THE GREAT SEASONAL

changeover is complete at my place. I am ready for winter, and so is my house. Floaty dresses and linen shirts are packed away in the top of my cupboard until summer. Fans are disassembled and stowed under beds, replaced by oil heaters in the corner of every room. My woolly jumpers are neatly folded in my chest of drawers.

Doonas lie in wait, folded at the end of the bed so they can be pulled up in the chilly early hours of the morning. It won’t be long before I add a blanket and flannelette sheets – oh, how I love flannelette. Is there a more comforting fabric? Perhaps super-fine merino, like the throw on my sofa, perfect for nights spent with a glass of red wine in hand (Margan, of course, courtesy of this month’s exclusive Country Style offer on page 28), binge-watching my favourite TV series.

I’ve also been reading Maggie Mackellar’s new book, Graft, and the descriptions of the harshness of winter on her farm in Tasmania. It reminds me how lucky I am to have almost complete control over the season in my home. All I have to do is keep a few people, a couple of dogs and a cat warm and fed, which simply means trips to the nearby shops. For farmers, winter presents unique challenges – as does every season – which can only be prepared for to a certain degree. Those on the land may face crop failure and livestock loss, to name just two disasters which can be catastrophic. For all the beauty this country holds, there is also hardship, and this is why I’m in awe of the resilience and grit shown by those who make a living on the land. Thank you for all you do for those of us living in cities – growing our food and producing essential materials to keep us warm through the winter months.