Part One… maybe!

It’s 3pm and I’m in the departure lounge at Hobart airport and my 2 hour flight has been delayed by an hour as the inbound one is late ~ what fun!

So here’s a bloget(?) for the part of the day that has already been full and fun… the rain stopped and woke to clear, bright and chilly day. After leaving my most recent bed, I headed out to visit Bonorong Sanctuary, which is in yet another stunning location.


The name Bonorong is derived from an Aboriginal word which means ‘native companion’ and is therefore very apt for this place which offers sanctuary to native animals and birds. There’s also a wildlife hospital on site and the organisation is involved both in breeding programmes and releasing as many of its guests back into the wild as possible. 

It’s a great place and I enjoyed about an hour and a half wandering around and that included a 30 minute tour with one of the staff. Highlights included young wombats, Tasmanian Devils, an albino pademelon, quolls, echidna, birds, and kangaroos ~ which visitors could feed…


It was a lovely time in a stunning location. I then moved on, down the Coal River valley, near the airport, to enjoy lunch at the recommended Coal River Farm. A family-run place with award winning cheeses and chocolate, both made on site, and a great restaurant with lovely views.


Is the scenery getting boring and same-y?!?! Well I had a lovely ploughman’s and then their signature hot chocolate with 2 chocolates… amazing and be rude not to!

Yum! Next stop, drop the car back, drop the suitcase, clear security and … wait for delayed flight!!

What an amazing adventure and part of my sabbatical! How incredibly fortunate and blessed I am. And the journey continues, hopefully very soon! So please do keep following… xx




















































Comments

  1. JoMay 26, 2023 at 1:32 AM

    An unexpected early read, your days are so jam packed even just before your flight, really enjoying reading your blogs, so interesting and informative xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JuliaMay 26, 2023 at 1:48 AM

      Just landed in Sydney! Waiting to get off plane and there’s free Wi-Fi!! Take care lovely lady xx

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 26, 2023 at 1:51 AM

      Jo

      Delete
    3. JoMay 26, 2023 at 1:54 AM

      Hope you have a lovely time back In Australia lovely lady🙂xx

      Delete
    4. JuliaMay 26, 2023 at 5:59 AM

      I’m sure I will… bit slower pace me thinks! xx

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 26, 2023 at 1:43 AM

    Waiting for the next interesting episode!

    ReplyDelete
  3. HelenaMay 26, 2023 at 3:11 AM

    What a fantastic 2 weeks in your your sabbatical journey. And well done, intrepid traveller 😊. Have a fab time with your family in Sydney ❤️. Lots of love xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JuliaMay 26, 2023 at 6:01 AM

      Thank you … and thanks for travelling with me, it’s meant I’ve basically never felt alone, a precious gift thanks to technology! Now at Em’s about to crash out xx

      Delete
  4. MargaretMay 26, 2023 at 2:14 PM

    Catch upon sleep and enjoy family time Julia. Great blog. XX

    ReplyDelete
  5. RuthDyMay 27, 2023 at 12:32 AM

    Thanks for sharing your Tasmanian adventures Julia - you have certainly made memories to treasure. Looking forward to the next chapter.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JuliaMay 27, 2023 at 12:54 AM

      Thanks Ruth… great to share it with you! xx

      Delete
  6. Liz BMay 27, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    What a fantastic time in Tasmania. I feel as if I've been there with you and enjoyed every minute. Thanks so much for sharing your experience xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JuliaMay 27, 2023 at 12:55 AM

      Thanks Liz… it’s been great having you ‘with’ me, it’s certainly meant that.I haven’t felt like I was travelling alone! xx

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Birthday Thanks!

Image
Hello! This is just another test post really... Before traversing the globe, I thought it'd be good to check I can work out how to include images as I hope the pictures from my adventures will speak a thousand words! Here just a smattering of 50th birthday photos... highlights of multiple celebrations over the weekend with some very special friends... Thank you to everyone for their messages, cards and gifts ~ it really has been overwhelming... and fab! More to follow... 5 more sleeps til I leave!  
Read more

Sabbath rest in Galilee…

Image
We’ve enjoyed a very different pace ~ a sabbath rest here in beautiful Galilee, beginning the day with a glorious swim in the lake. With residual warmth in the water, it was a delightful way to begin the day. After showering and breakfast, we sat together on the terrace, overlooking the sea of Galilee, and feasted on a rich meal of fantastic Bible, teaching on women in the parables of Jesus. It was full of insights which have no doubt I will come back to you time and time again ~ such a blessing. Mid morning, we took a short journey around the lake shore to Capernaum. This is a fantastic site, partly because it does not have layers and layers and layers of archaeology, and therefore it’s easier to see the first century remains. After a brief reflection, we had time to explore the various finds, including a first century home, the possible foundations of a synagogue, and a single room building, traditionally thought to be the home of Peter’s mother-in-law, and where a house  church ...
Read more

So… the adventure really does begin!

Image
This feels like a long time ago… a rather soggy dog walk first thing!  And then she ‘helped’ me pack - in a dismissive, overseeing kind of way! A few hours later, after lunch and a little time with Mr C, and I find myself at Heathrow Terminal 2,  checked and waiting for the gate number. As Paul says, the joys of travelling - rush to queue! Smooth travelling so far thanks to Sally from Billy Thomas Travel delivering me. Maybe it is beginning to feel a little more real now! As always in my world it’s been a whirlwind to this point, finishing work at 6.30pm yesterday and the being treated to a meal out by the lovely Mr C.   I did have a moment yesterday morning when serving all the members of the church family holy communion, offering them the bread by name, and realising I won’t do this again for 12 weeks… and after that maybe just a couple more times before we move. It was almost a farewell as folks hugged me and wished me well as they later left the building. A complex mi...
Read more