What could be lovelier than to breathe in fresh country air early in the morning! That’s just what Brett and I did last Sunday. Brett came to my house just right after I had my water therapy. As his car rolled away from the street where I lived, I could see the moon smiling at me. Ah.. it seemed to be telling me, "You've been kept in the house for awhile. It's time for you to be out in the open where the grass might be greener and the sky bluer. It is time for you to breathe in fresh country air.
We drove for quite sometime until all that my eyes could see were just rows of open fields, paddocks, meadows and hobby farms. I had a vague idea where we were heading. But I needed not asked. I had been going for a drive other than the Westfield or McDonalds with Brett. Besides, I could read the signs.
As usual, we did not drive a long, long way as he needed to take his young son to the library later in the day. As we drove along the small and big roads, it occurred to my mind the poem of Dorothea MacKellar. I used to know it, but could not recall the lines. Brett knows it by heart so he started reciting it...
I love a sunburnt country
A land of sweeping plains
Of ragged mountain ranges
Of droughts and flooding rains...
I went to a dreamful state and time stood still. When I first arrived in Australia and was able to save my first $5000 dollars, I wanted to buy a hobby farm. I was not thinking it would require hard work because my plan was just to go over there in the weekend and jsut throw some seeds of fruit trees and leave all the work to the God of Abraham. Anyway, it did not materialise. Mainly because my siblings thought I was crazy to ever dream of it. Who was going to take me to this hobby farm when I don't drive? Not them as they got their own families to whom they are responsible to.
I forgot all about the hobby farm and just continued saving until I had enough to buy not just a hobby farm but a country house in Mudgee with two dams. The same question came up. HOw would I manage to live in the country when I don't even drive.
The solution I reckoned was to learn to drive. So I bought a car, sat for the written test which was like eating peanuts having passed it at one go. When the actual driving test came, however, I failed. Pastor Smith, who is long retired now and the one who helped me negotiate with the caryard people to do more work on the hatchback Nissan car I picked to buy, advised me to take the test again. He said if I could finish a PhD, then I could surely pass the driving test. How I wish na nagdilang angel siya' (literally that he's got the angel's tongue)! '
As I expected it,though, I failed the test again. Pastor Smith said it was odd and surprising that I could probably finish another PhD and yet could not even pass the driving test. He wondered if I was too intellectual who do not even have any mechanical ability.
I did not waste anymore money getting a driver's licence. Needless to say, I realised it was crazy to pursue my dream so I just let go all about my farm and country house dream.
After driving in a circle as was his custom and having enough of the country air and scents, Brett pulled his car over at the Warragamba Dam.
My, that was good! I wanted to take the pictures of the cows, the sheeps and the vastness of the plains. How could I with Brett's car running up to 100mph. Further, Brett could not just really pull over his car on those spots. I was sorry having missed the chance to take pictures of fat sheeps.
Thanks to Brett, however. At least I could take photos of the dam and its surrounding areas. I really wanted to take photos of nature for future posts on my Pray and Praise Page on facebook.
After taking photos of the dam which was one of the largest dam in the world, Brett pulled over so I could take photos of one country house. WoW! That was a dream house minus all the horses.
The highlight of the day of course was breakfast at my favourite Maccas. I don't know why but I always crave for McDonald's big mac, fries and Sundae. Ooops. But it was only breakfast time....
So I just settled for the pancakes and cappucino. What a lovely day! I had an enjoyable time. Thank God and thank Brett too!
We drove for quite sometime until all that my eyes could see were just rows of open fields, paddocks, meadows and hobby farms. I had a vague idea where we were heading. But I needed not asked. I had been going for a drive other than the Westfield or McDonalds with Brett. Besides, I could read the signs.
As usual, we did not drive a long, long way as he needed to take his young son to the library later in the day. As we drove along the small and big roads, it occurred to my mind the poem of Dorothea MacKellar. I used to know it, but could not recall the lines. Brett knows it by heart so he started reciting it...
I love a sunburnt country
A land of sweeping plains
Of ragged mountain ranges
Of droughts and flooding rains...
I went to a dreamful state and time stood still. When I first arrived in Australia and was able to save my first $5000 dollars, I wanted to buy a hobby farm. I was not thinking it would require hard work because my plan was just to go over there in the weekend and jsut throw some seeds of fruit trees and leave all the work to the God of Abraham. Anyway, it did not materialise. Mainly because my siblings thought I was crazy to ever dream of it. Who was going to take me to this hobby farm when I don't drive? Not them as they got their own families to whom they are responsible to.
I forgot all about the hobby farm and just continued saving until I had enough to buy not just a hobby farm but a country house in Mudgee with two dams. The same question came up. HOw would I manage to live in the country when I don't even drive.
The solution I reckoned was to learn to drive. So I bought a car, sat for the written test which was like eating peanuts having passed it at one go. When the actual driving test came, however, I failed. Pastor Smith, who is long retired now and the one who helped me negotiate with the caryard people to do more work on the hatchback Nissan car I picked to buy, advised me to take the test again. He said if I could finish a PhD, then I could surely pass the driving test. How I wish na nagdilang angel siya' (literally that he's got the angel's tongue)! '
As I expected it,though, I failed the test again. Pastor Smith said it was odd and surprising that I could probably finish another PhD and yet could not even pass the driving test. He wondered if I was too intellectual who do not even have any mechanical ability.
I did not waste anymore money getting a driver's licence. Needless to say, I realised it was crazy to pursue my dream so I just let go all about my farm and country house dream.
After driving in a circle as was his custom and having enough of the country air and scents, Brett pulled his car over at the Warragamba Dam.
My, that was good! I wanted to take the pictures of the cows, the sheeps and the vastness of the plains. How could I with Brett's car running up to 100mph. Further, Brett could not just really pull over his car on those spots. I was sorry having missed the chance to take pictures of fat sheeps.
Thanks to Brett, however. At least I could take photos of the dam and its surrounding areas. I really wanted to take photos of nature for future posts on my Pray and Praise Page on facebook.
After taking photos of the dam which was one of the largest dam in the world, Brett pulled over so I could take photos of one country house. WoW! That was a dream house minus all the horses.
The highlight of the day of course was breakfast at my favourite Maccas. I don't know why but I always crave for McDonald's big mac, fries and Sundae. Ooops. But it was only breakfast time....
So I just settled for the pancakes and cappucino. What a lovely day! I had an enjoyable time. Thank God and thank Brett too!
