Temporary Nomad

Helen, Freya and I have just returned from a week’s holiday in Tasmania. Actually it was Helen, Freya, Helen’s mum Margaret, her partner Ian and me. So it was quite a family trip, but we did manage to all squeeze into a single car – but with all our luggage, it was a close run thing.

Helen, Freya, Margaret, Ian and Mike in Hobart

We spent a couple of days at Taranna, East of Hobart, where I met Helen’s aunt Ako – and where we hung out at the local folk festival. Then we went up to the central highlands of the Great Western Tiers where Ian has a holiday shack at Miena, on Great Lake. (Not a very imaginative name for a lake, I grant you). We did a couple of day-trips and visited some local sights, including the rainforest on the way to the beautiful Liffey Falls.

Liffey Falls

Back at the shack later that evening, we were quite worried about some spots of blood that appeared on Freya’s wrap – but we couldn’t figure out where they came from. Not until I discovered the runs of dried blood caked onto my leg where it seems a leech had had me for lunch and hadn’t used a napkin. The blood had oozed through my jeans when I’d knelt down to wrap her. At least it didn’t hurt – they use a great anaesthetic.

Helen took one photo of me holding Freya when we were in that rainforest. And in it I think I can just make out a small black slug on my jacket.