What a wonderful summer it has been. Wonderful guests; much walking, swimming, eating, reading, talking and sleeping! Winter is just as good! The season brings it’s own charms with, wrapping up warmly, cosy fires, time be still, invigorating and dramatic weather, hot milky drinks or mulled wine!

And when the urge to move strikes, you'll be encouraged to enjoy the shelter of bush walks when it is windy or the wide open spaces of the beach walks in the rain or in safe winter sunshine!

Today one of our guests had enjoyed a brisk walk along the beach and returned with hair flying and skin glowing - she had been energized by a massage just hours before and now she sank into a comfortable easy chair and devoured two big bowls of hot, meaty vegetable soup! Two hours later she was packed and ready to return to her family of boys for another action packed term of being mother!

One solo mother who is a student, has been saving $10 out of her housekeeping money towards a much needed three day holiday for herself.

We had a woman from New York come for two weeks and she talks, not only of returning but of being "quite changed by the experience".

Did I ever tell you about one guest who, over the years, came 107 times? She had a busy schedule; so at the beginning of each year she put the monthly dates of her visits into her diary and not only did it help support her life but she became a wealth of wisdom and encouragement to Te Wahi Ora. We miss her now that she is retired.

As I've said before, we are planning to be here for women for the long haul. So we must find a way of being financially sound. We now need staff which is a new experience for us and means that Te Wahi Ora has more financial demands on it. But it also means that I'm more relaxed and the food and services are superb!

PHOTO BY: Deb Ball