Margaret River Week 1

Thurs 10^th Nov – I was only in Perth for one night as today I caught a train and a bus to Margaret River where I hoped to find a job and settle for a few weeks. 5 hours later I reached Margaret River and was surprised at how cold it was! It’s south of Perth so the temperature is a bit colder than what I’m used to but should be warming up soon as we head into summer. Margaret River is a region best known for its vineyards. It’s very green and actually reminds me a lot of England.

I checked into a hostel and was impressed at how clean and comfortable it was! There’s a nice outdoor area, a big kitchen and dining area, and a TV room with comfy couches. I went straight to the employment agencies to register for work but they had nothing going at the moment and told me to check the next day. I was disappointed as I had heard there was plenty of work around. In the evening I met people from my hostel and everyone seemed really friendly, and almost everyone is a long-termer and works in the local vineyards, so I definitely felt like this was a place I could settle.

Fri 11^th – Sun 13^th Nov – Friday I went back to the agencies but they said they had nothing for a while and I would need to go back on Monday. I spent the weekend chilling out around the hostel, and getting to know people. There was a farmer’s market on Saturday so a bunch of us went to that and then went to the park to play football (well the boys played, whilst me and another girl watched!). On Sunday evening, a guy from the hostel came to my room and said someone dropped out at his vineyard and I could start tomorrow if I wanted to so that was great!

Mon 14^th – Fri 18^th Nov – On Monday and Tuesday I worked in a vineyard with the guys from my hostel. We were de-legging (picking shoots) off of vine trees. It was boring and tedious work, but I made it through the first day just fine! I was told I will have the job until Christmas so in the evening I went to sign up at the local gym. I didn’t have gym shoes on me though as my last pair of trainers were ruined in Karijini so I’m using them for the vineyards now. On Tuesday I was told there was no more work for the women at the vineyard anymore so I was glad I didn’t pay for the gym membership! I was gutted as I knew there were no other jobs going, but someone told me to head to the agencies around 6am to see if I can get work. On Tuesday evening it’s free pool at the local pub so a couple of us went and it was fun so going to try and make it a regular thing. On Wednesday I got up early and was at Vinepower agency for 6am, and I got a job! Some people had called in sick so I was put in as an extra, but as they needed people they said the job is mine until the end of the season. It was similar work to what I did the past 2 days, but as it was contract pay rather than hourly (ie we only get paid for what we do), there was more pressure to work harder and faster. Thursday was the worst day as it was raining so much, I forgot my jumper at home and didn’t have a rain coat, as I’d given it to my parents to take back to England as I’d never used it. Sod’s law I need it a week after I gave it back! It was freezing and horrible to work in the vineyards that day. I thought they wouldn’t let us work if it was raining, but apparently we only get sent home if there’s a storm. The next day was much better weather-wise and we got to finish at 2, as it was Friday!

Sat 19^th Nov – I’d gone for a run this morning around the national park which was lovely. I really wanted to see the new Twilight film, but there isn’t a cinema in Margaret River, so I would need to go to the next town, Busselton. Last weekend I’d asked around to see if any of the guys with a car could take me, and one guy Jon said he would let me borrow his car which was so nice of him! In the end though Jon and his girlfriend decided to come to Busselton too and make a day of it so we went with two other people from the hostel who also wanted to see Twilight. It was nice to have a change of scenery and Busselton is a bigger town than Margaret River with lots more shops. It boasts the longest timber jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at over 2km so we walked along that. The water was so clear and the beach was lovely too. Jon and his girlfriend went for lunch and walked around Busselton whilst me and the other two people went to the cinema. I loved the film and can’t wait for the next one now! Have to wait a whole year though :( Before driving back to Margaret River, we stopped in Bunker Bay to watch the sunset. This is a lovely beach, although it doesn’t face West so we couldn’t see the sunset! Apparently Bunker Bay was in the newspapers recently as a guy was torn in half by a Great White Shark a few weeks earlier! He was only standing in waist deep water! We decided we didn’t want to go in the water obviously.

Sun 20^th Nov – Today a bunch of us in 3 cars went to Prevelly Beach and then Redgate Beach. These are both nice, although I thought Prevelly was better. It was quite windy though so we didn’t stay too long, but it was good to go somewhere different and explore the area. After the beach I was in the kitchen when I heard a familiar voice – it was my friend Laura from the Darwin to Broome tour! She was doing a road trip to Adelaide and I’d told her where I was staying in case she was passing through, but I had no idea she would turn up that day! We had a good catch up for a couple of hours but then she had to go. It’s a shame she couldn’t stay longer, but it was so good to see her after so long!