Christmas in July (The Sequel)

Garry and I are currently enjoying a long weekend in Meerschaum Vale, a lush farm-filled valley near Ballina. We’re staying with our friends Liz and Adam on their lifestyle block for four days. The good weather we’ve been enjoying in Sydney recently has also followed us north. We’ve woken daily to blue skies and sunshine, with daytime temperatures hovering around 20C. This is unseasonably warm for this time of year.

Our weekend away has proven very timely. We’re now in the midst of transitioning our business and its systems to its new owner. Hence, distancing ourselves from life in Sydney is helping us physically and mentally reset for life after Artiwood. Liz and Adam have also organised plenty to keep us entertained

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We enjoyed lunch by water in Ballina upon arrival on Saturday. Liz and Adam’s friends Tim and Kat then joined us for dinner that night as we celebrated Christmas in July. We finished our Yuletide festivities drinking Sheep Dog Peanut Butter whiskey around a bonfire. It was a wonderful way to finish a relaxing day.

Yesterday we drove to Federal, a small country village west of Bryon Bay. We spent the afternoon enjoying lunch in the sun before turning our hand to creating mugs and bowls in pottery workshop that Liz had organised. We’ll get the glazed and kiln-fired finished product back from the potter in a few weeks time. Liz has offered to bring them down to Sydney when she’s next in town. Her and I have already booked tickets to see My Fair Lady at the Opera House in October (along with a pre-theatre dinner at Aria). I could get use to this semi-retired lifestyle.