Le Weekend Cygnet

 Well what a weekend we had... Magnifique!!

So the background behind the weekend...(.c/- The Cygnet Association..TCA)
This weekend we will celebrate and commemorate our deep connection to legendary French explorers Bruni D’Entrecasteaux, Jacques de Labillardière, Huon de Kermadec and Nicolas Baudin. During a remarkable decade between 1793 & 1803, their expeditions visited and mapped this then pristine region. It was D’Entrecasteaux who sailed into our bay and named it “Port des Cygnes Noirs” and if things had panned out just a little differently, we’d all be speaking French!

The lovely Sandra (CWA) and her fabulous husband David do a late afternoon change over of our bunting to the tricolours

And they do the Town Hall too!!

The TCA committee add to the show...

Christine our resident French shop owner at Near and Far gets into the French/Valentine spirit..

 The Museum digs out an old but appropriate sign..

Our State Premier Will Hodgeman is a good spot and does a photo shoot for The Mercury Weekend Magazine to help promote the weekend..with a number of our 'famous' local friends..

Posie Graham-Evans (Author and of McLeods Daughters fame)

 Peter George (former ABC foreign correspondent/ journalist)

 Bob Brown

 And Bec...Tom's boss at the Garden Larder!!

I put together this outfit for the weekend.. (any excuse to dress up)

 John and I set up a table out front of shop selling books about D'entrecasteux's interaction with Tasmanian Aborigines at Rescherche Bay. (and Bob Brown Books)...Oh and my crocheted Hearts for Valentines day...to raise money for CWA..

 Madame Defarge...I am asked numerous times "Where is the guillotine?" Maybe next year

 Tom and I do a wander around town..

 The Opening Ceremony begins with the Premier cycling into town!!.

 Getting into the spirit..

 Two girls from St James read from the Diary of French explorer...describing visit to Port Cygnet

 The Rescherche Baybes perform....very clever songs..

 Helen makes quite an entrance and sings the French National anthem

then sings Australian anthem words to French anthem tune to the delight of the Premier(far right)

 Smiles after the ceremony... with Rosalie (our dear friend and partner of Paul our architect/builder) and Liz..

 Bob joins in

 And Posie..

Oh ..and me!!

 Dear friends Winsor and Tereza Dobbin

 There are French cars on display in the carpark

 John and Judy (of HaHa fame)

 Pat and Sylvie and Paul Thomas(Bob's partner) in the stripes

 Peter George introduces Bob Brown speech  "We could have been French" about Rescherche bay and French interaction with Tasmanian Aborigines ..particularly Oura Oura ..a young aboriginal woman...at Randalls Bay area. Fascinating history

 Special guest Jean Phillipe has co-written a book about the French Garden at Rescherche Bay and presents wonderful anecdotes..

 We are booked on the Twilight cruise on the Lady Neslon ..

 Captain Mal greets all passengers with the double kiss before boarding (although Tom manages to avoid his turn)

 We are invited to assist if we like so I give a hand to set the sails..

 The Rescherche Baybes entertain us..

 Beautiful out on the water..

 We head back just avoiding the rain

We are invited back to Lisa and Rob's place for supper with fellow passengers Vicki, Adrian and Trevor. Really lovely end to a great day

Sunday is promising to become windy...

Tom is decked out to do the inaugural Tour de Cygnet Family ride with me..and Goldie gets into the act too.

 We head down for French Breakfast at the Sailing Club...very classy it is too...Thanks to Judy and John for co-coordinating such an elegant affair.

 Tom and I go and register for the bike ride then take in the flags..

 The ride doesn't quite go as I'd thought..
Tom and I start off in the pack together...then I don't see him for dust!!
Oh well.. I enjoy the 17km ride...although some of my fellow riders are worried about my skirt getting caught in my wheels.. One fellow suggest I . 'tuck it into my nickers'..
I make it back despite Tom taking off with my water supply...and the strong headwind...feeling a bit wobbly on my legs as I walk the bike back to the shop  after returning my bib.

Later that afternoon, I am awarded best dressed rider!! What fun.. (Two bottle of wine that I donate to Hannah and Jark...a Valentines gift!!)

 Tom also received a best dressed award...a drink bottle...then is luck enough to be drawn in the prize of a much coveted yellow jersey (that I will probably make use of) Only 3 given out...

A fabulous weekend...what an amazing town we live in..

Term 1 begins...

Finally Tom starts back at school
Very excited to be going to High School

 There is action at the Town Hall as a much needed repaint is taking place. Even the flagpole is getting a lick of paint.

 Tom enjoys his first day back...but has forgotten to bring down a change of clothes for work.
Luckily Aunty Linda 's box of  Connor hand-me-downs arrived today...Thanks Linda (and Connor)

My friend Sally has invited me to crew on the St Ayles skiff for an evening row. We row out as far as the Sailing Club and have to abandon the idea as it is too windy and rough. We have a novice rower (a Swedish backpacker...and she has no idea how to row...and condittions are too challenging)

 I love the evening light up on the hill

 And indulge in a luxurious bath with a view!! Ahhhh

Morning views are pretty amazing too..

We delight in the brief visit by Jane and Ali on Saturday evening/Sunday morning...

 Tom is showing some Jamboree photos..

We have a lovely walk in the evening before dinner...and do another walk in the morning before a scenic drive down to Cygnet for lunch at The Lotus eaters..

Monday is a Public Holiday for Hobart Regatta Day..

We have a busy day at work though as most of our customers on the mainland have no idea it's a holiday here and orders keep coming in.

John gets Tom to do some pressing..

Hannah arrives during the day to stay and cook us dinner...how lovely.

Tom, Narns and I go down to Loongana Park in Cygnet at 6.30 for the #Let them Stay gathering.

There is a reasonable turn out even though it was a last minute rally advertised on Facebook

Tuesday dawns and Tom is presenting with a strange skin allergy on his neck.. he goes to school but by afternoon it is quite flared and uncomfortable.

The next two days see it flare up even more and spread to his face and a little on his arms..We are utterly mystified as to what has caused it.But going to school is out of the question. Poor Tom is trying to be so stoic...but has the occasional tear as the discomfort becomes unbearable...We try a whole range  of topical and internal remedies and conventional medicines...cold showers and ice packs are the most effective relief.

The only definite conclusion we can reach is that it is an allergic reaction due to exposure to something external...the distinct v shape of his shirt is apparent and it never spreads to his torso.

Thankfully by Thursday afternoon, Tom feels well enough to go to work then Scouts.

I get another offer to go rowing ...and this week we are successful...with a slightly different crew. I'm definitely in need of improving my upper body strength as I find  rowing into the wind quite a tough challenge..very pleased with myself though, I manage to keep going. 

By Friday morning the bumps are still apparent but have faded so Tom goes to school.

John heads off to Bruny Island for a workshop about Soil Nutrients..hope he finds it informative.

 The town is gearing up for the inaugural Le Weekend Cygnet...celebrating the French connection /explorers who gave us our original name of Port de Cygnes and made contact with the first people of Tasmania....stay tuned ..