The kids and I bushwhacked through the forrest for a good hour - following the black water pipe snaking its way up the bracken hillside. Their eyes noticed it - I was all but lost - we were looking for the place we’d been shown six months earlier by Matt, one of the previous owners. He said when the water runs slowly, you need to trek up to the bush find the header tank, go upstream and dig out the intake pipes from silt.

This we achieved and I fell a huge rush of pride in these children who are paying attention - are observant to the point of leading me, not following. We dug with our fingers in the cold stream - finding fresh water crayfish and causing a huge rush as the gurgling cistern gave us back it’s flow - released the gunk that had filled the header tank and then came home, washed out the filter so our tanks can fill.

Such basic behavior - but requires will, attention and a little persistence - and yet this is our life source: water - even in winter we can run out - ten days with no rain and lots of watering, baths and dishes - we could otherwise run dry. But we won’t - the water runs because I took three children to the bush with me…. I kept my fears to myself and we found a way, had an adventure and now I am drinking that same water in this cup with black tea and milk.

Some things happen automatically, and some things stop - like water when you cease paying attention - this is our life on the land and I love it.