The Holiday Day 1

Today, Sarah, Dee and I left for our week long holiday in Launceston, Tasmania. First I must make special note of what an amazing trooper Dee has been today, through the entire 9 hours of travel. He has barely issued more than the slightest of grizzles; lasting not longer than a few seconds; through-out the whole day. I am entirely proud of him. So our flight took off from Brisbane without delay and for the most part the flight was peaceful, however somewhat cramped and we touched down in Melbourne for a hour and a half stopover at 6:25pm (local time). Unfortunately the Melbourne domestic terminal didn't have much in the way of choice towards a meaningful meal, so we made do with what we could. I managed to find a ham & cheese croissant and Sarah got what looked like a bunch of leaves in a plastic bowl with less than a handful of cherry tomatoes tossed together. Thankfully we had the forethought to pre-purchase and pack food for dee so he was fine.

We boarded from Melbourne with a surprise as we hadn't adjusted our clocks to daylight savings. The flight to Launceston from Melbourne was less cramped and somewhat brief. Dee was also far happier to just sit for this leg of our journey, where as earlier he wanted to stand and jump around. We arrived at 9:05pm (local time) and disembarked to a far smaller terminal then we are used to. There was a distinct lack of shops, and the one store that sells food was quiet obviously closed. After collecting our bags we walked out of the terminal to meet with the lady from the car rental place. What a shock we got when she delivered a 1999 lantra hatch when we had booked a 2005 Magna. Our bags of course barely fit in the car having to take up both the entire boot and most of the back seat.

Lo-Cost Auto Rentals are most certainly low cost, the car we received, not only wasn't what we ordered and booked (and the only car they had left so we're sort of stuck with it now) but it lacks any power; which I suppose might be a good thing give the distinct lack of braking capability. None the less we managed to find our way to our hotel by 10:30 (local time) thanks to google maps with GPS and were in for a real treat. While our hotel lacks pay tv and internet, it is visually stunning. It is a converted mansion from the 1800s and our lodgings are to die for. The stressed timber flooring, the rendered stone walls, the antique buffet at the entrance. Not to mention of course the full kitchen, laundry and spacious bathroom. The only problem now being of course that while dee has had a proper diner, Sarah and I have not. But I'm sure going to bed hungry tonight will work out ok. We can wake in the morning and find somewhere to get a bite. And so with that I am off to bed to hopefully get some sleep and rest my rumbling stomach.