As with most dreams or adventures, fulfillment of these, can take days, weeks or months as in our case. Several years of yearning to return to my country roots and escape the frenetic pace of city life, has finally become a reality. The journey to get there has been one of self-discovery, grief and sadness, faith, and of course good old fashion hard work.

My soul mate on this journey has been my English-born husband who was willing to give country life a go after his retirement from full-time work in January. My work ended with a redundancy almost a year ago followed by some casual employment until our big move. This has been a bitter-sweet experience for me but I have accepted  sometimes we need to let go to enjoy the new blessings that await us. Juggling work, part-time study, home-life and health issues depleted me of much of my usual energy.

But now the opportunity to commune with nature and rekindle my creative talents at the same time causes my spirit to soar high above the dark clouds and bring light into my new endeavours whatever they may be.

This blog is part of that new beginning. A sort of journal that tracks life on a small rural retreat of 25 acres in Victoria’s High Country where the “Man from Snowy River” legend lives on, at least in the minds of those who remember the halcyon days when cattlemen and their horses reigned supreme in these alpine parts.  I lived and worked in this community over 20 years ago.  On my return I am observing many changes as the population grows. While farming is an important activity in this district, tourism feeds the local economy in a huge way when there is a good ski season in winter and there has been enough rainfall to fill the large local lake for summer recreation.  Many  city people are attracted to the lifestyle and the availability of more affordable housing. Others opt for small rural properties to enjoy on weekends and during holiday periods.

We are here to stay but are fully aware of the work ahead of us as we apply some TLC (Tender Loving Care) to this almost 35-year-old house and surrounding paddocks. Join me on this new adventure to reinvent myself as I shed my suburban existence for hopefully a less stressful and more peaceful life in the country. But the reality may yet be something beyond our wildest imagination!