Tuesday 14 October 2008

HOME AGAIN

Max and I had a fabulous time in Tasmania. Beautiful scenery and wonderful places to visit. The weather was beautiful – beautiful sunrises, crisp clear days.

Tahune Air walk on the banks of the Huon River near Huonville was spectacular too! Again getting over my fear of heights this walk has you over the tree tops 20 metres from the ground. You could also walk onto the cantilever that is 48 metres above the river – boy did that ‘rock and roll’ as we walked onto that.


Cataract Gorge Such a great place to go for walks, ride the chair lift, walk on the suspension bridge. No mean feat for someone like me who is scared of heights!



A leisurely stroll along the boardwalk next to Kings Park and Royal Park was relaxing


We went to the Salamanca Market early one Saturday morning and also for a stroll in St Davids Park next to the market .
4 Park photos below






Table Cape Lighthouse and tulip farm


We also went on lots of walks and saw some beautiful Falls – Guide Falls and Nelson Falls.


Port Arthur was an amazing place with many ruins from when it was a Penal Settlement (1833 – 1877). Sadly it is also known for the 1996 massacre of 35 wonderful people and another 37 being injured by Martin Bryant.


So many places to see, Boat Harbour Beach, Tarraleah and its hydropower, Mt Wellington in Hobart, Salamanca Market, Richmond Bridge constructed in 1823, Derbys Tin Centre.

So many pretty coastal villages – Strahan, Swansea, Bicheno, St Helens.

The Bay of Fires at Binnalong Bay was pretty.

When we got off the Spirit of Tasmania we had breakfast at a café in Port Melbourne and drove to Berwick to pick Riley up from crèche. He had croup while we were away. Thankfully Lachlan and Chloe don’t get as sick as poor little Riley. We had a lovely family dinner on the Wednesday night when we got home. It was great to be away but there is no place like being home with your loved ones.


WEDDING

On Saturday Max and I went to the wedding of my nephew Nick and his gorgeous bride Jess. They have a sweet 14 month old little boy Harrison.


Max and Alison

Nick and Jess



MELBOURNE MARATHON SUNDAY


Here is a photo of Max and Michael getting ready before the start of the race.

MARATHON

Max Michael and Amy’s fiancé Ryan ran in the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday. It was Max’s 31st Marathon – crazy man, for Michael and Ryan it was their first. It was a very hot windy day, not the best condition for a seasoned marathoner let alone 2 newbies.. Max ran the 42km (27 miles) in 3 hrs 26 min, Michael was on track at the 35km (22 miles) mark to finish in 3 hrs 30 min but the heat got the better of him, he was dehydrated and had to stop at the St Johns Ambulance people several times. He was on the ground and they thought he was having a ‘fit’ but it was just his legs ‘twitching’, he pretty much walked the last 7kms and finished in 4 hrs 40 min. Ryan who had not done enough training finished in 5 hrs 4 mins. We were very proud of them .

We thought it was a great day until we got home to our place and I was changing Riley’s dirty nappy/diaper. He felt pretty warm so I left his shorts off and took him to the kitchen for a drink of water. He cried a little and then looked strange, un responsive. I rushed over to Amy (his Mum)put him on her knee and put the cup to his little mouth and he was just staring blankly (this brings tears to my eyes as I relive this). He was changing colour then he started twitching. His Uncle Daniel was on the couch next to Amy and quickly lay him on his side checking his airways. Our sweet little Riley was having a Febrile Convulsion and unresponsive but breathing. My God it was such a scary thing, I quickly dialled 000 for an ambulance and had to quickly answer their questions and get Daniel and Amy to do whatever they were telling me. Poor Riley was still unconscious and frothing from the mouth it seemed like forever before he started to become conscious he didn’t even want to get up. He had to be kept on the floor until the ambulance came. We had to wait 36 minutes for an ambulance which I think is disgusting – there is supposed to be a 10 minute response time. There are at least 3 ambulance stations within 5 to 15 minutes from my house. Our state Government should be ashamed of the service that is provided. Riley had a urine test that showed nothing, had no ear infections ( I think ear infections are his speciality as he has so many) so the usual result – a virus. I think that’s what they say when they have no idea what’s going on. We now need to keep a close watch on him when he has a temperature, which we do anyway but this time the medication he had been given didn’t help much. Here is a photo of Riley and Amy taken when we were at the marathon on Sunday

25 comments:

Gail McCormack said...

My hair was standing on end reading about poor little Riley, I got your email to support the ambos and will do! Thank goodness he's OK.
Glad you enjoyed your trip - I love Tassie! Now I think our first planned trip in the van may have to be over there. Yes our old van died - a blessing in disguise really.
Good on your marathon boys
You and Max surely do make a handsome couple
Good to catch up on all your news Alison - and what news it is!!

Free Art Printables said...

Oh, The poor little guy! 36 minutes is ridiculous! Some one could die in that time! I am so glad you enjoyed your trip though. You and your husband look great. :)

Connie said...

Welcome home, sweet chick!!!! I wondered when you'd be back. Miss ya, honey. Lovely scenery in Tasmania. I'd love to visit if I didn't have to fly over there! LOL
SMooches,
Connie

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

What beautiful scenery. Poor Riley.

Sugar Bear said...

Oh my gosh - what a scary Riley story. I can't believe the ambulance took that long! That is just awful. Thank God he is doing okay now.

Such lovely photos from your trip - I give you a big round of applause for the heights - I don't think I could have done it. I think I may have said this before but you deserve to hear it again for not letting your fear get the better of you.

Karla

Siobhan said...

Oh Alison,

Poor Riley...how is he going now? I remember when Jake was a few weeks old I had a very scary time as a new Mum where he had a Convulsion and was bubbling out his mouth we ended up driving to the hospital because they too were to slow on responding. Sad isnt it?

Your holiday looks amazing...I love Tassie!

Siobhan

The Blogland Diaries said...

Welcome back Alison. What a wonderful place. That is a frightening story about little Riley though. Tasmania looks stunning. Karen

Natasha Burns said...

oh goodness Alison I felt sick reading about what happened with Riley. Thank goodness he is ok now but I wonder what it was, yes virus is the one they use when they don't seem to know... 36 minutes is crazy! oh I dread to think...

Congrats to Max on his marathon and your sons, my jaw dropped to think they were running for so long! I cannot last more than 3 minutes at a time on the treadmill, hahaha!

Tassie looked wonderful, it is such a beautiful place. Did you buy up at the Salamanca markets? I hear they're really good.

You and Max and the lovely bridal couple look great!

Laura said...

The story about your little Riley was horrifying. I cannot imagine how you must have felt. I hate when "they" pretend they know what's wrong when clearly they do not! We will send good healing thoughts his way.

Your vacation looked spectacular. I like it when the husband and I get away and just ramble around. A very nice picture of the two of you.

Thanks for your response on my blog. I am always thrilled to see that you have stopped by.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

Oh gosh Allison! What a horrible thing to have happen! I sure hope it never reoccurs and it was just one of those freakish things that happens.

Your vacation looked marvelous!

BittersweetPunkin said...

Oh my...poor Riley!! I can't believe they couldn't find a reason for his reaction...thats very scary! I do hope he is better...
Hugs,
Robin

Unknown said...

I am so sorry to hear about what poor little Riley went through Alison. Such a scare. I'm glad everything was well in the end despite the slow ambulance response time. It must have felt like an eternity.
Looks like you and Max had a wonderful time in Tasmania. Thanks for posting all the photos, it was nice to see Tassie again after soooo long.Such a lovely place to visit.
Wishing you more happy times and less of the scary variety, Angela.

Birds of a Feather said...

hi alison ~

you had a lovely trip too i see, and much more exotic ~ so beautiful!

so glad sweet riley is alright!

take care ~
xo heidi

Pineapple Villa said...

Hi Alison, great to have you back and isnt Tassie lovely? I have heard the same thing about ambulances here and you are right it is DISGUSTING. Hope all is well now and we missed you. Mel xxx

Jeanne said...

Looks like you had a wonderful trip - except for the scare with Riley! My goodness, I hope everything is ok with him now. Sometimes I forget that you live in Australia and when I read posts that say, "Had a fabulous time in Tasmania" I have to do a double-take. Living here in the US we never get to take trips to such exotic sounding places!!! Welcome home Alison!
xo
jeanne

Cindy said...

Sorry to hear about the little one! So glad all is well. Love the photo's of the trip. Lovely. Glad you are back.

c

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Gosh...so much in one post.
Let's see - Tassie photos look fantastic. Glad to have you back and posting.
Those men of yours must be mad but well done anyway to Max and the boys.
And finally...little Riley breaks my heart. No child should ever have to wait that long for an abmulance especially when unconscious. Hope he is okay now.
Hugs,
Kerryanne

Deb said...

Welcome home Alison. I am so glad sweet Riley is ok. What a scare!

The Old Painted Cottage said...

Poor little Riley. I hope he's doing better.

oxox
Jennifer

shabbyfufu said...

Amazing photos Alison, thanks for sharing the beauty of Tasmania!

Susannah said...

Those waterfalls look amazing, what a story!

kecia deveney said...

riley is getting so cute!

kecia deveney said...

riley is getting so cute!

kecia deveney said...

sorry, i sent my comment before i had a chance to finish typing. have they found out what happen with Riley? i'm suspicious about how sick he's been; something doesn't seem right. he gets better and then gets ill again. you guys have had some tough times with him and now this? i'm so sorry you all keep getting hit. hope he's better.

kecia deveney said...

sorry, i sent my comment before i had a chance to finish typing. have they found out what happen with Riley? i'm suspicious about how sick he's been; something doesn't seem right. he gets better and then gets ill again. you guys have had some tough times with him and now this? i'm so sorry you all keep getting hit. hope he's better.