Little Mitchell has had his first cold and viral bug these past two weeks and has been very miserable. Car hire duties have been transferred to Justin as Rowena becomes Mitchell’s cuddle companion. He is slowly on the mend and rode his bike for the first time in days today. Hope fully he will be back to full health again soon.
Archive for the ‘FICR Family Time’ Category
Flinders Flu
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Future hire car driver
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
- Drinking & Riding Oh dear
- Flinders Island Car Rentals has a new driver Mitchell Nicholls
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Flinders Island Car Rentals youngest member Mitchell shows off his skills on the Pink Bike and in the Blue Car. He is quite a skillful little driver sometimes a little too confident, lucky the blue car has a seat belt. No doubt he will learn to drive in one of the hire cars.
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Activities Flinders Island
Sunday, July 25th, 2010Saturday on Flinders Island, is Football and Netball at the Recreation Ground, Whitemark. The green team was victorious in the junior Football with young local boy Jordie kicking 7 goals. Tickets in the Flinders Island Football Raffle were on offer 3 for $5 and 19 prizes to win, including loads of wood, wine, local lamb and more. Senior Netball was very competitive the Blue versus Red, Blue was dominating possession but inaccurate shots for goal were costly, couldn’t stay for the final quarter hopefully the blue team were able convert their shots for goal and come away victorious.
With weather flavourable many local Flinders Islanders were out cutting wood over the weekend, Justin has taken up cutting green wood this winter ready for next winter so the wood pile is looking very healthy. Justin’s latest project has been to build an outdoor woodheater on wheels that you can also cook on. After many hours of welding and ginding, then finally painting, it has been christened today with it’s first meal Wild Duck and spuds. BEAUTIFUL
Mutton Birding Flinders Island
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Mutton birding a family activity on Flinders Island, Tasmania
This is the image of mutton birding on Little Dog Island, Flinders Island, I could not find when I originally posted the salted mutton bird entry many days ago. Rowena & Mitchell carrying the birds down the water for cleaning, a tough job but the reward of a tasty juicy mutton bird makes it worthwhile.
Gun Club on Flinders Island
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010Every 3rd sunday of the Month on Flinders Island the Furneaux Field Game Gun Club hold their club shoots. With a good range including down the line, skeet, tower, Simulated there is plenty to test your skills. Sunday’s club had a good turn out even the with the cold windy weather, scores were slightly lower than normal with Justin only managing a 14 out of 25 in the first round of Simulated. Mitchell and Rowena went out to watch and to enjoy the nice ham and cheese toated sandwiches the canteen ladies make. A BBQ lunch is available with lamb chops, sausages, patties served up with bread and sauce, good food to keep the hungry Shooters going for the afternnon. We had the leave early as Mitchell was getting tired so missed afternoon tea which would be the highlight, homemade scones, cakes, picklets all cooked by the local ladies. With Hot drinks just a $1.00 and sandwichs $2.50 it is well worth the drive just for Lunch.
Sawyers Bay BBQ – Flinders Island
Friday, July 2nd, 2010With another clear sunny winter day on Flinders Island it was a good opportunity to head to the beach for a BBQ. All the Flinders Island Car Rentals team minus Mr. Ed were keen, even the three dogs Bella, Bob and Jet. Sawyers Bay is only 10 mins drive from the depot and has three wood BBQ’s set up with picnic tables so you can just pick the one which suits the day. The BBQ at the northern end of the was perfect today catching the morning sun and slightly protected from the fresh south westerly. Justin built a small fire and we dined on lamb chops, new spuds and carrots it was a genuine Flinders Island lunch. While lunch was cooking Row, Mitchell and the dogs explored the beach and granite rocks around the bay, Jet was full of energy and ran into the sea for a swim, the other dogs had more sense, Bella was on the trail of a wombat or wallaby that must have been there earlier in the day and bob retired in the sun by the fire. With sand and lots of shells to discover Mitchell wasn’t sure what to check out first. There is a vast view the Blue Rocks area and of Mt. Strzelecki from the bay, a good spot for photos but we forgot the camera.
Flinders Island Salted Mutton-bird
Thursday, July 1st, 2010After enjoying a large fat salted mutton-bird for lunch today Rowena can not wait to go mutton birding again, still 9 months to go. The mutton-bird or ”short-tailed shearwater”, is a yearly visitor to Flinders Island, Tasmania. Flying in around September the adult birds prepare their burrow, mate and lay their single egg in that burrow, in the many rockeries scattered around the 52 islands in the Furneaux Group.  The official amateur mutton-bird season covers three weekends during late March to early April with the commercial season lasting slightly longer. Three generations of our Nicholls family head over to Little Dog Island each season to gather our mutton birds for the year. Mutton birding is Rowena favorite activity on Flinders Island, not just because of the delicious taste of a freshly barbequed bird (it’s an acquired taste) but the journey over to the island in the boat and the family working together as a team to catch, carry and clean the birds to take home. It is always a great day out and gives everyone a real sense of achievement. Mitchell had his first trip over to Little Dog Island when he was just 5 weeks old and hopefully over the years he will grow to enjoy it as much as the rest of the family.
Islanders Party on Flinders Island
Sunday, June 20th, 2010What a weekend, Saturday morning kicked off with Junior Football at the Flinders Island Recreation Ground the green team victorious over the red team. Then it was off to Emita for the 50th Birthday Party of local Big Bob, a shearer and all round good bloke. There was food a plenty and good company with many of the local islanders turning out to wish him happy birthday. Sunday another party, a surprise baby shower for Kelly. After a few dramas getting her to the Interstate Hotel where all the girls were patiently waiting, she arrived speechless. It was a fun afternoon, party games and delicous homemade cakes, muffins and lots of other treats. There was a very interesting baby quiz with questions like what was the last baby to be born in the Flinders Island Multi Purpose Centre (hospital)? and  how many children can the duck pond (local child care centre) look after at any one time? and more challenging ones like how many years does it take for a disposable nappy to decompose? 300, 400 or 500 years. The answer 500 unbelievable!
Events on Flinders Island
Friday, June 18th, 2010Well we have a big weekend approaching, Dinner at the Furneaux Tavern tonight then Saturday Junior Netball & Football kick off around 10am, followed by Adults Netball & Football at the Flinders Island Recreation Ground. Then a local legand Big BOB is turning 50 and will be celebrating his birthday up at Emita, hopefully the weather will be calm and not too cool for the BBQ lunch. Sunday, a surprise party for another lucky local, can’t devulge any details as yet, but should be a great afternoon and to cap off the weekend a big roast dinner at Justin’s parents house, always a top meal and good company. For the Island visitors the Furneaux Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday 1 to 4pm, well worth a look, with lots of interesting Island exhibits and history on display.
Row’s Birthday
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Rowena celebrated her 32nd Birthday yesterday with a sleep in only 1/2 an hour but a treat all the same, some great presents from Justin and Mitchell. It was a day off for Rowena from Car hire duties with Flinders Island Car Rentals enjoying it’s busiest day for June, Justin and Ed were kept busy. Lunch at the Flinders Island Bakery was delicous with a very nice fresh chicken and pesto bread roll, the cakes and slices looked delicous but Justin’s sister and son were coming over for afternoon tea and had promised to bring something sweet so cakes had to wait. Avo tea was chocolate slice and worth the wait, followed by more presents. Justin’s brother was very generous and provided a Dinner for two voucher to the Furneaux Tavern. So Friday night Rowena and Justin are heading down to the Tavern for a night out. With still more presents to come from family the birthday celebrations are not over yet. To everyone that wished Rowena happy birthday thru Facebook cheers.