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A winter experience that is truly an experience

8/5/2019

“We cannot stop the winter or the summer from coming. We cannot stop the spring or the fall or make them other than they are. They are gifts from the universe that we cannot refuse. But we can choose what we will contribute to life when each arrives” - Gary Zukav

Nostalgia’s an interesting thing - especially if you’ve never experienced it.
For that reason, most of us, cocooned in our city confines, can only imagine what it's like to enjoy the delights of winter.

That’s right...ENJOY!

At The Sheds accordingly, designed nostalgia is part of our winter package. Where else can you:

Get muddy
Get cold
Break the ice in a puddle of water
Feel the crunch of frosted grass
Experience the thrill of a raging waterfall
Watch storm clouds chase themselves across mountains and hills
Actually ‘employ’ the warmth of your down jacket

And where else can you give a contented sigh of relief at arriving back, shed your layers of clothes and indulge in a truly well-earned shower.
(As it happens, we have an extra large hot water cylinder, fantastic towels and lovely soap - you might not want to leave!)

Then, with the cold kept at bay outside, curl up on the couch, wrapped in our throw blankets, stoking the open fire and toasting your feet. You might do this with a glass of your favourite tipple, or with your hands wrapped around our ‘cuddle mugs’ with coffee, chocolate, tea...or a hot toddy.

After a home cooked meal, quite possibly a roast, why not play table tennis, pool, darts, cards or the provided card games.

We cunningly provide all these activities to encourage you to converse and NOT be hostage to your devices.

The Sheds is an opportunity to create a nostalgia of winter you know you’ll remember forever.

Give us a yell - and manufacture a memory, create a recollection.

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Adventures we gave ourselves

2/20/2019

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Dear Mum and Dad,

I was driving through the mid North Island the other day, when out of nowhere ‘The Sheds’ sprang to mind.

I’m (pretty) sure you’ll remember 17 years ago in 2019 the long weekend we spent there. I (and Kelly and Lex) certainly do.

We often talk about it as one of the highlights of our growing up. For all of us it greatly ramped up our thoughts of what could be possible... and we really developed as a result of those three and a half days.

But specifically, it was the sight of a track leading up into some bush-covered hillside that really triggered that memory.

Remember how we did a walk that stinking hot afternoon we were there, and this bush was such a cool relief with its mixture of life and decay and pleasantness? The next day was raining, and the different smells and delight when a NZ Falcon (Karearea) swooshed past us. I know that it, and the other bird life encouraged Kelly into her conservation role(s)...like nothing else before or after.

But what we really discovered there tucked away under the Tararua’s was ourselves. We had adventures we could, and did, give ourselves without you having to be there.

Some of the things we got up to there which wasn’t possible at home in our town are still etched on my mind. Building dams in the stream, eeling, mountain bike riding on real country, rope swings, swimming in a water hole, using an axe, and even climbing up a steep hill to watch a sunset.

And that was just during daylight.

Being able to stay up late because we were having so much fun playing the board games available there was another highlight...somehow more exotic and experiential than doing it at home.

I still recall learning the difference between a Left and Right Bower in Euchre when it comes to managing teams these days. I just wish I could apply the Monopoly rule to how I operate though!

In fact M&D, I shudder to think how our lives would’ve been different without having been to The Sheds.

Sure, we gave ourselves self-directed endeavours there. Which was pretty lucky, because we didn’t have any friends or relations with a farm; and so we were able to experience an authentic country experience...which otherwise we would’ve missed out on.

In fact and remembering those adventures, even though my kids, your grandchildren, are still pretty young - I’m going to book us in at The Sheds soon - want to join us?

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Experiencing new perspectives - how the countryside beguiles us

11/27/2018

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We don’t get much chance these days to ‘do things’ in the country.

It’s sort of ironic, given the picture of NZ from overseas perspectives are of a bucolic, rural sort of place.

But for us, the countryside is something mostly observed through a window, the green of the hills a pretty backdrop.

When you’re part of, and in, the land and country, then you have a new perspective.

And even though you may be with and part of a team, only as an individual do you appreciate and experience the ‘resource’ at your backdoor in this countryside.

Suburbia doesn’t allow you to navigate a challenging river crossing on a tramp, herd that last wayward lamb into the yards, marvel at how a large tree has survived and thrived, search for eels, spot an unusual bird, or get the fright of your life when a goat and her two kids jump out of the bush in front of you.

Townies can’t go for a rambling walk, swim in a chilly stream and are unlikely to be able to slide down a hill on a piece of cardboard. And while you might be able to go fly a kite in the city, there’s something magic when it’s just seagulls watching.

Now, having to look up and beyond a horizon has been shown to be good for our eyesight.

But having a horizon made of hills is also good for your soul and liberating for your spirit.

Added to these benefits is one called ‘soft fascination’. Soft fascination provides relief from our exhausting lifestyles through our involuntary attention. Directed attention is anything like a screen, where our brain is tuned into something organised and functional.

Soft fascination is a walk in the bush, with light filtered between trees, watching the clouds from the top of a hill, listening to the sound of leaves rustling. There’s an inbuilt irregularity - which because we can’t concentrate on them, makes them relaxing.

Its restorative, it allows our minds to slow down.

It’s one of the many small bonuses built into holding an event at The Sheds.

Our location lends itself to people experiencing new relationships of and because of the land.

All by simply ‘being’ - in the country.

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Playing games and letting yourself have fun!

8/28/2018

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It is both paradoxical and inspirational to see people staying at The Sheds, at night, get out the card games and board games on offer.

Paradoxical because though we do have internet connectivity, we encourage its non-use. After all, what’s the point of getting away from it all if you’re simply going to replicate life as usual.

Inspirational because one of the main advantages of coming to our tucked-away corner of The Tararua’s is to put yourself in a different headspace, give yourself the luxury of interacting with fellow human beings in a different way.

That’s where our board games are so much fun, (and provide so much intangible value).

For anyone that’s playing, these games are all-inclusive. They ‘force’ communication in a good way. They are safe ways for people to be goodies, baddies, ‘in danger’, winners and losers...and nobody dies, nobody holds a grudge (hopefully!)

With screens tucked away and forgotten, our card and board games are face-to-face time, without the need to be doing businessy-things. Hierarchy and roles become completely secondary, and without anyone trying, relationships are built and strengthened.

In the context of our modern lives, these analogue, shared tabletop pursuits help us feel excitement. For a brief period of time we can behave despicably, grow immensely wealthy, be a cunning negotiator, fail miserably, snatch victory from the jaws of defeat - and then pack up the box and return to normal life.

More often than not at night, I’ll see groups of people setting up to play board games, cards being shuffled. As I leave the room there’s laughter, arguments, deals being done, luck being ridden and chances being denied.

I’ll come back in the morning and there’s the wonderful carnage of last night’s play to be seen.

People have obviously greatly enjoyed themselves.

They’ve revived and recharged themselves - revved up to take on the next challenges, learnings and adventures which are possible when you get away from your day-to-day lives and chill.

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The simple delights of a walk in the country

6/20/2018

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Whenever I’m at my patch of Ponderosa, I always go for a daily walk.

It’s more than just the benefit of fresh air and exercise...though that said, it certainly stimulates my appetite.

But is also an opportunity to think and reflect, or even to think about nothing at all.

Of course thinking about nothing is one, one of many it has to be said, definitions of meditating. So you’d have to call my strolls that as well.

This thought inspired me to consult Ms Google (surely such an all-knowing search engine has to be a female!) on the benefits of a walk in the country.

Unsurprisingly, urban environments can be mental minefields. There’s traffic, staring at screens, phone calls and constant demands on our attention - all of which leave little time for reflection.

Researchers reckon the enticing sights and sounds of nature conjures up what they call a “soft fascination”. I’ll quote how they’ve described this lovely term.

“Rather than overwhelming it with the energy-sapping “hard” stimuli of urban environments, natural settings gently engage the brain while allowing it ample space to ruminate in the background on life’s quandaries and complexities. In other words, it lets your mind off the hook for a while; going for a walk allows your brain to roam along with your body.”

Now the business groups we host at The Sheds invariably include a daily if not twice daily stroll along our tracks, across our farmland and though our beautiful bush country.

The feedback from group participants is that they come back with a clarity of mind, a lightness of spirit, and attack their meeting tasks and exercises with real enthusiasm.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I experience exactly the same reinvigoration.

In fact; and it’s one of those factoids that occupy my brain; apparently the positive effects of a single exposure to nature can last for seven hours after an individual has experienced it.

Heck, I wonder how I can monetise such benefits?

Just kidding.

I love that others can freely experience nature and her bounty up here in the Tararua’s

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Business planning without distractions - can you do it in the city?

12/17/2017

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If you think workplace busyness distractions are good for your business planning, then by all means stay in the city.
But if you feel a time and place which promotes meaningful thinking about the year ahead is exactly what you need, think about the country.
Somewhere away from it all is the right space to set a strategic direction, to plan tactics, to put in place the actions which will ramp up your business in 2018.

You’ll realise that a natural environment is somewhere you can accomplish far more by being away from the hustle and bustle of the city and devote your attention to strategy that matters.
All of which are reasons to consider ‘The Sheds’ as an economical, unpretentious and enjoyable place to collectively knuckle down to making your business hum.

What’s the advantage of of being away from it all at our place?
Perhaps it’s the fresh air of a 230ha bush-clase site at Tiraumea in the Tararua District.
Perhaps it’s the ability to refresh while you walk 15km of trails with views across the southern North Island.
Perhaps it’s being able to concentrate on your organisational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the tastefully converted woolshed and shearers quarters.
However, nobody wants to be completely offline.
So there’s plenty of online connection too - if it’s needed. But many companies and institutions prefer to keep the internet at arm’s length at a location that’s only two and a half hours north of Wellington.
Instead, people connect with the nature on the doorstep including wildlife, beekeeping and even a waterfall to relax their body and mind; to defocus in order to refocus.

What about food?
If cooking for yourself is an important part of your strategic planning - fire ahead. The cool but not over the top facility has everything onsite to allow you to do so, including a large capacity barbeque.
But The Sheds, which can accommodate up to 60 people, can also supply home-style country meals. We can guarantee that you won’t be underfed if you let us do the cooking.
Whatever your need in planning for 2018 consider the country and do something about it. Kick it off right, kick it off best, kick off your business year at The Sheds.

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Is this the perfect place for a ‘thrillaxing’ corporate Christmas ‘do’?

11/27/2017

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How should you celebrate Christmas for your own people?

You want something that is real but realistically priced, cool but not over the top, that says thanks very much and is rewarding for everyone involved.

‘The Sheds’ is such a venue and an ideal way to escape the city bustle and commemorate a business year...in the country with comforts.

Its converted woolshed and shearers’ quarters can accommodate up to 60 people, and be as catered as you wish. Whether that’s home-style country meals, or you bringing your own food, cooking it yourself in the kitchen facilities, or using the BBQ, the choice is yours.

Relax in the lounge and games room, partake of the bar - or even do a spot of work-planning and team building at The Sheds’ strategy spaces.

And then there’s outside. Walk 15km of trails on the 230ha bush-clad site at Tiraumea, two and a half hours north of Wellington in the Tararua District. Or mountain-bike those tracks instead.

There’s views, wildlife of many types, beekeeping and even a waterfall.

In fact there’s such a variety of things to do, ways to unwind, we’ve co-opted a term for The Sheds…’thrillax’. The word in itself says it all.

As a way to connect with nature, take in the silence, observe the stars, partake of wonderful views, or simply get in touch with yourself, The Sheds is an economical way to say thanks to your staff for a job well done.

If you must, there’s plenty of online connection, though instead you might find yourself immersed in a book from the casual library that’s onsite. We don’t even mind you taking a book home to continue reading - after all books are made to be shared, as are The Sheds’ experiences.

It’s not too late to book your Christmas function, and with plenty of parking your people will love its ‘virtual camping’ atmosphere. It’s like roughing it in really comfortable surroundings, including fantastic showers, getting away from it all to refuel for the year ahead.

Give me a yell and find out how The Sheds can do Christmas much better than your usual place, how a rural vibe can deliver a ‘do’ that people will remember why your business will benefit from a stay in the country.

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Pondering over a cuppa....

A winter experience that is truly an experience

Adventures we gave ourselves

Experiencing new perspectives - how the countryside beguiles us

Playing games and letting yourself have fun!

The simple delights of a walk in the country

Business planning without distractions - can you do it in the city?

Is this the perfect place for a ‘thrillaxing’ corporate Christmas ‘do’?

Josie Adlam

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