At Last!

I type this post, lying in bed with my Mac on my lap and a shorthaired, Rhodesian mutt heavily snoring beside my legs.  Maggie and I are finally home in Hobart.  Tonight, Rob is traveling aboard the Spirit of Tasmania to ferry over Loris (my car) and just about all our Australian/American possessions are packed into the SUV.  The ship will dock in Davenport tomorrow morning at 0600 and Rob will drive from top to bottom of Tasmania to rejoin us.  We will be a family pack once more.  This feels good.

Rob driving onto the Spirit of Tasmania

Let me briefly recap this last week in Melbourne.  Rob left early Monday morning for Hobart to work five days.  Between his shifts, he continued to do whatever he could to make our rental house into our home.  I greatly appreciate the setting up, fixing and cleaning he completed.  He shopped at the local pet store to be certain that Maggie was set for pampering upon her arrival.  Maggie and I entered our new home to find a very plush bed, bountiful treats and new toys… for Maggie and to my great surprise- a gorgeous, gently used, dark purple Kitchenaid stand up mixer on the counter.  I had lamented to Rob that I would miss my Kitchenaid mixer from home when it came to baking and cooking here.  I received my mixer from my parents in college.  In my family, it’s considered a rite of passage to finally have your own Kitchenaid.  They are durable, pricey and incredibly heavy- so it did not make it over to TAS.  This kitchen feels like my kitchen with the mixer sitting on the counter.  Rob also prepared an assortment of chocolates and white wine to welcome me home.  He knows me well.

Isn't she lovely?

I spent my final week in Melbourne exploring the city.  I took the tram into downtown Melbourne four out of the seven days last week.  I spent one day at an outdoor mall, shopping.  Another day I walked up and down the main streets (Collins, Burke, Elizabeth, Flinders, Queens streets), shopping.  I spent another day at the Immigration Museum located in the old Customs House (circa 1876) in Melbourne.  This was an interesting day as I learned a lot about Australia’s history.  The museum was divided into many sections that explored the topic of immigration.  For example, while one section of the museum briefed me on Australia’s history, another section explored why people have migrated to Australia (adventure, refuge, reunion with family, opportunity, or financial relief) for so many years.  Another section of the museum gave insight into what people once had to endure when traveling overseas to get to this country.  A special exhibit featured a current and strong migration of people out of Dublin due to financial woe.  Migration is always happening somewhere in the world.  Finally, there was a portion of the museum that examined our prejudice to immigrants and how to eradicate it.  It was an introspective exhibit that had you examine your own culture, prejudice and promote acceptance.  Pretty enlightening.  One little fact that I learned (to my disappointment), a person’s accent can be influenced up into their twenties but after that, it’s unlikely to change.  Looks like I wont sound like an Aussie after all- darn!  I also learned that school kids these days are incredibly tech savvy.  There were several schools of children visiting the museum with me on Thursday.  They all were in uniform, most likely middle school children, carrying workbooks to complete museum assignments to turn in at the end of the day.  And they were equipped with iPads.  While I stood, probably in the way, reading the exhibit pieces, they were crowding around me, snapping pictures with their iPads and running off to the next section.  God bless teachers in this ever evolving, high tech world (which is ruled by Apple, btw).

Walking along the streets in Melbourne; this is an entrance to mini shopping malls

There are shops and boutiques to the left and right

A few of my favorite things...
Chocolates and a pooch

If you try to steal anything, that statue comes alive and flies after you with his sword

I'll have one in each color, merci!

I get the feeling that someone is watchin me

Notice the legs spell "walk"
Mmm,hmm and I was walking

Which one is actually real?

The old customs house, now the Immigration museum

No photography allowed inside, supposedly

Our final full day in Melbourne happened to be my birthday as well.  Rob flew back one last time on Friday night and we spent part of my birthday (Saturday) at the Melbourne zoo.  We have been in Australia for four weeks and I still hadn’t seen a kangaroo and, I was determined to find one before going to Hobart.  There are no kangaroos in TAS, just koalas.  We also had an opportunity to see a live Tasmanian Devil- check out the pictures below.  You can’t help but feel like a kid when visiting the zoo, so it was a good place to spend a birthday.  After the zoo, Rob and I had dinner in the city, a Mexican place called, “Mamasita” and the food was excellent.  Thank you to friends and family for contacting me on my b-day.  It made a big difference on my day.

It's like I'm 10 years old again- excited!

Well I can't believe my eyes!  Finally a kangaroo in Australia has materialized!

Chillin like a... boss

Do you see the Tasmanian Devil?!

We didn't either.  Apparently, they were sleeping. Best time to see these buggers is during feeding time.

A koala sleeping in the tree.  These little guys sleep up to 20 hours a day.

Yesterday was my birthday and today was Maggie’s freedom day.  Rob and I both slept restlessly as we anticipated picking up Maggie.  We arrived at Spotswood at 0920, early for a 0930 release and waited one last time behind the barb-wired fencing for our girl.  Once the gate opened, we rushed in, signed at the dotted line and practically ran to Maggie’s rescue.  I snapped on her collar and Maggie went crazy with excitement.  Then we got the f@*$ out of Spotswood.  No long good-byes, just thanks for keeping her safe- now peace.  We stopped at McDonald's and Maggie got not one but two bacon, cheese, egg McMuffins… well, she looks so thin… We then took Maggie to a park close to the airport, gave her lots of petting and lots of ball throwing.  When it was time (too soon!) we drove Maggie over to the freight/live animal loading site at the airport and Rob, not I, guided her back into her crate for a one hour plane ride but a three hour total crate up.  Greg and Griffin were kind enough to meet me at the Hobart airport and assist me in bringing Maggie home.  Greg’s car was large enough to fit Maggie’s crate while I drove Maggie and I home in Rob’s Honda.  Greg and Alicia also gave Maggie and I a lovely home welcoming. They prepared dinner, dessert, wine, jams, bread and dog treats for us in a care package to have tonight.  Maggie and I both have been spoiled, err, well taken care of today. 

At the gate with Maggie's collar and leash- ready to free the best dog ever

Maggie hasn't had her collar on since we left the states.  This picture was taken right outside pen #69

Outside the wire fences!!!

Bliss

Looks like Maggie is driving the car, she is getting the heck out of Spotswood

Relaxed, smiling dog

To celebrate freedom day, we popped into a bakery and bought one peanut butter and jelly cupcake and a red velvet cupcake

Maggie had McDonalds

At the park by the airport
Notice in the top left hand corner, an orange ball flying
Notice a dog running at top speed
Notice not a wire fence in sight

Bliss

Welcome to Hobart, Doyle, er Maggs

Maggie's and my gift box from Greg and Alicia
Dinner with drinks, sweets, treats, honey and homemade jams

Bliss

More to come this week as we all have time together, at last in Hobart.  One more thank you- to all the Maggie fans out there, for offering support to us while she was caged up.  She actually seems much like her usual, pre-quarantine self.  I will be keeping a close eye on her to evaluate how she is adjusting.  Not too hard to do while she keeps the other side of the bed warm, smile.  Cheers!!