I stopped off to buy some milk in the multi functional general store in Shoalhaven Heads yesterday after walking Bailey along the beach and it was like going back in time. Not only did this small shop sell all those little things you need on holidays they also catered to the holidaymakers with fish and chips, burgers, milkshakes and of course ice cream. There was a small crowd of  3-5 year olds with their sandy feet and salty hair fresh from a morning at the beach, all with their noses pressed up against the glass as they got to pick their ice cream of choice. Such a big decision but being on holidays they were allowed to be “naughty” and most chose rainbow or bubblegum or chocolate and they were so engrossed with it all, waiting patiently for their turn. It brought back so many memories of my own children at that age and in similar beach holiday mode at Forster or Noosa and it seemed reassuring somehow that despite the world seemingly crazy and teetering on the edge of so many bad things that here we were almost in a time warp where the world still centered on young children pink from the beach and their special ice cream treat. Some things just never change. On the other hand, I would have loved to have taken a photo of them, noses against the glass, but sadly in this day and age it is frowned upon to take pictures of young children unrelated to you proving that the world has indeed become a weird place!

We have been spending quite a bit of time at Shoalhaven Heads lately as it is the one local beach where dogs can legally go leash free. Sadly it’s not the best local beach to swim at as it is rough with strong rips that do not entice this little English girl into it’s depths. Just enough to immerse myself is fine and even then I can feel the current tugging at my legs. It’s rather sad that considering we have 7 miles of beautiful beach it is only on this little corner that we can walk Bailey without fear of a $380 fine from the Rangers. I do occasionally risk it at other sections of 7 Mile Beach, always walking her a long way from other beach goers before letting her free but you constantly feel guilty with one eye on who is around you ‘just in case’! The upside of The Heads is it’s great hotel situated just around the corner from the beach on the river and a perfect place to go for an afternoon drink whilst the dog dries off enough for the car ride home! This is where we spent Lozzy’s last afternoon before she headed home to Vietnam.

Back at the Ranch we are catching up on our garden chores after the festive season and are trying to time it in between the 40 degree days (A suburb of Sydney was the hottest place ON EARTH last week at 47.3) and the thunderstorms, wind and rain! We certainly have been having some amazing weather lately and when the storms come they are magnificent tearing the sky apart with splices of lightening and thunder growling and crackling all around us. We can generally see them coming across the paddocks, menacing thunderclouds and an eerie light before huge downpours, the sound of it on the tin roof deafening and humbling. Nature at it’s bossiest.

Maybe it’s a result of all this volatile atmospheric stuff but we have had a broody chicken who wouldn’t leave the nest thinking she could hatch her eggs despite the lack of a man in her life. On the advice of our farmer neighbour she has been segregated in a large cage for a week to break the habit and hopefully her motherly desires will be curtailed and she will resume her normal life happily pecking in the chook run again once we let her out. It seems a bit mean but saves her from a pointless and disappointing few weeks on the nest I suppose.

The veggie patch is off the Richter Scale at the moment with a very pleasing crop of tomatoes, as good as the first year we were here and with very few bug, caterpillar or fungus issues. We are literally picking 20 a day of large sweet meaty tomatoes as well as loads of  the little cherry variety. Eggplants, zucchinis and beans galore and despite the extreme heat killing 2 of my cucumber plants we have dozens of cukes as well. We don’t eat enough meals a week to be able to use it all so we have been ‘sharing’ with neighbours and friends who pop in to see us on their way to and from their hols! We swopped some beautiful sweetcorn for some tomatoes the other day and I’ve bottled as much as I can too. I need to buy more jars as I finally managed to harvest enough apricots from our tree to make some jam! I managed to beat the birds to it this year and I was rather chuffed that my 1st ever batch of homemade jam turned out splendidly! The colour is divine, glowingly orange, and my chest puffs smugly every time I open my cupboard door. Beginners luck I suspect!

Before our expat went home she ticked off a very important item on her list which was to visit her Pop who has recently moved into a retirement home in Sydney. A big change from living in his own home in Forster but one that he has embraced with dignity and gratitude making it a bit easier for the rest of the family to see him with seemingly less independence. He is very well looked after in a wonderful Village which is reminiscent of a resort in parts. Pop was very happy to see her and his newest grandson-in-law as well as Tom who towers over his Pop but has a very soft spot for him. A good hour or two spent together will keep Loz going for another year with the odd letter in between ♥

During this hot weather we have to consider the animals within our care. Obviously we don’t leave our dog in a hot car and we make sure that both she and the chickens have plenty of water (they prefer it cold so I add ice cubes on very hot days – so spoilt!!) and give them scraps with a high water content, cucumbers and watermelon are especially popular! A birdbath is a nice idea if you have a good spot but something I hadn’t thought of until recently when I read about it on a gardening site is a little safe spot for bees to have a drink. They need a lot of fluids as they really do exert themselves a lot as they cover a 3 mile square radius searching for nectar. To help them I have placed this little bee bath/drinking spot near some plants that they love so they have an easy place to have a little drinkypoos on their daily rounds….

Bailey has been on somewhat of a ‘regime’ since we got back from the USA. She had put on 3kgs in our absence mainly due to my rather ambiguous feeding instructions I think! I felt really mean cutting out all breakfast, bones and halving her dinner but it has all been worth it to see her back to her svelte shape and the vet is now super happy to see her waist back on show and she has the green light to resume ‘normal’ eating. Obviously with all our house guests over Xmas she did get a few treats but as usual we make her work for it. Her most disciplined trick is when we put chips/nuts/crackers on her paws and make her wait (for up to a minute which must be torture for her) before she gets the go ahead to enjoy them. We have the Power…..poor little Bailey.

As it’s a new year and we have an overflowing veggie patch we have decided to have a more healthy eating program incorporating loads more veggies and less of the naughty stuff. It hasn’t been half as bad as we thought it would be although happy hour with a sparkling mineral water or a glass of kombucha just doesn’t quite hit the mark. We have really enjoyed some of the salads and different dishes that we have been creating though and we are gradually getting used to a different way of eating. Let’s hope it pays off!

Today is the 3rd anniversary of the day we moved here. It has gone SO FAST and we have loved mostly every minute (those blustery westerly winds mid winter are one of the bad moments that come to mind!) and it feels like yesterday that I drove up the driveway for the 1st time and had an hour by myself before the removalists and helpers arrived. I sat on the edge of the veranda and took this photo….

Three years later it looks like this……

It is a very happy home and always open for friends and family who wish to escape from the city or the grey skies of England! The wedding has been the icing on the cake but also we have enjoyed 3 wonderful Christmasses and Easters with a house full of chatter and laughter and our new life in the country has turned out every bit as good as I had hoped it would. Follow your dreams folks, you never know where they will take you and what sort of life is out there if you just take the leap!