Hill Family in Tasmania (7hills)

New Years' Splash

2011-12-31T23:00:00.000+11:00

For New Years Eve Cath and Ryan put on a magical BBQ in their new home in Invermay. A very pleasant evening was enjoyed by everybody there.

Next time somebody should tell Cath that Sangria is not improved by the addition of a bottle of vodka, and the recovery time for some would have been shorter. . .

Luckily it was a warm night so those that ended up in the pool look as though they enjoyed it.

A few pictures here.

Duck Off

2011-12-25T16:40:00.000+11:00

The Christmas Tree seems to be up to the expected ceiling sweeping height and looked even better with all the goodies under it.

This year Denise thought we should have duck to complement the meal and Dave was duly despatched to buy one. On the way out she added "better get two" and on the way back in also added, by the way, you are cooking one of them. So began the great christmas duck-off. Denise's was roasted; Daves was steamed and then fried. Both were delicious, but there is not much meat on a duck with 18 or more people to feed so the real star was Sue Bowen who arrived with a ginormous turkey which was much appreciated by the starving masses. A lovely meal, which also included a cayfish from Patrick was enjoyed by all.

On Boxing day we went down to Liz's in Hobart for Pizza and then on to the shack at Eagle Hawk Neck for a couple of days. All in all a lovely Christmas. :-)

Here are a few pictures of the occasion.

1 Down; 2 to Go

2011-11-26T21:13:00.001+11:00

Sarah has now finished her first year at Uni and the results were released today. 2 Distinctions and 2 Credits. Great work Sarah. We are out celebrating at Sporties with Chris (who was back in Tas for a wedding) and the recently returned Cath and Ryan.

A very pleasant family evening, which continued on with a few more beers. . . . .

Nap time

2011-11-18T20:31:00.002+11:00

Dave and Max seem pretty relaxed here. It has been quite hectic lately and a few zzz moments are appreciated now and again. . . .

There are a few more pictures in this updated album.

Home Again, Home Again . . . . .

2011-11-13T19:48:00.003+11:00

After an epic journey through Europe, Russia, China and Asia, Cath and Ryan are finally back in Tasmania for a while.

Ryan is resuming work at KPMG next week and they are going to live in a small house in Invermay for the time being. Moving day is tomorrow, so its all go here.

Here are a few pictures of the long long way home .

Four out of Five

2011-10-30T21:09:00.002+11:00

Peter and Bianca have been completing their tour of Oz with a quick trip to Tassie, Chris was down for a few days to sample the delights of Saphire resort at Coles Bay and Liz came up for the week-end, which made for a great family get-together :-)

Only missing was Cath who is in Siberia; journeying by train to Beijing. Everyone is looking forward to another great week-end in a couple of weeks when they get back.

You can find a few recent pictures here.

Long Way Home

2011-10-15T11:00:00.003+11:00

Cath and Ryan are heading back to the land down-under. Travelling by train through much of southern Europe, meeting up with cousin Ian in France and a quick trip further north for Oktoberfest :-)

Here are a few pictures of the long way home .

The Long Farewell

2011-10-01T21:43:00.003+10:00

After over a year mostly in the UK and making the most of Ann's amazing hospitality in Faversham, Cath and Ryan spent a few days farewelling the many friends they had made there.

Here are a few pictures of the some of the activity. She seems to have caught up with most of them . . . .

Stuck in the Mud

2011-09-02T13:25:00.005+10:00

Cath and Ryan went to Reading Music Festival. Mid summer in England is not noted for dry sunny weather and did not disappoint. . . It looks more like the frog pit than the mosh pit, but did not detract too much from the fun.

They are now off to explore more of Europe before wending their way homewards.

Pete and Bianca have spent some time in the Whitsundays and are continuing south towards the starting point. . . . that seems to have gone by quickly. . . .

Wots Cooking

2011-08-24T19:30:00.006+10:00

Dave has been making lots of sawdust in the garage again.

The result this time looks like a stove for little people to cook up a storm. It was supposed to look like this

So watch out for Jack on junior Master Chef pretty soon. . . .

Max is settling in, the updated album is here.

AND. . Pete and Bianca have made it to Port Douglas. . . almost on the home stretch . . .

POP over to Manly

2011-08-16T16:40:00.005+10:00

Alice and Chris have a new (currently part-time) venture making pure fruit-juice icey poles to sell at the local markets in Manly and surrounding areas.

They are gearing up for summer, which is not too far off now.

Trading as "Pure Pops" they have a web site and sales cart coming soon.

Max Out

2011-08-09T19:35:00.007+10:00

Welcome Liz and Rob's latest addition to the family - Max Riley weighing in at 7lb 4 oz on 8 August

One day old and already making news :-)

Also in the newspaper . . Read all about it here.

And more pictures here.

Whaleshark of a time

2011-07-26T16:26:00.009+10:00

Peter and Bianca are working their way up the West Australian coast. They have slowed down a bit now they have reached a better climate :-)

Swimming with dolphins in the sunshine at Monkey Mia, diving on the reef with whalesharks at Exmouth. There are many envious people back at this end of the country.

There are just a few pictures here.

Meanwhile Cath and Ryan are spending their last week in London and then exploring a bit more of UK and Europe before venturing homewards by rail via Beijing.

And Alice has a wedding dress . . . . . but the wedding is on hold. . . . .

Pete's Road Trip

2011-07-01T20:52:00.009+10:00

After 6 years working as a chef in Melbourne, Pete is setting off on a road-trip around Australia with Bianca. So if you spot a green and purple Tarago it could be them. :-)

Heading clockwise towards WA. He says he will be posting some pics of the trip. . . . lets hope so. . . . we would all like to tag along.

Have a great (and safe) trip guys, looking forward to hearing all about it.

RedCentre

2011-06-22T19:26:00.011+10:00

Dave spent a week recently walking the Larapinta trail in the Northern Teritory. It's a world class trail, the days were bright and clear, but cold (-3) camping at night. Pictures from this trip can be found here.

While in the vicinity he also took the opportunity to visit the Rock (Ayres Rock/Uluru) and you will find some pictures here.

Follow the white lines in the picture on the left to the top of the Rock.

The Royal Couple

2011-06-20T19:07:00.003+10:00

OK, so its the other (better looking) royal couple, enjoying a day out at the races.

They are making the most of their last few weeks in London before setting off on further adventures.

They will be spending more time travelling in the UK and Europe before returning by via Bejing by train and then back to Oz by November.

To see more pictures of whats going on in London click here.

Rafting spills on the Franklin

2011-06-04T19:25:00.006+10:00

>
Here is a clip from Dave's recent rafting trip down the Franklin river. . . . No . . . his raft made it down Newland Cascades. . . . the guys in the other raft seem to have had a lot more fun. . . No broken bones, but some of the food was lost including the coffee!

For more footage of Dave's raft click here.

To see some pictures of the trip click here.

Zoo Two

2011-06-01T18:57:00.006+10:00

For Jack's 2nd birthday, aunty Sarah and his 4 grandparents took him out to ZooDoo near Cambridge. Much amusement for everybody, including the animals.

Then it was back to Liz's for presents, afternoon tea and , of course, the Thomas the Tank-engine birthday cake :-)

To see more pictures of the occasion click here.

Fish for Easter

2011-05-04T10:48:00.004+10:00

There was a big family gathering at the Beattie shack at St Helens over Easter including several tents and Rose and Doug with their new campervan.

Patrick and Dave did a bit of fishing from Patrick's boat and on one ocassion the salmon schools were thick enough to walk on. Plenty of fillets in the esky and fish on the menu at Bridget's restaurant.

Rafting in Remote Tasmania

2011-04-06T16:39:00.025+10:00

Dave just spent a fantastic 10 days rafting 120 km down the Franklin River in the remote Tasmanian world heritage area. Video clips coming soon.

To see some pictures of the trip click here.

There is also a detail guide map of the river here

To see how wild and remote this area is, see the route in Google Earth; click here and then save or open the kml file to show the route, and then, click here and open the kml file to take the tour. You can pause the tour and zoom in, out and around at any point.

Depending on your settings you may have to save the kml files and then use File/Open to open them in Google Earth. This also needs a fairly recent version of GoogleEarth.
If those links play up, RightClick-SaveTargetAs and RightClick-SaveTargetAs should get you the kml files

Renovations

2011-03-30T14:52:00.002+11:00

Chris and Alice have bought an old property in Launceston as an investment. For the past several weeks Alice's dad Tony has been working like a trojan with some help from Dave and others to bring the kitchen and bathroom up to a standard where the house can be rented out.

As you can see from the pics, Tony has done a great job here.

New Golden Boy

2011-03-20T14:37:00.000+11:00

Here is the first picture of Liz's latest contribution to the Hill clan. He is not due to see the light of day until early August.

Mother and Baby doing well.

Jack's first Hike

2011-03-07T19:26:00.004+11:00

OK. . . so he didn't walk all the way but he did a pretty good job of going up the steps. . . His speciality was walking along the logs. . . Liz did a great job carrying 2 babies!. Liz Rob and Grandpa Dave went for a short hike at Freycinet over the saddle to the far end of Wineglass bay for the night. The weather was fine but cool and we all enjoyed a very pleasant week-end. Liz Rob & Jack stayed on for a few days relaxation at a holiday home in Coles Bay.

A few pictures of the occassion can be found by clicking here.

Festivale'd out

2011-02-20T09:57:00.005+11:00

This week was Festivale time in Launceston. Chris and Alice came down from Sydney and Liz, Rob and Jack were up from Hobart for a nice family get-together. From the look of the recovering bodies the next morning a good time was had by many although memories are vague.

Chris and Alice are also buying a house in Launceston. Initially as an investment to rent out. Longer term plans seem to indicate a return to Tasmania but timing, including the wedding date seem indeterminate as yet.
(Alice Storey / Chris Hill)

Birth Days

2011-01-20T09:46:00.001+11:00

It's a busy time of year here for Birthdays. Peter on New Year's Eve, Liz and Sarah in January and Denise in early February. The girls decided to celebrate by spending a week-end in Melbourne where they could catch up with Pete and go shopping. . . .

And talking of birth days we can confirm that Liz is expecting another baby in August. Everyone, including Jack is most excited.

Christmas Engagement Party

2010-12-27T20:04:00.001+11:00

Meanwhile, back in Tasmania the rest of the Hills celebrated Christmas with the usual relly rally, followed a couple of days later by an engagement party for Chris and Alice hosted by Alice's parents.

A good time was had by all. . . .

A few pictures of these occasions can be found here.

Guy celebrates 90th Christmas

2010-12-25T20:35:00.002+11:00

Dave and Cath were in the UK to help celebrate Guy's 90th birthday on Christmas day. Ann put on a magnificent spread and many UK Hills, young and old, were there to join the festivities.

Several other get-togethers with other family groups were held throughout the ensuing week.

A few pictures of the occasion can be found here.

Deck the Halls

2010-12-15T08:41:00.002+11:00

No Holly here. . . but a nice Christmas tree courtesy (albeit unknowingly) of the Forestry Commission, being decorated by Sarah. Many well loved items hanging here. It seems to meet the family regulations of touching the ceiling and plenty of room for presents underneath.

Playing A Round

2010-11-28T17:04:00.008+11:00

Dave played a round of golf on the back 9 at the Casino to-day with Matt and Greg Bowen. This clip shows Matt giving us a demonstration on how to tee-off. You can follow our progress by clicking here. 6.2 Kilometers, including looking for lost balls. There are many ways to score in golf with various handicap systems. Based on who lost the least balls, Dave was the clear winner with 1, followed by Matt with 2 and Greg with 3. Longest drive, we'll give to Greg for the over the trees shot on the 17th. Most consistent and man of the match goes to Matt. Stats, tracks and vids courtesy of the new HTC phone thingy.

Rock On

2010-11-14T19:37:00.007+11:00

Dave has been making a lot of sawdust in the garage lately and the result seems to be a rocking horse (of sorts). Click on picture for closer view. A few lengths of 70x35, an old trampoline spring (enclosed for safety) a bit of road-kill and here it is. (Pivot bearings from a skateboard but don't tell Chris.) Not yet broken in, and with no jockey measurements or weights to go by who knows how it will go. Note the adjustable tension holes and also foot-pegs (umm Stirrups)so it maybe OK . . ask Jack after Chrismas (shhhhhhhh....)

Jack & the Beanstalk

2010-10-27T21:23:00.002+11:00

Tune in soon for the golden goose eggs . . . . :-)

Tears and Beers for Mike

2010-10-13T20:58:00.001+11:00

A massed gathering of family and friends joined together to farewell Dave's brother Mike at his funeral service. Many tears were shed, many beers were drunk in a fitting farewell to one who was so good at organising a party. A great send-off organised by his incredible and lovely wife, Ann.

Jewel in the Crown

2010-10-08T20:53:00.001+11:00

While Cath has been visiting the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, Sarah has started work in the local jewelers shop. Perhaps hoping to save enough to visit Cath before too long :-)

Tradgedy Strikes

2010-09-22T20:23:00.004+10:00

Dave's brother Mike was tragically killed in a crash while riding his motorcycle home to-day. Here is a news report

This bolt from the blue has shocked the whole family and everyone that new him. His larger than life personality and legendary hospitality will be missed by so very many. . .

Walking the dog

2010-08-15T15:25:00.003+10:00

Maggie taking jack for a walk . . . .

Meanwhile Cath & Ryan have moved into a flat in London after a few days in Paris. . . some pictures of their travels here

Let there be light

2010-07-16T11:55:00.004+10:00

Dave has put a window in the dowstairs bathroom to let in some natural light and provide ventilation.

The dark mustard colour is gone and it is now white and lilac and clean and bright !

Hitched . . . . (almost)

2010-06-17T19:27:00.005+10:00

Chris and Alice have announced their engagement to be married.

CONGRATULATIONS guys from everyone . . .

We are no longer "expecting an announcement shortly"

and looking forward to the social event of the century :-)

Jack stepping out

2010-06-15T10:10:00.000+10:00

No stopping this little man now . . . .

Meanwhile Cath & Ryan are currently in Prague. . . some pics here

Tropical North QLD

2010-06-14T18:39:00.003+10:00

The original plan after Faser Island was to hike down from Newcastle to Sydney. . . BUT. . . the weather has been so atrocious in northern NWS that a quick change of plan was in order and the weather was certainly better in northern Queensland. The wildlife encounters included crocs, turtles and many reef dwellers. . . .

A few pics from the trip can be found here.

Jack Hammer

2010-06-01T21:38:00.004+10:00

Happy Birthday Jack ! . . . . who turned one year old to-day.

More pictures can be found here.

Sand . . . .

2010-05-18T20:19:00.003+10:00

Dave recently spent a week hiking around Fraser Island. The worlds largest sand island with a 75 mile beach/highway and many beautiful fresh water lakes. More pictures here

Cath and Ryan are now in the UK.
Cath's USA pictures are here and UK pictures here

House Warming by Pizza Oven

2010-04-24T15:39:00.003+10:00

Liz & Rob had a lovely house warming party, serving up fresh pizza from their own wood fired pizza oven. There were so many children enjoying the garden and all Jack's toys it looked more like a creche. A great time was had by all.

Meanwhile, Cath and Ryan are continuing their travels in the US. There are some pictures (click here) .

Chopsticks in LA

2010-04-09T15:56:00.008+10:00

Here are Cath and Ryan playing chopsticks with famous Hollywood Music Editor Paul Rabjohns (a distant cousin) at a Korean BBQ restaurant in LA. (Click on it for an enlargement)

They have also been enjoying the usual LA mix of Disneyland, Universal Studios, live audience with Dr Phil, NBA Basketball, Beverley Hills, Venice Beach etc... Well. . .someone has to do it. . . .

They're Off

2010-03-31T06:37:00.006+11:00

Cath & Ryan have set off on their adventure. . . . 6 weeks in the USA including LA, San Francisco and New York and then on to the UK and Europe.

All offers of accommodation and ideas to meet up for drinks etc will be gratefully recieved. Cath can be contacted on
e-mail: cathcamel(at)yahoo.com
Txt/mobile phone: +44 (0)78 6672 6541 (US, UK & EU)

Have a wonderful time guys . . .

Resigned to Travel

2010-03-19T13:29:00.004+11:00

Its Cath's last day at work to-day! On 31 March she and Ryan set off for six weeks in the USA and then on to Europe. Lucky for some. . . . Have a great time Cath.

and moving on . . .

Liz and Rob have moved into their new home with much more room for Jack and Mif and
Sarah, now sudying pharmacy at the university of Hobart, is moving into campus accomodation at John Fisher College.

Liz & Rob's wedding

2010-02-28T11:03:00.010+11:00

The bride looked gorgeous, the gardens were lovely, the weather was warm, the bride's mother was misty eyed.

It was a wonderful celebration of Liz's marriage to Rob. Much enjoyed by everyone fortunate enough to be there :-)

The ceremony was in the Botanical Gardens in Hobart, with the reception at the restaurant in the grounds there.

For more pictures (click here) . Check back as more will be posted in the fullness of time.

Hens in the Park

2010-02-14T15:49:00.007+11:00

Liz and many of her friends, old and new, spent a pre nuptial night of secret womens' business in the park at Launceston Festivale. Followed by a bit of night clubbing . . By all accounts a good time was had by everyone. There are a few more pictures (click here) . See if you can spot the ring-in :-)

Surprise ! !

2010-02-08T20:16:00.003+11:00

Denise's sister Rosemary oraganised a surprise birthday celebration for her 60th birthday to-day. All went well and she didn't twig that anything was going on. Many friends, old and new, and relations from all around the state were there. Well organised Rosemary!
. . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENISE !

Fish are Running

2010-01-22T15:45:00.002+11:00

Dave has been a bit more productive fishing from the kayak lately with good runs of mackerel, Australian salmon and a few pike from the river.

Nemo - Found

2010-01-12T09:54:00.006+11:00

Chris and Alice have just returned from a trip to Port Douglas in Far North Queensland.

From the pictures (click here) it looks as though they had a pretty good time.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-29T19:38:00.001+11:00

Here are a few pictures (click here) from the family Chistmas celebrations . . .

Moving Up in the World

2009-12-20T14:59:00.007+11:00

It could be that global warming has prompted Liz and Robs' move to higher ground. More likely the need for more room for the extending family with Miff and Jack. It looks fantastic and should prove a wonderful family home for them all.

The new house is at 5 Bettong Place, Howrah

There are a couple more pics here.

What a Result . . . .

2009-12-17T14:27:00.004+11:00

Sarah has received her exam results and she has done exceedingly well. She has been offered a place at Hobart Uni to study pharmacy, starting in February.

Great effort Sarah. . . Well done!

Best Dressed 2009 - Matthew Bowen - Deloraine

2009-12-15T15:32:00.009+11:00

Matthew Bowen seems to be enjoying himself at the Disco night at the end-of-year camp at Camp Clayton. Looking "most popular" as well as best dressed. . . .

Onya Matt !
If I keep repeating Matthew Bowen, Matt Bowen, Deloraine, Tasmania, Matthew Bowen, Matt Bowen, Deloraine, Tasmania, Matthew Bowen, Matt Bowen, Deloraine, Tasmania, Matthew Bowen, Matt Bowen,Deloraine, Tasmania.)

Going once. . . . . Going twice . . . . . GONE. . . :-(

2009-12-10T14:46:00.007+11:00

Chris and Alice are trying to buy a place to live in Sydney and have even resorted to the stress of bidding at auction for one. No winning bids yet however :-( so still looking.

See if you can find them a 2 bedroom unit, preferably with Garage, near the beach ! up to mid 300s.

Testing Times

2009-11-18T16:29:00.003+11:00

After two weeks of study and final exams, Sarah has now finished school at Launceston College. She put in a great effort and we are sure this will show in the results. . . . GOOD JOB Sarah. . . . :-)

Now its time to relax and unwind. . . you have earned it.

Triffic Tryfids

2009-10-30T16:55:00.005+11:00

You may need to take care entering and leaving 5 Edward Street.

The door is guarded by this magnificent plant species.

Not known to have eaten a whole human . . . . . yet. . . . .

Jumpin Jack

2009-09-26T09:10:00.002+10:00

Well, Mick Jagger can't keep going for ever. . . Meanwhile there are more pictures here.

Gorge - ous

2009-08-14T14:31:00.004+10:00

The rain stopped and the sun came out long enough to get some photos of the torrents rushing down the gorge. Still more rain on the way according to the weather men :-(

WET . . . . . PAINT . . .

2009-07-27T14:59:00.004+10:00

It's been raining nearly every week-end for the last month and more. The paddocks are awash and vast torrents of foaming water tumble down the gorge. Dave has made use of the inclement weather by doing some interior re-painting. So far completed is the study (Katrina's room) Guest Bedroom (aka Chris's room), guest bathroom and the master bathroom. All have high ceilings with awkward angles. Thank goodness for Z-fold ladders. . . :-)

Two Little Ducks - 2 2

2009-07-08T14:07:00.008+10:00

Cath turned 22 to-day . . . . .

- - Happy Cathday - -

HIJACK

2009-06-01T19:11:00.003+10:00

As in Hi Jack . . . . the newest member of the family. Congratulations to Liz and Rob on this beautiful boy. Doubtless he will feature here from time to time :-) . Meanwhile there are more pictures here.

Avskjed Katrine

2009-05-30T21:27:00.000+10:00

After a year in Tasmania, Katrine flies back to Norway to-day :=( . She has been a welcome member of the family and will be much missed by us and her many friends in Launceston. I'm sure we will meet up again at some time. . . . . meanwhile happy travels and best wishes for your next adventures. . . .

Osama bin Peter

2009-05-23T22:12:00.003+10:00

Peter is home from Melbourne for the week-end for a costume birthday party. . . . something begining with B . . . . Not looking so happy here but I am sure a great time was had by all . . . .

Party, Party, Party. . . . .

2009-05-23T22:02:00.004+10:00

Here they are. . . the party girls. . . thats Janina (Finland) and Katrine (Norway). In the year that they have been in Launceston I think they have been to almost every 18th birthday party going at LC (Launceston College) And who would not like these Scandowegian beauties at theirs. . . Tonight it is Katrine's 18th and they are out on the town. . . . . . we are not waiting up. . . .

Liberty for Chris & Alice

2009-04-27T16:35:00.003+10:00

Subaru Liberty that is. . . . . Chris is back at work and now they have wheels so Alice can get around for her job and they can escape from Manly at week-ends. Only a short few weeks for Liz now and we should have baby pics to share!

Travel News

2009-03-31T16:24:00.003+11:00

Liz and Denise have just returned from a trip to NZ. . .Cath & Sarah have just spent the week-end in Sydney where they managed to catch up with Chris. . . and Katrina sets of on a Tour around Australia with the other exchange students for three weeks on Friday.

You can read more of Katrina's Adventures in Australia on her blog here. (Translated by google from Norwegian)

Boy Bump & Bells

2009-03-30T16:02:00.008+11:00

Liz's baby bump is growing and ITS A BOY. . . so time to get cracking with the blue booties. . . . ETB is early June.

And it looks as though Denise will be a mother-in-law next February as Liz and Rob seem to have decided on a date for the ceremony. . . . (20/02/2010)

NOEL in February

2009-02-10T08:07:00.001+11:00

As in no L plates on the car anymore as Sarah has passed her driving test. Well done young lady. Cath knows who to text msg to get a ride home from work now :-)

Happy Birthday Sarah

2009-01-31T21:39:00.003+11:00

Our "baby" Sarah turned 18 to-day!. We went out on the town to celebrate. Starting at the Prickly Cactus restaurant where we enjoyed a mexican meal and a few cocktails as you can see in the picture . . . Followed by a several other hosteleries until the early hours. Liz, Chris, and Pete were all here to celebrate and a good time was had by all. Followed on Sunday by a family lunch with many relations from around the state.

Heat Wave

2009-01-30T21:49:00.003+11:00

With temperatures of 39C for several days, the Gorge has been a popular place to swim, sunbathe and drift around in Cath's rubber ducky. Even tempting Dave into the water . . . .

Happy 88 birthday

2008-12-25T07:57:00.002+11:00

Guy and Barbara flew out from the UK to spend a couple of weeks in Tasmania, including Guy's birthday on Christmas day! They spent a few days with Liz in Hobart and are returning via LA, New York and Boston.There are some more christmas photos here.

Family Christmas

2008-12-23T07:43:00.008+11:00

All the family made it home for Christmas this year. It's always great to have them back if only for a few days. Guy and Barbara joined us from the UK and Katrine from Norway is still with us so we had quite a house full. Peter is now back in Melbourne as a chef at the Mint Bistro. Chris has returned to Sydney (Manly) with Alice where she is now working for the Gourmet Traveller . magazine. Liz is back in Hobart. There are some more christmas photos here.

7.2 Hills

2008-11-14T13:42:00.004+11:00

After several years making babies for other peolple at the IVF clinic, Liz is having one of her own. WOO HOO. . . great excitement all around. Although it seems that Denise would rather be a Mother-in-law than a grand-mother. ETB is June so get knitting . . . .

Any Campers ?

2008-10-20T13:34:00.006+11:00

Cath is currently interviewing prospective candidates to be counsellors at Camp America next year. She got a lot out of her stint there and is still in contact with some friends she made. She is getting paid for the interviews so. . . roll up. . . roll up. . . get your summer camp enrollment forms here!

Pete Bounces Back

2008-09-19T19:12:00.003+10:00

On a much deserved holiday in New Zealand after completing his apprenticeship, Pete has been hitting the heights, and mostly jumping off them. Together with a bit of white water rafting and a few days in the snow it seems he has been making the most of the break. . . onya Pete!

Wanderers' Return

2008-09-03T19:12:00.003+10:00

After 9 months working in London and 3 months touring around Europe, Chris and Alice are back in Tasmania for a while. Pictures from the trips can be seen here.

Chris is currently planting 1000 trees a day in order to regain some carbon credits after so much travel. No. . . well more likely for more funds for the next trip. He is also booked in for a coxswains ticket at the maritime college in November and Alice is chasing jobs on food publications, probably back in Sydney.

Arty Hills

2008-08-08T21:03:00.005+10:00

None of this family can hold a note, but it seems the girls have more talent holding a paintbrush. We now have two more interesting works to adorn the walls. And this months competition is to guess which was painted by whom . . . .

21 To-day

2008-07-08T19:27:00.006+10:00

Cath has turned 21 and we held a party to mark the occasion. Many family and friends gathered at the Northern Club in Launceston. It was especially nice to catch up with Pete who came over from Melbourne. The Beatties were all up from Hobart and many other friends and work collegues all enjoyed celebrating with her. Some pictures of the day can be seen here.

åtte bakker

2008-07-03T17:22:00.009+10:00

Thats one additional to the company of hills when all are at home which is not so often these days. We are delighted to have with us Katrine from Bergen, Norway who will be with us for a year if she can put up with us. After a late arrival and the usual luggage mix ups she seems to be settling in well and has completed her first week at a new school in a new country and language, 'onya Katrina! (or in Noske: Bra gjort Katrine)

You can read what she has to say here (Translated)

Number 5

2008-06-21T20:52:00.008+10:00

Dave is in trouble again. . . . this time for the dripping paint house number on the front of the house. I did try one with Garfield rather than the Banksy rat, but it did not have quite the same effect. It does seem to provoke an emotive response. . . even if in the negative. I have offered to replace it if anyone comes up with something better, but no takers so far. . .

Cast your vote by clicking on the "comments" link below. . . 2 ayes, 1 nay and 1 fence sitter, all anonymous and no alternatives sighted. . . yet
(Comments are moderated and do not appear immediately)

Bonjour Chris

2008-06-18T20:37:00.000+10:00

Chris & Alice have finished work in London and are now touring Europe. After some time in France they are now in Spain, next stop Portugal. Pictures here.

Meanwhile Liz and Rob have completed the Inca trails and are now in the UK catching up with family and friends. They will be back in Oz in time for Caths 21st birthday celebrations early in July.

We are also looking forward to the arrival of a Norwegian exchange student on 2 July.

Whale of a time

2008-06-10T20:18:00.003+10:00

Dave had an interesting birthday weekend this year. A three day circuit hike around Freycinet Peninsular, one of the prettiest parts of Tasmania, including a night camped at winglass bay watching the dolphins frollic in the moonlight. Being lulled to sleep by the waves gently breaking on the shore was a far cry from the traffic and sirens heard in city life. On the last day a kayak trip around the bay was intended to produce a feed of fish for tea, but far too distracted by the playful pods of dolphins and then the awesome presence of two humpback whales just metres away. Very inspiring as they dived directly below me causing the ocean surface to burble with the activity. Altogether a special and memerable day :-)

Liz in LLama Land

2008-05-24T19:49:00.004+10:00

Liz and Rob are now in South America. Enjoying a trip to the Galapogos Islands, treking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and checking out Lake Titicaca. Its a tough life for some. They are returning via the UK and Ireland to catch up with family and friends.

Also in the UK this week is our soon-to-be exchange student from Bergen, Norway; Katrine, celebrating her 17th birthday in London. Happy Birthday Katrine.

Well Hung

2008-05-02T20:18:00.015+10:00

Well after 6 months in the new house we have put a bit of "art" on the walls.

First we have a striking image of a 3D wall sculpture. The original is made from MDF and acrylic paint by the husband of one of Dave's work collegues. You can check out more of his magnificent work here I'm not sure if he would be flattered that we decided to hang it, annoyed that we downloaded the image from his site, or annoyed that we did not ask for a high resolution version; probably a bit of each. It does not hold a candle to the original but still has a striking 3d effect.

Next we have a copy of a portrait of Peter painted by a girlfriend. I'm in trouble for hanging this one too from the girls as she and Pete are no longer together. It certainly looks like Pete though in one of his waking moments.

Adding a small dash of colour to the black and white is a Banksy stencil (downloaded legally from banksy.co.uk ).

All hung as fairly large canvas-art. (upload the image, quote plastic, and it arrives printed on canvas already stretched on frames to be hung)

Food Storey on British TV

2008-04-14T20:39:00.004+10:00

Chris and his girlfriend, Alice Storey, have been in England for only 6 months and she is currently on Prime time BBC2 at 6:30 every day! Featuring as support on a cooking program, Great British Menu. Above are a few clips from a recent episode . . .Click on it a couple of times to play the clip. Well done Alice. I'm not sure if she has picked up all of Gordon Ramsay's vocabulary quite yet. We hear she also has a receipe book on the go. . . .

All Walks of Life

2008-04-06T17:24:00.003+10:00

Having a permanent job in Hobart does not seem to have slowed Liz down too much. She & Rob have just got back from walking the Milford Track in New Zealand and are now preparing for the Inca Trail in Peru in a month or so. Its a hard life for some it seems. I am very envious and hope to get there myself before too long, but moving house has taken a bit of time and money. . . maybe next year.

Baby Boom

2008-04-04T20:39:00.008+11:00

While Liz is in in Hobart making babies at the IVF clinic she has 12 friends and relatives with newborn or young ones on the way! Congratulations to Mat & Jen with young Thomas and here is a fantasic scan of a great-niece-to-be. . . Little Miss Ganley will be arriving in New York in June. . . nice one Emma.

Too Portable . . .

2008-03-26T20:23:00.002+11:00

Chris's low opinion of London took a dive this week when his flat was broken into. His laptop computer, digital camera and many clothes were stolen :-(

On the brighter side they are off to Amsterdam for easter, with a trip also planned to Budapest. Their current plan is to escape from London and find work in the mediterranean for the summer. Sounds good from here !

Fair Exchange

2008-03-17T16:54:00.003+11:00

As a consequence of Sarah's recent successful year in Canada and our currently shrinking family we will be hosting an exchange student for 12 months from July. Early indication is that it will be a 17 year old girl from Norway. We are looking forward to the experience and trust that it will be interesting and rewarding for us all.

New Broom . . . . .

2008-02-14T16:35:00.001+11:00

Since "downsizing" to the new house we have bought 2 new double beds, 2 new lounge suites, 2 new TVs, 1 reverse cycle air-conditionar/Heat-pump, and various other bits and pieces. I think that only leaves a new fridge on the list and replacing the hot-water system. Its just as well I am still working. . . .

Fast Learner

2008-01-31T21:43:00.000+11:00

Sarah (17 to-day) is certainly catching up on the driving time she missed by being in Canada! In Tasmania, learner drivers need to complete 50+ hours of instruction before taking the driving test. Sarah has clocked up 30+ in the last month and her skill level is much increased. She must be OK as Liz and Rob trusted her with the WRX :-) If she can master the "reverse park" she may yet be the first of her year group to pass the driving test. 'Onya Sarah !

Melbourne Chef visit

2007-12-25T20:22:00.000+11:00

Peter has now finished his apprenticeship and is still working as a chef in Melbourne. He managed to get home for a few days over Christmas before heading off to a music festival on Phillip Island.

WELCOME HOME SARAH

2007-12-23T23:02:00.000+11:00

Sporting a Snowboard and a mild Canadian accent, Sarah is now back in Tassie settling into the new home. Her bedroom wall is festooned with Canadian flags, Teeshirts and many photos from the great adventure. We are all delighted to have her back and some adjustments are being made all round.

Christmas Hollie

2007-12-16T23:09:00.000+11:00

We are most delighted to have a Welsh friend of Caths staying with us over Christmas. They met on summer camp in Florida. We are all enjoying her lovely smile and sweet disposition. Merry Christmas Hollie. You have made it one that we shall always remember.

A Moving Experience

2007-11-27T19:05:00.000+11:00

With much help from friends and a truck from Hertz, our worldly possessions are now in the new house at 5 Edward Street. Many thanks to all those that contributed. Some pictures of how it looks are available here and below is the view from the balcony:

7.5 million Revolutions

2007-10-21T18:09:00.000+11:00

Thats how many times the wheels on my Moulton have turned in clocking up the 11.5 thousand km milestone passed during the recent Canadian Rockies ride. The bearings have not been adjusted. . . 3 sets of tyres, 3 chains 3 sets of brake shoes and a few cables. . . . The Brooks saddle should be broken in by now too. . .

Alaska -> Canada

2007-10-20T19:21:00.000+11:00

Dave has recently returned from a hiking and cycling trip taking in parts of Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. Highlights included: Hiking on glaciers and trails around Juneau, Alaska; encounters with bears; a ferry trip down the inside passage to Canada; Cycling the YellowHead Highway; A weekend with daughter Sarah in Prince George. Cycling the Icefields Parkway from Mt Robson via Jasper and Lake Louise to Banff. Several hikes in the Rocky mountain parks, and a quick visit to Vancouver Island. All in all a great trip.

More pictures here.

Downsizing ?

2007-10-10T18:33:00.000+11:00

Dave's plan was to sell the large Danbury Drive property and buy a smaller, cheaper place a bit closer to town. The resulting funds might go to towards another yacht or retiring a couple of years early. BUT. . . the girls wanted to live right IN town and not squeeze into a smaller place. SO . . we are buying a 4/5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house minutes walk from the city centre, costing significantly more than we sold the other place for. . .Ah well. . . . no yachts or retirement for a while, but no lawns to mow here. . . :-)

Chris makes Oktoberfest

2007-10-04T17:59:00.000+10:00

Chris has finished his American trip with a quick visit to Munich for Oktoberfest. He seems to be enjoying himself :-)

More pictures here.

They are now back in the UK seeking gainful employment to replenish the coffers. . . .