Monday 29 February 2016

Life's a beach...

Tuesday 19 April, 2016

In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.
Edward Hoagland

April 19 and still swimming...

Tasmania 1 - Climate Change 0

Sunday 28 February 2016

Thai me potoroo down

Sunday Feb 28

The produce and value-added food here in Tassie is marvellous. That hasn't changed since the eighties when I used to work here as a Scientific Sales Rep with Foss based out of Melbourne. I used to fly into Burnie, rent a car and then tootle around Tassie visiting labs, then end up in Hobart usually for a weekend before flying out back to Melbourne.

The food around Salamanca Place and Battery Point was amazing back then, and still today (with a much expanded range). Last night with Jackson, Emma and Nicola we drove to Battery Point and had a great meal at Monsoon Thai. Quirky, family-based, a little expensive for Thai, but wonderful flavours (enhanced by the great company and liberal helpings of Tiger Beer).

The night trips back to Allens Rivulet are punctuated by "Oooohs" and "Aaaahs" as we try to avoid running over various hopping things intent on self inflicted vehicular damage. Maybe they are a collection of protected species, but clearly they haven't read the memo and are seem intent on looking for the Nirvana associated with extinction. Crazy guys - and quite a treat for all those who are not white knuckled drivers!

Loose ends Thai'd down

Sunday 21 February 2016

Joy unabated

Sunday Feb 21

The good weather continues here in the land of milk and honey (yes we are looking at that!). Yesterday I went for a ride with Dave for a couple of hours around the SE coast of Tassie, some great road sections, not much respite from leaning first one way then the next - quite a workout!

The Italian Princess finally understands what her role in life is - not belting along the straight and narrow, but cranked over and looking forward at the next corner...and the one beyond.

Today we went to Church (nice community!) and then a quick coffee at the Beach Cafe in Blackmans Bay. Then up the hill in the rattly and currently somewhat unreliable Ssangyong Musso, soup on the slow cooker, and now a hello to the blog and then a couple of hours of MAT/SCI work. We will finish with a walk and a beer at the beach late afternoon, some supping on said soup, and then the sleep of the just in preparation for the week ahead - which now includes Kym at UTAS. Noice!

The house situation is resolving - more news to come - in meantime here are pics of the Mexicans on the beach that Trump wants to keep out with his wall, and Kym in the house of her dreams looking somewhat perplexed at her good fortune.

Damn Mexicans everywhere!
OK so where do I put the dog beds?


Tuesday 16 February 2016

Jess' big adventure

Tuesday Feb 16

Jess and Oskar are quite the pair of characters, with foibles enough to keep us amused several times each day. Sometimes, however, they freak us out totally.

A couple of weeks ago we locked the pups into their expansive yard (see previous pictures) and went out house hunting (more on that later). After a full day looking at houses, the sky was looking foreboding so Kym and I headed home via Margate to pick up the mail. Then the heavens opened and we were driving through a thunderstorm. Knowing that Jess, like many dogs, HATES thunderstorms; we went into hurry-up mode.  About 5 or 6 kms out from our temporary residence, we could see through the rain a dog bounding towards us, covered in spit and in a blind panic.

Yup - it was Jess who had broken out of her safe jail and was trying her luck on any one of the many roads that criss-cross this area. Astoundingly, she found us. Unerringly. Now that is damn impressive, incredibly stupid and astonishingly lucky all at the same time.

Today we put an offer on a house with the view of the sleeping beauty mountain shown below. Also impressive we think! More news to come...

View from the balcony...maybe??