Good bye Mutley and a New Norfolk visit.

Well it has been a particularly difficult week for us, as we lost our old dog Mutley. Old age caught up with him, but thankfully he has had a wonderful 3 months exploring our 10 acres of bush. We are grateful he has not had too much old age pain or problems, just the usual arthritis. He was starting to have trouble with the stairs. We loved him so much but his time was up.

To take our mind off missing Mutley we spent some time on the weekend exploring the New Norfolk area.

New Norfolk has one of Australia’s few traditional village squares and is the centre of the hop-growing area.

What’s special about New Norfolk?

  • Several old oast houses (kilns) along the roadside.
  • A growing hub for ‘antique hunters.’…. no we did not buy anything. We can’t fit what we own in our home as it is, so it stops us spending !!!! Mal would not even let me LOOK.
  • Stunning river views

New Norfolk has a rich hop-growing past and you will see several old oast houses (kilns) along the roadside. They aren’t used today but their elegant shapes give the Valley a deep sense of its history and some have been lovingly converted into homes, restaurants and art galleries. Hops are still grown in New Norfolk for beer making.

New Norfolk is 30 minutes from Hobart, however, it’s inland position on the river means it is prone to frosts and fog during the winter. If you visit, remember to bring a warm jacket.

We miss you mate.... hope you are having fun with your old buddies Ralph and Grommet
Derwent River New Norfolk
New Norfolk

 

Anglican Church New Norfolk
Local New Norfolkians
An Oast House (hop kiln)
Tynwald House
It was cool
Our home is surrounded by daffodils just like these at New Norfolk .... Beautiful. Spring is here. The trees are getting their new leaves and there are flowers everywhere.

A visit from Mike and Kim

We have just enjoyed a visit from our very good friends, Mike and Kim Ridley and son Zac all the way from Tamworth. It was a mixture of both pleasure and WORK !!!!

Mike supplied and installed our new air conditioning in our home. We have really appreciated their help. We also took a drive over to Swansea and Coles Bay and enjoyed the views looking towards Maria Island. Also, on Saturday, we all headed off to Salamanca Markets and lunch at the Irish Pub.

Mike, Zac and Mal
Kim and Zac in front of "Spiky Bridge" on the way to Swansea
Mal and Zac dancing on a wall during our picnic
Looking over to Maria Island
Playing cards while enjoying a red
Checking out our new wood splitter
Zac giving instructions to Kent our electrician
One of the stone cottages at Piermont Resort on Coles Bay ..... we are looking forward to staying there soon !!!

 

 

Perth visit…..

I am enjoying a visit in Perth, WA, to spend time with Bec, Steve, Rosie and Creed. I love being able to walk Rosie and Creed to school etc. Things we miss so much. The weather is perfect, warm with an occasional shower today, although I miss the slight chill on the face we experience in Tassie. Both Creed and Rosie are growing so quickly. Although there is 2 years difference between their ages, they are the same size !!! They look like twins and are best of friends.

Yesterday, we spent Father’s Day out at the airport where Steve is an air traffic controller. It’s a fun place to visit, especially as VIP’s with access to the tower !!!!

Rosie 7 years old (with missing teeth !) and Creed who is 5 years old
New member to the family, Fletcher ( a Ridgeback / Kelpie cross)..... so cute, but hide your shoes !
A Father's Day picnic at the airport.
The family....Bec, Rosie, Steve, Creed and Fletcher
A Tiger Moth getting ready to take off.
A W.A Royal Flying Doctor Service plane landing
At work in the tower .... a very busy, and I imagine at times, very stressful spot. Singapore Airlines and China Southern Airlines, both have training facilities for learner pilots here. Singapore has about 200 trainees a year while China has approximately 150. The tower averages 700 planes a day, with 2400 being the busiest recorded day.... busy with only 3 controllers rostered on at a time !!! Steve is the contoller on the right of the photo.

 

Fletcher asleep in the car after a busy day !!!!

Greenhouse Restaurant…..Perth WA

Bec, Steve, Rosie, Creed and I were lucky enough to enjoy a meal at Greenhouse St Georges Terrace Perth.

It is an incredible restaurant….. Very unique.

After opening in Melbourne, designer Joost Bakker teamed up with Perth based restaurant and cocktail professional Paul Aron, and Jason Chan (2005 Age Barista of the year and owner of Melbourne’s Seamstress and Batch) to offer up a mouth watering ‘new kid on the block’ in Perth’s CBD.

Greenhouse St. Georges Terrace is one of Perth’s most exciting destinations, with the emphasis on tasty, honest food and drink, and some simple ideas for a considerate and non destructive lifestyle. Bec and Steve all over !!!

Like its predecessor, Greenhouse St. Georges Terrace has its frame made from roll formed steel coil. Its cladding and surfaces, raw and unashamed, are made from plywood and recycled plastic. Hundreds of straw-bales in the walls and ceilings provide insulation. Vertical gardens spill greenery from the walls, and an abundant roof-top garden produces fresh ingredients for the kitchen and bar, and provides a serene place to escape the rat race.

With the natural essence and quirky beauty of Joost Bakker’s design at the heart of this building, Perth’s Greenhouse offers a variety of spaces, fixtures, objects and atmospheres to warm your heart and nourish your soul.

Bec, Rosie and Creed outside The Greenhouse Restaurant. The walls are covered in pots with herbs and plants growing.
The bar @ The Greenhouse....the place was packed with people.... very popular
I loved the pizza oven