Monday, October 14, 2013

Pumphouse Point




At the end of a Pier on the deepest Lake in Australia nestled within the pristine Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area sits the old Pumphouse. It has rarely been used since its construction in 1939 and was decommissioned in 1995. The Pumphouse and the main Substation at the edge of the Pier have remained derelict since then but are now about to be part of a very exciting Tourism Development. Building works have begun to turn these two buildings into a stunning boutique Hotel which will be sympathetic to their gorgeous Art Deco features as well as the surrounding natural beauty.



We have been very fortunate to have spent the last 4 days staying in the old Manager's cottage adjacent to the Substation before the site goes into full construction mode. The cottage will soon be the home of the new Hotel Manager. 



To have a piece of World Heritage Area completely to ourselves was pretty amazing. But to have all of that without any of the additional 'white noise' was sheer bliss. No telephones, televisions, computers, ipads, iPhones, xbox, and more importantly, there were no requests for any of these things because the Kids knew they were not available. Honestly, 4 days under these conditions felt like 4 weeks and it was the perfect way to end the two weeks of School Holidays which were otherwise spent at home. If you asked me what I needed right now in terms of a getaway destination, this would be it - no noise, no people, just the 7 of us together with no outside distractions. It was completely wonderful.






We relaxed and took in the serenity. We enjoyed a spot of fishing and some bushwalks. We awoke to the sound of birds, watched the wildlife creep in at dusk and fell asleep to the sound of rain hitting the tin roof. 



After some decent weather on our first day, the rain set in so activities turned indoors. There was a lot of tea and coffee drinking and board game playing. After dinner, I got a burst of inspiration being in a different kitchen and set the table for breakfast, something I have never done in 9 years of parenting. My Grandparents used to do this and my Grandpa still puts his bowl of porridge in the microwave the night before ready for the morning.  I think I might make it a regular thing. The Kids were most impressed with my new organisational skills. "What are you doing Mum?". "I'm being organised gorgeous one, just humour me!".



On the third day of rain we had to spice things up a bit. The Kids had played countless games of Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess and Checkers and amongst the six of us every single permutation and combination of teams and players had been exhausted. But then someone designed the great Jenga Tower competition and this bought a few more hours of fun.


We went to the local Pub for dinner one night to play more games and sit by an even bigger fire. It was very child friendly and the food was fabulous, which was great because it is the only place to eat in the entire area. Everyone had a game of Pool, with even baby Flynn not wanting to miss out!




And I made a hat! Capucine. A simple but super sweet pattern that I decided to make with the remaining Noro Kochoran skein I had leftover from the cushion. I'm sure I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge fan of striped clothing but this yarn is so luxurious and squishy with it's combination of Angora, Merino and Silk that I think I can make an exception for a hat. It is also so warm and came in very handy over the past few days. I'm a little bit in love with it actually!

Yes, I know it's just a hat but there has been very little action on the knitting front lately and it was such a joy to finally be able to sit down in the evenings by the fire and not only start something but also finish something in 2 nights. It has been an unusually busy School Term where the domestic stuff overwhelmed me and the majority of my days were spent chasing my tail but with the added frustration of the millions of interruption that go along with running a household of 7 people.  So it may only be a little hat but it is an accomplishment nevertheless. My Ravelry notes are here.


We arrived home late last night full of happy memories. The Kids went back to School today and I can't believe there is only another 10 weeks left until the end of the School year. This will be the final 10 weeks of Kindy before the Twins start full-time school next year. A few months ago I would have gasped at that thought, the thought of my little boys being ready for "Big School". However, these past few days more than anything I've realised just how much they have grown up. They are more than ready. But first, let's just enjoy the post-holiday glow and get through the rest of this year.




33 comments :

  1. The scenery is stunning! Looks as though you had a wonderful time. I will have to come back to this post again just to look at the pictures! Thank you for sharing these wonderful views. xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those first couple of photos look freezing!!! Gorgeous still!
    Looks like a lovely break and time away, nothing nicer than a big old pub and a pool table! Fun! (I love that 'everyone' was trying to have a turn at pool!!)
    x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow oh wow, what gorgeous scenery, a holiday of memories. What is that little creature? (just above the boys fishing)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a Tasmanian Wombat Erin! This one is huge - almost 1 metre in length but difficult to tell from the photo :-)

      Delete
  4. Looks like an awesome spot to get away from it all. I love your hat and can really relate to the celebration over such an accomplishment. I have been battling on with an adult tea leaves (gasp!) for what seems like an eternity (one row progress some weeks!) I definitely need a quick gratification project as a distraction from the urgent and pressing demands of the garden and of course, life in general. Only ten weeks til the next holiday - woo hoo! xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's a gorgeous hat! And you look wonderful in it. In fact the whole of your little holiday looks wonderful. Happy days :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fab location for a boutique hotel. Love it! Your hat looks great and very warm x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow what an amazing place to spend a couple of days. I love holidays like that, just doing the things that really brings families together. I so enjoyed looking at all your gorgeous photos and the jenga tower was pretty impressive. Ours would have been knocked flat before someone could have snapped a pic. I love your hat and you look gorgeous in it!! You should be proud. I honestly don't know how you find time with a household of 7, but what a wonderful way to live! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Its sounds like it was a unique and wonderful place to spend a short holiday. Sorry to hear you had rain for so much of the time, but you seemed to find some great ways to spend your time indoors. I love your new hat!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What's so great about blogging is that you get to see all sorts of different places! Thanks for sharing, it is much harder to entertain when the weathers bad, you did brilliantly! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  10. oh mel what a gorgeous post! how beautiful your photos are, i loved seeing this part of your world, what luck to get to stay there in that cool place. i had to look at all the pictures twice (and i'm sure i'll come back again) to see all the wonder in this that you've shared. well done on the hat! it looks fantastic on you, and really, i don't know how you do it (how did i do it? haha) beautiful beautiful post, family, you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I always love your beautiful pics, they make me want to be enjoying the scenes within them. The pub looks so cosy on a cold day.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a fantastic place! The opening paragraph and the first few photos reads just like the intro to a Grand Designs episode - so glad to hear what was and is derelict, will be returned to its former glory in a new life as a hotel. Beautiful scenery as well. Tasmania is the only state in Australia we are yet to visit, but we will be doing this in due course for sure.

    Cheers, Col

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are a wonderful ambassador for your state Mel, you are helping strengthen my determination to visit in the not-too-distant future. We are currently enduring 36 degree days (and higher), so seems strange to see you all rugged up in front of a fire. Here's to a wonderful Term 4!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a wonderful tourist idea. I think Tasmania is a gorgeous place as I have been there twice now. It is always so green and fresh when I have visited and it is nice being a tourist and seeing all the places to check out. Your hat looks great, and perhaps with the twins at school you might get some more knitting in!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a beautiful spot! I love Tasmania and this looks like a very special corner of it. Thank you for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Those lovely photos show such special family moments, it's wonderful.
    And I love your hat, the pattern, the colours...lovely!

    Lluisa xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a stunning location and a lovely way to spend some quiet days, pity about the rain though. The pub looks pretty impressive too. And that hat, what an achievement, I'd be happy to finish something crafty in two months let alone two days (and I don't have a family of &), well done. Plus it looks gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What an amazing experience and incredible memories to make as a family. I have NEVER even thought to set the table for breakfast after dinner, I love that idea! I read one of your old posts about the twins birth story (which by the way is beautiful!) and here they stand almost ready for school. More exciting milestones to come :-) Belinda x

    ReplyDelete
  19. That sounds an amazing vacation and so nice to spend some quality time as a family away from the demands of everyday life.
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a glorious post, Mel. That place looks incredible and your photos are beautiful. Even with the rain I can imagine you had a fabulous time. When I'm without my phone, laptop etc I feel adrift for the first few hours then once I settle into it and enjoy it, it's quite liberating. And yes, you can get such a lot of sewing/crocheting/knitting achieved without the distractions of tv and internet! Your hat is gorgeous, as are you.

    Gillian x

    ps. My granddad always used to set the breakfast table at night before going to bed - place mats, cutlery, tea cups, the whole lot. I'd forgotten that. Thanks for the memory. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. BEAUTIFUL!
    Just what the Doctor ordered ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Isn't God good, nature in all of it's glory. Your photos are always a treat to look at Mel.
    Are you all lefties???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I meant left handed...not politically left! ha

      Delete
  23. the windows and the fire in that Pub look very very inviting.

    I also know of people who add their porridge to the slow cooker each evening - apparently it is perfect in the morning and serves the whole family.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What an amazing building and beautiful place - it looks and sounds like the perfect getaway! x

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a beautiful place, love that you spent some great family time there.

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a beautiful, amazing place to spend some time away together. It looked so peaceful and quiet. I'm so glad you were able to get this time and my goodness, how Flynn is growing!

    Hugs,
    Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really enjoyed reading this post, Mel! I almost feel like I was settled down with a good book by the fireplace. And your hat? It's adorable! Have you read Jodi's penultimate post over at Che and Fidel about the importance of finishing creative projects for mothers? I'm sure you will agree with much of what she wrote.

    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  28. OMG we stayed in that hotel just 3 days after you were there - I read this post just after I arrived in Tassie and did try to comment but I think one of your many inconvenient mountains must've got in the way. I remember looking at the photos but it didn't click until I looked again today and saw the pool tables, the logging equipment on the wall, and those massive gorgeous windows. We were treated to some fairly heavy snow during tea (ok it wasn't heavy at all but hey I live in Queensland and am originally from WA so what do I know?) which was awesome as we'd been treated to a fair bit during our walk around Dove Lake that morning too. I LOVE TASSIE! Can't wait to come back! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why didn't my name come up? Blimmin' computers! From Michelle :)

      Delete
  29. love this post
    looks like so much fun!
    i love the little devil, i think there so cute


    great blog x

    http://www.adayinmywheels.com/

    ReplyDelete
  30. It sounded like you had a wonderful time away together. I like the idea of 'switching off', being someone fairly secluded and simply enjoying one another's company. That pub looks very child-friendly... how wondeful to have a baby-proof fire and a tub of toys!! I smiled at your table set for breakfast the following day... I remember Paul sharing memories of his grandmother doing that when he had sleepovers there :) I can't believe we are in the final weeks of this school year too. Grace begins full-time school next year like your boys. So glad you all had a wonderful holiday xx

    ReplyDelete