I am already on the road to Tasmania as I write this post from my mum’s dining table at Moss Vale, but this journey actually started last Wednesday.
Our entire three-bedroom house was packed up into a shipping container last Wednesday and sent on its way to our new home on the Tamar River. As it would take 10 days to arrive at our new address we had to find some alternative accommodation for a few days, so we stayed with mum (see family shot taken by mum as the sun set yesterday) to give me some time to work until we left the Central Coast and Harvey a chance to clean up the house (with help from our inquisitive sons).
We held a farewell barbecue for friends at The Haven on Saturday, and the weather turned on a brilliant show with gorgeous winter sun until mid afternoon when the wind picked up and things got decidely cooler. It was time for a coffee and catch up with my oldest friend (I can’t believe we’ve known each other for nearly 20 years!) before we left the state. Those friends who missed out on the barbecue joined us at the Hog’s Breath for dinner last night where we shared stories and laughs (and chocolate fondue) between looking after our collective children. The kids had a ball drawing, eating (see Ethan’s pic), acting and using their parents’ phones (sorry if you received a strange text from me). Just before we left for the night Harvey and I took the kids for one last stroll along ‘our’ beach at Terrigal, promising them we’d find a new beach in Tasmania.
This morning Harvey and I were up early making sure everything was packed and we had enough supplies for the car trip to the airport. Once we crammed the kids and dog in between the clothes, shoes and other paraphenalia we set off from mum’s for our little home in Wamberal one last time (it settles on Thursday) to pick up the cats (we left them in their own surroundings, not wanting to scare them too much), said goodbye to our lovely neighbours Max and Barbara, dropped our keys into the agent and set off on the F3.
The kids hated every second of the trip – Ethan felt claustrophobic surrounded by bags and Noah couldn’t wiggle around like he usually does with Jack sitting on his lap. One cat in a box (Stanley) fitted snugly in between the boys and Harvey balanced the other box with Charlie on his lap. We had Wiggles, Play School, Peter Rabbit and Night Garden CDs, but nothing would work – Ethan screamed almost the entire way to the airport and Noah whinged about Jack and complained about the music. Our only time of reprieve was when each child was eating a Starburst lolly (bribery, I know) or saw a plane (they were so excited about the planes!). Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, I smelt something revolting and saw Charlie was moving as close to the front of his box as possible. We had to stop to dispose of the additional box contents and then a satisfied Charlie settled in for a sleep.
First stop at the airport was to drop off the two cats at Pet Check In and then park the car, unload half the luggage and find where Harvey and the boys had to go. By the time we checked them, the luggage, car seats and pram in there wasn’t much time left, so we had a quick coffee, some sandwiches mum made this morning and then my boys set off through the security check point, leaving me waving behind.
Jack and I then started our road trip, from the airport to mum’s (with a quick stop for a drink somewhere along the Hume Highway). I got to listen to the radio with the music turned right up and Jack snuggled in the passenger seat next to me. Tomorrow is going to be fun as we head to the ferry in Melbourne.
