The drought was a horrid time for so many. Storm King Dam was just about empty. The worst I had ever seen.

Then covid also took its toll. One of our favourite stops was the Bramble patch. Although they still produce their fine and award winning products they were forced to shut the cafe which had this beautiful ice cream, we would all get one and go outside and sit in the cold and eat it while chatting to the dog. Overcast and 4°C a couple of times. We did that from when the kids were young to adulthood. The owners had a photo album of all the storms, the snow and hail and floods. We would chat for quite some time.

But my wife and in-laws battled everything. One good season followed by hail, floods or drought. By that stage they needed 3 good seasons but it didn’t happen. Then in the mid 80’s interest rates were so high they ended up selling the farm. To be honest the banks were not kind to the farmers up their either.

So it is a beautiful place but it is a harsh place. We too were going to move up but in the early 90’s. Work was the problem.

The breeze here yesterday afternoon was very refreshing. Really felt like Autumn.