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Hello!
How is everyone’s week?
We have a really lovely couple staying a few days – Ashley and Josh, who Fiona and I met on our Overland hike.
They are from the USA and travelling for an extended time in Australia. So glad they had a few extra days to make it to the Northwest to check out our area before heading back to the mainland.

The sun was out – we enjoyed some time down at Fossil Bluff (found some nice agate!) then went for a bit of a walk over to Anniversary Bay – slowly for me but happy to get out in the fresh air!

We were talking about the Australian animals and the one thing they (especially Josh) was keen to see but so far failed to, was a platypus.
Its not a common animal to see, so not surprised they hadn’t managed to spot one in their travels.
However…
The time and tide was right, so before going home I suggested we slip down to the local river and try our luck
Seriously less than 5 minutes down the river track and there it was!

I got bonus host points today!
We had a lovely 20 minutes watching him/her surface and dive right in front of us!

On the health front… another blood test today and a new lot of antibiotics.
Not feeling too bad today – I might attribute that to more of the sunshine than the drugs 🙂

Hope everyone else is doing great and thanks so much for all the lovely well-wishes. I really appreciate them and will get in to answer messages soon!
Cheers!

Hello!

How was everyone’s weekend? Good I hope!
Well… it was a big night out Friday for the Millar’s.
In fact – I didn’t even come home! Party Animal!

Sitting at home, watching the tail end of a movie when the phone rings. Its the doctor I finally got into seeing. He is looking at my blood tests (this is like at around 8pm) and deciding I need to trot off to the emergency department.
Yay.
My calcium levels were pretty low – I learned this is not just a shrugging matter and drinking more milk as a number of years ago this happened to me after my thyroidectomy.

Not that anyone at emergency was too worried about potential heart issues as we sat there for a couple of hours before being called through (Behind the sprained ankles and sore fingers!!)
On the upside, I got another beret crocheted.

I’d already had one blood test that day of course, but they put a cannula in and took more blood…
Aaaand we waited.
I think it was closer to 1am when they agreed that the calcium was not great, so they were going to top me up intravenously, keep me for the night, do ecg’s more tests and top up again if necessary.
Jeff send home. I get to spend the night not sleeping and being stabbed a lot by nurses!! (Note to self… next time wear trackkie pants.)(Trying to ‘sleep’ in jeans is blah.)

Three bags of calcium, and a few more blood tests later, I was allowed to escape early Saturday afternoon. Giddy because I was sleep deprived!
At least at home MY nurse isn’t silly enough to wake me up!
Nah – really they all did a great job and were very kind and gentle (as they can be with sharp things)

Today I have been feeling better than I have for the past couple of weeks, although a bit tired tonight, so maybe I am now finally on the mend?
Have to go back into see a doc early in the week to check my bloods again (ow… should see my bruises! Luckily I am not squeamish about needles)
So… maybe I can return to more gardening hiking stories soon!!!

Lets hope everybody elses weekends were a little less hospital-orientated and you had a great one!
Cheers!

 

Hello!
Still being very slow in all aspects of life right now!
After failing to get a doctors appointment in 4 different clinics today, Jeff took me to the walk in clinic not far away where I was able to see a doctor. I just thought I had been crook long enough. (I really didn’t want to wait until next week sometime!)
Mostly he confirmed what my personal nurse had told me, but will have some bloods done anyway… and must drink more (Hydrolites) (No surprises there)
It’s hard slowing up so much! Brain doesn’t slow, so it worries about the things I am NOT doing… which is annoying! I’d like to laze about and be pathetic in peace. 🙂

Just a couple of photos from Day 4… It was lovely watching the sun set over the rushing river!
Hope your week is going fabulously!

Cheers!

Hello…
Just a quick stop to share how the area under the apple trees is a hive of activity!
These little birds seem to be completely indifferent to my presence (I got quite close and just sat there!) as they gorge themselves on the fallen apples!

Although I think I am getting ‘A Look’ here !!! 🙂

I haven’t looked them up to see what they actually are but they are tiny and seem to really love apples!

It was pretty nice sitting out there when the sun came out watching my feathered neighbours.
I don’t mind sharing our fruit!
Cheers

 

Well, something was starting to nibble on some of the butternut pumpkins so I decided to pick them and get them out of harms way!
Cute little family there!

Ugh… way too much housework today. So glad Jeff got in on the act too – its a time consuming job. I am a bit over it.
Still… was good to give the place a spruce up as tomorrow I need to be back in the kitchen to pre make a few meals for the upcoming days with our next visitors, Moe & Ryo.
I have known Moe since before she was born!!
Her parents, Mari & Koichi are the very first friends I made in Japan!
They are here scarcely 4 days so its going to be a rushed week to show them lots of stuff but keep it sensible so its not too exhausting (probably for ME since I am heading out on the hike the morning after they leave!!)

Anyway, house is mostly under control, we did a tip run which was great… all the bits and pieces that had built up a bit have been disposed of.
Stocked up on firewood at the back door so I don’t have to do too much more carting up the yard this week.
Did two loads of laundry… and naturally it rained… and rained. So I am now mucking about with the clothes (AND SHEETS- bummer) in front of the fire.
Also made some strawberry ice cream.

I need to go write a list for tomorrow!
I don’t pick up the kids until later tomorrow so I have all day to bake and cook.

I hope your Sunday was free of domestic duties and you had a bit more fun!

Cheers

Hi there!
Still a bit light on with my photos – sorry!
Above is not really my glam shot, and I am not that much taller than Fiona (Was standing up off path!)
Anyway, stuffed some things in the pack for a test run (haha) around Anniversary Bay.
Pretty happy with things though. I had about 14kgs – there is still a bit more to be packed in before we head out. Made a few pack strap adjustments and it all felt reasonably comfortable overall.
Our legs felt it more than normal by the end of the hike today. Shoulders not too bad really.
Got Fiona to test the jerky and got the thumbs up (whew)
Tomorrow is house-clean day, tip day and final packing day (since I won’t have much spare time during the week!)
Doubt I will fit tomato sauce making in there too but it is in the back of my mind too!!

Best be off – lots to do tomorrow. I’ll even try to photograph something for you!!!

Cheers!

Well! I turned 47 today!! How did that happen?
I spent a pretty great afternoon with Jeff up at my cousins place.
Fiona and I got together to start sorting our gear and making lists.

Don’t Fiona and Paul have the most stunning views??
Anyway, we have decided on the slightly heavier two man tent even though we are planning to try to sleep in the huts most nights. The smaller tent isn’t that much difference in weight when considering the comfort factor if we have to sleep in it together!! The two man needs a little patching and TLC, but will be perfect apart from that.

Paul has lent me his pack liner – essential up there!!!

I decided I needed to get into the spirit of things by cooking up a meal to test our gear (and my dehydrating skills)
32gms of dried veggie mix was enough when rehydrated and mixed in with noodles.
Perfect. Even tasted good!!!
Fiona has some other fancy packs of dehydrated food so we won’t get bored at dinner time.

So, we know how the cooking stuff works so we are set!
We have alarmingly long lists and lots of layers of clothes as the weather really has turned cold. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see snow up there while we are trekking!

My lovely practical Nurse bought me a couple of packs of heat patches for my birthday and assured me it would be the best thing EVER while up on the hike! Our friend Ruth gave him some before his trek and apparently they were fabulous!

Really want to keep the weight down this time.  I have a few areas where I am cutting back – so much water up there at the moment so will use a smaller capacity drink bottle, (or the full litre one not filled) Jeff used his collapsible cup to scoop water as he hiked. Nice and easy!
Only taking the wide angle lens for my camera. Not worrying about changing lenses so that will cut back a bit on weight too.
I will lay everything out tomorrow now that I have a list!

So excited!!

Cheers!

Hello there! I hope your week is going along well!
Mine included very little of the slothing I had fondly planned.
I got a call that our beef was ready to cut and pack, so there was a bit of a frantic time to try to make space for 100kg’s of beef!!

Buying a side of beef is a very economical way to get your meat. Its a big outlay, but overall you pay so much less. Plus we get it from a local so its very very good meat.
I pack it too the way I want it. Labelling is REALLY important. Storage space essential. We have also learned to layer the freezer with newspaper and unpack the following day before everything is fully frozen and move it about.
It saves a lot of angst later when you are forced to get into the freezer with a hammer and chisel.

It also pays to hide some of the choice steaks down the bottom so when you think you are out… you get a bonus T-bone or something delicious!

Anyway, moving on to the potatoes!

I went back up to Launceston to collect the boys after their trip to Ballarat with Rachel. They had a pretty wonderful time.
We had decided to wait until they were back to dig the potatoes as I know its not something they have experienced before! They had a pretty good time digging in the dirt.
I was in my element!!!

So happy with this seasons potatoes! I still have to dig over the plot as I am sure we didn’t find them all… you never do!

I’ll get down to the local supermarket to collect some boxes tomorrow so I can sort, pack and store them!

Lots of good big potatoes in this lot this season!

This evening we packed the kayaks into the car and went down to the river to give the boys a go at Kayaking.

It was good to get out on the water again – perfect afternoon for it!

A small amount of horsing about meant Shonosuke had to swim in!!

Must get out more often!! Not sure what I do with my time!!! 😀 😀

Cheers!

Hi!!
I started this post, then got distracted.
Its late (surprise surprise) and we are not long home from our jaunt up to Launceston to pick up the three Japanese boys who are staying with us for a few weeks! (Taishin, Daisuke and Shonosuke)

Yesterday the sun was shining and we got out to do some garden work… mow, take down netting and make the garden at the back veranda look nicer.

I took some time to collect the billion celery seeds

All I could smell for an hour or so was celery!

I got a bit over keen and dug up a good bucket full of potatoes

It’s so close to the time where we can just dig the lot up! Can’t wait!

Today I picked a few more veggies and made the start of the vegetarian lasagne that I am planning on doing for dinner tomorrow night. (ok… at this time of night lets call it tonight)

Hope your Monday was fabulous
Cheers

Hello!
What a mad life we sometimes lead!
I’ll have to make a return with the rest of the story on the snake escapade over the weekend. Happily tonight was quiet and relaxing with no reptiles.

So… Chris from Estonia (Who we met up Cradle Mt) dropped in for a couple of nights to enjoy seeing a little bit of Tasmania’s North West coast. At the same time, Manami from Japan, who was staying with other cousins, was dropped off to us the last couple of days to join in some hiking and sightseeing! It’s been wonderful meeting new people and hearing about their travel adventures, learning a bit about their lives and where they are from.

Of course I had to take them on a walk down to my favourite place, Anniversary Bay for a look!

After a gloomy start with the weather, the afternoon turned out really well.

Manami had to be back to our place to be picked up by my cousins, but we had enough time to all get into the garden and pick food, dig potatoes and eat a few things straight off the vines.
I cooked up a nice big dinner and we were also joined by my cousin Beau & our boarder Kirrily so dinner was a fun affair.
(Snake excitement was the after dinner entertainment…)

Today Manami was dropped off back here this morning and we went out to Stanley to climb “The Nut”

The weather was spot on today! So perfect for showing off the area!

The views were just beautiful all the way around and my international visitors really enjoyed it up there

We had time to slip into Black River Beach for a walk around… and a paddle!

Just fabulous to cool the feet off and slosh through the water!

I resisted picking up a million shells… but there were plenty on the beach today!

I’ll share the rest of  the days photos with you tomorrow night!
Right now I need to put the cat that is literally doing little kitty-snores on my lap to bed and then take myself to my bed!
All that sunshine!! So tired!

Cheers