UNTRAVELLED SOLES: It's all about...nature!

“As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth; to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different smells of mud and listen unselfconsciously to the soughing of the trees.” - Valerie Andrews, A Passion for this Earth

My children's favourite place in the world is the Rolling M Ranch! It's a magical place of horses, cows, puppies and bunnies. Loads of space to run, places to hide, beautiful walks and long horse rides. Delicious food, sweet treats. Late nights and early mornings. Best friends, chilled parents - oh, and Gumby!

We've been lucky enough - thanks to amazing friends - to be guests at the Rolling M Ranch (the farm) twice. In August last year, and in April this year. In August, we arrived and were greeted by a litter of Great Dane puppies - the girls were over the moon and the only time they left the puppies alone was to ride the horses! In April, by the time our 3 fantastic days were over, the girls had fallen in love with - and named - 5 newborn bunnies.

Let's face it, my girls are city girls - it's not what I want for them, but right now it's just the way life is. So although I allow them minimal TV time, and try to get them outdoors as much as possible - it's just not the same as really getting out there - into nature.

At the farm, they get to do exactly that - they've watched a mommy goat nursing her baby only minutes after it was born, fed a duiker, milked cows and learnt that baby bunnies, although seriously cute and cuddly, are also hard work when they have to be fed from a tiny bottle every two hours! They've snuck out, with their head lamps stuck to their foreheads, to experience the complete darkness of the night and been overwhelmed at the beauty of the Milky Way.

I truly believe that the lessons they learn at the farm are just as important as those they learn in school! They're life lessons!

They also get to be children and to play the way children should - without having to be watched every second by a 'grown up'. They use up all their energy, get dirty and collapse into bed each night - waking early the next day to the crow of the rooster!

And then there's Mike Bentley, fondly referred to by his grandchildren - and my children now too - as Gumby. Mike is the head of the family. He's tall and strong, with a sparkle in his eye - he adores children, and, guess what, they adore him too. My girls fell in love with him and still speak of him. He's supported by his beautiful and kind lady Edna, and by his children and their own families.

I have to admit that this last time we were at the farm, was a real adventure for me too. Our first holiday without S meant there was so much I had to do alone - the long drive with the kids, for one. Finding the courage to step out of my shell and meet new people. They would ask where my husband was and I would tell them the truth. It hurt and there were a few times when I did feel a little alone. Although we were only there for a few days, it was a time of healing for me - a time of acceptance and bravery. I was made to feel so completely at home, and left feeling like part of the family.

I have a feeling that everyone leaves Rolling M Ranch feeling like part of the family - it's a special place, looked after and loved by special people!