We have just returned from being away for the Australia Day Long Weekend on Bruny Island with Nick’s folks and our ‘boating’ friends.
Poppy was in her element playing with the ‘big girls’, eating muffins, having her toenails painted, watching ‘Frozen’, riding in boats, playing on the beach and putting on Australian flag transfers!
Ah … summer holidays, oh how I love them.
We have been spending more time out on the water and went sailing last Friday to watch the King of the Derwent yacht race … two brothers, two sister-in-laws, one uncle, one yacht, whilst four grandchildren were with two grandparents at home. Booom!
I reveled in the tranquility of being out on the water with just the wind to guide our way (and not worrying about James on board).
Saturday was oh so hot and we escaped the city early in the speedy boat to meet up with Nick’s folks and his brother’s family for some good ‘ol fashioned beach time. Sand castles, collecting shells, frisbee throwing, swimming and the boys even went water skiing.
Early evening we popped down to the Taste of Tasmania for a Tea Cup ride, some fish and chips and a Big Bessie ice-cream! Yum.
It has been so lovely having family in town, seeing Poppy play with her cousins and the best bit … getting to devour beautiful food and sparking wine!
This photo of Nick and I was taken on the 1st January 2007 after we had just met. Eight years later to the day, we are still loving the vibe of Hobart at this time of year, but now have a couple of extra spectators in tow!
Hobart certainly turned on the welcome for Wild Oats XI as they sailed in to accept their first line honours in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on a perfect Sunday afternoon.
We were fortunate to be out on the water with Nick’s parent’s where we enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Maryanne’s, awaiting the spectacle to begin. We then entered the craziness of the flotilla, managed a wave from the crew and then were spat out into the ‘washing machine’! Boy are those maxi yachts fast?
Poppy was holding on, James was safely asleep in his bunk and we were on cloud nine with all the excitement. Helicopters flying overhead, pleasure craft everywhere and thousands of people lining the shores to see these sailors cruise through to their eighth win! Fabulous.
Here is a video of our experience! Xx
We have had a fantastic weekend … and one with lots of social engagements!
On Friday night I went along to the annual Tasmanian Tourism Awards with my dear friends and colleagues in the industry – Nic, Annabelle and Anne. We met at my place where Nick popped open a bottle of Jansz as we added the final touches to our make-up, swapped under garment tricks and tips and enjoyed the fun of getting dolled-up together! I had a great night and got to bed far too late.
On Saturday we went to Jackman & McRoss to meet Nick’s family for a coffee and then I took Poppy to her first 4th birthday party. Her friends from daycare had a wonderful time playing ‘Pass the Parcel’ and all the other classic games! On Saturday afternoon we celebrated a 70th Birthday.
On Sunday we popped the Speedy Boat in the water and zoomed across the river to Triworks – a gorgeous little deserted beach 20 minutes away from Hobart by water. I had an expectation of lazing around in the sun, reading the papers, eating nice food whilst the children built sand castles. Mmmm … I should have known better as James was a fiend for the waves. We couldn’t keep him out of the water and he needed constant supervision … hence no lazing around. He is going to be a little water baby, just like his sister.
We also saw the new Brooke Street Pier being floated into place. In the afternoon we hung out at home in the sun, eating apples, playing and generally making a mess of the house! A wonderful weekend indeed. Xx
Our barbecue at ‘The Quarries’ on Bruny Island last Saturday … in 36 seconds. x
Hobart’s weather certainly turned it on for Father’s Day yesterday – it was such a beautiful day. We went for a spin in the Speedy Boat with my sister Cath and the crew, where we stopped into Kings Pier Marina for takeaway coffee from T42. We sat in the sun basking in the glory of these Tasmanian spring days and true to form, Jamesy Boy fell asleep in my arms for his morning nap – bless!
On Saturday night, Nick and I went to the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s Blue Water Ball. It was fun to don the high heels, my Alannah Hill ‘bunny’ bolero which I wore to my wedding and enjoy bubbles, conversations and a boogy.
Poppy told me I looked like a ‘Super Beautiful Cinderella‘! I would have turned into a pumpkin because we didn’t get home until 1:30am – 4 hours past my bedtime!!
We also enjoyed a breakfast cook up of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon over the weekend. On Friday we popped into town where Poppy enjoyed a baby chino at Villino Cafe, and James destroyed some takeaway Sushi – a very messy affair!
Saturday in Hobart was the quintessential winter’s day. A clear, frosty morning making way for the most beautiful still day.
No Saturday sleep-in for our household with Poppy and James up and at ’em by 6:30am. After mooching about at home for a while we decided to head out for breakfast, only to realise T42 didn’t open for another half-an-hour! Like desperadoes, we went for a wander to the Salamanca Market and returned to savour a hearty breakfast.
My boat-loving husband has just taken his hobby to a whole new level and picked up a steal on Gumtree with this 1978 original Pride Cheetah fibreglass boat, or as Poppy calls it:
Daddy’s speedy boat!
Nick justified his purchase by admitting it was a present for James’ 1st birthday. Mmmmmm – I’m not sure about that??
We all piled into this little beauty from the 70’s, complete with orange vinyl ‘back-to-back’ seats and took it for a spin on a beautifully calm Derwent River. The Captain was very happy because:
A: His daughter kept asking him to go faster
B: His son fell into a deep slumber en route
C: His reticent wife had a smirk on her face!
Looks like we will be water-skiing and wake-boarding this summer!
We have had a lovely time away on the boat for Easter. We went to Norfolk Bay this year, where we hunkered down in little Monk Bay and had a lovely time with our friends. We were fortunate to be able to use Nick’s folks boat “Spellbound” (or “Schoolbell” as Poppy calls it) which provided us with more room for the four of us, plus Maisy.
BBQ’s on the beach, a birthday party, rafting up, champagne, pikelets, easter eggs and early nights … the five days soon drifted by and I cherished the moments spent together as a family and with our friends in a beautiful place.
Our little Poppet turned three on Saturday and we had a party for her on the beach where she was surrounded by all of her ‘boat’ friends, gifts, toasted marshmallows, musk sticks, birthday cake and everything and anything pink.
Poppy’s cake wasn’t one of my greatest achievements but when you start making it at 8:30 the night before you go away for five days, you aren’t going to get the results that you had hoped for. It did make the journey on the boat and Poppy seemed to be happy when she saw it. She did however say to me later that she would have liked a Ballerina cake instead!?
On Sunday we visited the Coal Mines Historic Site and stretched our legs around the ruins.
On Monday morning we rafted up with Brett and Jacinta on “Mistraal” and hosted a morning tea for ‘everybody’. Kids were hopping between boats, James was crawling all over the place, I was cooking pikelets and Maisy retreated to a lone dinghy … so the girls popped a bottle of bubbly and relaxed in the sun.
We were planning on returning home on Monday, but we decided to stay another night and cruised around to Bruny Island. We planned our departure beautifully as both Poppy and James slept for the whole two hours of travelling. Toilet paper, water and bread were running low but we managed and it was worth it to stay away another night. We enjoyed a lovely roast meal with the Cooper’s and Poppy was in heaven playing with her ‘big’ girlfriends … loom bands, hair clips and television galore.
Nick has been looking on Gumtree for a rowing skiff for over a year now and his patience has paid off, as he finally found this little gem that he picked up yesterday.
Poppy ran inside, grabbed all of her toys and took them for a ‘row’. Mmmm … never too soon to learn I guess.
The Poppy Files 