Thanks to everyone so far

We've updated the thank you list. Everyone who's helped is on it. We've endeavoured not to miss anyone out. Think you're worthy of a mention? Let us know. Read a cheeky bit more!

Whinging Poms Go Bushcrazy

Come on, everyone has a little bit of a moan from time to time. Check out our latest gripes and groans. Bloody poms! Read a cheeky bit more!

Arg...Donation Problems

We have just been informed that the doantion button was not working this evening. We have just had a look at it but it seems ok now. Could we please ask you to try again and if there are further problems to email ascheekyasyoucant@gmail.com if you are still having problems. We need to know about these things or all our efforts go to a dead end. Thanks Read a cheeky bit more!

St Andrews Cross Spider

Cross Spider
Originally uploaded by A Race

We have seen this guy hanging around in some of the places we have been staying in in Northern Queensland. It always takes on this cross shape in it's web and sits upside down. It's quite a large fella (aren't they all large, Anne? - Gareth) with a body size of half an inch then its legs on top of that makes him a good three inches.
Danger level # 0 Do we like him, yes we do, I have seen mosquitos in his web.
He is non agressive and non-toxic to humans, phew!
Read a cheeky bit more!

Something to Aim at in the Toilet - Green Tree Frogs

The Australian Tree Frog Phil was happily aiming for the toilet fresher block until it started to crawl out from under the flow! These gorgeous tree frogs like to hang around in toilet bowls for some reason. Many number of times on this journey so far we have entered the bathroom to find one of these green fellas perched on the bog seat, in the bowl or just behind it. Perfectly safe but give you a bit of a fright if they start jumping crawling around and you don't know they're there.
Danger rating=0. Can I lick it, yes you can, the skin secretions of the frog have antibacterial and antiviral properties that may prove useful in pharmaceutical preparations. Don't touch it with dry hands, your hands burn their sensitive skin if not wet.
Frog in the Bog Read a cheeky bit more!

Calamity Anne on Reesville Lookout Point

Anne is really getting into the look that has been bestowed upon her by making best use of the clothes she has been given, going for the full blown Huckleberry Fin look. With a rope belt and feet which are impossible to keep clean given the work we are doing, its hard to distinguish the girl from the boys in the Cheeky Gang sometimes. Read a cheeky bit more!

Heaven in the Hills, Reesville, near Maleny

The short ride to Heaven.

Carol Curtis is a remarkable woman in her 50’s who owns 10 hectares of bushland in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Reesville, near Maleny. On it she has set up Heaven in the Hills, an eco-friendly, sustainable, retreat environment where people can come to create, learn, transform, change or just relax, rejuvenate and heal. A qualified Reflexologist and Cranio Sacral Therapist Carol is the perfect host and a real inspiration as we found out.
Gareth cements a stone facade

She contacted us as a wwoof host. She said she'd have enough work for us and that she loved the sound of our project. Come over and tell me more, she said. So we said we'd make some time to say hello. A short ride from Kenilworth where we'd just been, and a little back on ourselves in terms of distance covered, but we figured we couldn't miss out, and it turns out we were right not to.
The lovely Carol curtis
We found Carol to be one running dynamo of a woman. Not content with running the her retreat, the healing side of things, and as a business, she has landscaped the property, taught herself to stone-face walls, and elaborately decorating the front of the complex of buildings on the property (the three guest cabins, the railway-carriage-cum-chalet, the shed, her home and veranda) with ornate ceramic and glass mosaics, filling the garden with plants and flowers, carving out pathways and managing the scrub that leads onto the bushland that backs onto the property.
Phil sweeps a roof
Finding time to make friends with a family of insistent, cawing Butcherbirds who encroach at mealtimes, waiting for her to come out to the garden at the front porch to hand feed them one at a time, by throwing bits of bread one at a time up for them to catch, she told us of the difficulty of working alone, and, for the most part without help, in setting up her Heaven in the Hills. When some people talk of difficulties and obstacles the permanent sigh signals an air of defeat; that some problems just aren’t meant to be bested.
Our accomodation on Heaven in the Hills
With Carol her energy is the most impressive thing about her. She is lively and creative enough to add the touches that make the retreat a reflection of her calm and nurturing qualities, but on a scale that staggers a little when considering she did it off her own back and mostly unaided. Which leads onto the personification of determination she embodies. The retreat just grew she said, from being a place for herself to relax, to a place where others could come too, and enjoy what she’d created and wanted to create. She’s worked damned hard to do it too.
Yet, you always need a little luck. But isn’t luck found where you least expect it and when you most need it? Struggling for finance, the local bank manager, reluctant to back a lone female operator, bailed out at the last minute, happy to have another sneaky peak after two years numbers. The other banks followed suit, procrastinating, then dismissing not her idea, which they liked, but her situation, her position.
The old train carrieage , which carol convertedDevoid of answers, and running out of time, Carol carried on regardless, wondering if she was doing the right thing, concerned that she’d have to send the builders home very soon, and leave the retreat complex half-built, but content that if not, then she could still live on the property, have a roof over her head, and think again about what to do.
King Kev with Gareth and Phil
Then the luck she needed fell out of the sky. A friend and neighbour called Eric came over one day, with a friend of his, up from Sydney visiting, who had heard of her plight and wanted to meet her. He asked Carol if she minded if he listened to her story, so she told him of her plan to turn the site into a retreat, and the problems she was having, and the money she needed to complete it.

“How much?” he asked.
“A lot”, she replied.
“I can give it to you” he said. “Whatever you need. No conditions. Pay me back when you can. I like the sound of this project. You should do it”.
“But…”
“No buts. It’s no problem. I’ll sort it out my end, and give you the money at the end of the week”.

This done, he went to Sydney. This was three years ago, and she hasn’t seen him since. She pays him back every month, every so often phoning him up to offer more money, to no avail. It may be coincidence, it may be sheer luck or random happenstance, but it enabled her to continue, to finish the project and to grow the retreat into a popular, growing business.
Phil and Anne Grout Mosaic Tiles on Home made Scafolding, it's worth a mention that Anne is Scared stiff of heights

The finance enabled her to complete the building work to her specifications, to build her vision of the kind of place she wanted which included ensuring all the buildings were built to ensure a balance of comfort, practicality and sustainability. Using passive solar energy, cross ventilation, thermal and acoustic insulation, wood heaters and fans the construction materials were chosen as much for their practical benefits as anything else. It's interesting that the use of strong chemicals for termite protection has been avoided where possible by using cypress timbers, termite mesh and some quirks of design.

Another design feature was the incorporation of underground water storage tanks beneath the buildings, collecting up to 382,500 litres (or 85,000 gallons for those of us who still think that way). The grey water is all reused in reforestation and in the gardens. Another remarkable addition to this property is that it's completely off the grid, producing all its own power.
Just so people know we are working hard, a picture of Anne's dirty feet
The system is based on a renewable energy sourced from solar generation. The energy is stored in 48 gel cell batteries and converted to 240 volts by an inverter. There's no shortage of power either, and no blackout periods, as gas and wood are used for heating and a bit of good planning has ensured the efficient usage of power, with gravity fed water, and low wattage light bulbs complementing the design features.

We were certainly exceptionally well looked after there. From the get-go she welcomed us warmly and soon after settling us into our cabin met us by the campfire for a beer and nibbles, where we met with Kevin and Jenny, her friends, helping her out while the retreat was busy, who were telling us stories of the crawling things that bite. The Aussies certainly know how to make people feel at home.
Some of Carols Mosaic Work
Asking Carol what she wanted us to do the next day work wise, she politely said there wasn't much to do. Kevin, who knew differently, having spent the past two weeks at herculean labours alone, laughed, and made it clear, that, actually, Carol, if they're offering, and they want to then... So we offered again. Give us work, we want to help out. So, she thought for a minute, and reeled off a rapid fire list of things to do in an intense minute of release that had Kevin visibly more relaxed and Carol thinking about more

The work itself was a pleasure. Having done a little stonework before I was visibly thrilled to be asked to do some stonefacing. Now, a visibly thrilled Welshman is a sight to behold. All redfaced and blundering in there, there's not much grace, less delicacy, more elephantine Mr Bean, and a thrilled one is like that boulder Indiana Jones runs from in the chamber in Temple of Doom. But as happy as a sandfly I was nonetheless. With Phil and Anne grouting between the ornate and hand-crafed (again by Carol) mosaic design on one of the cabins. It was all mixing cement by hand, choosing rocks, discarding others, placing, taking off, picking up the same one again, turning it, putting it down, picking it up, spinning it, and repeating. Phil and Anne, a little nervous on home-made scaffolding were beavering away regardless.
Carol, Gareth and Phil
We thoroughly got stuck in, with Kevin supervising, we worked away happily. Morning tea? We didn't even chew. Lunch? Inhaled it, mate. With only a short spell at each place we visit we want to be able to finish what we start, and actually have made some small contribution by the time we come to leave. It usually means we have to work heads-down and get on with it which suits us fine. King Kev, as we'd now nicknamed Kevin, told us to come for a beer once we'd finished, which we duly did once the last stone was placed.
Kev and Jenny
Working the next day too, in the morning at Carol's friend Suzie's house, an arrangement Carol told us, she'd arranged for us to earn an donation towards a video camera Carol was getting for us. Suzie made us lunch after we painted her office and weeded her garden and it really made us think, how people were coming to our aid so readily and without affectation. So much time has been spent thinking about this trip, so much planning in the weeks leading up to it, such a lot of energy expended making it happen, that now we're doing it, and people are responding to us positively, it really seems we're on the right track.

It's a humbling experience to be taken into someone's life and watch as they take over your problem, or, as we have it, our challenge, and make it their business to join in and help out. Carol and Suzie, her pizza making husband Giancarlo, Kevin and Jenny all made our visit to Maleny and Heaven in the Hills a memorable one. Carol also gave us a jerry-can to use on the long stretches of road that Australia is so famous for. By the time it came to our leaving, we were happy to have had the pleasure of meeting everyone, and a little disappointed at having to go so soon.
Giancarlo showed us how to make pizzaWe can only hope that the people we meet and the places we go after this are as easy-going. We're optimistic. So far, we've met the best of Aussies. So far so good. Read a cheeky bit more!

Evening chronicle

THREE fundraisers are begging to raise cash for charity.

Anne Race, 30, of Washington, and friends Gareth Owen and Phil Carr will start a journey without money, a vehicle or clothing and will rely entirely on the generosity of the people they meet Read a cheeky bit more!

Fill your boots but empty them first

DSC_1129
Originally uploaded by A Race

We are reminded by Terry Mcgrory that we must always turn our boots over before putting them on. As you can see spiders like to reside in the toe ends.
Gareth was just about to put this boot on when he realised he should check it first.
Read a cheeky bit more!

Magnetic Times

Three young Britons: Anne, Gareth and Phil are presently visiting Magnetic Island and they are on a very unique trip. The trio, who call themselves As-cheeky-as-you-can't, rid themselves of all worldly possessions at the start of a journey around Australia. They have pledged to work only for donations to Bookaid, a charity to improve third-world child literacy, or for necessities to keep their journey on the road. At the end of the adventure all donated possessions will also be auctioned off for Bookaid. Read a cheeky bit more!

Old MacDonalds Farm, Glenoak Kennilworth

Glenoak Farm
When asked, shortly after settling into Glenoak farm fifteen years ago, what sort of cattle Terry McGrory owned, thinking about it, he summoned the easy, obvious, but rather too simplistic answer – brown ones. An ignorance of the breed of his cattle in a small community like Kennilworth raised a few eyebrows and made him the butt of a few good-natured jibes, but nowhere near as many as the next time his bovine expertise was called into question.

Phil and Terry lunge wildly at the sheep, which need to be wormed.
He presided over the birth of a calf. It all went well, no glitches, hitches or problems. The calf was healthy, and was soon moving around freely. Terry called the vet to come and castrate it. The vet arrived shortly after. Taking out his bag of tricks he went to find the calf. "Where is it?" the vet said.
"In the yard." replied Terry.
"Which yard?"
"There’s only one yard fella, its right there."
"How many calves do you have?"
" Just the one, you can’t miss it. It’s in the middle of the yard there."
The vet found the calf and also with it found a problem. Or, more specifically, the lack of a problem.
"Do you wear glasses?"
"No, why?"
"I can’t castrate this calf Terry."
A little worried, Terry wondered what was wrong and asked “Why not?” After looking incredulously at the calf then back at Terry, the vet said “Cause your bullock’s got no bloody bollocks mate! It’s a cow. He’s a she!!!!”
Terry will never live that down, he knows it and it makes him laugh to tell the story.
Terry has been on his farm for fifteen years and prior to the country life worked in Brisbane, for 30 years, in a job he didn't like. He worked hard in Brisbane because he wanted the best for his boys. He was well paid and used the money he earned wisely. Terry eventually told those he worked for to stuff it and came to the bush to retire in a new life where the work is never done. He bought Glenoak Farm and spent years renovating it, adding to it, preparing for the time when he’d live on it, knowing he couldn’t slip into a docile dotage, but wanting to keep busy and active, outdoors.
It’s a tribute to his character that he undertook this change of lifestyle, the bushman city slicker from Brisbane, in earnest but with grace and good humour.
Terry McGrory
An easy going man, his life hadn’t been romantic, or always happy; he had many experiences he’d change but none of which had succeeded in souring him. He’d taken from life what he needed to secure the upbringing of his two sons. An intelligent and keenly acute man, he rose through the ranks of the chemical company based in Brisbane, earning such respect along the way that when he requested early retirement, they reluctantly granted it him, and paid him handsomely to not work for any of their competitors. Terry, enthusiastically offered us a glimpse into his past through honest story. And as we imbibed advice for life from him, we sipped on some of his delicious muscat. Given the choice to do things over again he said he would change many things. His worldly advice to us was "Never sell yourself. Don’t spend your life doing something you don’t enjoy just for the money." Advice we will fevently follow.
Gareth and Phil build a dry stone wall for the bonfire
With our easy start to the trip, during which time we had done nothing but our first job of washing dishes, we were rearing to go for more physical work. Something we could really get our claws into. Terry certainly provided us with some interesting chores. He eased me into the work slowly with a task of mowing the lawn. A simple enough task, and maybe even a little tedious for some, but for me, this being the first time I had ever mowed a lawn, I was in a grassy playground. Completely loving the physicality and the expenditure of energy in such a simple pushing motion! Terry talks through the land with PhilHaving lived in homes without lawns all my life, I had never had to do any mowing before. I was so very grateful to finally use my body for something useful after spending months cooped up in a flat in front of a computer screen. So, I very willingly mowed a number of lawns and enjoyed looking over the neatness my motor pushing had created.
Daene, Terry's son's house on the hill Down near the campsite on Terry’s property, the boys collected horse manure in wheelbarrows. An old style outhouse on the campsite brought about a real rustic and authentic feel to the services available to campers. Using a scoop to cover bathroom business with sawdust, the toilet is kept really quite odour and mess free. Surprisingly, this method is much better than the chemical toilets I have had to use in festivals.
Oiling a wooden bridge with motor oil
Terry’s vision is to keep a self sustaining farm which is used to provide a place where families can bring their children and have the kids really getting involved in the farm. He rents out the camp site and a cottage. There were a few children staying while and we were happy to see how enthusiastic they were collecting eggs, feeding the pigs and handling the animals. Nowhere is out of bounds on his farm. He is happy that city children get a chance to learn about farm life by keeping animals roaming free over the farmland. Terry is always pleased to see conscientious parents bringing their children here to learn.
A cute little field mouse we found
Fifteen years on and Terry still doesn’t know the gestation period of a goat and he’s not sure if it is all pigs that don’t like citrus or just his, but he knows how to run a successful hobby farm and he is happy to pass on what he does know about sustainable living to all those eager to learn such as we three. We throughly enjoyed our time with Terry and I hope to go back to Glenoak to learn more from the man with brown cows and write up our cheeky story in his beautiful surrounds. See you soon Terry.
Terry was our first WWOOFing host and we were his first WOOFFers, so neither party knew what to expect but each was just as eager to learn from the other. The woofing goat, who thinks he is a dog
Ever the gentleman and top-notch bloke, Terry offered to fill the tank for us and to show us the short-cut along Kidaman Creek Road, also known as the Suicide Track. We said goodbye to Stephanie, the lovely lady who lives in on of Terry's cottage and Gareth enjoyed a cheeky ride pillion with Terry in his sports car.

When we finally said goodbye to Terry, it was with a mixture of regret that we had to leave so soon, but with great pleasure to have made his acquaintance and to have the unmitigated offer to come back to Glenoak to tell him of our adventures. Our trip really couldn’t have got off to a better start. Phil and Terry scramble to catch more sheep You straddle one sheep!
The cheeky gang with Stephanie and Terry
Phil feeds the pigs Read a cheeky bit more!