Category: Boating
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A Winter Holiday … Boating

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The next part of our holiday was spent with Nick’s parents on their boat in Sydney Harbour.  A total treat to share quality time together whilst experiencing new waters and amazing scenery.  Barb and John are cruising the east coast of Australia over the winter months before returning home to Tasmania at Christmas time.

We stayed on the boat for two nights and explored different playgrounds and parks during the day.  We also enjoyed a cruise out through the heads, back into the harbour and under the bridge, which was a fantastic experience.

Barb and John even offered to babysit one night whilst Nick and I zipped off across the bay in the dingy to Doyles for dinner after our peeps were tucked up in bed.   We brushed the sand off our feet and donned our fancy footwear before entering this classic seafood establishment in Watson’s Bay.

We had a wonderful time on the water and Poppy and James loved hanging out with their grandparents.  xx

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On board

Pirate James

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Heading out of the heads

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The girls

Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour

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Sydney

Iconic Australian scenery

Sydney Opera House

Sunset

Leaving the bay

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Birthdays : Festivals

Hobart

Another winter festival in Hobart … another birthday.  We stayed on the boat in the city on Friday night to celebrate my husband’s 40th and went along to the Bonfire and Big Sing as part of the Festival of Voices.

Hobart turned out in droves to stand around a massive fire and belt out a tune or two.  I love seeing everyone out and about and rugged up, even when the temperature gauge is in the single digits.  Hobart continues to inspire.  Xx

Festival of Voices

The crew

Hobart

Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices

Festival of Voices

Brooke Street Pier

Brooke Street Pier

Cake!

Spellbound

Brooke Street Pier

Brooke Street Pier

Brooke Street Pier

Brooke Street Pier

Princess Wharf Shed No. 1

Fresh Flowers

Morning Walk

Kings Pier

Popsy

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Winter Solstice Weekend

Dark MOFO

We have had a fantastic weekend celebrating the Winter Solstice here in Hobart.  We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful city that is home to Dark MOFO, the festival that celebrates all things mid-winter.

Dark MOFO’s Winter Feast

Winter Feast

Nick and I went along to the Winter Feast on Friday night … sans children!  We ate, drank, sat by a fire and enjoyed a night out with our friends.

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Rock Star Berth

On Saturday the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s Cruising Committee organised a winter cruising event where we stayed on our boats in Elizabeth Street Pier for the night.  Talk about a rock star berth – right in the heart of the Dark MOFO festivities.

We ventured out to hold the Pulse Column, revisited the Fire Organ and enjoyed a warm gin at the Hendrick’s Parlour of Curiosities.  After the kids were in bed we gathered on Mistraal and enjoyed a few drinks with our friends.

Waking up to see the sunrise, I enjoyed a wander around the docks and witnessed the glow of the sun bringing warmth to the shortest day of the year.

We all had breakfast at T42 and Sam and Scarlett joined us for a walk to the Brooke Street Pier and the Hustle & Scout Fashion Market at the Salamanca Arts Centre.

Dark Mofo

Walking to town

Dark MOFO

Dark MOFO

The girls and James!

Off on an adventure

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Poppy on the Pulse Column

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Fire Organ

Handfish

Hobart

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Sunrise

Dawn

Dawn

Sunrise

Sunrise

Sunrise

T42

Brooke St Pier

Hustle & Scout

Hustle & Scout

Marine Board Building

Pops

Mt. Wellington

Winter Solstice Sunset

To end the weekend, we donned our pom poms and drove to the summit of Mt. Wellington to witness the sunset of the Winter Solstice.  Oh Hobart … you are getting more and more beautiful.

Happy days, happy days indeed.  Xx

Driving to the mountain

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Winter Solsctice Sunset

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

Mt. Wellington

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Winter Boating

Curly James

Thank you to our lovely little heater on board, it enables us to spend time away on our boat all year round.

There is nothing quite as cosy as settling in for a night on the boat after a hearty meal, playing board games or catching up with friends who are rafted up next to you.  I love climbing into our cosy bed and sleeping soundly, especially if there is a gentle roll.

This long weekend was no exception as we were away for three nights on Bruny Island.  We left on Friday afternoon and met our friends Jacinta and Brett, Frazer and Amanda and their gorgeous girls at the Kettering Pub for dinner.  The kids had their own table and loved their Fish & Chips, whilst we enjoyed some wine, hearty pub fare and good conversation.

The next day included a spot of fishing, afternoon naps, fireworks, an evening roast cooked on Mistraal and too much sparkling wine!  The girls all huddled together in a bunk watching a movie and James slept soundly.

On Sunday we went to the Bruny Island House of Whiskey for lunch with more of our friends from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.  James was carried around like a doll by all the girls which enabled Nick and I to relax in this very scenic location.

On Monday morning we returned back to Hobart in high winds and a good squall of 40 – 50 knot winds.  Our little crew handled the seas well and James barely looked up from his Peppa Pig episode.  We made it back into the Marina feeling slightly relieved.

I love our time away on the boat and look forward to more winter trips soon.  Xx

Spellbound

Popsy have a snooze

Games

The new dinghy

Popsy and her Dad

The girls

Me & Amanda

The Crew

BISH

Cubby house bandits!

Patting the sheep on Bruny Island

James & Poppy

James

Heading home

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Marvelous May

Salty dog

Amazing weather, an amazing weekend full of dining out; walking on beaches and spending two glorious days away on the boat to Bruny Island.

Need I say any more, except Tasmania, your Autumn sun was so appreciated.  x

Happy Dog

Sunrise

Sunrise on Nutgrove Beach

My happy place

Pops

Sleepy time

Pops, Dolly and Larni

Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay

A night time wander

Quarantine - Bruny Island

Quarantine - Bruny Island

Quarantine - Bruny Island

Quarantine - Bruny Island

Breakfast boogie

Fruit toast

Suiting up

Mill pond

Poppy driving

Mill pond

Mill pond

Wanderings

Franklin

Franklin

Go Jamesy

Hand in Hand

Playing with Pops

Playing with Pops

Tactile play

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Mum Love

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day!

On Saturday afternoon we decided at the last-minute to go away on the boat and rolled out of the marina at 5pm.  We have just bought Nick’s parents boat – Spellbound, and this was our first family night away.  Staying in Shag Bay we were on the doorstep of Hobart but tucked inside this beautiful little bay on the Eastern Shore, we could have been anywhere.

I loved hanging out with Poppy and James on Mothers Day and made it special for me with Poppy exclaiming:

Mummy, you are the best Mummy ever and a really good cooker!

We picked up Sam and Scarlett on Sunday morning at Bellerive and hung out in the autumn sunshine drinking take-away coffees and eating bakery goodies.

I am forever humbled by this journey of Motherhood and continue to learn more and more from my children.  I wouldn’t swap it for the world!  Xx

Larni, Sam & Scarlett

Jansz

Sam & Scarlett

James

Sam & Scarlett

The Mothers and their crew

Starting early James

Eye see Poppy

Eyes

Poppy

Maisy & Poppy

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Turning Four

The Birthday Girl

Our little Poppy turned four today!

It has felt like this day has been coming for a long time with Poppy continually asking the question over the past year:

How many more minutes until I’m four Mummy?

We have been in Orford for the weekend and had one very excited girl this morning opening her presents to find a pink fluro fishing rod with LED flashing lights, which Nick has named ‘The Pink Ling’.

On return to Hobart, we went out on the boat this afternoon to test out the new gear and low and behold she caught her first fish!

What more could a four-year old want?  Well … as I tucked her into bed she asked:

Mummy, how many more minutes until I’m five?

Sigh ….

The Pink Ling

Turning 4

The Pink Ling

The Loot

The Pink Ling

Orford

Orford

The Birthday Girl

The Birthday Girl

Captain Maisy

Captain Maisy

Boat Keys

Poppy's Tackle Box

Setting up

Poppy and her Dad

Commissioned

Birthday Girl

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James & Poppy

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Upstream

Pops, James & CathInstead of heading ‘downstream’ to the D’Entrecasteaux Channel like we usually do on the boat, we headed ‘upstream’.

We joined a cruise organised by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and went to New Norfolk for the weekend with seven other boats.  It was refreshing to discover new shores, swim in fresh water and enjoy the hot, hot weather. x

Rafted up at New Norfolk

Curly haired water baby

Curly haired water baby

Little fish

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Boat Festivals & Birthdays

Wooden Boat Festival

Woah – my poor blog!  I started back at work last week and clearly I haven’t found my multi-skilling groove yet (blogging, teaching and mumming)!?  I am back on deck now and have had an exciting weekend.

My dear old Dad turned 80 last Friday and we had a wonderful celebration for him in Westbury with all of the family, friends and community members.  My gorgeous sister Rob and her husband Paul, were also staying with us from Castlemaine during the week.  I love having them here and each time they stay I selfishly wish they lived in Hobart!  My hopes and dreams are getting closer as they are looking at relocating ‘home’ at some stage … yippee!

To add to the excitement of the weekend, Hobart hosted the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

Wooden Boat Festival

Hobart was abuzz with hardy sailors, boating enthusiasts, cruise ships and the Air Force Roulettes.  It was all happening and we enjoyed an (early) night out riding a classic Merry-Go-Round, followed by music and drinks at T42 and Rectango with my sisters, brother-in-law and little people.

Wooden Boat Festival

We took our (fibreglass) Speedy Boat out on a gorgeous Saturday morning and buzzed around the docks for some waterside viewing of the festival.  We also caught up with our friends, Leesa and James onboard their wooden beauty – Iverus – which was an entrant in the festival.

We caught up with more friends in Launy for Breakfast on Sunday morning and I took Poppy and James to the Launceston Aquatic Centre on Monday, followed by a picnic on the lawns.

I’ll let the photos do the talking – as it certainly was another wonderful weekend in Tasmania!

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Water, Love & Sunshine

Thanks to the aptly titled song by DJ Freestyle we enjoyed a day of ‘Water, Love and Sunshine’ in early January.  Speedy boat, swimming, water play and even a ski: