I've decided to keep you updated by reviving the blog.
We've been in Tasmania just over a week though it seems much longer.
Airport assistance worked very well for us but the journey took its toll on Jon. He needed a lot of help to stand from his seat so it seemed like he disturbed me every time I was drifting off to sleep. So neither of us slept much in flight but at least we were comfortable in our posh seats.
7.5 hours to Dubai, 2 hours refuelling and having to go through security again, 13 hours to Sydney, towards the end of which Jon became disoriented, imagining things about the other passengers etc. And he was scared we were going to crash as we landed. 3 hours in Sydney and a change of terminal for the 1.5 hours domestic flight to Hobart. It was such a relief to see Chris waiting for us.
So soon it was midday and we're at our new home and Chris has to go to work. After looking round the place our new landlady, Josie, took us to the local shops for groceries and a visit to the mobility shop. We're staying in the granny annexe attached to Josie's house so it's nice and spacious and no stairs. There are veggies, herbs and chooks in the grounds and a lovely flower garden. We have our own patio in the garden and the use of the washing machine any time.
And now we've got to know each other we share Josie's portable modem for WiFi. The signal is too weak to work from one house to the other but our hours are completely different so it works out. Josie works 3 nights at the same hospital as Chris and gives me the router as she leaves. I put it back through the adjoining door when I go to bed. When she's not working she goes to bed very early and gets up about 4am (!) to play computer games online. Couldn't have arranged things better.
It has taken 4-5 days to get the annexe equipped. For instance, no washing up liquid, no basin plug, no waste basket, and of course it's practically impossible to buy all the necessary food items in one go. So hard to think of all the things you use but expect to be present in the cupboard like salt, cling film etc etc. Fortunately there's a comprehensive shopping centre not far.
When she saw Jon's mobility Josie spoke to her daughter, also a nurse, who had seen a 4 wheeled walker in a charity shop. By the next day, she had gone to see if it was still there, rung her mum to ask if she thought we would mind paying $35 and delivered it.
Chris has "hired" us a car from a mate for $125AU a week - about £80. It's a 4WD Subaru estate and its owner says he knows it has quite a few scratches and dents so not to worry if we add any! Tassie drivers are very laid back so I have got away with a few mistakes and late lane changes.
Most nerve wracking was my first outing. Chris drove us to his place and set my phone navigator for the charity shop I wanted. We needed furniture would you believe - nothing in the bedroom except a wardrobe with no hangers. No drawers or bedside lockers/tables so everything was on the floor. Anyway, we picked up what we wanted at the shop in town and then had to get back home. At this point I realised I didn't know our home address. I could only remember that the road began with a C. Even Chris's address I didn't know as he hasn't been there long and I've never needed it. I thought I had added the locations to my satnav but couldn't find them so it seemed they had not saved properly. At this point I noticed that my phone was nearly out of charge and realised that if it went down i was sunk. I couldn't phone Chris or even tell anyone his number as it was only in my phone. Eventually I did find Chris's location had ended up as a bookmark in the satnav so we drove back there and I was able to retrace my route back "home" from there as he had pointed out the turns as he drove. Lesson learned. First outing in a new place - get everything in line before setting out.
We were hoping to escape from Xmas out here but I'm afraid it's everywhere - what a surprise! At the weekend there was a teddy run which involved 5,000 bikers riding to the harbour area with toys for charity on their bikes. Chris had arranged to meet us down there so we walked round the market for a while then drifted over to watch the bikes. To our surprise Chris rode past us. He'd found it impossible to park our car after dropping us off as many of the roads were closed off so he'd gone back home and picked up his bike and coming back found himself in the pack of riders.
I've been a few days writing this bit by bit so it's now Friday 9th, UPDATE . It's our 47th wedding anniversary on Monday and Chris is going to book a good restaurant for us all.
Other things done - surfing at Sandy Bay - well, watching Chris. And watching Chris and Elen climbing then going on to BBQ. And the cinema last night to see "I, Daniel Blake" which was great but made us so angry. And a local transport museum, mostly steam trains, buses and trams. A couple of nice drives.
This has been a mammoth catch-up. Don't worry, from now on it'll be much shorter.
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