The Adventure Begins

Yesterday was our last day at our Auckland jobs. It was partly sad as we left friends we had worked with over the last 9 plus years, and partly happy as we looked forward to our new life.

The question we keep being asked is why? Why did you choose the Central Hawkes Bay? Why did you decide to leave careers, a house we love, friends and family in Auckland to head off to a farmlet?

The roots of the decision lay in our childhoods - both sets of parents emigrated from the UK to NZ in the early 70's - and both sets of parents bought 10 acre lifestyle blocks. So, a magical period of our childhoods was spent on small farms, learning about animals and crops and enjoying the freedom that rural kids have. We wanted the same for our four year old daughter Grace.

As to why we chose Flemington in the Central Hawkes Bay? We saw the listing, marvelled at the low price, checked the essentials (broadband, acreage, school nearby) and after Rupert did a long drive in the pouring rain to look at it, we bought it. The 80 year old house is neglected, as is the land, but the potential is there, waiting to be uncovered by some hard work.

After a frenetic period of packing, getting our house ready for auction, and training our replacements at our offices, today is the first day of our new life. Later this week, when the packing is finished, we will head down to Walnut Creek Farm and begin working on the poor neglected little farm.

Our aims - to make something beautiful and productive, to give Grace an early education in where food comes from and how to take care of living things, and to spend more time with each other and her.

Follow along with us - it's going to be an adventure, and we are very excited to get started.