Between the school year ending and Christmas Eve, we headed to the southern end of our island home with my parents, my brother and his partner, and our dogs - Bonnie and Rudi, for a much-needed, mini getaway to Surveyors Bay.
Slow, relaxing days were whiled away with beach paddles, board games, reading, kayaking, fishing, cherry eating and simply gazing at the incredible view - an isolated, beachfront paradise, literally right on our doorstep.
The children spent much of their time naked {and I spent much of mine wishing I was too}, we ate and laughed often, the boys competed to catch the biggest flathead for our lunch, the girls drank wine for breakfast, phone reception could only be achieved in one tiny spot in the hallway and the melodic sounds of song and guitar melded to create the soundtrack to our afternoons.
Of an evening, Si and I sat in the darkness, while the ocean lulled the rest of the house to sleep, planning a little long-held dream that will soon become our future. It's in moments such as these that a fire is lit within.
Aside from the dramatic hours following Rudi eating a fishing hook and needing very expensive emergency surgery back in Hobart at 3 in the morning {!}, our time here was too short, but blissfully sweet.
Surveyors Bay - you have stolen our hearts and listened to their innermost whispers. We will be back...