up with a lot of them, which was nice. It's so strange not seeing relatives for such a long amount of time. Even some of my nieces were there and they were like the height of my knee last time I saw them, and now they are of legal drinking age! One of them is a model and she just looks as stunning in person. She spent most of the day sitting sideways in her boyfriend's lap (who wasn't too bad himself, but not amazing).

Anyway, I didn't snap many pics whilst I was there. I think I just didn't want to get my phone wet! The auctioneers knew their stuff and were speaking so fast, selling single machinery items in figures I've never seen in my entire life.

It was the first time I'd even seen the shed that all the small stuff was laid out in. It just all looked like old junk to me, but most of it sold. The shed was huge, and only recently built. There was a sausage sizzle set up and a soft-drink stand that some of the church youth were running. It was almost like a festival somewhere.

Pretty much everything ended up selling, except for one of the blue tractors. Dad didn't get what he wanted for a lot of it, but then there were some he got a heck of a lot more for than he originally paid for 30 years ago haha. It was pretty cool to see how it all worked. I followed the auctioneers and crowd around for a while, just noting what things were going for. They talk so fast, how anyone keeps up I'm not sure haha, but it makes a pretty good show.

What amazed me is how prepared some people are. Like after the auction was done, buyers were backing in massive semi-trailers and cranes to drive up and lift the machinery they just bought. I mean, I understand that's necessary, but I guess having lived in the city so long now, this things pique my interest.

I did hear what the final figure was, and it was an insane amount of dough, which I assume will be split up between my dad and his brother, who ran the farm for the last 23 years. I guess my grandma will benefit as well. It was good to see her again, although she has a walker stick these days to help her get around. For her to be out in that weather for so long at her age (86), is commendable. And she looks so healthy.

I had a good talk with my brother in law when I first got there. He was the first person I saw, and I heard all about his trip to Europe. I asked him if the French were rude, and he said he didn't think so, they just didn't really like Americans. He said his favourite places were actually the quieter country areas and beaches over anything else, and described Paris as a city he can now say he's "been there" and wouldn't necessarily return to now that he's seen it. That's interesting. I wonder if I'd have the same reaction if I ever get enough money to travel there.

I gradually got around to finding all my family among the crowd. Mum always insists were get a family photo, as my sister always takes off early. I only just managed to catch her for around about 45 minutes before she 'had to' take off. Quite clever if you ask me.
I decided to just stay the day, as more than one day's car rental was a bit much for me.

So we got some happy snaps.

That's my family! I cropped it a bit.

Then later on, there was like a group one and the clearing sale had become a family reunion - minus my sister.

Look at me all farm-like yokel :P

Anyway, it was getting cold so we drove back to Pittsworth. I hadn't seen my parents new house yet, so that was quite exciting.
I followed my older brother there, as he had a key and had been staying a few nights.

Oh it's a gorgeous place! So neat, so modern and tidy. Four bedrooms and two lounges, gorgeous kitchen and some weird sunroom thing that is enclosed in. My mother finds that room ridiculous, but I found it quite okay as it reminds me of my grandmas old rumpus room. I was a bit confused by a bench sink running along one wall though, which has a sliding window through to the main kitchen. I guess it would be good for small parties, although the room shouldn't have been closed in, so it's a bit of a strange design.
The house was like a maze when I first walked in, with hallways running different directions, but you get used to it quick. They've set themselves up well so far, but still have a long way to go.

It absolutely POURED driving home. I had the wipers on full and still cold only just see. I went and grabbed groceries when I got back to Brissy, so that's out of the way and I refuelled the car. Cue my heart attack when the car wouldn't start after I refuelled with E10 :O
Thank fuck it worked on the second go! Dunno what that was about.

Then I FINALLY get home around 3:30am and go to sleep and a heap of drunk girls rock up on our front steps, banging loudly on the door, yelling out to let them in, THEN they start banging on MY window as it's near the front door because they could see somebody was in there. I pretended to be asleep. I was so disgusted and I was in my underwear and it was obvious they were one of my housemates friends, as there was glasses and alcohol bottles all over the kitchen bench when I got home to put my groceries away.
Haha, really showing my age - I'm putting groceries away on a Saturday night/Sunday morning and these bitches are all out partying and being completely inappropriate, waking up the whole neighbourhood in the process. I had no idea where my housemate had gone. I'd heard him come home. He finally came downstairs and let them in after ages, including them making their way around to the back of the house and banging the door trying to get in that way.

Then, after all that drama, despite my setting my alarm to wake up in the few hours I had to return my rental car, I slept in didn't I!? Saw the clock was 11:15am and had a similar feeling to the one where I used to wake up late for work back in the day (nowdays I won't start until night, so that never happens).
I drove the car back before they closed at 12pm and the woman behind the desk was like "That'll be an extra day's charge" because I was three hours late, and then added, 'the computer works it out automatically."
Whether she said that to calm me down from flying abuse across the counter or because she was simply explaining how it worked, I dunno. I COULD and should have just kept the car for another day, but I'm so tired anyway I dunno if I'd use it.

I put on a smile and thanked her and walked out, still furious at those girls for being so rude and my housemate for not letting them in earlier as he must've gone to sleep. In fact, I know he did. Like seriously? Why should people I don't even know be MY problem?

I noticed the back door was ajar when I got up also, meaning it had been left open all night for anyone to come in and burgle us. Lovely!

So I guess you could say, a good last goodbye out at the farm, and a pretty crap start to arriving back in Brissy. I'm down another $85 which I was going to use at The Ekka instead as it's the last day, but I've decided I'll be missing it this year instead. Oh well, no biggie. I'll just have to get over it. I know I need more sleep.

Edit: Ooo good timing - my aunty just posted some more pics of the sale on fb. She obviously got there before I did and it got overly muddy.

Last updated August 17, 2014