31st October - quolls!

Friday 31^st October

 

Tasmania is so very wonderful. 

We have quolls! 

Hiding under the boards of the deck as they get ripped up to be replaced with non-splintery ones.

A BIG splinter in darling Zoe's toe

30th October - Hobart day

Thursday 30^th October

Corner of Parliament House

Another beautiful Hobart day.  Chilly and windy but…glorious!

Salamanca Place in a quiet moment

Thad is 70 today...in Catapilco, Chili!

Thad (tallest) with friends

29th October - Hobart times - Rebak (Langkawi/Malaysia nostalgia)

Wednesday 29^th October

The snow has melted, the sun is shining.  There has been a bit of ferocious wind – Tasmania is so dramatic, so wonderful!

A bush house in the foothills, with a bit of  a sod roof

Misty (SV Tamoure) keeps me in touch with whatever is happening at Rebak (Langkawi.)  We spent so much (happy) time there it feels like home.  (Nearly.)  The ferry arrangements have changed at both ends.  It is now a swifter ride, and less bumpy.  Instead of leaving from the marina side of the island, it leaves from the resort side, and it goes to Pantai Cenang instead of … whatever it was called where we went before…(close to the airport.)

Pleased to report the ferry move is MUCH better than anticipated, though you are beam on to whatever sea there might be instead of a straight down/upwind ride.  You disembark onto a floating thing which I believe is very recent and was only thought of at the last minute...  Even at high water there is a fair slope on the ramp that takes you up to the land; much potential for slips and slides and landing on one's bottom.   However once safely ashore there is much more space, a nicer open vista, a loo [purpose built recently I think], some sort of shelter with seats in 2 rows [due to lack of space] + TV, conveniently placed behind the chairs......! The whole area is marginally smaller than previously, despite there being room to build a bit larger.  Best of all there is a small rather odd hotel - Tubotel  which sells beer and does limited food.  What more could you want? 

Mr Din has transferred his car hire operations to the other side.  Misty tried very hard to keep on his good side – he has POWER over his customers. 

Once, shortly after we arrived back from Scotland, we left the car lights on while in Billion (supermarket) - further from Langkasuka you could not get - and battery flat as........  Had to summon a very unhappy Mr Din - and the next time we hired he gave us what we called the *punishment car*.   Quite the worst in his stable.   Want to avoid that one if poss!  In fact we rather worried we might be getting it last week, as when we collected our last hire at old jetty, I told him it looked like Saturday was new jetty day but I'd keep him posted.  It was only confirmed the day before - of course! - so I texted Mr D and ended with: see you next week!  Silly me - I did not actually say we do not want a car but we'd had one 2 days previously, and are mid-week people, not weekenders.   10am, phone rings and Mr D speaks the longest sentence I have ever heard:  Misty, where are you?  Oh dear - much Pollyanna-like crawling and apologies there - and that was before we realised how far it is to the airport. 

It all makes me feel very nostalgic for our Rebak Days.

A Mr Din car

Some things I miss.

Others…I don’t!

My anti fouled fee and fingers, compared to Robyn's pretty pink ones (Gemini V)

28th October - all is well on 2XS - "lovely" is my mot du jour - Tasmania is so beautiful

Tuesday 28^th October

All is still well on 2XS.

Rosie and Toby

But our lovely Toby, in charge of everything, has been dreadfully ill, with dengue fever.  He says, Thank GOD for Rosie!  Indeed…She is a blessing!

Back here in Tasmania I have had a drink with a lovely friend…

It has been snowing on our lovely mountain!

It has been hailing on our lovely green grass.

Many of my lovely family members made it to the Back to Waddamana day on Sunday.  NOT me…the WRX didn’t start until 2.30pm; basically, car computer said NO…I still do love this lovely car but Pete is mightily CROSS with it.

Jacqui

Lynne has had major surgery on her leg and is now facing eight weeks of recovery time. This is NOT lovely but she is VERY brave...

And…all is well on our lovely island!

27th October - Ironhouse Point - East Cost of Tasmania (White Sands Resort) to Hobart

Monday 27^th October

Yesterday there we were, very cosily ensconced on couches in front of the beautiful view at Ironhouse Point.  I had my uggboots on and was quietly contemplating which of the delicious things I would order from the menu in the very salubrious restaurant…

And then Pete went out for one last try of the WRX and…BRRM BRRM!  Obedient engine noises!

It was very beautiful there.

Cool and misty and very dramatic.

LOTS of seabirds

Orange rocks

So…we got home by evening.

No phone calls from 2XS so all must be well!

Just a moment to ponder upon the Headlam Family Weekend.  What an amazing achievement – 45 people, all closely/loosely related and all gathered together.  Only two missing – Fiona in Ipswich, Emily in New Orleans.  Only 19 of the 45 are adults; the rest are The Next Generation.  Much laughter, much chat.  ALL families should do this!!

The beautiful house that Pete built (more photos will follow)

Happy birthday today to my beautiful sister-in-law Karen in Sydney.