Neil Varcoe was a tech executive in Sydney until he bought an old hotel in Carcoar, NSW, population 272. Here’s the seventh instalment of his monthly column for Galah.

Plus, let's talk about waste. Welcome to Galah Weekly, our award-winning newsletter keeping you up to date with regional headlines that matter, plus other delightful things from life beyond the city. By Dean Southwell, whose fashion sense stops at a tidy pair of jeans.