My husband's been a bit down lately. It's a combination of things - approaching fifty and working in a job he hates. It's not teaching he dislikes exactly, just the school he's at - it's understandable, given what's going on there, but that's for another story. When people are feeling down the best thing you can do is listen and be understanding, and try to get them out of their heads. To me, nature is the best medicine. Nature, food, love, exercise - all very good anti depressants.

Being winter down here in the southwest of our state, it's perfect for hiking. It might be awfully muddy, cold and raining, but hey - this just means mushrooms, platypuses, edemic black snails and other cool things that come out in the rain. The whole world smells of mycellium and animals. It's just divine and makes my heart soar. Fuck medication, think forestation. Add a waterfall and a rainbow to that mix, and you're bound to feel a little lighter. We spend a long time sitting and letting the flow infused into our bones.

Though he's a bit bored of going to the same places, I remind him it's not about going to find new places, but enjoying what we have, stretching our legs, breathing, filling ourselves with exercise endorphins and getting out of the house. By the end of the seven kilometre walk, he was smiling - just.

We headed to the sea to make lunch, setting up our fantastic outdoor kitchen on the Defender. By this time the rain had cleared and the sun was out. We even saw whales out to see.

I'd already made vegetable soup, thick with swedes, potato, beans, silverbeet, fennel and lots of parsley, so it was just a matter of heating it up. I had some stale Turkish bread and was disappointed to see I'd forgotten the cheese and butter to make toasties - but never mind, I'm good at inventing stuff! I made fried bread with spices - lots of fennel seeds, dried garlic, and a harissa powder. Absolutely delicious and totally transformed the garlic bread.

We did have a little visitor try his luck. Cockatoos in this town are a pest - they have learnt to get into the bins and land on tables hoping to get food off tourists.

Later he'll snuggle in on the couch and say thankyou for pulling him out of his head. He'd do the same for me. We both know what work as anti depressants, and aren't afraid to use them liberally and generously.

What brings a smile to your face when you're feeling down?