I think country kids are just a bit different. I mean that in a good way.

This is not the Homestead’s first rodeo when it comes to finishing with secondary school; we’ve done the final prizegiving/signed shirt/raucous party deal before and, when reflected upon, they are usually accompanied by a feeling of not quite hitting the mark. For our Farm Girl, though, end of school has been one crazy, joyous, fun ride.

Spirit Week was, I think you all will agree, simply fun with nobody spending huge dollars on outfits and everyone joining in.

The last day of formal school, incidentally Tabloid Sports Day with it’s cheers and body paint and coloured tutus,

Waimak, Waimak, Give us a Cheer…

was also the day they decided to prank their Dean who awoke to them “sleeping” on her back lawn – yes, that’s sunrise.

The party involved blazer wearing, imbibing of blackcurrant and apple vodka cruisers , a little bit of slurred speech and wibbly walking on pick up, and a lot of talk about sobbing farewells.

Last night was the Leaver’s Dinner

and in two days time we have final prizegiving.

Country kids are different. I’m going to miss being the old-lady-in-the-ute-at-pickup spectator to this authentic, funny, the-world-is-their-oyster bunch of folk and for the prizegiving, just to be on the safe side, I’m packing tissues.