Acre of Roses in Trentham, Victoria | Hotel and B&B

Acre of Roses

Locality: Trentham, Victoria

Phone: +61 405 032 566

Address: Blue Mount Road 3458 Trentham, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.acreofroses.com.au

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• Florist

24.01.2022 Thank you Country Style for sharing the story of The Potting Shed

21.01.2022 ~ Something in the Air ~ I’m not sure if it’s my irish dna dancing or the ions in the air more negatively charged, or even that the moon is a waning crescent, but there is definitely something different in the air this week. I know that if I was standing beach-side near the ocean that a feeling of restlessness would be apparent. There is much change happening around us the world over, reflected, unusually, in the recurrent use of the word fragility ...I’ve heard many times this week. It makes sense, vulnerability will be heightened post-lockdown, our insecurities will rise more to the surface and over the coming months relationships old and new will be tested. While there is excitement about being able to move around more freely some, including me, feel a little lacking in energy, a bit overwhelmed. It’s like waking up in the morning, where our senses are a little slower and it takes a while to get moving and feel more stable upon the ground. One thing I know is that staying connected, talking, reaching out , and being compassionate to others will help us move through this current cycle. Building resilience and openly communicating strengthens our resolve. So apt is this quote It is in the fragility of life that we discover our true inner strength (Shefali Dang). Stay strong and keep safe. See more

20.01.2022 ~ Acre of Stories ~ There are many new beginnings this week from easing of lockdown restrictions, state borders opening, our first guests post-lockdown staying and the peonies and roses in bloom. In the spirit of celebrations, after 4 years of promising myself, I’ll definitely do it this year, I am proud to say I am finally launching Acre of Stories - our monthly slow living wellness blog, wherein we’ll share stories of all manner of happy, healthy and... helpful happenings here at our magical flower farm & retreat entwined with some of our favourite self-nurturing recipes. If you'd like the 'Acre of Stories' blog dispatched to your inbox (just 12 issues per year), you can subscribe via the link in our bio. Have a happy and relaxing weekend and take time to smell the Roses! @marniehawson See more

20.01.2022 ~ Little Things Make Big Things Happen ~ January downunder is a time for summer fun, holidays, relaxing and working out what we want to achieve for the year ahead usually involved - creating a plan! For us its especially important for the rose farm and gardens with the coming seasons; for new discoveries and delights for our guests; and for finding quality time with each other. Achieving the plan is made by taking action, sometimes a little overwhelming and m...ore often than not there’s a lot of procrastination! In 2020, where so much around us was out of our control, I adopted Tiny Habits - a breakthrough method devised by Stanford Behaviour Scientist, BJ Hogg. He identified that small changes actually change everything - where tiny is mighty eg. whether it be two pushups a day rather than a whole workout or five deep breaths each morning rather than an hour of meditation (the book is a great read for the summer holidays) and his analogy that habits are like growing plants, hooked me. His three step process starts - 1. With a tiny behaviour (Put on your walking shoes) 2. Find a good spot in your daily routine (After you get dressed). 3. Nourish your behaviour so it gets firmly established in your life (celebrate). With practice you easily and quickly form a new positive habit. This for me is much easier than making grand resolutions as inevitably I don’t often achieve them. However a little action a day adds up to a lot over time. This month our stories will focus on Tiny Habits to undertake each day and hopefully by the end of January , you will reap the rewards with some big changes. Happy Habiting and let us know what changes you’ve made through January! (Link in our bio to the tinyhabits website). See more

19.01.2022 ~ More than Perfect ~ I often recite flowers are the perfect imperfections of nature. What I don’t do is walk the talk, perfectionism is paralysing and I’m starting to realise a symptom of procrastination (always was a late bloomer:)) So I felt I could very much relate when on a webinar with Nell Montgomery (a psychoanalytic psychotherapist (what a title!) who works as a global executive coach) - her specialist topic Imposter Syndrome ( link in our bio) . A definition... - Not believing you deserve the success you’ve achieved; a feeling of fraudulence about that success; and a feeling of dread you will be found out. An affliction many women suffer from and in listening to Nell, surprisingly, a lot of men in leadership roles. There are four main experiences we can be susceptible too Critical parenting, Siblings and birth order, Success in families and Life events. Wrap these up and out comes anxiety; perfectionism and the need to please. I suffer all 3. So often our worst enemy is our critical selves! The light bulb moment had occurred, I needed to reframe the internal messages , I am good enough. The biggest thing is not to compare ourselves with others as we are all successful in our own right. We can’t please everyone. One thing I’ve realised through COVID, those that stick with you are there not because you are perfect or that they feel you are an imposter, they surround you because they believe in you and what you stand for. I started with flowers and will now end with them, they are little powerhouse miracles that help us stop the negative narrative, bring a smile upon our faces and enlighten our mood. Never underestimate yourself - you are unique , perfectly imperfect and successful. And if you are feeling a little imposterish, go out and take a walk in nature, you won’t feel that way for long! See more

19.01.2022 ~ Slow Christmas in July ~ Mid-winter celebrations are a tradition at Acre of Roses, which started a few years ago, whilst we were renovating The Miners Cottage. Thinking back, it usually corresponded to a particular area that we had just finished and we would celebrate by creating a convivial space for entertaining many guests and making lovely mid-winter memories. There’s something about having traditional Christmas fare in a winter setting - it just seems to make se...nse, and takes me back to Christmas’s spent in the UK many years ago and more recently when Rob and I had our first White Christmas together in Ireland. Winters in Trentham provide lashings of jack frost and the occasional dusting of snow, so sitting in front of a roaring fire, mulled wine in hand and a great movie on Netflix has to be our all time favourite for rare downtime. Watching the flickering flames is mesmerising, a quick glance turns into hours long gazing. Have you every wondered why? Numerous research has identified it lowers our blood pressure and the enjoyment of gazing may be rooted in evolution way back in prehistoric times when we sat around the camp fires. Usually our guests get to celebrate Christmas in July in The Miners Cottage, however through the challenging events surrounding us all we returned and indulged in our own mini retreat this weekend making the most of the rare opportunity. I am always in awe of the richness of our region not only in natural resources and the clean cool climate air but the local producers who are at our doorstep. Today we lunched slowly, with a sense of calm, with a lovely couple enjoying the fruits of labour of Trentham’s own Annie Smither’s Du Fermier, where we dined on her exquisite Christmas in July Hamper offerings. An afternoon spent balancing discussions of what life was , Is and will be with good food and wine. One word only is required replete. Stay safe and keep well this weekend! See more

19.01.2022 Roll on Spring :)

18.01.2022 ~Stay Well ~ 1 July sees us officially welcome back guests to the Miners Cottage. It seems surreal given that today many Melbourne suburbs were locked back down to help curb the current COVID surge. I have to be honest and say restarting with the new protocols has been harder and more challenging than when we first opened. There have been a number of changes we have had to make to our original offerings and we are working hard to bring them all back online, though, ma...ybe in a different format. Safety for guests is first and foremost, yet we want you to still enjoy an experience that enables you to slow down and rejuvenate a little. We have our new normal training wheels on as of tomorrow and encourage those staying over the next few weeks, both returning and new guests, to provide us with ongoing feedback on how we can continue to improve our service and ensure your comfort. As a working micro rose farm Rob and I are onsite, though discretely hidden (unless you want to say Hello or have a guided walk through the Rose Farm socially distanced of course) and act as your personal concierges should you need anything at all (mask and gloves in tow!). We have a number of new initiatives coming online soon, one specifically based on your feedback is the renovating of the Theatre/Cinema Room to be more versatile and usable in winter to which we are installing plantation style shutters and ceiling heaters as well as new curtains and draughtproofing which are to be installed. We hope you stay safe and well and look forward to welcoming you back at Acre of Roses.

18.01.2022 ~ Good Weekends ~ Thank you to the team @goodweekendmag for including us in their Annual 52 Best Weekends Away issue (see link in our bio). We have much gratitude and thanks to everyone who has (and continues to) support us on our journey and believe in the vision to create a little sanctuary for guests to retreat to from their busy lives in Trentham. Everyone deserves a little nurturing to enable them to slow down and literally smell the roses, and when as one guest reviewed - they left "Relaxed, replete and more in love" - we know we are on the right path. @marniehawson

18.01.2022 A LITTLE SURPRISE A Sunday morning coffee @trentham.general and quick flick through the August edition of @countrystylemag led to the discovery of little surprise sneak peak of our upcoming article in September issue - keep an eye out - can’t wait:). A huge shout out to @marniehawson @virginia_imhoff @bellebrightproject for pulling it together - What a dream team and a dream come true - thank you so much

16.01.2022 ~ Open your Heart this Christmas ~ We’ve decked the halls and trimmed the tree yet it still felels a little surreal to be celebrating given the events of 2020, however today the Ham arrives and as a family Christmas tradition from childhood I finally feel the festive season is here. The significance of traditions and rituals is what grounds us when the winds of adversity are at their fiercest. News of Sydney’s breakout this week reminds us of the fragility of our situat...ion and the disruption of many Christmas plans has already started. As I sat at the brick folly early this morning listening to the rustling of the hedge leaves, the warbling of birds in the trees, the buzzing of bees hovering over flowers searching for nectar, I looked skyward as the cumulus clouds moved quickly with the cool winds, closed my eyes and set my face towards the warm rising sun then opened my heart with gratitude of how the simplest things in life are so magical. Whatever your Christmas traditions are embrace even the simplest ones. If you can’t be with your loved ones next week find another way to connect and celebrate together with open hearts.

16.01.2022 ~ Socks & Sleep ~ A restorative night’s sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life to help maintain high immunity, and there are many activities that help us attain it. One such is the humble sock. I read the other day that socks (in the knitted form) originated around 500 AD in Egypt. Today socks come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of different materials. Bed socks, specifically, are wonderful to help you fall asleep. The best I fir...st discovered when in Scotland a number of years ago, are Johnstons of Elgin, they use the finest renewable, sustainable and biodegradable Scottish cashmere to create their infamous bed socks. So when guests come to stay we want them to have a refreshing sleep, the addition, in winter, of our bed socks may seem a luxury, however they play an important role in helping you get a good night’s sleep. Other activities recommended are to have a warm relaxing bath with mineral salts before bed which ease the muscles and better prepares you for a peaceful sleep; spritzing Lavender and Bergamot oils in the room which will help you calm the mind and relax the body; and If you take your Smartphone or iPad to bed then we have provided Blubocker glasses for you to wear to block out the blue light to allow the melatonin levels in the body to rise, quickening the onset of sleep; thus the bedroom lighting is set as a warm soft glow. Pure cotton fabrics are a natural fibre which are also hypoallergenic meaning they’re perfect for those prone to skin irritations and allergies. And now living n a COVID world UV and HEPA air santisation and filtration systems clean the air (which our guests have welcomed especially those suffering from asthma). So there it is your basic guide to a good nights sleep. For more tips pop over to @alessandra.edwards and if ever you needed an excuse to treat yourself, this is it. . . #socks #bedsocks #trentham #daylesfordmacedonlife #sleep #sleephygiene #cashmere #cosy See more

15.01.2022 There’s nothing like a good soak!

14.01.2022 ~ Meet the Naybours ~ A little yarn on a lighthearted note! I remember it was a Saturday morning not long after we moved to Trentham in 2006, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find two smiling bubbly faces who said Hi we are from next door, we wondered if you had looked at your back paddock at all this morning. A quite unusual introduction I thought. I said I hadn’t however was happy for us all to wander down the back and have a look. As we ventured down ...to what is now the Rose farm, there standing in all her glory, was their huge rescued Chestnut Mare , Babe . I had seen her the week before running frantically up and down the fence line and couldn’t work out what the problem was. Well now there was no problem, for whatever reason she didn’t want the fence there anymore as she managed to jump at a low spot and was now happily munching the grass and taking shelter under the large group of Pittosporums in our far paddock. This was our introduction to the neighbourhood! Babe then saw out the rest of her life happily trotting from the neighbours to ours , in fact in the weekends she would bang the kitchen back door knowing the fridge would be full of her favourite carrots. The situation reminded me of Mr Ed and I have to say wasn’t the first time we all co-shared our animals, There was a time when our aptly named Labrador Chocolate decided he would prefer to live with them for 6 months before moving back to us the following summer. It is certainly the epitome of the townsfolk of a country village. Well Babe passed a few years ago and our neighbours who can’t help but rescue horses (and animals in general) , adopted another two, this time Shetland Ponies named Bella (see above) and Libby, real characters who you can see and hear daily and even have a good yarn with them across the gate by the Folly! See more

14.01.2022 We are thrilled to be featured in the UK’s Country Homes & Interiors Magazine October Edition published today. What is so special is that a 20 something Kiwi doing her overseas experience in London back in the 80s would make a monthly trek to a newsstand in Oxford Street to get the latest edition - never would I have dreamed we would one day be in it. Thank you so much to @bellebrightproject @marniehawson @aliheath_uk @countryhomesmag

14.01.2022 ~ A Rosy Xmas Tipple ~ Many of our Xmas Drink traditions hail from the Northern Hemisphere where Xmas occurs during their winter season. Whilst many of us happily follow these traditions, which might include whiskey-laden eggnog, Champagne Cocktails and Xmas Punch, this Xmas , why not add something a little different to your drinks repertoire. Our bespoke sparkling Rose Water Kefir is a luxurious non-alcoholic option that can be enjoyed neat or mixed. Refreshing and palate...-cleansing, it adds wonderful balance to all the rich festive foods we love to indulge in. Rose Water Kefir is definitely a good spritzy pacer to sip between courses of your Xmas Day feasts, with the added bonus of knowing that billions of good health-giving gut bacteria are at work while you’re at play. This magical delicious elixir, is made locally by Sharon from The Fermentary. Organic Rose petals freshly harvested from here at Acre of Roses and from our sister Rose Farm, Crofters Fold, are immersed in Daylesford Mineral Water along with a few secret spices and traditional kefir grains in the vats of The Fermentary in Daylesford. Roses are full of Vitamin C, which is beneficial for the immune system and kefir is a wonderful tonic for gut health. Over the summer season, some roses change their colour hue. Mr Lincoln, one of the primary Roses in the Rose Water Kefir, is a perfect example; at the beginning of the season, it is a darker velvety red that turns more cerise in the cool of Autumn. This change in its hue is due to its blue undertones and varied exposure to the sun during the season. A very similar colour transformation happens as the Rose Water Kefir continues to ferment in the bottle; it often starts as a pastel pink and moves towards blue undertones as it matures, just like a good wine. (Link i There are a number of ways to enjoy our Rose Water Kefir. As a spritz with organic sparkling wine such as Crofters Fold Estate’s new-release 2019 Blanc de Noir, which is a white sparkling made from dark Pinot Noir grapes known for their antioxidant properties or make it into a Rose Cocktail! Whichever way you take it, sparkling Rose Water Kefir adds a little healthy luxe to your Xmas.

14.01.2022 ~ It’s Raining Love - Hallelujah ~ The art of eloping A simpler more intimate affair has become increasingly appealing during what has been a tumultuous year for brides-to-be and their fiances. Many have postponed thrice times over this year and finally shifted to the simplicity of a smaller yet romantic vision and at Acre of Roses, The Folly stands tall awaiting them. Summer 2020/21 however is going to be a little trying with the La ...Nina weather pattern at full strength. That means for an already high rainfall in Trentham, many more wet days. In conversing with brides & grooms the inevitable question arises, what do we do if it rains . We have a couple of options , one, if it is wet though warm - our outdoor pavilion which faces the Rose farm and Folly or the Theatre Room with blinds opening up to private gardens. Both of which provide an alternative to dining under the stars. Having a contingency is good planning though we always hope you wont need it. There is something very romantic when it rains by the Folly. At over 700m above sea level we are usually up to 5 degrees cooler than Melbourne, and often low cloud shrouds us providing an almost mystical feel as created in this gorgeous wedding earlier this year. The bride donned Hunter Gumboots and clear umbrellas and literally started singin in the rain. It didn’t dampen the couples spirits, if anything they literally glided across the paddock. So don’t be afraid of the weather, embrace it instead , it adds to the ambiance of the day and many photographers love the moodier light. See more

14.01.2022 ~ Baking as Therapy ~ These days I don’t get to bake as often as I would like, though our guests surprisingly bake up a storm when they stay - I am always amazed at their creativity! Baking has been my go-to to relax as far back as I can remember especially the good ole favourites, Ginger Crunch, Chocolate Chippies (which our guests get to bake themselves with a little batch of dough prepared by our inhouse chef, awaiting them) , No Bake Slices, Caramel Squares, Carro...t Cake and many more lunchbox favourites. Saturday afternoons saw our house full of warm sweet fragrances wafting from the oven and, ok, who could resist licking the wooden spoon at the end! Winter was when things went up a notch with a range of steaming hot puddings, a favourite of both my parents who had their own repertoires - Dad couldn’t resist baked apple or seasonal fruit pies and sticky steamed puddings, and Mum’s Bake Mandarin Meringue Cream made with semolina was delicious. As the years past it was increasingly my job to whip something up after dinner, and this week as I was greeted at our front door by a lovely bag of lemons from a fellow rose grower and hotelier so I thought mid-winter plus lemons equals Lemon Deliicous Pudding (a sort of self-saucing pudding), combining a simple list of ingredients found in most pantries - it’s so easy to make. If you’ve got a few spare lemons, have a go! And also let us know what’s your favourite mid-winter pudding? Lemon Delicious Pudding 50g butter 1 teaspoons lemon rind cup sugar 2 eggs 2 tbsps. flour 1 cup milk cup lemon juice Cream butter and sugar and lemon rind until light and fluffy. Separate eggs, beat egg yolks into creamed mixture. Fold in flour and milk. Add lemon juice. Beat egg whites till stiff then fold into lemon mixture. Bake at 150 degrees C for about 50 minutes until well risen and golden brown Serves 4 (or 2 at our house!). Enjoy!

13.01.2022 A very pertinent documentary , a must watch!!

11.01.2022 ~ Creating Order Amongst Chaos - My first ever jigsaw was a Disney favourite Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, I would repeatedly sit there working out where the pieces fitted, then as the last piece was placed would start all over again! Our current pandemic has caused a surprising jigsaw puzzle resurgence even with our highly technological world. So why are people trading tapping their iPad or iPhone for the physical experience, exactly that, jigsaws are a tactile ac...tivity. Touching the pieces, moving them around with our hands allows the brain and body to interact leading to a usually successful solution. In a world of disconnection, the ability to combine body and mind is reassuring and grounding. With a sense of chaos and fast paced unpredictability encircling us often with no set answers, puzzles have answers and solving them provides a kind of instant and temporary relief from the anxiety that comes with uncertainty. They restore order to the chaos in our minds. Henry Dudeney, a great puzzle-maker, quoted: "Every good puzzle, like virtue, is its own reward." Puzzles are a form of escape. Once you are concentrated on doing a puzzle, it seems the outside world recedes temporarily. You immerse yourself into the intricacy of the puzzle and forget about everything else. With this in mind we ran a small competition to determine which of our photos would make a great puzzle. The winners were a tie 1. The Roses and 2. Keegan with his Rose Crown, and of course, both had Roses. So we’ve now made them into 500 piece puzzles to keep you occupied and be a little mindful over winter. They are $39.95 plus postage and if you would like to re-discover the joy of piecing together a jigsaw puzzle and gain a little sense of order for the mind then send us a direct message and we will delight in getting one out to you. Happy Jigsawing. by @marniehawson @ Trentham, Victoria See more

10.01.2022 ~ Getting to the Other Side ~ As you look up on a clear night and see the stars twinkling see they are whispering to each other via little vibrations of light some as old as time and when you look at the rain and see a ray from the sun dance to form a rainbow you know that there are still some things in life that are familiar and predictable. I’ve been reaching for rainbows and stars this week, as I am feeling a bit wary and vulnerable. With the daily new normal. One th...ing that’s been keeping me grounded is talking with others and finding some strategies to guide through to the other side. One is this helpful list of 8 tips for dealing with tough times from author of Emotional Competence by Eveline Lonoce. 1. Decipher it Put all the facts together 2. Focus - Become more aware of what is going on 3. Set Boundaries - Sometimes we unexpectedly take on the chaos of others 4. Let go -a change in direction sees us let go of something things 5. Be Gentle, this is so important right now, be gentle to you and to others around you 6. Seek Companionship Find people you can connect with and trust Your bubble mentally 7. Find A Safe Haven mostly now this is you at home and for those with nature and space that could be a forest or a garden 8. Express Yourself - write, paint, sing draw or simply talk. We will get to the otherside together. Be kind, Be vulnerable, Be gentle, Be open and most importantly Listen ! See more

07.01.2022 ~ A Special Thank You - To every father a huge THANK YOU for all that you do, especially this year where you have provided stalwart support and love, pragmatism and determination for your families to prevail in the face of great adversity. For many today’s celebrations are shared together in spirit rather than body due to lockdown and those that are forever looking from afar. To my man, ever your Scottish namesake - Rob Roy - every day no matter what the challenge yo...u have responded with resilience and growing patience at your core, your work ethic knows no bounds (I’m sure you are the Energiser Bunny’ reincarnate)!! Your sometimes gruff exterior hides a sensitive heart of gold with caring and diligence for others, you are my hero and my rock and I can’t thank you enough (and Keegan thinks you are a pretty cool Dog Dad as well). I will forever cherish the memory of a day so many years ago where you sat with my Dad, the Builder and Designer together, working over the intricate details of what has now become, The Miners Cottage. I knew then that there was something special about to happen. Unfortunately Dad passed before he could see it finished though I know he is looking down and smiling upon us. Happy Fathers Day everyone.

07.01.2022 ~ 30 days of You ~ This September signals the start of Spring and also for us all tucked down in Victoria the need for patience for a few more weeks of hard lockdown. More than ever self-care during this time is essential, so we are following @breathemagazine_australia’s wonderful 30 days of You calendar for September motivation. Starting tomorrow we will upload a daily practice on our stories for you to do at home. So be kind and make time for yourself this September,... tag us as you mark them off and let us know how you are going. Time to be kind to you this Spring! @roderick_macgregor @_meg_ryan outside our Potting Shed.

06.01.2022 Something just in time for Spring.......

06.01.2022 ~ Power for Flowers ~ Today is Mental Health Dayand this year’s focus is Mental Health for All. I can’t think of any more relevant way than to celebrate Mother Nature in our quest for some peace and quiet to help calm our minds. Where we are, in the world today, is the epitome of a spring day - blue sky, a light breeze and warm sun. A day to take in the wonder of the gardens, butterflies and bees, and how could we not relate good mental health to all things flower base...d. Horticultural Therapy encompasses physical and mental wellbeing and has been practised since the ancient Egyptian era. It’s pretty rare not to meet a happy gardener. It improves our mood, gives us a dose of Vitamin D and helps reduce stress. And for those immersed in of flower farming, flowers are our yardstick for our mental health. Back in 2008 a study by the American Society for Horticulture Science measured the effects of having flowers and plants in a hospital room on a persons recovery from surgery. Some had flowers others not. Fascinatingly patients who did receive flora benefitted from lower blood pressure, lower heart rates and lowering ratings of pain, anxiety and fatigure than those who did not. I am sure if we all gave flowers, especially those that are locally grown, this week, there would be an upsurge in positivity which is so needed in Victoria at the moment. Commemorate Mental Health Day by giving the power of flowers! @marniehawson fashion @manteaunoir See more

05.01.2022 ~ What a Year to Review ~ This time each year we take a little time out to reflect on the year that’s been - well this year, for everyone, it was life changing. It will be forever remembered as the year of Where were you in 2020?. There have been many speed wobbles, however there were also moments of joy - we survived the roller coaster and so did our wonderful team, we reconnected, learned to manoeuvre the headwinds and built resilience - we laughed, cried and worked together, many eloped, some collaborated and a few coordinated - in the end we were able to nurture our guests, friends and family in a safe and comfortable haven. We now end the year grateful, ready and open for whatever the calendar in 2021 will bring !

05.01.2022 ~ Turn your face towards the Sun and the shadows will fall behind you ~ An old Maori proverb I learnt as a child seems quite apt given our current circumstances. This beautiful proverb means to look forward to your future and put your past behind you. It was the essence of the mythological story of Maui who decided the days were too short as the Sun used to travel too fast across the sky not leaving enough daylight for working, fishing and eating. Whilst we can’t yet... go outside in the early mornings to connect with mother nature and feel the warm Vitamin D giving rays of the Sun, the days are getting a little longer and Spring is not too far away. Then we can walk barefoot to ground ourselves to the Earth , slowly stretch out and lift our faces to the Sun, release and deep breathe. The Brick Folly is a beautiful spot to lay down on one of our yoga mats, grab a bottle of mineral water, and gently and slowly awaken our bodies for the day ahead. Here’s to a little Maori wisdom to lighten our spirit and bring hope for the future.

04.01.2022 ~ The Art of Bathing ~ Hit the search button and google lists a myriad of historical facts about bathing, which is as ancient as history itself including a long list of famous artists who have painted bath scenes over the centuries! (I know, now that I’ve identified it you, you’ll being see baths in art now everywhere - from the renaissance movement to the impressionists! They loved it. Many adults take baths for one reason: stress relief. ...Sitting in a bath forces you to stop multitasking and just take a few moments for yourself. It increases your body temperature which can improve circulation, calm your nervous system, detoxify your body, and release endorphins. As you draw your bath (where did that term come from apparently from the days when water was drawn in the sense that it was pumped or supplied in some way that didn't rely simply on water pressure) add some bath salts and aromatic oils (or in summer some beautiful fresh rose petals) , dim the lights, add some music and rehydrate with some pure water. Taken in the evening, this is a great way to prepare also for a good night’s sleep. Richard Branson is a bath advocate he noted I love sort of sitting about relaxing in the bath and having a good think. So, indulge in a little self-care and relaxation tonight. PS: Let us know - Are you a shower or a bath person ? See more

01.01.2022 ~ Hot Cold Relax ~ Two of our most used facilities are the Outdoor Shower and the Cedar Hot Tub. Guests combine them regularly to engage in the ancient practice of Hydrotherapy - which helps release tensions in both the mind and the body. Now that we are in Winter Hibernation for at least the next 6 weeks or so we thought you might like to discover and recreate the experience at home. The Finnish practiced hydrotherapy thousands of yea...rs ago and used the cycle of hot-cold-relax, which is proven to both energise and rest the body, improve blood circulation and activate the lymphatic system, to help detoxification. It actively promotes the release of endorphins. One of the most important part of the process is that of breathing, a subject I read recently in James Nestor’s Book Breath where he identifies, amongst others, that it is far more important to breathe through your nose than your mouth; he said the nose plays an important part in cleaning, heating and moistening our breath which leads to chemicals being released that reduces blood pressure, regulates our heart rate and more (It’s a fascinating read). So here you go: Step 1 : Hot Create a calm environment in your bathroom, dim the lights and put a candle on. Take a hot shower and add some essential oils eucalyptus or balsam fir are our favourites and create a steam shower for 10 to 15 minutes. Step 2: Cold Embrace a cold plunge by switching the shower to cold water for 10-15 seconds. Step 3: Relax & Breathe Now it is time to relax. Dry off and put on a bathrobe, close your eyes, and practice a short, mindful breathing exercise. Count to four while you breathe in, pause then slowly release for another four count. Repeat for 5-10 minutes. So embrace the ancient Finnish bathing tradition regularly to assist feeling a little more relaxed! See more

01.01.2022 https://www.change.org/p/department-of-industry-science-and Please support this very important petition to support our local flower industry