Hi everyone again,
It has been a busy time for our first Christmas away from Melbourne.
On the 3rd we went to the Botanic Gardens here in Hobart. Very nice and very green. We went into the SubAntarctic house, the children rolled down the grassy slopes, went through the Japanese garden, then had icypoles, then home again. We will look at the other half next time.
Later that day we celebrated Nathaniel’s second birthday. He really enjoyed his cake, as he does most food.
On the Sunday the 10th we had the extremely warm temperature of 32 degrees (extreme for Hobart), so we went down to our local beach where the children had a nice paddle.
Christmas day was just the five of us, but we had a really nice time. The children opened their presents from Santa, Veronica got a keyboard, Vanessa a Fisher Price Power Touch Learning system, and Nathaniel an electronic guitar. From us they received a trampoline, none have been serously injured yet. And they enjoyed all their presents from their grandparents and their aunties and uncles. Thanks everyone.
And thanks to everyone for their Christmas Cards, and we’ll see many of you in the New Year.
The Merrifields
January 1, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Dear John, Joanne, Veronica, Vanessa & Nathaniel,
We are very happy that you have moved to a so pretty place. The pictures are great and we can see that you are in the nature. It is a better way of living, especially for the kids. We would love to walk along the beach when the sun goes down. So now you can catch your fish for dinner
During our first trip (2000/2001) we liked very much Tasmania. This island seems to us wild and unspoilt. Hobart looks a little bit like a town from Norway. We’ve been very impressed by the “Russel Falls” in the Mt Field NP, Lake St-Clair, the Gordon River NP, the “Henty Dunes”, Cradle Mountain, Mole Creek Wildlife Park, St-Helens Pt, Bicheno, the Douglas Apsley NP, the fabulous Wineglass Bay, Maria Island, Eaglehawk neck and of course Port Arthur.
We wish you all the best in your new home and good luck to Joanne for her new (and busy) job. It must also be a big change compared to Melbourne for the whole family. You enjoy now a quiet life and you must really be fond of nature, walks and evenings beside a fireplace. We are sure the kids are happy about this new life in the wild !
We have just started our own blog (which you’ll find at http://abcypg.romandie.com/ ). We’ve just found a beautiful calendar of Switzerland which we’ll send you very soon. If it is ok for you, we’d very much appreciate one from Tasmania.
We’re a little bit late this year, but we nevertheless wish you a merry Christmas, a sunny and warm summer and also our best wishes for the New Year 2007.
Lots of love from Switzerland
Anne, Benoit and Claude-Yvan Pecoud
XXX
January 2, 2007 at 4:45 am
Dear John and Joanne
I have found the blog – what a great idea. I have updated myself with all your news – it sounds as though you are enjoying Tassie but have had a few ups and downs. Good on you Joanne for leaving your job – there is no need to put up with rude people. I hope your new job turns out to be OK.
Hope you’ll find time to catch up in February.
Cheers
Wendy
January 7, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Hi John and family !
We just received your beautiful calendar of Tasmania. Thank you so much. Yours is on the way (posted 3 days ago). What a busy beginning of year. We are updating our blog like crazy. We hope to maintain the refresh rate during all the year.
How are you enjoying the Tassie summer ? Is it hot, warm or cool ? Do the kids enjoy their summer holidays ? Did you buy your home or do you rent it ? How is the contact with Tasmanian people in general ? How is the school for the kids, friendly or so-so ? And how do you get along with your new life “at home” ? Did you ever dream of that possibility ? Well, in short, are you happy ?
All those questions, but you know me, always asking
I wish you many happy moments with your family.
Lots of love from Switzerland.
Anne + Claude-Yvan + Anne