Moving To Orange – Our Tree Change Sabbatical

A glass of bubbly and a cheese board at Phillip Shaw Wines in Orange – is this every mum’s idea of heaven or just mine?

Hello from the Central West city of Orange, four hours due west of Sydney but a world away in terms of traffic and stress.

Birthplace of Banjo Paterson, foodie paradise and cool climate wine growing area, Orange will be home to myself, Teen17 and the twins for the next three school terms.

We’re calling it our tree change sabbatical.

Our eldest son is staying in Sydney, with support, and ourDad/husband is about to become an International Man of Mystery again. He’s off to Oman for three months; I am dying on envy.

So it’s all change and family scattered to the winds, and all fine, one day at a time.

Don’t worry though, the blog’s still about Sydney!

I will be popping up and down to Sydney and writing posts about the best family fun, as will the other lovely mums who contribute to Hello Sydney Kids.

And we’ll all be back towards the end of the year.

So, renting a house in Orange

From a Sydney perspective, renting a house here is super affordable.

We are in East Orange, very close to the city centre in a renovated cottage.

It’s a three bedroom house with a huge garage/workshop.  The inside is really well done up and it has gas reverse cycle AC.

The rent is $420 a week, which is actually quite a lot for a three bedroom place in Orange, but well worth it.

Yes, we still look like we’re camping. I’m still on a mattress on the floor in my bedroom.

Twins going well at new school

It’s the wee ones who have had to make the biggest change and it’s  definitely been stressful for them. They have got on very well in these early days at their new school and their Dad and I are very proud of them.

The stress does show at home, but we’re doing all we can to keep their life steady and calm… with loads of gymnastics and sport.

Short hair – if you’re going to have a change, make it a big one

This is the shortest haircut I have ever had in my life. It feels weird, but cool. Blond streaks are coming, possibly a full head of platinum one day. It’s just a menopausal stage I’m going through.

Actually, I’ve realised that I often have a big hair change after coming back from trips to Scotland. It was terribly painful leaving my Mum and I don’t why a haircut is soothing but it is.

Never argue with what works!

Less stress, more vegetables and exercise

Life really does feel much easier here, there’s more time. Plans are to exercise more (me, the kids never stop moving) and to cook more meals with healthier fresh food. I wasn’t great in the kitchen in 2016.

There will be many more recipes coming here as part of this healthier lifestyle. That’s the plan anyway.

Meet Lola

The other member of the family here is Ms10’s dwarf lop rabbit, Lola. She is a little sweetie, very friendly. I’m not sure she is enjoying the heat at all, we put frozen cooler blocks in beside her to cool her cool.

More Lola to follow!

So, I will write more about Orange, and please, and this is totally serious, if you are planning to come to visit please do get in touch as I’m always up for a coffee or a glass of wine at one of the many great cafes in Orange, or a child-friendly winery… don’t know them all yet but have big plans.

Do you know Orange well?

Or long for a tree change?

Does anyone else get a haircut when emotional?

Cheers