Hills. Dwarfed By The Trunk Of A Eucalyptus Yellowbox.

Before the beginning of summer in my rural patch, which is the picturesque hills of the Central Tablelands of NSW. We experienced a one in a hundred year rain event. It just rained. And rained. And rained. More rain fell in November than in almost the whole year to date.

When it ended, our paddocks were lush and green. As they were for as far as the eye could see. Lusher than we can ever remember.

January started with a heat wave. That doesn’t seem to end. First it was day after day in the low 30C’s. Then the mid 30’s.

February morphed into even hotter temperatures. High 30C’s. Low 40C’s. Culminating in a week of 46C at 2pm. In the shade. Almost every afternoon.

This past Sunday was Catastrophic Sunday. The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) predicted it would be a day of unprecedented fires. Which it was.

[Read more…]

Sunrise. Through The Fern Style Leaves Of A Gleditsia Tree.

The new year is not far away. And for many of us, we’re already starting to wonder what that new year is going to be like.

For me, the beginning of every year is like having a bright shiny bauble in my hands. It’s new. Full of promise. And glows with anticipation. As the year progresses through its roller coaster ride of life, the bauble tarnishes. Brightens. Tarnishes. Brightens. With the events that confront us.

We too often remember only the moments that tarnish the bauble. And forget those that make it gleam even brighter.

To truly remember what the year had in store for us, I suggest you start a Memory Jar. For just you. Or for your whole family. Or one for each member of your family.

On the first day of the new year, write down on a slip of paper your wishes and hopes for the coming year. As well as your doubts and fears. And put it in the Memory Jar.

[Read more…]

Wild Goats. In The Paddocks. At Sunrise.

I run my worldwide business, The Fitz Like A Glove Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies, from my remote 54 hectare rural property. In the picturesque Central Tablelands of NSW.

We have many wild visitors to our paddocks. That are very welcome.

Goats. Foxes. Birds. Kangaroos.

Many of them can be heard in our hectare of garden at night.

Kangaroos especially. And Willie Wagtails. In the month of November. When they’re nesting.

During the day we see foxes and the occasional stray wombat. Stroll through our garden.

But I draw the line at goats.

[Read more…]

A Crimson Rosella. In My Side Paddocks.

I run my worldwide business, The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies, from my remote rural property in the picturesque Central Tablelands of NSW.

My landline is my lifeline between me and my customers.

It’s old fashioned technology. But it’s my technology of choice when I need to get in touch with a customer.

Urgently.

This was an occasion when it was my turn to make a phone call.

An online order was for an Extra Large Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover. And a Superior Felt Underlay.

I make it clear on my shopping cart that the Superior Felt Underlay WILL NOT fit an extra large ironing board.

I ring the number on the order.

[Read more…]

Burning Off. Close To The Woolshed.

I run my worldwide business, The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies, from my 54 hectare remote rural property.

In the picturesque Central Tablelands of NSW.

My business is a full time job.

And so is our rural property.

Owning a rural property comes with responsibilities.

To the local council.

To the Lands Department.

And to our neighbours.

In our rural patch, blackberry is a noxious weed. The seeds are spread by the birds. And foxes. Who eat the berries.

[Read more…]

The ‘Yippee Tree’.

At least once a week. For 24 years. My partner, Victor Pleshev, the architect who designed the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover for his mother. To help her with her ironing when she was recovering from a stroke.

And I.

Post parcels. For orders for The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies.

At Bathurst Post Office.

It’s an hour’s drive. One way. Along two lane. Winding. Rural roads. Up. And down hills.

Not a drive where you can let your mind wander.

Or take your eyes off the road for too long.

[Read more…]

Meadow House. The ‘Best Ever Brownies.

Today was a day for wearing many hats.

Not only was I CEO of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies.

Orders never stop.

And the tax man wants my accounts by a certain time. So the email from my accountant enquiring when they will be ready was one not to be ignored.

We have guests arriving at Meadow House tomorrow. Our guest house on our 54 hectare property.

So I was baker of my delicious ‘Best Ever Brownies’. A recipe I have been making since I found it in a 2006 edition of abc delicious magazine. And one which is now requested by many guests after they leave.

And also star floral arranger for the many vases that are filled with flora cut from our rural property by my partner, Victor Pleshev.

[Read more…]

Winter in my rural patch. Which is the hill country in the Central Tablelands of NSW. Between the historic town of Bathurst. And lower down. The world famous Mudgee wine country.

Is cold.

Mornings can be as low as Minus 7C. Sometimes frosty. Sometimes covered in snow. With an average high of about 8C by midday.

This year the number of cloudy days have far surpassed sunny days.

Running my worldwide business, The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies, from our rural farmhouse, means we need heat 24/7.

We have inverter reverse cycle air conditioning powered by electricity in my office. And the master bedroom. Which is not on all the time.

But the main living area is warmed by the incomparable heat – and ambience – of a wood burning stove.

[Read more…]