The peaceful break by Joanne Hill

I've just come back from staying with my family down country - holidays seem to be a trend at SRR at the moment!
It's the middle of winter here in New Zealand - frosty lawns and clear freezing days. I stay on my parents farm where, although they aren't farming any more, there are still animals to be found. A neighbour leases the land so there are cattle in one paddock and sheep and some newborn lambs in the other.

It always amazes me that even when a lamb is only a day old it is leaping around having a great old time. Then there is the sheep called Lamborghini, once a pet lamb, who thinks he is still a lamb and comes running up to the fence to be patted. That's Lamborghini above, waiting for me to pat his head. Meanwhile the cattle take great interest in you as you walk past, sometimes running along beside as far as the paddock will let them go.

One morning I met a friend for coffee at 8am in town before she went to work. On the way out, there was mist, and even in town, in the central garden area with duckponds and beautifully tended gardens, the mist sat beautifully over the land. It was absolutely romantic and mystical. Below is a  picture of the steeple of All Saint's Anglican church in the mist, taken from the Square.

Now that the children have grown up, breaks away visiting family are restful and peaceful. I don't have to worry about what to pack, and there isn't any of that drama over locking up the house and keeping the pets fed since the grown up kids are still there. And I certainly don't have to spend the holidays trying to keep young people amused. We have some brilliant memories of holidays but boy, being able to take off for a few days on your own is a real treat.
What do you do to unwind or get away from it all when you really feel the need?

Joanne Hill writes sweet romance and is indie-published.
Her book Daniel's Bride will be free on Amazon from August 1-5 so please - download a copy then.