17 and 71

71 year olds like to make the short drive to The Thumbs from where you can get a good view of Spring Bay and surrounds.

17 year olds get car sick, can't look out at the view from the car and can't wait to get to The Fish Van for fish and chips.  They're also quite keen on their phones...

However, it was lovely to have Sarah with us for Easter.  It was five years since she last stayed with us, and a lot has changed!  Thanks to Sarah we got Hot Cross Buns and chocolate rabbits.

Georgia and Miya stretch their legs at Bicheno enroute to St Helens

Georgia, Miya and I drove to St Helens to pick Sarah up after she'd had a hard day's work at the IGA.  It's a beautiful drive, mostly along coastline and the time passes quickly.  Maybe not so quickly if you get carsick.  But George and I enjoyed it, especially after we discovered a patisserie in Bicheno with divine pains au chocolat and good coffee.

I generously gave Sarah my bedroom which, from the amount of time she spent in it, seemed most appreciated.  I slept in the studio and

on one of my many visits to the house to use the loo, noticed this beautiful inky sky - vaguely resembling the markings on a thylacine.

Needless to say, being in Triabunna, Sarah was subjected to her first Exhibition Opening, where she particularly enjoyed the catering.  The artist was John Ingleton, a consummate printmaker and creator of the Hunter Island Press homed in Wirksworth, Bellerive.  

Overcome by culture, Sarah needed to travel home to resume school and IGA work the next day.  It was a demanding drive this time because of relentless rain.  The first rain we had had for some time.  The roads were slippery.  Fortunately everyone seemed to drive carefully.  We stopped in Bicheno and had 'bearclaws' this time from the patisserie.  Just what we needed to get a grip on the next stage of the unusually grueling drive.

Driving alone back to Tribes was frenetic.  Twice I had to put the windscreen wipers on that agitating fastest setting.  I can't remember the last time I had to do that.  It was after 3pm so I knew the patisserie would be closed, so thought I'd indulge in some crayfish at The Lobster Shack.  Naturally I was not the only person to think of this on a soggy Easter Holiday Tuesday.  I was lucky to find a space to flop into.  I felt like eating some cold crayfish with salad.  All the cray on the menu was served hot or thermidor with chips and salad and I, stupidly, did not think to ask if they could accommodate my wish.  I ordered chowder with garlic bread. It nearly hit the spot.  I wasn't game to have a glass of red.

taken at a rare quiet moment, so as not to upset anyone

 gazing at the sea to regain my equanimity.