Escaping to the country on a hectare or two or three is a dream quite a few Kiwi blokes and/or couples are afflicted with. Author Bruce Ansley will be known to quite a few by virtue of his fine articles that featured in the “NZ Listener”. He had that aspiration to enjoy the good life in the countryside.
Bruce and his wife Sally resident in Christchurch city were both middle-aged, when they saw their chance. A Banks Peninsula farm came up for sale. So they left their old clifftop urban house for an even older one built by the early pioneers – and on a deer farm.
I know exactly how Bruce and Sally felt as I had always had a dream of self sufficiency on a farm and did so on a small block near Motueka.
“There’s no explaining the longing,” writes Bruce Ansley. “One if the things people want to do is to live in the country; a longing for open spaces that out-distances lattes, scooters, hoodies, text messages--some just want a place in the country.”
I think probably anyone into outdoor recreation are more likely to harbour a yearning for country living and open spaces and particularly the hunter or angler whose recreation involves bringing home meat or fish for the dinner table. Add in running a few sheep or cattle depending on the size of your “country estate”, running chooks and plenty of space for a substantial vegetable garden and you’re satisfyingly increasing in leaps and bounds your self sufficiency rating.
Bruce Ansley’s book is an account of his escape to the country to “live the dream”.
How did the dream turn out?
Reality
“Yes but not in any way i expected,’ replies Bruce. “It was full of joy, pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, hardship, grief, despair. Most of of all it was a surprise.”
The author writes with humour at predicaments and with a wry sense of self mockery.
It makes for entertaining reading.
If you have that irresistible dream, go buy a copy to see the realities. If you’re staying urbanised as a “townie” get an insight into the ‘good life” in the country.
Either way you won’t be disappointed.
However I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed at the complete lack of illustrations, whether photos or sketches. There’s just text.
But there’s much compensation in the recollections of Bruce Ansley, told in an engaging, often humorous style that makes for a delightful read.
Highly recommended.
