Hobart holiday that was

Right up until we boarded, I was panicking I'd overestimated my ability to holiday solo: had I booked the right accommodation? Did we have enough of a 'schedule'? Youngest was excited about plane, but not seatbelt ("this is boring for me"). Flying home, I had low blood pressure, verge of fainting, eldest stroked my hair, carried suitcases whilst a nice hippie couple helped me strap Linus into Ergo carrier. 

Pen and Ben were so hospitable and inclusive, I am not sure I can thank them enough, like it was never too much trouble. Ben cycled with big kids, Youngest liked Chris because "he gave you a ring". Chris told me, without a trace of irony, his house has doubled in value: two storey and four bedrooms and no sign of a significant other. As a gift, I gave him a bamboo toothbrush, but he got shirty because it was medium, "Bristle strength, not size!"), but it was tiny compared to his giant hands, we laughed. 

Eldest went to an extinction drawing workshop by Lucienne Rickards, drew a swift parrot ("smith parrot"), danced outside Missy Lissy bakery under a sign "Disco is ok". Barista admired kids tie dye. Visited Allan at home, he showed me his Japanese tea house, his friend wants one too, but there are only nine backyard Japanese tea houses in Australia and Allan's going to feature in a documentary, his friend's social media of kazoo in tea house has a lot of people fitting into a 3m by 3m space. 

I didn't talk to Allan about much besides his parents, but everyone loved playing with the seventies lego he claimed belongs to his teenage son!  I love their house; hues of green and blue create calmness. He teaches yoga from the front room, they 'live' mostly in the centre of the house which has combined kitchen and dining room, couch covered in blankets, antique sideboard with things of sentiment, nothing to covet, only to appreciate. Tea house is at the back, with a view of the mountain, the host side is lowered, to elevate guests.  Allan has always been like that too, makes his students feel secure, notices talent. When we went to Retro Cafe, he watched me order herbal tea before ordering strawberry milkshake.  We had to wrap things up early as he was on chauffeur duties, but he sent a message saying I was a good student, he enjoyed me in his class, wished we shared more time. 

After, I met Ben and kids at Kangaroo Bay, I like the sunny side. At Rosny Schoolhouse I bumped into Mary who was Geo mapping or something, she has an outdoor job. Linus overhead an ice-cream truck, which he thought was Santa, asked "What is Santa's number? I want to tell him something!" dictated, "Dear Santa, I want a motorbike, a paw patrol motorbike", did a scribble drawing, said, "let's post it"/ I showed it to Chris, pointing out his thongs worn preschool style: pitched between second and third toe. 

Pen and I had fashion fun, she lent me the cool jumpsuit (and bought me my own version) as well as a cute dress, always has cool clothes. We discussed homelessness and visible vagrancy and Squiz artists place, how she and eldest kid clicked at the Neil Murray concert at Ferntree the day David Bowie died. 

Picture below: SOHO accommodation and youngest at window yelling "Suck Peach" aka "Whatsup"