Peace and goodwill

Unlike many parts of Australia blanketed in bushfire smoke, we were lucky in southern Tasmania. Christmas showed up with mostly clear sunny days. It came and went far too quickly. There was the now traditional Christmas Eve cruise on the Nancy with friends. On Christmas Day our dear friends and former neighbours included us in their family Christmas lunch, which was followed by a hilarious game of Cards Against Humanity. Then a dog walk and a beer down on the river. Perfect.

The traditional Christmas Eve cruise on the Huon

For the third year in a row, we spent Christmas Eve with lovely friends on The Nancy, a 100 year old motor launch now owned and run by Franklin's Living Boat Trust. We cruised through the Egg Island Canal and around the top of the islands before heading back down the Huon River towards Franklin. It's great to see the other side of properties we normally see driving past on the highway. The weather was very 'Tasmanian' - a bit of sun, a bit of rain - but it didn't matter one bit. Our skipper Martin definitely got a bit damp at the helm, while the rest of us were able to retreat under cover with snacks and a beverage. Plus, we were rewarded with a stunning rainbow, the pot of gold somewhere at the bottom of the river between Franklin and Huonville. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

$3 each

Today's purchases at the Market @ Franklin: a walnut tree and two basil plants. $3 each. A large jar of blackberry jam, $5. We also made considerable inroads into the Christmas gift list, with Huon Pine goods, native pepperberry and more that can't be revealed yet lest the recipient actually reads my blog.

It's the time of year for catching up with friends

Every year, everyone says, "we must catch up before Christmas". I'm not sure why this deadline is so critical, but it sure makes for a busy December. Of course in Australia, it's the perfect time to be outside, for a barbecue, spending time with good friends, with beautiful food and lots of laughs, just as we enjoyed at our friends' beautiful home on the Huon River a couple of weeks back.

Christmas carolling

The Little Boat Choir was lined up to sing Christmas carols on the Franklin foreshore again this year.

The weather had been 'inclement' all day. Pouring for 30 minutes, followed by sunshine, hail, wind, more sunshine and rain dotted with snowflakes. Luckily the weather cleared in the late afternoon for the annual Noni Carr Christmas Parade along the river in Franklin. The always popular Tasmanian Lighthorse demonstration went ahead, Santa arrived by bike and the food and beverage stands were busy.

Then in came the weather. Thanks to a 30 minute downpour during which everyone left, unfortunately we sang for almost no-one but ourselves. The evening sun came out and we had fun, but not as much as last year when lots of of kids sang along, shouting out the (sometimes rude) extra lines in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Our next 'gig' is the Cygnet Folk Festival, around 5pm on Saturday 7 January in Loongana Park - come along, and cross your fingers for lovely weather!

Christmas cruising

It's the second time we've done it, so it's a tradition now. A Christmas Eve cruise on the Huon, aboard the beautiful Nancy, with good friends, food and a drop or two of sparkling. Thank you to skipper Brian and crew Nell for ferrying us rowdy lot through the Egg Island Canal, up river towards Huonville and back again. Glorious sunny weather too. How lucky we are.