CHRISTMAS IN TASSIE

17^th December, 2016

This year we will be spending Christmas in Tasmania. Three years ago we house sat for a couple (Joe and Maria) at Taroona south of Hobart. They are going overseas for a holiday and have asked us whether we would like to housesit their home and dog for them again. It didn't take us long to accept the housesit as Tasmania in summer is the place to be if you are in Australia. We're not taking our car this time so we fly out of Maroochydore to Melbourne and then on to Hobart. Joe is waiting at the airport for us and the following day Joe and Maria fly out for their holiday. Apart from walking Ishta (the golden retriever) every morning and afternoon the rest of the time is our own. Tasmania can be a tad cooler than the mainland and with a fall of fresh snow on top of Mount Wellington near Hobart sitting in front of a roaring fire is the way to go.

Wok is all set up in front of the fireplace

The house is on the waterfront of the Derwent estuary and in the early evening we watched the moon coming up over the water. Yes … we know … it's a tough gig but someone has to do it !

Moonrise at Taroona

Joe and Maria have kindly allowed us to have our family with us in their home for Xmas and a few days after we arrive our son (Trent) flies in. This is the first time in Tasmania for our family so a lot of touristy stuff will be going on while they are here. We take a drive south with Trent through the Huon Valley to the Tahune Air Walk.

Just a small log in the forest

High up in the forest canopy we get a birds eye view of the tree tops and river far below.

Trent and Wok in the treetops

Ok - so it moves when you walk on it.
MAN UP !

On the way back to Taroona we stop for a look at the Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin and take a guided tour of the workshop.

Wok and Trent getting a tour of the Wooden Boat Centre

We just love to see lovely things being made out of wood and it is interesting to see how the wood is being shaped into these wonderful sailing boats. In the workshop a group of students from the Netherlands were industriously working on a new boat which they hoped to have up and sailing in a fortnight.

A wooden sailing boat being built

Xmas Day has arrived and Ishta let us dress her up for a Xmas photo.

Ohhh - isn't she just adorable !

Xmas afternoon Tina and Paul (accompanied by our grandchildren Josh, Shakiah, Talia and Josh's girlfriend Lily) arrived and the girls soon made friends with Ishta.

Ishta is quite happy with all the pats she is getting from Talia and Shakiah

Over the next week the family had a great time visiting all the tourist spots within reach of Hobart. On the days when they did manage to wangle some spare time they enjoyed going swimming with Ishta

The family enjoy relaxing on the waterfront

Shakiah and Trent brave the cold water

or just sitting quietly watching the dolphins swim past.

Lily has a quiet moment with Ishta

Of course after swimming in the sea one has to wash the salt out of one's fur. Having an army of willing volunteers to scrub one down is quite an indulgence.

Ishta with her wash slaves - Wok, Shakiah and Tina

Then it's time for a morning nap

I'm worn out after my morning swim

before settling down for an afternoon nap.

Doesn't everyone have a favourite teddy bear that they sleep with ?

As they had extra time to spend the family also spent a week touring through northern Tasmania before returning to spend a few days with us before flying home. We spent a further couple of weeks enjoying the view of the water from the house and our walks along the foreshore with Ishta before Joe and Maria returned home. We are going to miss our walks along the foreshore with Ishta and the lovely cherries bought fresh from the farms … probably have cherry withdrawals over the next few days.