An end signals a new beginning, right?

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing

Elizabeth and I began our adventure at Dunblane in 2010. We were 60 years old. Our purpose was to find a holiday place that our children and grandchildren loved to visit. What an adventure it was. But all good things do indeed come to an end. In November 2020 having sold Dunblane to a lovely young couple, we moved back to The Southern Highlands of NSW. For Elizabeth it was home coming. She grew up in a local town called Moss Vale. She has many school friends who still live here. For me, I was returning. After I sold my medical practice in Hobart in 1998, we moved to the Southern Highlands. Sarah and Natasha attended school in Bowral while Julian and Kim attended Sydney UNI. 

2020 was the year we turned 70. This is an age when it's prudent to be closer to your children. We chose the Southern Highlands because it is equidistant between Sydney where 2 of our children live and Young where Natasha Andrew and Sophie live  There is a direct rail link to the Sydney Airport so access to our remaining 3 children is easy. Alastair and Bridget live with their families in South Africa. Sarah and Dan live with their two girls in New Zealand. 

We found a lovely 100acre property in Canyonleigh. Flat level ground, which is good for Liz who has a "crook back" and "bung knee". For those who don't speak Australian, she has chronic degenerative problems in the lower back and left knee. This property is perfect for me because it's a bit run down. The home is fine. It's modern. The land had been let go for the best part of 20 years.We bought from a couple well into their 80's. Still living independently but no longer able to work the land. So plenty to keep me busy. 

We named our new property "Sandown Farm" This was because the registration name for our horse stud is "Sandown" Any foal we breed will have the Pre fix "Sandown" with its name. Liz brought her thoroughbred mare "Gipsy" with us and decided to put her in foal to a very successful stockhorse stallion called "Hippop".  Gipsy is a beautiful dark brown En Costa del Lago mare who like so many was no good as a race horse. We believe she will be a top brood mare. One really dark and stormy night in September 2021, she gave us a beautiful filly.  In memory of the foul weather, we have named her "Rain"  

Our return to the Southern Highlands, a level block, warm house, the close proximity to our children and grand children, plus a new foal is pretty much all Liz wants. She has the bonus of her school friends and hordes of "horsey mates"

Latest comments

28.04 | 17:47

Wow, I lived on the Haye's farmstead for a couple of years, crazy to hear of this fire coming through. Hope I can visit again one day.

15.08 | 01:17

This is all brilliantly documented Paddy - am so totally inspired by how you have transformed Dunblane.

31.07 | 06:36

Hi Peter, exciting indeed. Suggest you contact a Rory O'Leary at BVSC. He is the economic development officer. Big focus on Eden Another farmersnet@fscla.org.au

31.07 | 02:48

Sounds exciting! I'd like to discuss how this might fit in with some other opportunities for the Port of Eden.