On a rainy day at the end of March, Geeveston came to life in Heritage Park, as old and young came together to celebrate the forestry industry.

Our entrance to the festival was lined with the ute competition. We could have entered ours; such is the style that is fashionable in this area. Utes of all different shades and hues, mostly ‘lifted’ and ‘pimped out’ had created a mass of slimy mud in the first paddock of the festival. After successfully remaining upright during our walk into the grounds, Georgia and I chose our favourite ute: a black and pink number called Cowgirl Express.

On leaving the ute competition, we found ourselves amidst dozens of semi trailers. Some were laden with the felled trees that we see so often in this area (a sight which still chills me to the bone as it is very confronting to see). The trucks were very big and tall and I felt rather small and cold, and Georgia was happy to pose for a photo.

Leaving the trucks section, we visited the tractor section! I could not believe, at this point, how ‘country’ this festival was, and how different it was for a city-slicker like me. Monte sized up the tractors, telling me his favourite one was “only twenty grand” and I began walking past the Angora fleece tents and towards the ‘truck pulling’ competition. As I gather, a team of people compete to see who can pull the truck the fastest. It was a very popular event and involved lots of cheering and the wearing of coats and beanies as it was carried out regardless of the sleeting rain.

The wood chopping events are always my favourite at the royal show, and today I watched as teams of people competed to see who could chop the wood the fastest. My favourite part is always listening to the count down, when all the competitors begin at different times. I was barracking for a young team who won one of the races.

I was called away from the wood cutting by my friends and my family, who were wanting to watch the Lucas Mill in action. A Lucas Mill is amazing to watch. It can cut the wood terribly quickly. If you were, for example, wanting to build a house, you could quickly build a pile of timber floor boards. Our friends and Monte and I got the details of the Lucas Miller and we went into the timber display tent, where we saw many types of woods. I got some rather elaborate ideas for kitchen benchtops, wall features and bed heads, and I found out that my boots, which are too big for me, will fit Jamahl.

I must get my tongue out of my cheek to discuss the wood carving competition. How somebody can take a block of wood and a chainsaw, and turn it into an elegant dragonfly, or a pair of cockatoos, or a group of tawny frogmouths (statues, that is), I will never know. We stood for quite some time, admiring the statues and discussing which ones would make lovely features in gardens or even a dining room, and I was reminded of the wood sculpture that Monte made fifteen years ago, that sits in his parents’ dining room. I wonder if MG could sculpture me something…

The rain came heavier towards the end of the afternoon, and I quickly skirted the grounds looking for a drink for Georgia and maybe some other goodies. I am always attracted to the Alpaca stalls (and there are many) but I detest the high prices of the fleece/hair/wool (whatever) and I would like to be able to sell my Apaca products at better prices, if it were possible.

Today was a good day. I love the rain but it is not fun going out in it. I love it as I sit here now, with the fire crackling away. I bought a new, bright red teapot today, to add to my collection, and it is sitting on the stove, keeping warm. I shall go now, to eat pecan pie and drink my tea, and listen to a CD of Bill Mollison’s lecture as I crochet a birthday present for one of my dearest friends.