Pinch yourself, it’s not a dream

You nearly have to pinch yourself to make sure our lives here in the New England are not a dream.

We don’t have to worry “if we eat” but “what we eat”. Expats are even fleeing the once safe havens of Europe and the US. A recent trip to Sydney even further emphasised the quality of life we enjoy and they endure.

In the glorious New England we experience four unique seasons and are blessed with abundant water supplies, the highest quality sheep and cattle, as well as fruit and vegetables. We enjoy a plethora of fine wineries, music and art and access world class medical services. Our centres of learning are internationally comparable.

Within five minutes drive from my home I can access brewed coffee from freshly roasted beans, steaming hot ciabatta straight from a wood fired oven, collect the papers, get a dozen “hellos” and lo and behold, get a park!

Here in Armidale the university’s presence has afforded us a real life understanding and basis for acceptance of the diverse nationalities that co-exist and go a long way toward creating Armidale’s envied cosmopolitan tones. 

The real beauty of our quality of life though is the sense of community, our care and respect for the aged and a comfort in trusting that someone would help you if you fell.

 In my day to day travels I am continually blown away with the depth of talent that lives in our district. Some locally grown, and of late, many newcomers have made the very brave and prudent decision to live this short time on earth in a natural and wholesome way.

 The saddest part of any regional living today is, once educated, the loss of our children and their minds to the world stage of corporate business and finance, career prospects not attainable here. But we can rest assured that our children leave us prepared well. Raised in the finest nursery, they have been equipped with skills and attributes and instilled with country morals sought after by city employers. These will see them succeed and excel. Maybe in time it will be possible for them to return and work remotely from business or home offices and share with us their worldly ways.

Having travelled to many countries, I not only “kiss the ground” when I return to Australia, but thank my lucky stars on return to the New England, a most beautiful part of a very lucky country.