Jan & I then looked after Isaac for a few days while Laura & Randall headed off for a well deserved few days away together. I think it's safe to say now that they went to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. We also helped Jan's Mum to buy a new Honda Jazz that week.
When they got back, it was time for us to head off to Melbourne and catch the ferry across to Devonport (Tasmania) to allow us to spend some time with Mum & Dad Coveney and Mike, Liz & Louisa.
Breakfast at Tailem Bend on the way to Melbourne on Friday morning. Not sure about the Aussie flag, though.
It was an overnight trip on the ferry and thankfully the weather was pretty calm most of the way. Coming into Devonport in the early morning mist we hoped that the captain knew where he was going because you couldn't see much. When we arrived in Launceston we went to see Mum & Dad in the nursing home. Dad is still confined to a wheelchair and Mum's dementia had gotten much worse. She had lost a lot of weight and didn't look at all well.
However, we took the opportunity to go down to Hobart for a day/night and stopped at some of the tourist spots on the way. This is Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Tasmania.
We stayed in a small hotel close to the docks. There were some great eating places and lots of things going on. It was very pleasant to walk around although it was pretty cool.
We had booked to go back to Melbourne during the day on the Thursday, and then drive up to Sydney to spend a few days with Darius, Kristi & Lucian, but before we left the doctor told us that it didn't look as if Mum had long to live. She was much sicker than we thought she was. Therefore we decided to leave the car in Melbourne and fly to Sydney so that we could get back to Launceston quickly should the need arise.
Darius & Kristi have a nice house in Annandale and Darius doesn't have too far to go to work. It was so nice on Saturday that Darius took us for a drive over the bridge and we ended up having fish & chips for lunch. In the afternoon we went for a walk around the Balmain area and enjoyed a nice glass of wine on the balcony of a local hotel.
On the Sunday morning we met Chris, Donna and family in the city for a really nice brunch. Unfortunately, I got a phone call part through, from Mike in Launceston, to say that Mum had passed away.
We called into an Internet cafe on our way back to the car and booked flights back to Launceston the following morning. The evening was pretty subdued but Darius opened a nice bottle of Coriole and we drank a toast to Mum/Granny.
We arrived back in Launceston to find Peter had arrived a half hour before and Mike was there to pick us up. That week was spent organising Mum's funeral service, to take place on Friday, and keeping an eye on Dad.
Here we have Peter, Michael & Ronald after the service. The first time we three had all been together for a few years.
Jan, Philip (her cousin) & Elizabeth (Mike's wife and Philip's sister)
Darius with Louisa & Emily (Mike & Liz's daughters)
Dad (Arthur) talking to his brother John in England after the service.
Geoff & Sylvia with Kit (seated) Jan's Aunts & Uncle.
On the Saturday we flew back to Melbourne, picked up the car, and drove back to Adelaide. We stopped for dinner in Bordertown and were back in Adelaide by 11PM. We had a good sleep and headed out to Laura & Randall's in the afternoon for Isaac's first birthday party. Photos to follow.
The weather here in the UAE is still pretty hot (check out the weather update on the left panel) and we're easing back into things slowly. The cats were glad to see us back and the house was well looked after while we were away. Students don't arrive in the college for another two weeks, so we've got time to sort out classes, lesson material etc.
1 comment:
It was soooo great to have you guys in Sydney with us! Miss you already!! D.
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