A looooong drive for hot water in the taps, and a microwave… say what?
Okay - well we maaaaaybe did not make the trip just for those things… but they are certainly some mind-blowing bonuses!
Aaron and I, with his son Elijah in tow, have made a massive trip from our home in the top of the North to alllmost the bottom of the south! Quite frankly… I was missing my mumma! And my Dad and sister. <3
So instead of waiting for the “right” time, we packed up our 2 cars and drove…. and drove… and drove… all the way to…
Balclutha!
For the foreseeable future we will be calling Otago, specifically Balclutha our home. And I could not be more grateful! While the off-grid life was certainly full of beauty and wonder, there is also a easiness and joy that comes from hot water in your taps, a warm facecloth in the morning, being able to microwave a wheat-bag or defrost the meat for dinner we forgot to take out! Certainly little things, but LOTS of them. Haha. <3
I’m soooo grateful as well that when some clients heard we were making the trip, they offered us first dibs on their stunner of a rental! I do not think I will ever get tired of watching the Clutha river flowing along as the sun and sky changes colour throughout the day. <3 Aaron was also super excited when it actually snowed! Although short lived, and it didn’t settle, I got a run down each day from him as to how much snow there was on the mountains.
We have loved already getting to know the locals over the past few weeks, and have already found a fav restaurant - looking at you Casafeugo!, the BEST scrolls at the Saturday Milton Market, and made it down to the Rotary Book Sale (twice…) to start replenishing our collection! (We had to leave quite a lot up North in storage). We have also already christened the kitchen table with its first board game afternoon with Mum & Dad! Lots more to come - so if anyone is interested in TTRPG’s of any kind PLEASE hit. me. up!
I am lucky enough that Photography & Videography allows me to be flexible in where I live, and I will be back up north regularly for my already booked wedding and family client sessions. <3 And to call in on friends I miss already… xx
AAAAAAND with such as INCREDIBLE support network down in the South I have already had some fun getting involved with some events in the community! I was stoked to photography the Clutha Valley Community Ball the weekend I arrived, I have jumped on board to provide some real estate photo and video for Jo Turnbull at Cutlers, I am set to take some photos at the Waitahuna School 150th Jubilee AND I have the Southland Wedding Fete coming up in a couple of weeks on Saturday 13th August! Phew!
Also, now that we have had a chance to settle in to our new home - I am super excited to start advertising for family, maternity and newborn sessions here in Balclutha - so be on the lookout for these on my social media! Or if you are already a keen bean, as always, just flick me a message! <3