Mood:  happy

Hi Friends

I was invited to the Glenorchy Lions Club last week for dinner. It was a nice evening and allowed the members to meet the person they had helped via a scooter. The evening also taught me how the Lions work and what they do for people.

I have not actually taken delivery of the scooter yet because I am still waiting for the ramp I need which enables the scooter to be loaded in my car.

Although I have not got the scooter I have not been idle. I have designed a web site to enable me to try and raise funds in order to work the project.

The weather has not been to good so I have felt comfortable just messing on the PC. Besides the fund raising web site I am now into the site that potential visitors thinking about visiting Tasmania will consult.

I am enjoying this task and have a template I am working with. I am learning that this job will probably take longer than I thought but that is OK. Perhaps once I get into it fully everything will flow smoothly.

I am planning to visit Dover to check out a hotel with disability accommodation. So that will be a nice drive [I hope] I just need a few more photos for the 2012 Calendar so combining the tasks. Just hope the weather is fine, doesnt matter if it is cold, just as long as it doesnt rain. I have done a bit of checking at Geeveston. After visiting there I decided to advise visitors to carry a book of stamps as I am finding franchise Post Offices a little tricky to get into. So a book of stamps in ones handbag is a good idea.

So I am planning that my next blog will be reporting on Dover and possibly 1 or 2 other locations.

See you next week

http://www.gillishuonvalleyproject.com/gillishuonvalleyproject/

Posted by gillistasmania at 6:10 PM NZT

Updated: Monday, 27 June 2011 7:18 PM NZT

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Mood:  a-ok

Hi All on this awful day brrrr

Things are moving in the right direction. I have ordered a neat ramp for the car and tomorrow Glenorchy Lions club will hand over a scooter to me. So all is going as I hoped. I certainly will not be doing much outdoor 'exploring' while the weather is so miserable but that doesnt mean I am idle. I am working on a website in order to raise some funds. BUT I am self taught and so it takes time. Seems to be slowly coming together. Although I keep saying I should get rid of Austar and I cannot afford it, must say today it is good to have it on 815 listening to some good music while working here. I guess it is good to do all the 'admin' work in winter when I am staying indoors, it is bin day today and I am dreading taking them out . Nothing more really Lions want to take photos tomorrow so please pray for a break in the weather during the afternoon.

Posted by gillistasmania at 12:59 PM NZT

Updated: Wednesday, 8 June 2011 1:27 PM NZT

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Mood:  happy

Hi All

Pleased to report all went will picking up the car. Was a long day, up at 3.30am and on the go until the ferry had left for Devonport and we could relax. We were one of the last vehicles onto the ferry so got off pretty fast [it was still dark] The car is good, Blake and I shared driving. We did get booked for speeding  at St Peters Pass, unfotunately Blake was driving and he got a ticket I might have just got a warning. We did stop in at Oatlands to check out the windmill now it is working, weather was great but oh so cold.

So now I have a few jobs ahead of me like getting a ramp fitted to car so the scooter can be loaded and getting the car registered.

Now working on some sponsorship for the scooter project, have an idea about getting sponsored. Just have to do some work on it all [fingers crossed]

Posted by gillistasmania at 4:36 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 29 May 2011 4:48 PM NZT

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Mood:  caffeinated

Guess things are slowly moving on. My son and I fly to Melbourne on Thursday where hopefully I will take ownership of a 'new' car. This has all been arranged via net and phone so it is still fingers crossed with regard to it all working out.

BUT flights and ferry back are booked so we have to go and hope we are driving back from Devonport rather the hitching a ride [getting a bit old for that these days]

Before I leave I have a meeting on Wednesday with some one from Tourism Tasmania to discuss my plans. makes me feel like things are finally getting off the ground.

Wish me luck [and a calm crossing

G

Posted by gillistasmania at 3:08 PM NZT

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Mood:  not sure

Hello

Well I do not really have anything to report. Scooter hasn't arrived, car still the same. Have only heard from one business re sponsorship and they said no. So still working on that aspect of the project.

If on of you buy books online can I suggest you go to my web site and find the banner for Book Depository. I find them really good both in price and service. Buy through my site and hopefully it will help me

https://gillistasmania.tripod.com/

I went to Ida Bay to firstly talk about selling some stock and secondly to ask about te ease for disabled visitors on the trains. I was told that at the moment they can transport one standard wheelchair at a time and that the passenger has to sit side on to other passengers BUT there are plans in hand to alter a carriage to a/ make more room for disability equipment and also to improve the access. So that was good to know. They are very nice people down there, and I get the impression that they are fairly new owners and are trying to build up the service. Might be a good day our for a group, preferably in the better weather. There is a good little cafe which serves drinks in china cups!! I didnt eat there but I did notice a fair menu.

So apart from that little 'gem' I have no news and must tell you I am finding it really frustrating not to get started.

Have a good weekend

G

2011-05-19

Posted by gillistasmania at 4:09 PM NZT

Updated: Thursday, 19 May 2011 4:28 PM NZT

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Hi All, gee time goes tooooooo fast. I will soon be taking delivery of a mobility scooter which is the first big step. Still working on a car to transport it in. More difficult to sort out. But I have not been idle.

Firstly I have applied for a RACT commuunity grant to help, if I get it the fuel situation will be looked after [for a while anyway] and I am about to write to Rotary and Banjos.

Meanwhile the pile of literature is growing and that is only stuff relevant to The HuonValley and Glenorchy. I have been talking to people and have had no negative comments which is encouraging.

What a beautiful day, I have been working in the back yard [if that is the right word] The cat keeps me company and is 'someone'  to rant and rave to when MS gets the better of me. It drives me crazy when I can only cover such a short distance before I have to rest. Still at least I am in the sun soaking up vitamin D  :)

Ok all for now, hope all are well

G

Posted by gillistasmania at 4:54 PM NZT

Updated: Wednesday, 4 May 2011 2:59 PM NZT

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Well we had a good, very long day out and still did not do all I wanted BUT Blake took LOTS of photos. When he gives them to me I will share some. Although I wanted to head straight for Ida Bay we did stop at Dover where I found what looked like a reasonable path running around the shore line. I will have to go back and incestigate further.

It was a really lovely day (1 of 3 in a row) When we got to the Ida Bay Railway I touched base with the owners and told them what we were up to, they got a train out of a shed for Blake to photograph and arranged with the train driver to stop at various points so that Blake could jump off the train to photograph it. This is all for my 'business'. Apart from 2 other people we were only ones on train so were not causing any bother to people.

I myself found it just a bit tricky getting on and off the train. We had one stop at a graveyard and one where the train turned to head back. While the 'platforms' to leave the train were good, once off the wood you were just on bare earth and where the train turned, while there were toilets they were a fair walk and although I didnt test, it seemed once again you had to travel on bare earth. So I am not sure how good the train trip would be for people in wheelcahirs. Great ride but not sure about constantly leaving the train. However I have to go back and will check.

At the station was a disabled toilet and good board walks into the buildings.  Considering we were almost as far south as one could go in Australia and really in the bush, I felt it was a fun place to visit. Fair drive but very pretty. I recommend

Posted by gillistasmania at 5:20 PM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 9 April 2011 5:54 PM NZT

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Hello, well not much to report because I feel sort of house bound BUT good news because Step 1 has been taken for me to work on this project. The Glenorchy Lions Club are going to give me a scooter. I feel really lucky. So now I have to decide what to do about a vehicle to transport it in. Without the vehicle I cannot cover the sort of ground I need to travel to source locations. Working on it

I am ammassing a ile of brochures and leaflets which is good and I did attend a Tourism Tasmania event recently, spoke to people and handed over my card expecting to be contacted, so far that has not happened but I must be patient

Tomorrow I am driving down to Cockle Creek with my son in order to take some photographs for my 2012 Huonvalley Calendar so will no doubt spot things to check up on for the project.

Have a good weekend

G

Posted by gillistasmania at 7:25 PM NZT

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Morning bit chilly

My task to become more mobile and so start working on the main job has taken a positive step forward with the promise of a mobility scooter. This will help me truthfully tackle all the paths suggested by local councils. I must say that everyone  I have told about what I want to do have acted very positively which gives me great encouragement to proceed.

Posted by gillistasmania at 1:33 PM NZT

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I was trying to do some work in the garden but as usual after a short while MS drove me indoors where I can seek some comfort from my PC.  Sadly the 'short whiles' are becoming more frequent but I guess winter is slowly announcing its arrival and the garden will be the last thing on my mind

I have visited two council offices and collected all I could find on 'walks'. This presented a slight problem in Hobart who could not track down some brochures which they themselves produce and advertise as being available. One clerk had announced that they had not seen one particular brochure for 5 years! I suggested that it seems there was a good job for a very junior clerk to sort things out.

I do know that Glenorchy is building a new walk way, part of which looks like it will take people over the water. It can be seen being developed near the Dec and the Highway. I shall be very interested to see how it progresses.

Next week I will go down to the Huon so will see what I can find in the Kingborough council offices.

I am sorry send some false alarms I really do hope that I have got this blogging thing a bit under control now. As you can see I am learning as I work. Please be patient with me. It surely cannot get any worse.

Posted by gillistasmania at 3:37 PM NZT

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