Countdown to Lioba's arrival

Sunday is market day so we have a slow morning and a poke around the markets. We have an early lunch and go up on the hill to work on more gorse patches..
Thomas finds a nice little "animal" shelter that is unearthed once the gorse is out.. He fits it out with mossy floor and woven grass furniture for a little animal somewhere...
The rain comes and goes and there is a rainbow that hangs over the river...delightful!!

 

 

After a few hours its time to stop!!.. We head home and have a nice quiet read/rest time.
I do the Golf course circuit before the sun disappears...it's cool but lovely walking weather.
We enjoy a nice quiet night.

Monday and back to a frost again...a chilly day..although sunny!!

There is a NAIDOC assembly at school this afternoon. Thomas' class are presenting the 'Tiddalick' story. Thomas is a dingo in the play...
I manage to catch the class as they file into the hall..

You can see Thomas just about to go through the door.. cute ears.

Tom enjoys scouts as usual.
John and I have a lovely walk down to Martin's Point while Tom is at scouts.

Tuesday brings rain showers throughout the day.
We have a productive meeting with Paul (our architect)..and have hopefully reached a point to submit plans to council...very exciting..(lets just hope the building quotes don't stop us in our tracks!!)
Nice morning of customers and orders.
I go over to Tom's class to help out in the afternoon. Sharon and I dismantle the Tiddalick sets and begin work in the little ante-room off Tom's class...transforming it from a play shop to an aboriginal cave using the props.

Wednesday passes very quietly work-wise... strange to have virtually no orders today.
John tackles paperwork and I potter about looking for jobs to do....and end up doing some knitting.
It's a cold grey day out..so nice to be near the cosy fire.

Thursday is a cold start...but the sun breaks through.

 

 

We are gearing up for John and Thomas' trip to Sydney tomorrow to meet Lioba. Our week has been focused on organising and planning for this weekend. It's been so wonderful to be able to 'chat' with Lioba on Facebook this week...sharing our excitement and answering her questions. It is delightful to watch John's happiness and thoughtfulness as he prepares to meet his daughter again after so many years.
I spend the morning at the Garden doing some tentative wheel barrowing...It is a gloriously sunny morning and I end up peeling off layers of clothes... We move the chooks (thankfully there are 4 of us today so it is not such a struggle).

 

 

The afternoon passes quickly.
Thomas finishes his journal of the Central Australia trip.. We have all helped him put it together... John has found extra information about places they went to make it a fantastic resource.
The boys get packed for the weekend adventure then we have dinner and watch an Africa DVD episode on the Sahara...wonderful..

Friday is wet and cool. We are up early for the drive to the airport. Such and exciting day. John is just glowing with joy.. Thomas has his Swiss hat on that Lioba sent for his birthday..

 

I am busy with orders through the day. A good thing as my heart is in Sydney with the boys...so I feel quite emotionally torn today.

The airport meeting goes ok..it was always going to be an awkward moment for John and Lioba..virtual strangers to eachother.. Thank heavens for Thomas and his bright red hat...and open nature! They drove to the city via Mrs Macquarie's chair...then after Lioba had a shower  etc they walked around Opera house , had dinner at the Oyster Bar and walked around to the bridge...

They are all exhausted by bedtime...a BIG day.

I feel so wrung out by the close of business, I decide the best remedy is a walk down to the Sailing Club...just beautiful in the grey evening.

 

Home to a hots shower, a bowl of muesli for dinner then I watch Fiddler on the Roof...enjoying a sing and a weep...good stuff.

Saturday and its is pelting down. I do some early washing and take it over to the laundry driers..
I get myself organised to head int Hobart to have a browse about.
John calls and sets out their rough  plans...
They end up driving to Watson's Bay after breakie in town..and walk south head.. Tom and Lioba catch the ferry back to town and John drives back. After a rest they head out to Glebe markets, John shows Lioba Sydney Uni where he studied Pharmacy , then they go to King street Newtown..(and Berkalows bookshop !!) They go to Chinatown for dinner...then race up Oxford  Paddington to check out a couple of bookshops there before heading back to hotel. Tom rings in at 9.30pm to say goodnight...sounding exhausted.
Tom takes some photos..here are some of the better ones..

I wander about looking at all sorts of things in town...feeling a bit aimless really. Hannah makes contact and decides to meet me. We wander a bit then have lunch at Daci Daci bakery where musicians are playing cool music...I feel so much better with Hannah's company and a cuppa.

 

I head home then go up on the hill for an hour and have a wonderful walk.

Home to a cosy night in..

Sunday and the boys ring in at 6.45am...a big day planned. Breakie in town then a drive to Palm Beach and walk up Barrenjoey..then back via St Ives to see where John grew up, lunch at St. Ives shopping Centre the a look at Windyhaugh.. (they end up being invited in by the current owner to look about...really lovely). Drop Lioba off at Inala at West Pennant Hills about 3 -ish and head to the airport to journey home.. All goes well.

 

The weather in Tassie is much better today so I decide to do my planned trip to Maria Island. It's about a 2 hour drive then a 30 min Ferry trip across. Hannah had wanted to join me...but finishing work at 3am after a special function...she wisely decided to stay home and sleep.

It's a magnificent day.. I manage to get the last seat on the ferry...and on arrival decide to take on the climb to Mt Bishop and Clerk...(the third notch from left in the photo below)

 

I wander through Darlington  old convict settlement on my way (You can stay in the Penitentiary...rooms with bunk beds a table and a slow combustion fire...looks interesting).

Delight in seeing lots of wombats and Cape Barren geese..

 

The walk turns out to be very challenging at the top...some rock climbing and exposed summit...I look like I'm smiling...but that is disguised terror!!..It is quite gusty at the top and I'm not game to stand up on the small rock platform...but I made it...and its a fabulous view.

 

The walk back is highlighted by a sighting of a mother and baby Wombat that cross my path..gorgeous..

 

I stroll about and along the beach then enjoy a sit for awhile before the ferry arrives.

 

 

 

 

Once back on the other island...I drive back to Hobart and Hannah and I  go out to a lovely Italian Restaurant in Battery Point.. Then it's off to the airport to get my boys!..

We are all glad to flop into bed tonight!!.