June Garden lived for many years in Christchurch where she worked in the education field as a Speech Therapist. However, when she was transferred from Christchurch to Auckland, and met partner Arthur Birks, she never imagined they would leave city life behind, take early retirement and begin their Third Age Careers in the hill country of Hawkes Bay. Few of their former life experiences provided any help in this new occupation.

 Life in the country provided a steep learning curve as well as many humorous adventures. Needless to say, they have never regretted exchanging their busy city life for one of constant change, where seasons rather than years mark the passing of time.