Poppy : James – Page 4 – The Poppy Files

Category: Poppy : James

A Winter Holiday … Boating

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

On board

Pirate James

Heading out of the heads

The girls

Sydney Harbour

Sydney

Iconic Australian scenery

Sydney Opera House

Sunset

Leaving the bay

Monday, 17 August 2015 1 Comment Short URLBoating in Sydney, Doyles Restaurant, Sydney Harbour, Watsons BayBoating, Poppy : James

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A Winter Holiday … in Sydney

Sydney

I’m back – geographically and electronically. Back in Hobart and back on The Poppy Files after a couple of weeks break.

We have had a fantastic family holiday in Sydney, Mt. Hotham and Melbourne. Not without some challenges (as you would expect travelling with two young children aged four and two) but it was lovely to spend quality time with our peeps and we enjoyed many amazing experiences together.

We flew to Sydney for the Sydney International Boat Show with our good friends, Brett, Jacinta and their girls. This was my first ever boat show and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but basically it is a showcase of all the hot new boats out there on the market. We ‘oohed’ and ‘aarghed’ over numerous moter cruisers and yachts, with our favourite being a 54 ft Moody Decksaloon.

We spent a couple of days at the boat show and then continued to enjoy the delights of Sydney – that blue, blue sky and the warmth unknown to us in our southern home at this time of year. Shopping, time at the zoo, another sushi train – it really was delightful.

After this we met up with Nick’s parents and went … boating. More on that tomorrow, but in the meantime here are a few snapshots of the boat show and our time in the city.

Our gang

Sydney Boat Show

James & I

James and charmer

Blue skies

Nick and I

Wear a lifejacket

Friday night

Lego

Macaroon

Camper

Hotel antics

Water Park

Mercury

James & Nick

Sydney

Poppy

Taronga Zoo Ferry

Taronga Zoo

Sydney

Sunday, 16 August 2015 3 Comments Short URLSydney, Sydney International Boat Show, Taronga ZooPoppy : James, Travel

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Farmer James

James

Our little farmer James loved hanging out with his cousins on their farm in Northern Tasmania at the weekend, but his favourite were all their ‘pets’. Bless. xx

James

James \ James

James

Monday, 27 July 2015 0 Comments Short URLChooks, Farm, Pet catPoppy : James

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2 Years Old

James' 2nd Birthday

Our little James turned two on Monday. It is hard to believe how different he is to when he was born, weighing in at 2.030 kg. He was skin and bones but now look at him – a little bruiser who is chatting more and more by the day and has been nicknamed – Strongman. 💪

He loves his little Gumby and so I made him a Gumby cake, complete with green icing (sorry Mum’s)! He had a special day with lots of presents and cuddles. Happy Birthday little man. xx

James 2nd Birthday

James' 2nd Birthday

Gumby Cake

Bubbles

New train set

Bear Chair

More presents

Pops and James

Earning her pocket money

Whoops

Little Apprentice

Thursday, 23 July 2015 0 Comments Short URLTwo Year Old BirthdayPoppy : James

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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

The crew

Hobart

Festival of Voices

Brooke Street Pier

Cake!

Spellbound

Brooke Street Pier

Princess Wharf Shed No. 1

Fresh Flowers

Morning Walk

Kings Pier

Popsy

Monday, 13 July 2015 1 Comment Short URLFestival of Voices, Hobart, Kings Pier Marina, Salamanca Market, The Big SingBoating, Poppy : James

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Juggle : Juggle

Winter flowers

It’s been an interesting week, with no time for blogging as poor little Pops has been quite unwell with high fevers and tonsillitis! James is getting over (just) his ear infection and so it has been a bit of a juggle with demands at work and looking after sick little ones.

We have had some nice moments in between however – enjoying a fab 40th celebration for a friend on Saturday night, and a drink and dinner catch up with an old friend who was visiting from Melbourne. Xx

Pigeon Whole Bakery

Franklin Restaurant & Bar

Richard's 40th

The Glasshouse

Three Dogs, Two Prams, Three Children, Two Mums

Slide at Bellerive Oval

Poppy's writing

ABC App

James & Poppy

The Crew

Chester & James

The boys at Nutgrove

Poppy helping Mum at work

He's Off

Walk to work

Dolphin Spotting

Peek-a-Boo

Thursday, 9 July 2015 0 Comments Short URLPoppy : James

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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.

Winter Feast

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

The girls and James!

Off on an adventure

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Poppy on the Pulse Column

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Fire Organ

Handfish

Hobart

Dark MOFO's Pulse Column

Sunrise

Dawn

Sunrise

T42

Brooke St Pier

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

Winter Solsctice Sunset

Mt. Wellington

Monday, 22 June 2015 0 Comments Short URLDark MOFO, Hobart, Hustle & Scout Market Hobart, Winter Feast, Winter SolsticeBoating, Poppy : James

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Winter Culture

There’s a red glow in the air as Hobart’s Dark MOFO festival has begun. The illumination of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Pulse Column signified the start of this amazing festival that brightens up our winter in Hobart every year.

Pulse Column

We went along to the Opening Night on Friday to see the city turn out in droves to celebrate our longest nights. I find it so fantastic to see so many people out and about, rugged up and enjoying the various free events.

We visited the Dark Park at Macquarie Point and enjoyed the Hendrick’s Parlour of Curiosities, The Purging and The Fire Organ. Poppy was a little freaked out from the noise of the organ and so we ventured to calmer environs at the TMAG forecourt where she danced to her heart’s content to the live music.

Dark MOFO

Jamesy Boy

Dark MOFO

Fire Organ

TMAG

Dark MOFO

The next morning I had an early breakfast at Smolt with my dear friend Heidi, followed by a wander through Salamanca Market to buy fresh flowers. In the afternoon we had a four-year old birthday ‘disco’ party where five girls enjoyed various games and an amazing butterfly cake.

On Saturday evening we had a function at The Waterside Pavillion and then more Dark MOFO action at Blacklist – an evening of great DJ’s and random acts that only Dark MOFO is known for.

Oh I love it! Xx

Heidi at Smolt

Hot House

Salamanca Market

Poppy with her present

Dark MOFO

Me, Depha and Leesa

Pulse Column

Hobart

Blacklist - Dark MOFO

Monday, 15 June 2015 0 Comments Short URLDark MOFO, Fire Organ, Hobart, Pulse Column, Tasmania, Winter FestivalPoppy : James

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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

Monday, 11 May 2015 1 Comment Short URLBellerive, Boating, Shag BayBoating, Poppy : James

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Danish Mates

AustraliaFlagRound index

Late last year one of my Adventure Guiding students asked to speak to me in my office. I wasn’t sure if he was going to seek future employment advice, to ask for an extension on his assignment or to check up on his recent results? I was pleasantly surprised when he mentioned his Mother was supervising a PhD student recently arrived Denmark, who had come to Tasmania for 6 months with her husband and 3-year-old daughter. George asked if I wouldn’t mind contacting them as they didn’t know anyone in Tasmania who had children.

I met Vibeke, Brian and Julie at the Nutgrove Playground on a windy Sunday afternoon in January. These Scandinavians were easy to spot in the playground – blonde, beautiful and fit. We chatted about Tasmania and my love of Danish design and crime dramas (Borgen, The Killing, The Bridge and The Legacy) as Poppy and Julie played, despite their language differences.

Since then, we had caught up on several occasions over dinners at home; celebrated Vibeke’s birthday and enjoyed a day out on the water.

Last Thursday they returned home to Denmark and I was really sad to say goodbye to these new-found friends who were an absolute pleasure to be around. We will miss Brian’s funny faces, Julie’s sweet nature and Vibeke’s contagious smile, but know deep down that we will meet again. ✈️ xx

Brian, Vibeke & Julie