Alice Sanders’ Bedside Table

Tell us a bit about yourself. I am a part-time lawyer/part-time farmer and hunting business owner, based between Wānaka and Alexandra in Central Otago. My average day can be filled with client meetings and negotiations or spent on the hill moving sheep, driving tractors or teaching people to hunt. There’s never a dull moment, and it’s a life I love living.

On my bedside table now is…

This photo reminds me of pure peace. I took this on a tramping trip on the Ohau Ranges., I woke up before everyone else, climbed out the tent and sat with my face to the sun. I feel that feeling of awe and quiet every time I look at this photo.

I am trying my best to implement a sleep routine where I light a candle before I go to bed and meditate before sleep. I am not good at nailing the meditation, but I love a candle, especially these Amber Jack ones, so I usually follow through with that part of the routine!

I love to read but my day job as a lawyer sometimes kills that love of books for me. I still try to get ten minutes reading in and when in doubt I always reach for a poetry book. I sometimes write a bit of poetry, so it speaks of me.

On a practical level, I sometimes have problems falling asleep with this busy brain. A workmate recommended Sleep Well, and I have found it works really well for me.

This saucer is filled with all kinds of memories – the bullet casing from the first deer I ever shot, a dog whistle made from merino horn, worn glass from a West Coast river, an ear tag from a farm I used to work on, a piece of antler and all sorts of jewellery from my past. It’s a nice reminder of good times and where I’ve come from.

The earplugs are self- explanatory, really!