Happy Australia Day!

I had a great weekend after a long half week of work ;-). Monday was Australia Day which is very similar to our 4th of July. I got the day off and we went to a BBQ at the Sevenhill Hotel (1km from work, awesome food), drank beers, watched cricket, rocked to music, and hung out getting bit up by mosquitoes and later there were fireworks (on TV, not local though, too dry).
So last week was a pretty good start, started Wednesday. Found out I have a lot more responsibility than expected since the 2 new guys, Bill and I, ( and hopefully 2 more soon) will be the whole cellar crew since the 2 permanent staff have left (Jack a couple weeks ago after loosing his wife, and Pud on friday). Pud helped train us a little but now that he's gone it's all on Liz our winemaker to show us the Sevenhill Cellars way to make wine at the ground level. Most of last week was bottling, which it was so nice to have a capable bottling line running at a pace we could all handle. I even learned a little about operating the line. We bottled a lot of Alter wine (it was really gross sweet and dry white sherry) all of wednesday. And on thursday and friday we bottled some decent shiraz for a client. then on friday we took a couple hours off and had a going away party for Pud, saw how nice everyone at work was, a lot a really friendly/happy/caring people... looks like a great place to work. We had a few beers out front of the tasting room (or as they say here "Cellar Door") which is directly in front of a huge old stone church. Like i said there were beers, a few bottles of wine and delicious sausage rolls (that Liz made), I even had a nice chat with Brother John May.
Later Friday I met up with my roommates down at the Clare Hotel (FYI it seems that most of the Pubs/Bars in small towns here are called Hotels, I think they're historic hotels that are now restaurant/pubs yet they usually have cheap rooms upstairs, dorm like with a shared bathroom down the hall). Met quite a few new people... all of which i can't remember their names, sorry guys if you read this! :) but i'm sure i'll see them many more times, this town isn't that big. had a little bite to eat and a few drinks (included what was called a snakebite: 1/2 hard cider, 1/2 beer and a spash of raspberry syrup i think... really refreshing) then we walked up the road to "the other bar", The Bentley. Where there was a DJ (that i thought was good, and a little cute (beer goggles?)) and playstation karaoke... and met more people, mostly girls. All very friendly but thought i was scottish for some reason??? And Pud the guy from the winery was one of the bartenders. the rest is kind of a blurr, but we were responsible and took a cab home... mostly because i guess the cops here set up road blocks all the time and they will breathalyze everyone (0.05 limit), especially during holiday weekends like this one... and we did go by the cops checking people.
Took Saturday easy, did laundry, watch a little austalia open tennis, rested
Sunday we took a road trip to a little town named Blanchtown to spend the night with one of Carmen's good friend who is the host at a camp ground (what they call a "caravan park") it was kind of a tight fit in the car. it was Carman, Sally and Me, 2 cases of beer, a cooler (they call it an "Esky"...just the namebrand), an overnight bag & pillow for each of us and 3 huge "swags" (that filled the trunk (they call the truck the "boot", hood is the "bonnet")...) Whats a swag you ask? its basically an all-in-one roll up "sleeping bag, mattress pad and waterproof canvas cover" i think the cover can be used like a tent if you need, but they're huge. they said its the aussie way and made me sleep in it... and i had a great nights rest!!!!
Monday (jan 26) was Australia day and I already told you a little about that... spent the morning driving back from Blanchtown, iced coffees in hand. rested for a couple hours then headed down to the pub for the afternoon fun. we first stopped at a store and picked up some aussie gear... tshirts, bandanas, hats, temp tattoos. lots of crazy fun, everyone dresses up my favorite was the people wearing the flag like a cape and lots of white zinc sunblock for face paint (they got me bad, covered nearly my entire face, sorry no pics) but i did look funny, i wore an australia rugby jersey, australia wrist sweat bands, australia trucker cap, board shorts and flipflops, a lot of people commented i looked more australia than most of the people there. Even saw a lot of people from work. It was a blast!
Today was a scorcher and its only suppose to get worse. one of the vineyard guys said it was about 120 according to his thermometer out on the roads. and the hot weather isn't here yet! i guess there 2 weeks of this forecasted. I think i might melt! and usually i'm in a nice cool cellar but this one is kind of an open cellar so its just as warm inside as out... at least its totally undercover.
i think i'm getting a cramp...need more water i guess. hahaha
goodnight!!!