Well, Tasmania made it safely into 2002, despite a rainstorm on New Year's Eve that washed out several outdoor parties. There were a few days of doubt - which shops and businesses were open today? who left an answering machine and whose telephone would just ring out? but on the whole, no-one is really in a rush. It's funny how we all wind up for the holidays, wind down to the end of the year and then wind up and start all over again in a new year.
Last Friday, I went shopping in Devonport with my friend Tig. Rooke Mall was busy, thick with teenagers, kids and shoppers out hunting for a bargain. First, we had lunch in a cafe called The Mocadoro, a pleasant place where you can get anything from a bowl of seasoned wedges with sour cream to things we couldn't pronounce. We decided to share wedges and a toasted grill, with tea for me and a coffee for Tig. As usual, she finished before me, and started sneaking her hand over the table to steal the last of my tea. Not that she likes tea much, but she reckons if she drinks it down I'll get up and go shopping!
The Mocadoro is just one of the many great eateries in North West Tasmania. Check them out at this great site! http://www.domain-of-life.com/stockists....
Having exchanged Happy New Years with the owner, we headed back to the mall. It was, for once, quite warm, so we strolled down towards the heart of the city. There was the town clock, looking like a very tall nailfile. Round about the steps leading up to it perched teenagers and the occasional well-conducted dog. Tatts and body jewellery glinted in the sun. Tig admired the tatts, comparing them with the pretty red phoenix she wears on her shoulder.
We turned into the Arcade, and I went down to the pet shop to buy a bag of sweet-smelling woodshavings for our pet rat, Chance. While I was there, believe it or not, there was a fight between a rabbit and a guineapig. The rabbit was about four times as big as its adversary, but it was the 'pig that won, making the poor rabbit's nose bleed. The assistant intervened, putting the guineapig in a different cage and comforting the rabbit.
"I've never seen anything like that before, in all my years here!" she said.
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