Some things are worth waiting for

Some things are worth waiting for.

The bus, an ice cream being dished up to you on a hot summer day, this blog and getting married.

It took awhile, but Justin and I finally tied the knot this month. A few weeks ago we had an influx of our wonderful friends and relatives from allover the place, and we actually closed the motel down for a day or two.

Its such a huge build up to The Day, and then before I knew it, like a dandelion tuft in the breeze, everyone was gone, back to their lives leaving the two of us to the rest of our lives.

It took awhile for justin and I to meet, but not long for us to know that we were the right fit. He's a big thinker, I'm a more detail kind of gal, he's pretty stade, and I'm a bit left off centre (at times). I have a rich broad sense of humour, he is from New zealnd.....but hey it works!

So for all you out there in bloggy land, who may not have found the right person in your lives yet, take hope- I once bet a friend of mine a TV that I would never meet anyone who would want to marry me, and I now owe her a TV for her study.

Good thing I didin't bet her a million bucks.....

Days are getting dimmer but the fires are getting brighter

The days are starting to diminish earlier, but it's no call to feel gloomy. Our big open fireplace in the restaurant is burning brighter than ever and offers a warm tranquility not availble when hugging a plain old heater. So mesmerizing, dancing flames provoke meaningful thought as one stares into its depths, whilst sipping quiety from a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Winter is ace!
Stay warm everyone, hug a fire today!
Cyndia

Boaty on the move

For those who may or may not already know, Justin and I have become the proud parents to a 1927 Derwent Class racing yacht. I know, sounds tres chic, glamourous and brings to mind cocktails in sun, flimsy swimming costumes, and sunny times swishing along the french rivera perhaps. I know that's what sprung to my mind when Justin announced the imminent purchase of said boat.

I am told by some resident old sea dogs that it is a Huon Pine boat, so very good quality, and will last a lifetime given the care and attention so deserving to yacht such as this. But I wasn't quite prepared for what presented itself to me as Justin gleefully gesticulated to the wharf opposite the motel, at the tired old grungy boat, harnessed to the the wharf, rolling about aimlessly waiting for a good time.

Is that it? Where's the yacht? Where's the cocktails? The glam? *SIGH*

But I will admit on closer inspection of the said vessel, I felt for the little tacker. Actually it was a lot bigger close up, and from the inside of that grimy cabin, I felt like the boat was saying a quiet little thank you to us for rescuing it from it's watery prison.

Upon doing a bit of research on the Derwent class yacht, we found a few good pictures of them in action- they were actually pretty fast boats and specifically designed to race up and down the Derwent River. "Pixie", as we discovered was her original name, was built in Hobart as part of a series of boats names after various mythological and fairytale creatures. So the name has to stay, as apparantly it is bad luck to change them (another old sea dog told me this).

Originally there was no cabin, but in our restoration we plan to keep the cabin (where else will we store the cocktail making equipment?) Our first plan was to raise the good ship Pixie and take her across land to a cradle at the back of the motel to be worked on lovingly by Justin and various other visiting sea dogs. (There are a lot of sea dogs around Wynyard). So in true Justin style, he made it so. The journey was surprisingly easy, and not fraught with the headaches we thought we might encounter. Everything fell into place and Pixie was hoisted ashore to the realms of the landlubbers for a spell.

So far we have had a spot of barnacle scraping, and Justin even managed to find a live fish in one of the boat's orafaces. The boat now rests in the back yard, adding a very pleasing garden ornamentation and conversation piece for our guests.

We have had many people swing past for a look, and some have brought around tools we might need for the challenge. I have had a few sea dogs say encouragingly to me, that it will look just beautiful when it's finished. I'm hanging on to the dream that it will.

In a quiet moment today, I stood outside with Pixie, our boaty, and could swear I heard a small sign of relief from the poor thing. "I am loved again", she said, "and looking forward to a margarita or two on the high seas around Wynyard when the work is all done." You and me both Miss Pixie, you and me both!

So if you are headed our way, come and have a look at Pixie, there's plenty of painting and scrubbing to go around for everyone!

Ahoy!

Cyndia

Lovely Lovely Autumn

Ahhh, this is the most favourite time of the year for me. The sun hangs lower in the sky, and sends this lovely long sunshine into the restaurant and the rooms. The mornings are spectacularly good at this time of year, crimson and rose hues welcome the day in.

The nearby Oldina picnic park is starting to glow with the turning leaves. They have loads of great little spots in the park to stop to enjoy a bit of local vino and fresh bread and a bit of lactos creamy red square. MMM, now that's my kind of food heaven.....

Currently working out the new autumn/winter menu. We had a very big discussion around rhubarb, which is coming into season soon. Hot stewed rhubarb may have to make an appearance on the breakfast buffet, as will a freefrom rhubarb tart on the dessert menu. Any suggestions for rhubarb menu items??

Ok- the promised picture of mollie down the rabbit hole.... sounds like something from Alice in Wonderland.

Good by yellow container

Hello all out in bloggyland!

A bit sad today, as we bid farewell to our "temporary" storage solution of 6 years now, the big yellow container to be replaced by a brand spanking new double garage.

Okay, I know what you are saying- why the sentimentality towards a big yellow shipping container?

Well I guess it's the association I have with it of when we first started out in the motel business. Like so many things at the time, we had competing priorities, and had to make do with so many "temporary" fixes until we could get everything up and running properly. I liken my wistful gaze as it ascended to the back of the truck on it's way out of the property, to one of a parent saying goodbye to a child leaving home- that feeling that one has moved on, and whilst those temporary fixes served their purpose, they were no longer needed as our business has grown, and moved from strength to strength. That old shipping container was part of the development of our business in a kooky storage kind of way, and so today I waved it good bye to where it was needed next.

What followed next was like a scene from watership down, with a massive rabbit warren being revealed underneath the storage container. Not only had it been home to our rollaway beds, and spare bits of timber, but also to a colony of rabbits, who it would appear, had been busy adding on a rumpus room to the existing warren before us.

Mollie of course was in rabbit hunting heavan, and finally could come nose to nose with the furry critters. But as usual, mollie was a bit slow on the uptake, and spent most of her time simply pushing her nose as far down the holes as it would go. I do have a photo of this scene, but I can't get the photo to load up just yeat- so stay tuned, will try again later.

More later...