Man, what a day! I swear, Ballina’s got a way of throwin’ curveballs. Woke up early, like 5 AM early. The sun was barely up, but I had sheep to shear. You know how it is. Grabbed my gear, hopped on me bike, and zoomed down River St. The air was fresh, but I was still half-asleep.
So, I’m cruisin’ along, thinkin’ about brekkie. Maybe a pie from that bakery on the corner of Tamar St? Best pies in town, no joke. But nah, I gotta focus. Sheep don’t shear themselves, right?
Get to the farm, and it’s chaos. The sheep are all over the place. I mean, come on! Can’t a shearer catch a break? I’m chasin’ these woolly beasts around like I’m in some sort of sheep rodeo. Finally, I get a few settled down.
Then, outta nowhere, it starts rainin’. Like, really rainin’. I’m talkin’ buckets. I’m soaked, the sheep are soaked, and I’m thinkin’, “Great, just great.” But hey, I’m a pro. I keep shearin’. Wool’s flyin’ everywhere, and I’m feelin’ like a rockstar.
After a few hours, I finally finish. I’m knackered, but there’s this rush, ya know? I love it. But then, I look at the clock. I’m late for me mate’s BBQ at the park. It’s at the Ballina Foreshore, and I can’t miss it.
So, I bolt. I’m runnin’ down the street, still in me shearin’ gear, lookin’ like a madman. People are givin’ me weird looks. I’m like, “Yeah, I just wrestled some sheep, what’s it to ya?”
Get to the foreshore, and it’s packed. I spot me mates near the BBQ. They’re laughin’ and drinkin’ – classic. I’m all outta breath, but I’m grinnin’ like a fool. They start crackin’ jokes about me bein’ a “woolly warrior.” I can’t help but laugh.
But then, I see it. The food. Oh man, the sausages are sizzlin’. I’m droolin’. I grab a plate, and just as I’m about to dig in, some bloke bumps into me. My plate goes flyin’. Sausages everywhere! I’m fumin’. “Oi! Watch where ya goin’, mate!”
He just shrugs and walks off. I’m like, “Seriously?!” But I can’t stay mad. I grab another plate and load up. BBQ’s the best, right?
We’re all sittin’ around, tellin’ stories. I’m still buzzin’ from the shearin’. I start talkin’ about the crazy day, and everyone’s laughin’. “You should’ve seen me chasin’ those sheep!” I’m exaggeratin’ like mad, makin’ it sound like a wild adventure.
Then, outta nowhere, a seagull swoops down and snatches a sausage right off me plate! I’m like, “What the heck?!” Everyone’s crackin’ up again. I can’t help but laugh too. It’s just one of those days, ya know?
As the sun sets over the Richmond River, I’m sittin’ there, surrounded by me mates, feelin’ grateful. Ballina’s got its quirks, but it’s home. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So, yeah, that was my day. Full of sheep, sausages, and a bit of chaos. Just another day in Ballina, I guess!