Jeany is originally from Saigon and Alan is a Darwin native.

Jeany and Alan moved to Mudgee in October last year desperate for a home where they could experience all four seasons in one year.

Their journey to Mudgee began two years ago when they visited a lifelong friend of Alan’s who had moved to the region for work.

According to Jeany, they both immediately fell in love with the friendly town because of its picturesque beauty, its history and its weather.

“Experiencing a real spring was something quite new for both of us.

“Saigon and Darwin are both humid and hot, so it was totally new for us to see all the flowers blooming and beautiful clear days and cool nights.

“We decided we had to live here,” Jeany said.

Impulsively, according to Alan, they moved here 12 months later with absolutely no idea of where their lives were going.

Alan had been working in the Darwin casino for 13 years and was completely over the shift work, smoky rooms, humidity and noise.

Jeany had been working for a bank in Darwin so managed to get a transfer to a local branch.

As for Alan, well that was a bit of a question mark.

His old friend was still in Mudgee so there was a contact point.

“At first we considered opening a takeaway Vietnamese restaurant but decided it would have been too full on for Jeany as I know very little about cooking.

“Then we got in touch with the Business Enterprise Centre and enrolled in a four week New Enterprise Incentive Scheme course on starting up a new business.

“It’s a great program and really helped us both financially and with management practices.

“Neither of us had operated a business before so it was a fantastic way to help us get AJ’s up and running,” Alan said.

He said he had a close friend in Darwin who had been importing furniture from Indonesia.

“He already had all the contacts so he agreed to give me a hand.

“All our furniture is imported teak from Indonesia.

“It is very well suited to our climate,” he said.

“It’s also very affordable for people as I buy direct from the manufacturer, thereby cutting out the middle man.

“The shop opened in early July and there has been healthy interest.

“We sell everything from tables, chairs and cabinets to Indonesian ceramics. I realise it takes a while to get established.”

Alan said it’s ironic that it was always Jeany’s dream to import and sell furniture.

“Indirectly her dream has come true.”

Jeany and Alan both see a long-term future in Mudgee and agree it is a wonderful place to raise a family.