One thing I realised while I was in Europe was the difference in the 'city' people vs the 'country' people... There are definitely many wonderful people I met while I was in the city, like the lovely man who was in the busy rush of the London Tube helping me carry my luggage up the steep staircase, and the sweet French man who gave us extra special attention in a Parisienne bistro, but they were few and far between... the Romans were rude, the Amsterdammers were just too busy dinging their bicycle bells riding way too fast and expecting you to get out of their way and most the Parisiennes were either begging for money or seemed a little sly. I will admit, the Londoners know all about what courtesy and compassion for a stranger is... however, the country people no matter where I am in the world, just warm my heart.
And it's no different to what I find in Melbourne versus what I find in provincial Victoria. Unless you know someone in Melbourne, they don't want to know you. Even when I've been to the States, those who live in the smaller towns give you more attention than those in the rat-race cities. I guess it's true... life is slower in the country... slower to actually make an effort for people whether they are friends, family or strangers...
At lunch time on Saturday, my friend and I drove up to Mansfield and walked through the Farmer's Market, listened to the school kids singing and enjoyed some of the local delights. You could tell the difference between the Melbourne tourists and the locals, just by the way they treated you.
On Saturday night, my friend and I hopped down to the Boat Club to see what the local watering hole was all about. Admittedly, most the people were over fifty and there really wasn't many people there... but the view was spectacular and the people were so keen to who these 'two new ladies' were... especially the 'committee' members. So after a brief chat, letting them know that I'd just bought a new home down the street, they told me that I must come up on Cup Day to enjoy a feast of champagne and chicken with my boys (I'm sure they will be on the lemonade), to get dressed up and join in the local festivities. It was really nice to be made feel welcome. I signed up for a 'horse' in the sweepstakes and said I will be there... and they convinced me to get up next Wednesday morning at 5am to make the drive back to Melbourne instead of driving back Tuesday night...
On Sunday we packed up and got the house ready for our first paying guests. I'm lucky to have some local people who are happy to be my home's caretakers... they will mow the lawns for me, clean the house after guests come, and just help me with all the little bits and pieces which are still puzzling to me with the new house... especially since the only services it has is electricity and phone, and everything else (water, sewerage and bottled gas) is tied to the land. It's all a learning curve for me, but I'm willing to understand it all.
And it's amazing how slow time actually goes in the country.. how you can fill your day and realise by 1pm that you still have half the day ahead of you to enjoy. My little lake house is a joy to go up to and makes my working week easier to get through. I'm so thankful we have been welcomed so warmly. I'm so thankful my boys love it and enjoy every part of it... maybe we were supposed to be country people too! :)
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