The last time I blogged I lamented about my writing freeze. The past few months my mojo has wandered to unproductive and self-critical places. So many people sent me words of encouragement. A few suggested a trip away to break my self-imposed cycle of mediocrity.

And as it just happened, at the time of writing that post, Busy-And–Important-Husband managed to find a farm-stay with a cottage free for a few nights.

So we packed our gumboots, jumped in the car and headed south.

As we rumbled along the winding gravel road into the property, this sight greeted us from around a bend.

We turned the car engine off, tumbled out and stood at the top of paddock, sucking in the clean air and listening to the country sounds.

Birds jingled like bells in the trees.

Horses puffed in the paddock below.

Cows bellowed out to each other across the valley.

Pigs grunted and slopped about in their pen.

A small child cried out: “Mum, I need to poo!”

There are some things you simply can’t escape on holidays.

Once we were settled into our cottage, the neighbours stuck their heads over the fence to say hello.

Before too long the ever-fearless Little Fairy had her arms wrapped around the neck of her new best friend, Archie, the prize Plough Horse.

I have to say, I fell hopelessly in love with the gentle Archie and his paddock buddy Millie too, which is really saying something considered my dubious relationship with horses in the past.

Meanwhile Boy-Who-Asks-Questions wanted to know everything about life in the country. One line of inquiry he pursued was the difference between a steer and a bull. I left that one with the Busy-And-Important-Husband, but as I deftly tipped toed away from the conversation I may have heard the words “nuts” and “cut off” being used. No doubt this fascinating fact will be repeated next week when school returns and Boy-Who-Asks-Questions is asked to tell his Year Two class what he did on holidays…

Each morning the friendly farmers picked us up. The kids clambered into the back of their trucks and they drove us around the property to feed the animals. I can honestly say I don’t think I have met friendlier farmers. But then again, I don’t know how anyone could be unhappy living on that property. It was a truly stunning place; fresh green hills rolling in to each other, surrounded by dramatic and breathtakingly high cliff-faced mountains.

During our jaunt across the property we came across a cow that was preparing to give birth to her calf. God bless her, she looked fed up. As the farmer gently rubbed her back, she shot him the same look I gave Busy-And-Important-Husband in the labour room all those years ago. You know, that look that says: “Back off and don’t ever touch me again you moron.”

As we drove away to leave her in peace, I gave her the nod of sisterly solitude.

One night Farmer Greg picked us up and drove us through the pitch dark, down to the bottom of the property towards the creek. Armed with our flashlights we spotted wombats lumbering through the grass in search of their night feeds. Then we arrived to a spot along the muddy track that looked into a ridge on the side of a hill. Farmer Greg killed the engine, asked us to step outside the car and turn our spotlights off.

“Look up,” he said.

As we stared up into the darkness, little lights started to appear in front of our eyes.

“They’re like fairies,” I gasped to the kids as the glowworms sparkled before us.

“Cool” said Boy-Who-Asks-Questions.

“But, um…can we go now. It’s kinda creepy here.”

And he had a point. You forget just how dark it can get when you are away from city lights.

Our little trip to the country was exactly what I needed. This is not a sponsored post, but if you are interested in seeing where we stayed, here is the link. I highly recommend it. While the accommodation is basic, the overall experience of the property is wonderful.

It was the tonic I needed.

And as I stared out across the valley on our final morning, saying goodbye to that breathtaking view, I think I may have spied my mojo wandering through the field back towards me.