We always enjoy a trip to Bungendore. We get to see our favourite people and do our favourite things and we always come away reminded of how special the five years we lived there were and how grateful we are for them. It's really nice to not live too far away that it's possible to do a weekend here and there. This time we were invited to the Pappas Annual Olive Pick. A incredible weekend of picking, food and friends. It was wonderful and such a joy to be part of their family tradition.
We drove down on Friday and headed to the Niven's where we were staying for the weekend. I had a girl's dinner planned and spent a beautiful night catching up with seven lovely women I'm so lucky to have met while in Bungendore. It was such a perfect catch up and nice to see everyone in person. It does make me sad not to be in their everyday lives anymore but grateful for the time we did have. Saturday, we woke to a lovely morning with the Niven's for breakfast and then meet up with our old neighbours Tegan and Dylan at the park for a catchup. We also managed a little visit to the op shop, a peruse of the markets, scones at the CWA before heading off to the Pappa's for the famous olive pick.
It is quite the event. Long and leisurely. The picking itself is quite labour intensive, and it takes a good long while to fill a bucket. It's that nice, satisfying work though of picking a branch clean and finding the most fruitful trees. You can't help but wish you could pop them in your mouth as you go but one taste cures you! They are incredibly bitter but that didn't stop us all trying. The men use the shaker machine and that's a bit quicker but quite the exercise. The kids had a magical day running through the trees and playing together. Primrose and Eden were in heaven after almost a year without seeing each other. Finley spent much of the weekend with Sophie Bowering and had a great time catching up on
After all that picking it was time for lunch. The Pappas's are so generous, and the food just keeps on coming. Just one delicious thing after another. They have such a warm and loving family, and you truly feel embraced by their kindness when you're there. More picking after lunch and then on to dinner, the fire and relaxing after a big day.
Sunday morning, we woke at the Niven's again. I got to have a ride on Ferdie, who is really tall! He's a good boy. It was very nice to be back and riding where it all began. I love returning to the Niven's. I have so many happy memories and credit my time there for giving me the inspiration and courage to go after our own place and a life of land and horses. After goodbyes with the Niven's, we headed back to the Pappas's for the second day of picking. Levi joined the men on the shaker machine, and I enjoyed some quality catch up time with Catherine and of course more delicious food and leftovers. Eventually the time came to say some more goodbyes and head home.
It was such a perfect weekend, full of favourite people and places. The sun was shining, the food was delicious, the company even better. Til' next time.
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