The next chapter in the Avalon Story

A letter from the farm – May 2026.

Hey there,

How are you? We have been working quietly on a new project at the farm.

Another chapter in the story of Avalon that we are really looking forward to share. Another ball to add to the juggling act – exciting and new and definitely worth the extra bandwidth it has demanded!

How about you? How is your juggling act going?

May has been so beautiful on the farm this year, plenty of grass in the paddocks for the sheep and spectacular sunrises. With the shorter days I seem to time the amber glow of sunrise with the early morning school bus commute – a taxing walk to our letterbox! I love it, every single morning it is offered.

Sometimes I dash out of the house a few minutes early to capture the ‘golden moment’ and other days I move slow and do nothing but soak it all in. I’ll make sure to include some photos for you.

In between managing the ewes with new lambs and preparing market lambs for sale, we have been renovating a second house on the farm to expand the farm stay accommodation we offer.

If you have come and stayed with us you might remember a house maybe 100m away from the current farm stay? It has been privately rented until now and it has a great story that I can’t wait to share with you soon.

(5 bedrooms, sleeping up to 10 people with a pool and entertaining area too – pique your interest?)

Sorry I’m not organised enough to share many photos just yet, too busy being elbow deep in painting and planning!

While I have been busy ‘being busy’ I’m reminded of the work we did renovating the original homestead and I do have before and after photos of that journey I can show you.

Six years ago, almost to the day we began our farmstay journey and it is pretty incredible how far we have come. I have heard that we often overestimate what we can achieve in a year and underestimate what we can achieve in 5 years.

This time six years ago our kids were 6, 4, 2 and 0, we were in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and I thought I was busy then! Never would I have imagined the path our family followed and the dreams that we have made into reality.

What about you? Remember lockdowns, boarder closures and nasal swabs? We can’t help but attach feelings to thoughts, did I just trigger a big feeling for you? Which side of the feelings see-saw are you sitting on right now?

What has the rollercoaster of life exposed you to since then? Hopefully lots more great memories and achievements rather than challenges?

Milestones celebrated, new lives welcomed and ticks to the bucket list?

Have you said goodbye to someone special? I know it hurts. Have you helped a loved one navigate a health journey you never expected to cross your path? Me too.

Hot tip here: feelings are attached to thoughts so choose to think of the great memories please!

You know what - the last six years has happened and you have grown. Not necessarily by your own doing, but by the things in life that gave you no other choice (that buzz word resilience could fit in here). I know you are proud of everything you have achieved and the way you navigated the challenges. I’m proud of you too.

I suppose that brings me back to our new project and why it is worthy of taking space in my juggling act.

The house at Avalon which will soon be accommodation is going to offer guests a space to come together. Possibly 17 people can book Avalon Farmstay and enjoy their time together; celebrate milestones or share each other’s strength during challenges.

The original homestead and the house are close enough to be connected but also allow for enough space when needed. We are organising it so that they can be booked and used together or individually.

For me the special part is that we will be bringing extended families and multiple generations together. Giving friendships that are not limited by distance the opportunity to connect again. Offering like minded people an environment that will feed their curiosity. That is a pretty good pay off for the effort to me.

June will be nose to the grindstone for Joel and I. We plan to have the renovations completed and be organised enough to open the website for bookings. (Add work on the website to the list so that there is a button to click and photos to admire!).

If we get really lucky we will even have the doors open and be welcoming guests.

My next letter will include the link to our website so you can have a sticky beak at all the work we have done and dream about when you come to the farm and visit us. (Maybe even a book now button in case you can’t handle the FOMO!).

Wish us luck, June is a short month!

I can’t wait to share our finished product with you, to share the space with you and maybe even the celebrations.

If you are looking back over the last six years and thinking ‘yeah, I have achieved a whole lot more than I ever imagined’ – well done. I would love you to take a moment to celebrate in your own way.

Why not focus on the great memories; choose those happy feelings and adjust the filter that determines your reality.

Until my next letter,

Sending love from the farm, Em.