Narelle Hunter RURAL LIFESTYLE

I don't enjoy the HSC I am sorry to say, it is the one thing I still get nervous about for my daughters, although I try not to show it. It is not about the mark they are aiming for but the impact this whole experience is having on their well being, that I worry about. Three hour writing exams where you come out with blisters, pressure, pressure, pressure; comparisons, fears, constant study, more pressure. You have to wonder why we have set up such an extreme challenge for these gorgeous young adults in the name of education. What are we trying to prove? Well one big positive that can come out of the HSC is that you learn how to handle pressure. (oh and getting an education is a privilege of course!) Life has a way of occasionally throwing up some tricky situations that test us. The ability to handle a challenge proactively is key. As parents there probably isn't a lot we can do by the time the exam starts to ease the pressure, aside from gentle encouragement, lots of complime

Well hello, how are you? My last post included lots of fabulous advise about starting a detox just as the school holidays where about to start. I am sorry to say I failed dismally! Diets have never worked for me. As soon as I tell myself I cant have coffee, chocolate, less carbs etc. its all I think about. The approach that works best for me is to take a healthy balanced approach while getting active. I did manage to have decaf coffee and I have no trouble with detoxing my thoughts but 'treating myself' with fatty or sugary food is a weakness Id like to work on. Now that the warmer weather has arrived we pull out the BBQ and buy lots of salad and fresh fruit. It is the snacking that I need to look at, as this often happens when I sit down to write or late in the afternoon when we sit on the front verandah with friends. Its funny these habits we have that are wrapped up in emotion and memory. Food becomes comfort, a reward, a celebration, a craving, often a want

A 30 Day Mind & Body Detox Challenge. Spring has sprung in NSW Australia both in the yellow canola and green rolling hills of the farm and across the warm sands of Bronte Beach in Sydney. Our life continues to flow between city and country living as we follow our teenage daughters about, run the farm business delivering produce, meeting city clients and maintain bookwork. Howard focuses on stock care and keeping the crops healthy pre harvest, while I turn my attention to teaching yoga and meditation privately. It is a busy life on paper but it doesn’t feel busy because something is working well. There is a balance we have found for each member of our family of 6. It feels like we are being considerate of each other’s needs as we juggle Saturday morning sport, meeting with friends, having fun, achieving our individual goals and maintaining our businesses, school work and careers. I have worked on the new web Blissfully Present site for a couple of

I picked Emma up from school early Friday afternoon and we ventured along the Hume Highway from Sydney to Jugiong, despite the chances of blocked roads caused from the heaver snow fall the night before.   Emma was back at school in Sydney but very keen to play Polocrosse with the Harden team  and it was my job as her mum to make sure she could participate in the carnival with Brooke. Howard had the job of bringing Brooke and they where traveling from the farm with the 2 horses and all the gear. After driving through the snow near Berrima, Emma and I stopped at Goulburn to do the grocery shop and buy some extra woolen layers, gloves and beanies. I had agreed to camp in the horse float but when the weather dropped below zero I booked the Jugiong Motel and we climbed into our electric blankets late Friday night, sleeping until 7am. Emma and Brooke are passionate about Polocrosse and the weekend couldn’t have been better. The first game was in the fog and frost, steam coming

I will let you in on a little secret that has changed my life. For most of this year I have been practicing  what I call, 'Shifting Perception.' I simply question the way I am looking at a situation so I can maintain a level of equilibrium in my life. So I start the day and if its cold, I think, 'I can enjoy the cold.'  If the traffic is slow I think, 'I can't do anything about this, so I may as well go with the flow.' If I have a long road trip ahead I think,'This is going to be great, I will listen to my favourite pod casts, stop for coffee and enjoy the time in the car.' I picture the trip going well or the dinner party or the meeting. My mind is working for me, not against me. I can see that we get ourselves all wound up about things we have no control over and that is pretty pointless. I take each day for what it is and make the most of what is happening in my life. As my thoughts are settled, there is space for more productive focus. I notice

2015 - I started the day cooking our youngest daughter a hot breakfast. This doesn't happen on many school mornings. I guess we could call it bribery, as she is having trouble getting up and catching the early school bus this week. The smell of bacon, eggs and hash browns helped! It was a very cold winters morning, only 4 degrees, as the children climbed the big steps into the bus. There was excitement in the air, with only a week to go until holidays. On returning to the kitchen I washed the dishes and decided to give the floor a quick sweep. I joked and asked Howard where 'his' broom was. His reaction was a surprise, 'Its not my broom, its your broom!' he stated. It left me wondering at what stage during our 23 yrs of marriage did the broom become mine! The fantastic book 'Lean In' by Sheryl Sandberg is probably what triggered the discussion over broom ownership! I have thoroughly enjoyed Sheryls very well written and powerful book for women who would

There are many people who must feel like they are on the outside of  society and thats really not OK. Last night on Q & A I was impressed with Noel Pearson, Chairman of Cape York Partnership. Noel spoke of the aboriginal people being a minority and not having a voice. It must be very challenging to feel like that in todays Australian society. A young man also stood up on Q & A and spoke about his experience as a child who arrived in Australia via boat. This boy was given a number as a name at the detention centre. This must have been one of the many challenges for him at the time. He must have felt very isolated from basic human needs. The debate about Gay marriage in Australia is another situation where a minority are having to fight for their voice and equal rights. It must be very challenging at times to be Gay, even if you are the kindest, most giving and successful person around. You are perceived to be different and therefore so many people lay judgement unfairly but

Hello my friends, how are you going? I have been busy having a lovely time setting up my new web site and Meditation Coaching business in Sydney with plans to offer mindfulness workshops both in the city and the country. (and audio downloads online - more info to come soon) Sowing is all done on the farm. Howard is very pleased with the rain that arrived just after shearing. Ideal! I see my life in chapters these days and all of a sudden this stage involves lots of extra time in Sydney. The idea of chapters is probably more to do with mothering than anything else. You have the 'baby chapter' and that can be a time of sleeplessness, wonderful conversations with cute little beings who don't like supermarkets, bedtime, bath time, new foods or any lack of entertainment. Suddenly when you don't really feel ready...they are all at school and you have homework, assembly, reading tasks and helping your child feel good with friendship groups, sporting achievements, school

  As we prepare for another term of school I reflect on all the fun we have had this holidays. As you can see in the photos my mum is fitter and healthier than ever with plans to start more classes in Young at the Yoga Tree Studio. We practiced some yoga in a quiet part of Vaucluse House over Easter while the rest of the family wandered around the lovely old homestead.  For anyone who doesn’t know my mum, Trish Slack-Smith, she is the kindest person I know who is a genuinely happy person. Mum always finds something to enjoy, she never complains and is really fun company. As a yoga teacher she is encouraging, inspiring and passionate about yoga and keeping fit and young. I love my mum and dad very much. They are a motivating couple and we love their company very much. (Dad is great fun at the races, we dressed up and went to Randwick Racecourse recently - another great day out) During the holidays we went to Garangula Polo as Kaylie was working there ov