Chris is back in Tassie for a week or so before heading off to the UK via the USA and Dave is setting off to Canada via Alaska to bike down the Rockies and catch up briefly with Sarah in Prince George.
Chris is posting pictures from the trip which you can view at: http://picasaweb.google.com/krshilll/ target = "blank"
Chris has now left Sydney in preparation for the next overseas jaunt. By the look of the pics on the right he did have some problems moving out of his flat in Manly :-)
We are expecting him in Tasmania for a few days before he heads of to the UK via the West Coast of the USA.
Cath turns 20 to-day and had a good day with family & friends. A lovely meal by the log fire at the Gorge restaurant was enjoyed by all and sister liz joined us for the ocassion. Many more of them Catherine . . .
Also a few pics of the new place and stuff here
Well with a bit of help from Hertz with a Truck and manpower from friends (Thanks Rob and Maurice) we have moved all the worldly possessions to the new (rented) place. If the heat pump worked we might be cosily settled in. . . .Luckily there is a large garage under the house to store all the unopened boxes, but there are still a couple more trailer loads of excess to take to the Auction house and some still for Vinnies and the tip.
On a brighter note we are having broadband connected, so you may be able to Skype us at "se7enhills".
After 17 years in the same house with 5 kids there is a lot of stuff to sort through, many treasures to be packed away in boxes and more than a little going to Vinnies or the tip. . .
We are moving to a rented house on the 30th June. We will be at 27 Riverview Road, Riverside 7250.
Liz has a new baby. . . . an eight week old golden retriever puppy called "Miff". Dosen't she look cute! All going well as far as we know at this stage. She has not made the journey up to Launceston yet.
And it looks as though we have found somewhere to rent a bit closer to town until other plans are formed.
Denise has been walkabout in the Northern Teritory this month. . . visiting her sister Rosemary who teaches aboriginal kids at a cattle station (Neutral Junction). She drove up with Doug, visiting Pete the chef in Melbourne on the way for a nice feed of Marlin & Mussels and flying back from Alice Springs. The picture shows Rosemary and her class. . . click it for the big picture . . More pictures here
We have a signed contract for the sale of the house! So its packing mode, although settlement is not until the end of June and we have nowhere to go at present; a medium term rental seems most likely. Meanwhile Denise has gone walkabout to the Northern Teritory to visit her sister who teaches on an aboriginal reserve up there. Liz has just returned from a trip to Perth and seems to have added wake-boarding to her list of accomplishments.
Continuing in semi-permanent holiday mode. . . . Sarah has spent a week snow-boarding in the rocky mountains at Banf with all the other exchange students. (she is on the right in the pic, click for a close-up) Its a hard life for some. Followed by two weeks of school holiday spent in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. But the snow is melting back in Prince George and she now actually has to put in a term at school! More pics here
Dave recently spent a fantastic week sailing down the West Coast of Tasmania. From Strahan down to Port Davey, around Bathurst Harbour and then back around the South Coast to Hobart. Managed to bag Mt Rugby, catch plenty of baracouta and even a couple of tuna. Great company on a quick racing yacht. (Farr 31,"Wildfire") Fast but bouncy at times. The initiation out of Strahan was certainly baptism by wildfire, beating into a stiff southerly in large lumpy seas. Pictures of the trip are here
It could be the new name for the kayak. . . wet arse no fish. . . I have spent quite a few pleasant hours peddal/paddling around the Tamar river, lakes and dams but there is little evidence of this in the freezer. I have caught quite a few, but certainly nothing of note :-(. Photo is sunrise at Low Head on the Tamar, the warm waters at this time of year are supposed to bring in kingfish as well as australian salmon. lol
yes. . . . well . . . Sarah is on student exchange in Canada, but last week her host family took her to Hawaii for a holiday. Its tough for some. I suppose she is back snowboarding again now. . . Meanwhile Chris seems to be making plans to visit Europe later in the year, looking for job opportunities there. . . .
Sarah is taking part in a student exchange for this year and is off to the mighty forests of Northern British Columbia, leaping from tree to tree, well perhaps not. . . Her host family sound lovely and we are sure that she will gain much from the experience, even the -20C winter which will come as a bit of a shock at first. She will be living and attending school in Prince George and will be missed by all at home, expecially Maggie (the dog) Click here for the Pics
Whilst the younger members of the family were off enjoying the Falls Festival, Dave took the ferry over to Flinders Island and cycled around for a week. It does not have the same magic as the Scotish islands, but does have some similarities such as strong winds to cycle into. The locals, although few and far between were friendly and the ferry ride was enjoyable. (Click on th picture for a view from the top of Mt Strezlecki)
For the first time in a while, all 7 Hills were "home" for Christmas this year. It was great to see them all together and the Beattie family joined us for Christmas as well to bring back memories of the many the Christmases spent together as "kids". A merry Christmas was had by all. (click on picture for a larger view)
Sarah has obviously been getting ahead in pottery classes and has recently brought home this magnificent statue which is going "straight to the pool room"
As I had not paid anything for 6+ years, our previous ISP eventually denied us access to the old 7hills site so an alternative was sought. Supposedly derived from "web-log", this is where we are at for now. I may convert the earlier years at some rainy day time.
Feel free to add comments to this or any other postings here by clicking on "comments" below. . . . . . or start your own blog and tell us about it.
and no; I doubt it will be updated much more than the old one, significant events, around one per month only, seems to be the norm.
Sarah has been winning races at the inter-high sports again this year, with a first and a second this time.
The switch-board that is. . . she is now back at work, starting a traineeship this week.
As an adjunct to the fishing gear, Dave has bought a Hobie mirage sport. A sit-on-top kayak with a pedal drive system to help get out amongst the fishes. Species to-date include trout, bream, australian salmon, redfin, gurnard, couta, Flathead and pike (snook).
Liz and Rob are tripping around Vietnam. Cath is now back in Tasssie and looking for work to refill the coffers for the next trip.
Cath is now touring Europe on a Contiki camping trip for a month. Have a great time Cath. . .
Dave is now back in Tasmania after completing the end to end cycle tour of the UK. You can read a brief summary or check out the photos. in the "Lands End -> John o Groats" Album
Cath has now finished camp and is staying in New York for a few days, checking out the sights. Then it is off to Wales with a friend from camp before the Contiki camping trip around Europe.
Liz and Rob have been to the South Island to play in the snow and found plenty. . .
Dave has packed up the bike and is off to the UK to cycle from Land's End to John o Groats, climbing the three highest mountains in Wales, England and Scotland along the way. Brother Tony's 60th birthday celebrations in Cornwall seem to have been the catalyst for this cycle trip which seems to have got a bit out of hand.
Cath has been allocated a camp in Florida; Camp Ocala.
She is now swimming in the lake with the alligators and there are bears and snakes in the woods. The camp is near Orlando, so visits to Dizzyland seem to be on the cards for many of the week-ends off.
Sarah is applying for an exchange school year in Canada next year. Plenty of paper work to do, but we do have a passport so far. . .
