Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.

The house named Stanton at the Back River, near New Norfolk, Tasmania has certainly taken hold of the souls who live in this place and we do accept this nurturing, motherly building as fate would have it.

The people who have stayed or called at Stanton have chosen to come here because they were in my mind drawn to it, enticed by the place which is all of a home, a business and a piece of Australia’s history.

To everyone, from the first guest to the final special person who stayed here, you had our heart from the time you said “Hello”.

But now I am saying goodbye and closing Stanton as a Bed and Breakfast. I cannot do it all and I have to accept this for now. Its fate, I presume.

The above opening quote was attributed to Marcus Aurelius; Roman Emperor, Soldier, Philosopher and, I believe a man who was trying to find his way through life in uncertain times.

His Cosmos suits Stanton, I would have liked to have invited him over for dinner and talked to him about his stoic philosophy and what his tips are for a true life. Maybe we would have got along … putting aside him being an Emperor and all that.

I may come back, I would like to. After my orchards have been tended in the fashion of a retiring legionary and stories told of long ago service to the nation.

I like Stanton, I like my world and life itself. But, I’m going to have a break for a while and then come back and talk to you … I hope you don’t mind.
— Mark McDiarmid

A pleasant surprise in today’s Sunday Tasmanian — a full-page article on Stanton Bed and Breakfast by Alison Ribbon and photographer Amy Brown.