Oh wow here we are ! Summer 2023/24 …. what are you looking forward to over the summer? Here at Ferrari HQ we'll be enjoying a summer full of cropping with Farmer Ross, a welcome home for one family member and a farewell for another tinged with a little bit of sadness but a whole lot of joy for her future.
Our daughter Annabel is moving to Tamworth to be closer to her ‘farmer’… she's bought her first home and as an Occupational Therapist has begun building her client base ready for 2024 in a new regional centre. We are so excited for her and her partner as they move closer together. For me, it's another farewell…. we go through so many as country parents don't we ?
Our son, (poster boy Ollie - the blue shirt kid featured in our branding is now grown up) returns tomorrow on the first day of the Aussie' summer from his year working in Canada. I'm here in Sydney bracing myself for the 6.30am scramble at the International Arrival Hall. I'm excited…I'm a bit nervous. He'll be tired from the long haul overnight flight and on the six hour drive home I don't imagine we'll be chatting too much 🤪
It doesn't feel like almost a year since he flew out, that tortuous farewell from the International Departure gate. Communications are so very different these days, FaceTime, Messenger calls, group family chats. Photos and videos as frequently as any 21 year old boy can manage (insert eye roll)… all have ensured that we felt connected.
Speaking of which, the sadness that is felt when your child heads off to boarding school is one that I'm sure many of you are anticipating heading into this Summer. The start of the 2024 school year will be here in no time, and all the emotions and heartache with it. We've just launched our Summer Series of Destination Boarding, the Podcast. These are short chats with the boarders themselves about how they tackled that grief when they left home for boarding school. They are full of wisdom beyond their years, truly, and they have some really heartfelt tips and strategies for settling in.
If you do have a young person in your life that is heading to boarding school next year please share this Summer Series podcast with them - I'm on a mission to make that farewell easier for families, and of course our 2024 boarders.
Our usual podcasts are still rolling, we've got some brilliant guests coming up… the amazing Oli Le Lievre from Humans of Agriculture sat down for a chat recently, Sarah Smith the talented watercolour artist joined me, Geoff Marsh, Head of Frensham has a very interesting back story, and I also flipped the mic on another well known podcaster, Angie Nisbet from Married to the Land. So many more but there's a few that are coming up.
Have a topic or a guest you'd like to see interviewed for Destination Boarding ? Please get in touch with me - I love all of your suggestions.
Have a very Happy Christmas with your family and friends and I hope the weather gods are kind to you wherever you call home.
