A blustery day :: it's windy down south

What a start to the day.  A 1:30 am wake up call from Felix who was saying "Mummy" "hurt tummy" followed by half hourly intervals of throwing up.  By 8:30 am aside from all being exhausted, the tummy had settled and I ducked out to collect the mail and pick up the bread for the days lunches.

To my absolute delight, a parcel had arrived containing my very own brand new camera! Thankyou to the special ones who so generously have revived my weary soul with this special gift. 

Check out the first test of the new gadget.  The view from the deck.  It is a cold windy day but the sun is still shining.

And to the left, looking out from the deck  onto my son's school roof.  If I got out my binoculars, I might be able to spy on him playing soccer at lunchtime.

All the autumn leaves have gone, and replaced by the grey twigs.  I like winter, the grey which still seems alive with the sunny days that are Hobart's trademark winter weather.

After such a bumpy start to the day everyone needed a distraction.  Play dough....the faithful remedy for disgruntled children and tired parents everywhere.

Very focused on making little purple men with big green eyes.

Tasting the man, too tempting to resist, it was only a little lick.

Showing daddy how it is done.

Cabin Fever :: on the dry seas.

Well my car is still sitting in a lonely dark garage somewhere in the middle of Hobart with no idea what is wrong.  Now it seems that they need a part, from Japan, which will take two weeks to arrive.  This really means three at least in mechanic terms. I am so shop deprived it is almost a medical condition.

The last time I saw my trusty green bean was as it was driven down the road on the back of a truck. The man who I initially found charming and friendly and almost certain to sort this problem out quick smart has moved from the helpful basket to the unhelpful basket. (thanks for that complex visual to catergorise people Megs).

I am truly hoping that he doesn't slide down into the problem basket when he returns my call tonight.  He said something really fast which explained all of diddily squat when I quizzed as to when it would be finished.  I think he was covering up the fact that he hadn't thought about it since the last time we spoke two days ago.

I don't think he realises that he is dealing with a car savvy, dealership savvy chic who knows a thing or two about the way this stuff works.  But mostly.......he is dealing with.......a mother!

This is how I think it works. It's basically keep the peace by juggling all the plates, paying attention to the wobblier ones first.  In this case, wobbly equals crankiest customer.

I have tried the nice option, politeness and considerate intervals of enquiry, however is this the most productive way?  I am hoping I don't need to use my stern cross voice with him.

I really need something to work around here....my camera is broken, my car is in the garage, my washing machine (as all my clothes have shrunk two sizes???), my ATM card (as no money is coming out???), my shampoo is faulty as it is lightening certain strands of hair into shiny silver.  The list is endless....ALL BROKEN.

There is usually one, steady constant, faithful friend I can always count on to pick me up........Vev Vigano...my trusty coffee pot.  Even this has a broken, worn out gasket!!!!  The last pot was made today and to order a new gasket  is $6 + $15 postage!  Ridiculous!

NEW NEW NEW NEW!!!!  The way to go is new everything!  Out with the old, in with the new.  I just want something to work around here.

A snapshot of my travels

I have arrived back home to Hobart and have embraced the steady calming pace of my daily routine.  I love order and get slightly anxious with chaos.  I am a creature of habit in some ways yet radical in others, a contradiction of sorts.

This is my friend, "the king" of coffee and storytelling.  It was one of the highlights of my visit to my hometown these last few weeks and share a few special times of chatting and reflection over a coffee or two.  He is a local icon, a familiar identity.  I can hardly believe that within a couple of short years in town, he knew almost more people than me......a girl who had been born and bred in the place.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with two other special friends and lots of special family time.  It is so lovely to be known so well and understood without much said.

I will miss walks with my friend along the creek with the kids in prams and bikes and the large party we were parading through town on our outings.  To talk freely and be listened by someone who knows your heart is almost like medicine for the soul.  A generous gift.

I will miss the honesty and depth of sharing with my other friend who has journeyed with me through good, bad and just plain ugly.  We spend years apart yet meet again with a point of reference.  A mutual choice to embrace life and it's challenges with faith and conviction and grow anyway has kept our bond strong.  Laughing together at the ordinary and seeing through a different perspective than logical thinking.

Another activity which has inspired me to create again is a dig around in my grandmothers fabric cupboard.  Now to find some time.

A day at the farm

Felix is the perfect age for a visit to the farm.  This is a family tradition.  Every one of my school holidays had some time spent here.  They are twenty kilometres outside town which is easy to visit anytime really.

Approaching the long driveway past the cottage and sheds to the main house.

A rustic entrance to the house yard.

The family car bought in the year my mum was born 1959.  It spent the later part of it's life rusting away in the machinery shed as newer cars were purchased used and also parked to make way for a newer model.

My grandparents never part with anything.  My Grandma is a hoarder and struggles to throw anything away.  She is into vintage and recycling and doesn't have any idea how cool that is.

They are from a generation that fixed things when broken, were sensible with their money and made work again what was broken rather than the disposable culture of today.

The little vw is now restored to her former glory and a little indulgence for Grandma's retirement.  She proudly shows it off on trips to town as the second car.

Talking about the weather and when the rain will come at the shed.

Walking past the paddocks to the chook house to see the baby chicks. 

The vegie patch.

Living the simple life.......not as a trendy modern treechange..........this is just the life on the land they have lived as their parents before them did also.

a slight obstacle :: technology failure

Something terrible has happened.  My camera is officially ready for the grave.  I really can't complain as we bought it secondhand for twenty bucks.  An avid photographer was upgrading and wanting to offload his old one.

I have a suspicion that it may have met it's end due to allowing Felix to hold it at cross country as a distraction while I cheered Lachlan past the finish line.

It was the bargain of the decade as it took brilliant shots outdoors and passable ones inside.

This is taken on my laptop and will be one of the last pictures posted until I reach Mum's place and lend hers for our month long visit in Queensland.

I giggle to myself when I hear another native Tasmanian rave about how much they love Queensland.  They really give me a strange look and wonder if I need my head examined for leaving such a coveted destination.

Going to the theme parks and holidaying here is almost an assumed mandatory family way to holiday.  So many talk about moving there which seems ridiculous to me.  They hate the cold which I find so very refreshing after a lifetime of melted make-up and clothing peeled off after being attached by sweat.  I never was a real beach girl and would prefer to look at the ocean on a chilly day from a hillside wood heated outlook.

It is all relative to your life experiences thus far.  For me the thought of escaping the endless, sticky, oppressive and ghastly hot summers was pure Joy.  That's how the islanders feel about their winter and are convinced that the mainland holds magical opportunities and adventures.

I know the truth though, this is the promised land.  The four seasons are delightful, the cold passes and while here provides an opportunity for hot soup, chocolate, curries and puddings.  For a lady who likes to bake, this is pure bliss.  The autumn leaves are magnificent.  The chilly winter air mixed with bright warm sun and glorious mountain snow in the distance is just perfect for me.

I will enjoy my time away but home is in this beautiful waterside city.