Wednesday, September 26, 2012

My Local Village








If you turn left at the bottom of our windy driveway and travel a few minutes down the road past historic homesteads, hillside wineries and green pastures full of sheep and dairy cattle, you will arrive at the historic village of Richmond. This area was originally known as The Coal River Valley, named so after Coal was found at the mouth of the River in 1804. However, as the township grew it was proclaimed Richmond in 1826 and is now known as Historic Richmond Village, the hub of the Coal Valley Wine Region. It is a must-see if you are travelling to Tasmania. It is home to the oldest everything - the oldest Catholic Church in Australia, the oldest Bridge in Australia, the oldest Gaol preserved in its entirety, the oldest Post Office, Primary School etc. It is said that a British Convict by the name of Ikey Solomon was housed here and was the model used by Charles Dickens when he created the Character 'Fagin' in Oliver Twist.

I absolutely adore our local village. It's steeped in history as well as being a picturesque and quaint Georgian Village and the locals are the loveliest bunch of people around. The Petrol Station attendant will enquire about your Kids, the Grocer will notice when you're having a bad day and the Hairdresser knows everything and everyone. Like most small places, it's a close knit and supportive community.

However, the main reason we love to come into the Village is to feed the bossy ducks. It is another of my favourite activities to do with the boys while the other kids are at school during the week. We try to avoid weekends because the Village is swarming with tourists. We love the Tourists but they increase the Ducks' diet a million fold and by Sunday the Ducks won't even give you a sideways glance. And there is nothing more disappointing than breaking tiny pieces of bread and throwing them into a river of ambivalent Ducks.





Our little outings are incomplete without a play at the park and a coffee. The best coffee is found at The Richmond Wine Centre but the Bakery keeps the Little People happy with Babycino's and Chocolate Duck Biscuits as well as boasting the most amazing pies, my favourites being the Scallop Pie and Chicken and Brie (which I'm not supposed to be having while pregnant but one does tend to get a bit laissez faire by no. 5). 





Finally, here are a few snaps of 31-weeks pregnant me. The Boys did a pretty good job with the iPhone today, chopping off the odd head and limbs but managing to get the 'bump' :-)


And don't forget to enter my Giveaway mentioned in my last Post. It closes tomorrow night and I'll let you know who the winners are over the weekend. Good Luck!





34 comments :

  1. I love love your local village. Richmond was one of our favourite places to stop, feed the ducks, walk through the village and go to the old jail, it's such a beautiful place. You are so very lucky to have such a beautiful village like this near you. The boys took great shots of you, you look lovely:) x

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  2. What a beautiful village. Thank you for the tour! I quite fancy that solid looking house in your 5th picture. Think we'd all fit. So with you on full ducks. Can't be doing with that and my littlest just doesn't get it. Keeps chucking it at them! Your boys look delightful and they took great photos. Love it all!

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    1. That house is amazing isn't it - it's now a Winery and Cellar Door and the house in the photo below is a lovely restaurant.

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  3. I'd love to get there one day and be a tourist in your lovely village..and you wouldn't see me 'cos you'd be avoiding the 'tourists'...hehe! It's funny..'cos we do the same up here during the holidays..avoid the beaches. I love your green rolling hills and the river with it's very British looking bridge and your field of flowers. A gorgeous place to live.

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  4. Such a lovely post, Mel. We are so lucky down here. You look so radiant - just fabulous. Looking forward to Sunday...J x

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  5. A beautiful little town. I briefly visited once and thought it was gorgeous.
    You look beautiful at 31 weeks! x

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  6. You're so lucky to have such beautiful history right at your doorstep. Great pictures.

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  7. Lovely photos and what a picturesqu village you livein, when I saw the first picture I wondered where in England that was taken; it looks so very British! And what a very neat little bump you have, I was always the size of a whale!

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    1. Very British, I agree. And with 9-11 weeks still to go I will be the size of a whale too :-)

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  8. What a lovely place to live. No wonder you moved back! It looks like a little corner of Europe.
    Your twins give me flashbacks. Mine don't hug quite as much now . They are more prone to wrestling.
    By the way, I am still loving your darker hair look although I love everybody's hair look these days!
    AND Where can you find running ducks to buy and do they need a swimming hole? Do they get on with chooks?

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    1. There's a fair amount of wrestling here too. The Runners - we bought them at a Poultry Show, they don't need a pond like regular ducks but they do like to splash in a bit of water and we just use one of those kiddie clam shells and fill it with water each day - they are messy! They love the chooks, no problems there but because they are so messy we don't lock them up in the coop at night with the chooks. Think I'll do an update on the Runners soon :-)

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  9. What a stunning spot - and you look equally gorgeous, Mel.
    :-) xx

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  10. Your local village is so pretty! I'll come and visit one of these days sooner rather than later! I always think you live in such a beautiful spot.

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  11. I love your village too! You look fab for 31 weeks and your boys did a great job with the camera! Not long now until Sunday.....Rx

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  12. Love this area of Tasmania. Must bring my kids to see it. There's an amazing B&B just near the bridge. Brings back wonderful memories.

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    1. The B&B directly adjacent the Bridge is currently for sale - yours for just $3million!!!

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    2. Hope it stays a b&B. I'd love to stay there again. It'll have to be for less than 3 mill tho! Lol.

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  13. Now this is why I love blogging and having blogging buddies. I get to see some amazing scenery. Your little village is so pretty. I love the quaint houses and bridges. Love the pics of the boys and the ducks. You look amazing.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  14. Love the history. It's so interesting.
    You are looking gorgeous Mel. Pregnancy really suits you.x

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  15. Mel this is just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your local village. It is so quaint and lovely and makes me want to visit Tassie!
    Can't believe I missed your gorgeous giveaway too! Congrats on blogging for a year. Xoxo

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  16. Ah, I remember many a happy day at Richmond! We used to go to the maze there, I think? Not sure if it is still there. It's a pretty town. xx

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  17. Hi Mel, what gorgeous photos of Richmond, your boys and yourself!! I often wonder what all the bread does to a duck's digestive system but it's so entertaining feeding ducks particularly for children and let's face it the ducks let you know if they have had enough! Cate

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  18. I live in Hobart, too, and have also had problems with those ducks! We dressed it up for my 2-year-old (now 5) too much one day - and when the time came do you think we could those ducks to eat for love or money? There were tears ...

    Beautiful photos.

    Just dropping by from POTM Club :)

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  19. Popping over via POTMC, and newest follower. Goodness, your village is gorgeous, as is your family! Thank for sharing :)Good luck with your pregnancy!

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  20. Ohhh, look at that lovely round belly Mel! 31 weeks.... so not long to go. Lucky I don't live near by, as I am one of those annoying ones who want to put a hand on every pregnant belly I find. It's the beautiful baby's magnetic field.

    Richmond I love. Beautiful little village.

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  21. Your village looks so picturesque! I love the shot of your two boys in the field of flowers :)

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  22. It almost looks like England! And that bridge is a thing of beauty!! As is the bump ;)

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  23. My goodness you live in a fairy tale!

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  25. How lucky you are to live in such a lovely village - Richmond was one of our favourite towns we visited on our trip to Tasmania. I remember sitting on the grass by that gorgeous bridge, taking photos of all the ducks who waddled up to say hello.

    Your photos above are gorgeous. Your bump is adorable and you have the prettiest smile ever Mel xx

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  26. Loving it just as much the second time around, Mel! Your photography skills are developing beautifully, you clever minx. Thanks so much for linking up with the POTMC. J x

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  27. What a beautiful place to choose to raise your children. Lovely.

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  28. I have spent the last hour or two reading your blog and then discovered that you actually live in Richmond. My BIL got married by the Richmond Bridge about 11 years ago now and had their first baby christened in the little church up the hill. We stayed in Richmond for 4 days and visited all the little shops and it was so pretty that I told my partner we could live there one day. I loved seeing all your photos which bought back some nice memories.

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