The end is nigh.

We're in our final week now - study study and more study for Ollie...not sure how much more he can cram into that brain but hopefully all he's putting there is staying! And for me, I have finished up at work so the last few days will be focussed on cleaning the house from top to toe - we have prospective tenants coming through on Monday and then the real estate agents inspection on Tuesday so needs to be done by then! - and packing falls into my job description, or at least the start of it - no doubt the majority of it will happen Wednesday morning!

Friday afternoon Ollie took a break from his studies to attend his prize giving ceremony. Wives/partners were invited too, so I had arranged to finish work early. While we had got an incling the occasion was a little more than a casual affair, we hadn't realised how formal it was going to be - luckily we didn't just turn up in jeans!!

We arrived at the college a little early so Ollie was able to show me and Ruth (who came with us also) his classroom, and the desk he had spent most of his time in! Shortly after getting to the graduation venue Ollie and his classmates were all decked out in Caps and Gowns - and all the lecturers and other College staff were in their ones also. A little bit more formal than we were expecting!!!!

After a couple of speaches Ollie and his classmates were all presented with a folder - of the different certificates they had got during the year, their exam permit (Ollie needs this for his final exam on Tuesday!) and....not their ADME (Advanced Diploma of Marine Engineering) - their last round of exams haven't all be marked yet so they aren't actually sure if everyone has passed!!!!!! (but everyone has indicated that Ollie will not need to do any resits of the last round of exams.)

Then there were a few photos taken followed by the all important lubrication of engineers - beer, wine etc and some nibbles. Was quite a nice event really, the start of the finishing & leaving doos :)

Here's Ollie in all his finery (and a shot of us together)

Last Looks

Exam week being over, we rented a car one last time to have a break out of town and to see some of the sights we hadn't yet seen.

On Saturday morning (after the grocery shopping was completed!) we headed north...off to see the sea!

Our first stop was Yorktown - one of the first four settlements in Australia apparently. Ollie was going to take advantage of the facilities provided, but when he opened the door he was greeted by a very large Huntsman Spider...Ollie decided he could wait!

We went to Greens Beach, near where the Tamar River (that starts in Launceston) meets the sea. So nice to see the sea :)

From there we headed further west. Along the way we past this sign - home away from home!
 

We went to Port Sorell and the surrounding little seaside towns. Lovely golden sandy beaches - shame it was so grey and drizzly!

 
It was then time to head to Ruth's Kitchen Warming Party - which started off as High Tea (lots of yummy cupcakes, cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam & cream, macaroons and muffins) with Pimms :) and then became a BBQ. Some of the guests played their Fiddle & Mandolins, so we had a bit of a sing-a-long. These were my contributions to the High Tea - Banana Petiti Fours.
 

Sunday started off with brunch at The Rivers Edge Cafe in Longford. One of the best cafes we have found in Tassie - great food, welcoming staff, nice warm fire, and a lovely garden - there were even little bunnies hopping round in the garden! The cafe is run by a Kiwi so guess its no suprise it was good...te he :)

We then headed in towards the Central Lakes area - found the states Opiate supplies. Tasmania is the world's largest producer of opium alkaloids for the pharmaceutical market. The fields are all fenced off with electric fences and barbed wire along with lots of warnings to not enter the feilds!

 
To get to the Great Lake we had to drive past some of the states Hydro system - part of it is under ground, but we saw some of the penstocks and power stations along the way. The temperature had plummeted by the time we reached the Great Lake - a grand total of 6 degrees outside...which we weren't prepared for so we didn't spend much time outside the car! Lots of ramshackle Shacks (Bachs/Holiday homes) make up the little town of Miena by the lake.
 

 
We were taking the round about route home to see a bit more of the countryside, going through towns like Bothwell when we realised we weren't all that far from Hobart, so we decided to go to Hobart for one last look. We always enjoy the chance to walk around a marina or harbour and look at boats :)
 

And then it was time to return to Lonnie....back in time for a leaving dinner with Ollie's classmates.

Now its time for one final week of study before Ollie's last exam, and my last week of work, before its time to return to NZ :)

Head Down.

The past month and a bit have been pretty quiet in our part of the world. Ollie has been busy studying for the final exams, and I was either working or trying not to distract him!

A few little things have happened along the way.....

One weekend I went out and helped Ruth paint her new kitchen.

We've walked round the hill we live on loads of times - any time Ollie needed to clear his head! Lots of pretty gardens coming out in bloom - lovely smelling the scent of Jasmine and Lilac on the breeze :)

Another weekend I caught the bus (first time I'd caught the bus in Tasmania!!) out to Ruth's place....this time so her next door neighbour could teach us to crochet (just another crafty project for me to start!) First attempt wasn't too bad, but definitely need some practice!!!!

One Friday, Ollie needed a break from studying, and we were missing our Fish N' Chip nights, so we headed to what is surely the most expensive F&C shop around!

And now exams are over! Yippee! So Ollie has taken the weekend off before he starts studying for his Oral Exam in 11 days time! We have rented a car for the weekend so will do our last grocery shop in the car - luxury! And are heading out to Ruth's kitchen warming party tomorrow afternoon, followed by a last bit of sight seeing on Sunday.

And then in 12 sleeps time we will be starting our journey back to Kiwi-land :)

A short visit.

Ollie's parents visited us this weekend just past. Was a lovely fun filled weekend.

After picking them up from the airport, we headed out to Rosevears Pub for lunch...We'd heard good stories of this place, and it sounded nice having a view over the river. Unfortunately we arrived about 5mins after the kitchen had closed! So we headed to a little cafe in Gravelly Beach which made very lovely food.

We tiki-toured on the way home, going over the Batman Bridge, and out to Low Head to see the light house, and where the river meets the sea.

Saturday we took a trip to Hobart-town, getting there in time to look through the Salamanca Market, Salamanca Place (out behind the market) and along the water front.

 The day had cleared up quite a bit so we then drove up to the top of Mt Wellington to see the view. Was icy cold like last time, but hardly any snow around.

  

Sunday we stayed round Launceston. Ollie and I took the opportunity of having a car to do the supermarket shopping in ease, while we were gone Theo & Wieke took some more photos :)

We then started our day with coffee down by the river front - where it was low tide, so all the boats were sitting in the mud!!

We then wandered along the rivers edge, stopping to look at a Gunpowder Mill, and into a little shop to get some dropjes (dutch liquorice!).

We then headed up the Cataract Gorge. A great day for showing it off :)

By the time we walked back from Cataract Gorge we were already for a sit down and some lunch. We went to a lovely restaurant in Seaport (on the river front) called Silt, where we had a lovely meal. We decided to then drive (no more walking!) up to the Trevellyn Dam, so see the river that flows through the Gorge, further up.

Then it was home for a last lot of shared wine & cheese before our visitors returned to NZ early Monday morning. Was a short but very sweet trip.

 

To the Edge of The World and back.

After leaving Stanley we drove to The Edge of The World. Its a little point on the west coast of Tasmania, near the Arthur River.

Lovely views out to sea, and lots of waves rolling in onto the beach, just what we like watching! 

  

  

  

  

  

On our way back we stopped at Dismal Swamp in the Tarkine Forest for lunch. From the information the ranger there gave us its a pretty unique place - one of the largest sink holes around.

If feeling adventurous there is a big slide to get into the the forest (we gave this a miss though...maybe next time if we get back up that way!). We just went out on the cantilevered platform to have a look.

This was the view looking down from the platform - looked a bit like NZ bush with all the ferns!

Our last sight seeing stop on the way home was the Table Cape Tulip Farm as we had heard that their fields of tulips should be in bloom by now. Not the peak of their flowering season but still a good sight - enough to imagine how impressive it would be at the blooming peak.

  

  

  

 Very pretty :)