Tours around Launceston

What a full day I've had today! First I enjoyed a delicious cooked breakfast in a sunny and pleasant dining room at Fiona's. I then returned to the airport. A complete confusion of hire cars being returned but I happened to see the lady that had rung me about my folder and she ran in for it while I double parked.

Next the drive north to Beauty Point and Seahorse World, the reason I came to Launceston rather than Hobart. The tour through the labs was very interesting. I learned a lot about seahorses and sea dragons. Seahorse World breeds for the aquarium market worldwide. Apparently they are very expensive but they are painstaking to grow.

The newborn babies are only about 1cm long (one of the tanks had some day old babies in it amongst the adults. There had be a birth overnight. The tiny ones below are about 6 weeks old.

The aquarium also had some huge crabs, hermit crabs and lots of other aquatic animals.

Next door was Platypus House. They have some platypus and some echidnas in captivity but unfortunately the platypus were too fast to photograph. The tour was informative and of course the animals were cute.

It was lunch time by the time this tour finished but there was no lunch to buy so I had a beautiful ice cream churned with Tassie blackberries.

On the way south again I had a quick stop at Brady's Lookout with fantastic views both ways along the Tamar River.

Just before Launceston I stopped at the Tamar Island Wetlands. I walked the 1.5 km of boardwalk to the island but it was very hot and sunny so there was not much to see - a copperhead snake as it disappeared into the reeds, some purple swamphens (actually blue), black swans, white faced heron and various ducks. There was even some Triglochin but not flowering.

Time then to return to the unit and escape the heat and sit for a bit.

I decided to walk the three blocks into the city centre to find dinner. I passed Strand Bags with specials on carry-on bags like the one I have been looking for. The girl serving was aware of the size limitations of all airlines so I now have the two wheels (that I've been looking for), light weight (1.9kg), 15 year guarantee, and fits my A4 travel folder in a front pocket, PLUS it is small enough for the smallest requirements of all airlines.

I found some salad and fruit for dinner to go with the wine I bought at Platypus House. I'm a real connoiseur - I bought it for the label.

Home again to collapse after nearly 13000 steps with no stick!

Launceston at last

I had a long delay at Sydney airport in which I paced the corridors increasing my step count and learning my music for St Stephens (under my breath so no need to be embarrassed). We eventually took off and I was really surprised that I had been given a $5 voucher for food. I had a coffee and muffin - free - on Jetstar! I've no idea why I got a voucher.

Late in to Launceston then to Fiona's B and B where I found my keys waiting for me and quickly accessed my fabulous unit - quite palacial! It is amongst a collection of old houses that are set in the centre of the block and have been renovated as motel style accommodation.

I spent the evening just chilling out, checking email and exploring my little unit. There is even wifi with good reception. It felt like home with the wonderful sound of the town hall clock chiming every 15 minutes and counting down on the hour as well. My whole introduction to Launceston has been very easy and welcoming. I even got to the address using the map in my head as I'd left my folder of maps and tickets at the Budget Car Rental counter at the airport. Oh well, that is first job tomorrow. They rang me and it is safe so all should be well.

A family get-together

A week ago the family met at Janice's for our annual get-together. The aunts and uncles and cousins chatted while the second cousins swam an played on their technology boxes of various sorts and played ball games and the like.

Holidays and achievements

My big achievement this holiday was the completion of my awning out the back (by Adam and Dylan) and then the creation of an instant garden to start the greening of the awning (by me). I built up lots of muscles moving huge pots, repaving bits and pieces and planting out things that were waiting for the building work to finish.

It will look even better when the grapes have grown to cover the slats.

During the holidays I had a few 'boy' days. A quick visit by the family gave us time to create a building which obviously has a story to tell.

Then there was an idea for our next patchwork project.

 A rainy day at home with Alex and Luke mean holiday cubby houses in the lounge room. It had to be dismantled before Mummy got home so here is a picture for her to see.

Australia Day

This year I spent Australia Day in at St Stephens on Macquarie Street. The day was filled with music and cars.

First the parade of old cars along Macquarie Street which was closed for the event.

Soon after this came the St George and Sutherland Pipe Band.

They played outside the church for a while but then the rain forced them into the foyer on an off during their performance.

They finished with a march into the church and played there for a while as well.

This was then followed with a range of performances by various musicians and as I was on door duty I was lucky enough to hear all performances.

I don't usually go to the city on Australia Day but I'll certainly be repeating this activity. What an amazing day.

January at Underhill

I actually had a free Sunday so was able to spend overnight at Underhill with Geoff and our friends.

It's a dog's life at Underhill!

 We spent lots of time moving dirt to level behind the stove area and the paths either side of the caravan for easier access to the caravan and around to the toilet.

We've even cleared a lot of mess from the old dog yard and also now have the small dog yard with a kennel and lockable.

We spent lots of time harvesting ripe fruit - plums of various sorts and desert limes (for the first time ever). Neighbour Tony also gave us a bag of Angelina Plums from his very productive trees. I am still enjoying them at home.

Cal came down with his big yellow machine and felled the last remaining trees outside the toilet shed. They were too close for comfort both for falling and for bushfires. It was all so much easier with the big yellow machine. Now Geoff wants one. I said NO!

This process left Nathan with lots of logs for his woodwork. Now he has made a few blue mountains of logs drying slowly.

The rest of the clearing of logs will have to wait until winter when we can burn off the tops and need a fire to keep warm by.

Thanks to Nathan, Elaine, Terry, Ellie, Greg, Evelyn and of course Cal for all the hard work from both Geoff and I. Oh and thanks to Ponyo for being so good and helping to move lots of sticks.

The Year Begins at Gerroa

I had a week of holiday at Gerroa with family and friends to start the year.

There was lots of swimming, shopping, visiting, visits from friends and rellies. In all a great beach holiday.

Ponyo was very well behaved at our fish and chips picnic on the way down.

The boys had a chance to catch some of the toad fish from the river just at our front door.

Ponyo loved her early morning beach runs and the bone that followed.

Leah came to visit with Al.

Geoff set up a network to play computer games. It did work sometimes but the wifi, phone and internet was very frustratingly bad.

The view of the beach from just along the road.

Our last lunch incorporated the annual beach holiday for Rauri and Janice so we celebrated with two seafood platters at the fisherman's club at the top of the hill.

Christmas comes and goes

I must say this must have been the most musical Christmas I have ever experienced. On the Sunday before Christmas (following the two weeks of Westpac choir performances) I sang a solo in the St Stephens 9 lessons and carols service, then again on Christmas Eve. And then there was the Christmas morning service as well (but no solo).

As I was singing at the Christmas Eve midnight service then the 10am Christmas morning service I decided to treat myself and stay at the Westin in Martin Place (the old GPO). Karen and Alastair joined me for a beautiful dinner there and the room was in the heritage wing and was magnificent.

 There were views over Martin Place...

and the atrium highlighted the old sections of the building.

But wait... Christmas morning I came down with food poisoning (not from the Westin) and only just made it to Desley's for Christmas lunch. There I lay on the lounge most of the day but was able to listen in to family catch-up conversation and take some photos.

The boys had practice handling Alexandra who was passed without decorum across the table.

The proud parents, Cath and Foti.

Desley and Jack had prepared a magnificent Christmas lunch.

Unfortunately that evening Geoff and Jen also succumbed to the food poisoning that we had all caught from a takeaway Indian meal we'd shared the day before Christmas Eve. No-one else got sick.

By the day after Boxing Day I was beginning to recover so was able to go out to lunch at Karen and Alastair's. What a great meal (my first in 2 days)! It was also great to catch up with Helen and Bob. After lunch, as there were 5 singers and a pianist on hand we had a lovely sing-a-long.

The rest of the year was spent justing, scanning family photos, watching TV, slowly gardening and playing solitaire just to fully recover from the Bombay Belly side effects. Geoff also took it slowly but thankfully Jen seemed to get over it fairly quickly.

I'll certainly remember this end of year for a long time for both the wonderful singing opportunities and the horrible gastric issues. Thanks to all those who coped with my highs and lows.