Magic moments and memories

 I think I finished with a note we were going to the Theatre.  Decided to make an evening of it and have supper beforehand.  Pam chose an Indian restaurant and I have never tasted such fantastic food.  Wish I could remember the names of the dishes, but they were wonderful.

Off to the Theatre.  Cyrano written and starring Virginia Gay.  A very different take on the usual Cyrano. This one was female and in love with another woman.  It was also a musical, but fantastic.  Six people on stage all evening.  Wonderful.  We then were waiting for our Uber taxi when the two leading ladies appeared and, yes, very sadly I had my photo taken with them!!! They were delighted to hear we were from England and had taken time out to visit the local Theatre.

Friday saw us taking the free bus to the train station to catch the train to Freemantle and the famous Market. Really quirky but lovely, then a walk to the Prison which was a bit gruesome, but interesting. Lunch by the beach and a walk to the free bus for a quick tour of Freo!!! Picking up the local lingo😊😊  The bus dropped us off at the station. Then free bus back to our apartment.  Love this free bus idea. UK take note.

Paul arrived safely on Friday evening, early night to be up on Saturday to collect a hire car and set off for Margaret River.  A three hour trip but stopping off at Phil’s friend’s house by the sea.  What a sight!! Overlooking a surfers beach, it was amazing.  

We then carried on to our apartment in Margaret River.  Well, talk about saving the best til last!!! Fabulous two bedroom apartment with a balcony. Half my bungalow would fit on it.  Beautifully appointed with the Wow factor.  My bedroom opens onto the balcony. Gorgeous.

Sunday saw my tour leader taking us down the coast with several stop off points.  One in particular was paddling (would have swum but one white body on the beach would have stuck out like a sore thumb!!) on the beach with stingrays a couple of feet away.  So graceful and calm.  Of course there are the idiots who are trying to stroke them.  

We finished at the Lighthouse, set where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet.  You can’t see the join but the view is incredible!  Very isolated and I imagine when the strong winds blow, quite scary.  Some things are best seen on a summers day👍

A day to remember and sadly I only have one more day left, although as I fly at 22.30 on Tuesday I can say I have two days left!!!

Last year I travelled home on what would have been my wedding anniversary, this year it will be St.David’s Day, so again huge thanks to Hubby for the means to do another wonderful trip.  This will be my last trip over as Pam and Paul will be returning home sometime in the future.  I know it will be a wrench for them as it is a wonderful country, great scenery, diverse weather and really friendly people.  I have loved my two visits and wish they could stay then I could visit again!!! 

Perfect Perth

 Woke up on Saturday to what seems to be the norm out here, beautiful weather, to be told we were setting off to The Grampians National Park mountain range.  Either I had slept and missed the trip home and was now in Scotland or they knew what they were talking about!! I trusted them.  Apparently it is only 250k to the beauty spot, obviously in England that would have taken me to the Grampians and two weeks holiday😊😊 but here it is a day trip.  But well worth it.  Beautiful scenery, gorgeous smells of the eucalyptus trees and a fantastic view over the valley.  Picnic over and a bit of a stroll, poor old girl can only manage a stroll nowadays, but the scenery is worth it.  A lovely day out.

On Sunday, and a flight to Perth for Pam and I and an apartment near the centre of the City.  Early night for a very early start as we have to be at a restaurant at 7am to meet a chap and his wife.  He trained with my son in Manchester and they now live over here. So it was breakfast overlooking the most wonderful beach with early morning swimmers out and about.  Obviously if I had known about the gorgeous beach I would have come prepared and swum!🤭🤭  

Good to catch up and as he set off for work his wife gave us a guided tour of the area and also a tour of their house.  Happy to move in!!!  His choice to live in Manchester or Perth!!!   A no brainer!!!  We thought we loved Melbourne and Sydney but Perth does it for me.  Before you all worry or cheer at the thought of me re-locating, I am too old to move here.  They dont want oldies with hip problems!!!

We were dropped off at Kings Park and had a wander around and once again admired the views.  Then the free bus back to our apartment.  Tuesday saw us on the hop on/hop off bus to do the City, getting off at the Quayside for a spot of lunch overlooking the Swan river.  My first glass of wine at lunchtime.  It was obligatory, think that is what the sign said 👍👍

Tuesday was culture day 😊😊 Don’t laugh, sometimes I switch the brain to the other channel and bingo a glimmer of intelligence pops out.  Not for long though.  Having done the Art Museum, which was wonderful with thought provoking pictures from the First Nation people,  I sat whilst Pam did the main Museum.  She has really done this holiday at my pace but the Museum was something I knew she wanted to do, so I people watched, one of my favourite past times!! I know I keep moaning about this hip, but yesterday I could not believe I did 11,250 steps which added up to 7.5km.  Having said that I was pleased when I saw my bed!!  In the evening Pam had booked supper at a riverside place.  Once again gorgeous views and a delicious meal.  What is amazing over here is the fact there is no tipping, it makes life so much easier. 

    

Throughout the country are respects to country, acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and their connections to the land.

Thursday, and Pam has a couple of Zoom calls, so I took myself off, didn’t realise how close we were to the river, so took my book and sat with the water lapping in front of me.  Felt a bit of a plonker as I finished my book and it was a bit tearful, sat on my own crying!!!

So tonight is…….…… well I will save that for the next time!!! It could be interesting.

Mansions, Melbourne and Myer

Back home safely from Noosa and a day of rest.  We appear to have brought the warm weather back to Bannockburn.

Saturday saw us off again, picnic packed and on the way to Werribee.  They don’t have many large properties over here as obviously they don’t go back as far as we do, except for the First Nation people, and they lived outside!  So Werribee Park Mansion was lovely to see.  Built in the 1870’s by Thomas and Andrew Chirnside, two brothers who had arrived from Scotland.  The elder brother had been in love and hoped to marry and bring his bride out to Australia, however, her father would not allow the match.   After making a success of their farm and building the lovely house, the older brother sent younger brother back to Scotland with instructions to bring Mary over by any means he could.

He did.  He married her! 😡  They lived in the house, had children, and big brother never married. Quite sad.

 

The house was lovely, however, unlike the National Trust, there were no volunteers in the rooms, no thistles on the chairs and I don’t think they employed many people as the place was in need of a good dust!😊😊  Beautiful furniture and all rooms appeared to be open.  Until a few years ago it had been owned by the Catholic Church and had been a seminary.  (A place of training for young men to become priests).

The gardens were gorgeous, I would have loved a few of my gardening friends to have been with us!! 

One tree was full of squawking Flying Fox bats.

Although we had seen them in Noosa at dusk, it was wonderful to see them in the daylight.  Flying to the tree and hanging upside down!! Best not to walk under the tree.  😂😂 

Sunday saw another picnic packed and off to Melbourne for an overnight.  Several stops on the way to our  hotel, including a quick fix of walking along the promenade.  There are some wonderful beaches over here and with a strong wind blowing the waves are amazing to watch.  Love them!

Once again Pam and I joined in the local tradition of having breakfast out!!  Her large bowl of healthy porridge and fruit and mine of avocado, feta and pomegranate seeds on sourdough bread, kept us going all day!!! I don’t see Greggs or Costa coffee in Stowmarket quite filling the gap somehow 🤭🤭

So Paul went into the office on monday and Pam and I hit Melbourne and the Museum of Immigration.  Very interesting to read how not only the UK but other counties have treated the First Nation people. 

Everywhere you visit and on t.v programmes there is always a Thank You to those people, naming the Tribes they are from.  Next time I see such a plaque I will try and get a photo.

Managed a little bit of retail therapy as the sales were on, including my old favourite Myer, the Debenhams of Australia!  Oh come on, it would be rude to say NO😀😀

Back for a few days catch-up before the flight to Perth….. more later👍👍

Noosa in a nutshell

Quite often in England the first topic of conversation can be the weather, over here it seems to be where do we go for breakfast/coffee as the weather in Noosa has been the same all week, just a slight variation in the clouds.  Our forecast showed rain every day for our week here, but that did not happen.  The coolest we had was 27 degrees.

Having enjoyed the Saturday Market, we ventured out to the Sunday Market at the Marina.  We have bought a four day ticket for the Noosa River Ferry, so we can hop on and off at our leisure.  I think I have been starved of retail therapy for the past couple of years, or else all our shops have closed down and we can’t shop.  We have both bought a few bits and bobs to fill the already bulging suitcase.  I even managed to find a birthday present for Pam, I will just have left before her birthday so it was good to actually give her a pressie in person.

We made good use of our Ferry ticket and went to the furthest point to admire the sights of Hastings Street.  

Yes you have guessed it, loads of shops.  I am getting used to the cost of things over here, nearly!

We decided to book a trip for the Sunset Cruise that night and the Everglades trip the following day.

We asked where the pick-up point was from the Information centre assistant who looked down her nose at us asking, “Don’t you have a car? How on earth are you managing?!!”. I felt like saying we had let our driver have a few weeks holiday!!!

Anyway the Sunset cruise was lovely.  The boat took us down the waterways the usual Ferry does not go down where all the posh houses are.  They are beautiful, all with riverside gardens, most with their own jetty. One had a pool on the top floor with a skylight down to the kitchen.  Gorgeous.  (Might alter my garage when I get home)😉😉

The Everglade trip was wonderful, especially as champagne was included! There are only two Everglades in the world, one here and one in Florida.  Having just read “Where the Crawdads Sing” it seemed to bring the book to life.  The water is inky black but very clean.  The black comes from the tannin in the leaves and bark from the Tea Trees.  Amazing afternoon with a wonderful guide.

 

   

          

So our last day was Wednesday, which we spent visiting the two furthest points on the Ferry, to get our moneys worth from the ticket!! Our last meal was at a Greek restaurant, the best meal we had had.

This morning found us packed at 7am and we decided to do what the locals do and have breakfast out.  Great!! Now waiting for a taxi and the flight back to Bannockburn.  A great week and a privilege to have such a good time with my daughter who looks as fit as a fiddle.

The Good Life

Getting very lazy on my second trip to Oz and not sitting down to write.

My first Sunday and Paul drove us into Ballarat, one of the Goldrush towns, although we did not do any panning for gold, but just as important we found several shops that were open.  He decided it was time for a walk!!! Pam and I had other ideas when we saw the magic word SALE in big letters.  No, of course, I did not need anything to wear, however, I really had to make sure my credit card was working over here!!🤭🤭 and yes it was.  A few great bargains.  Two happy ladies.

The beginning of my next week was spent with Pam taking me to a couple of local villages.  Really quiet and very pretty.  She has Pilates on a Wednesday so I pottered around her nearest shopping precinct.  David would have loved the hardware shop.  

Found a little feature for my garden!!!

Thursday was a very early start to get to Melbourne for our flight to the Sunshine Coast and the gorgeous river town of Noosa.

We have a fabulous apartment overlooking the river, slight problem it is on the third floor!! The hip is getting well and truly worked on.  But the view makes it well worthwhile.

So the weather over here is slightly upside down at the moment, Paul is in the middle of a storm with huge hailstones and we are sweltering in a very humid February, more than is normal. 

Friday we took the river ferry to Noosa Heads, lovely cool breeze on the river.  The town boasts a very fashionable row of shops!! Pleased we had shopped in Ballarat.  When something is marked DOWN to $295  (OZ) dollars you know your shopping bag will not be too full!!  It was great to see and we enjoyed the lovely boat ride on the way home, especially as it stops more or less outside our apartment.

Today we took the bus to Eumundi for the twice weekly market.  Amazing place, 500 stalls and not that crowded.  Some lovely items, no tat, so a couple of pressies were purchased.  Home on the bus and a quiet time by the pool, and a cool down, really humid. 

A most beautiful sunset and a gorgeous sight of Flying Foxes coming to roost in the tree by the restaurant.  Too quick for me to catch on my phone.

The Return to Oz

Although I ended my last years’ adventure with “I’ll be back!!!” I didn’t really think I would be so lucky. 

 But yes, I am back in Australia with Pam and Paul, this time a different venue as they moved from the Albert Park apartment close to the sea, one hour away to Bannockburn, south west of Melbourne near Geelong.  This time a sprawling four bedroom bungalow standing in one acre of garden to accommodate their caravan.  Very different from the last home but lovely.  Loads of room for the three of us.

I left UK from Stansted at 2.30pm on Thursday 18th January and arrived via Dubai at 9.45pm on Friday 20th, unfortunately my luggage and a couple of other folk’s luggage did not leave the plane until 11.45pm. 

By which time I think P and P had given me up as a lost cause.  They were more jet lagged than I was as they had had tickets to see Andy Murray the previous evening, a match which finished at 4am!!!

Anyway, we finally met and headed for home and BED!!!

After a late start I was given a tour of the bungalow,  I could happily move in (don’t let them hear that😂😂).  Followed by a trip to Torquay on the coast, where I got my fix of watching the waves rolling in.  Just a short trip then back to watch some tennis.  I love the fact I can watch live tennis from Melbourne without having to sit up at all hours.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and just a few degrees warmer than I had left behind… 27 degrees.  So off we went to Melbourne to an apartment ready to be close at hand to experience my Christmas present, a day at the Australian Open, tennis!!!! But first, a gorgeous walk and ice cream along the promenade, the one I had walked along last year.  

Finally monday morning and the tennis.  The Olympic Park is amazing so much less formal than Wimbledon, loads of families, fantastic fast food and the odd shop or two.  A couple of presents bought.

Then into the Rod Laver Arena and our seats.  A huge problem then presented itself, we were in the full sun, five minutes and we realised neither of us could cope, so, along with the people next to me, we moved up into the shade.  A wonderful move and good viewing.  First match was a ladies singles, Sabalenka v Bencic. Then nipped out for lunch, on our return the sun had moved and we happily saw Linette v Garcia, then Men’s singles Rublev (who went on to lose to Novak in the quarters) v Rune.

Amazing day, wonderful Christmas present.

Tuesday was a very quiet day as jet lag seems to knock me out.  The main difference from my last visit, is that I am earlier in the year and, therefore, in the middle of their Summer, so out and about is more difficult for a body like me who does not like very hot sun apart from the fact that the hip that was dodgy last year is playing up more this year, so short spurts are the order of the day.

Wednesday was a quick trip to Bannockburn whilst Pam did her weekly Pilates, I was let loose on the few shops, which turned out to be very interesting.  I love supermarkets in other countries, to see the different ways they present their food.  The red peppers would feed me for a week!!!  Thursday was Australia Day, which is a Bank Holiday, however, as Pam has her oncology appointment on Friday, Paul has worked Thursday to take the next day off.  A reminder that her Cancer is ongoing, and my fingers are crossed for good results, as I am sure hers are as well👍👍

Thursday, I busied myself and made them a few jars of Sweet Chilli Jam whilst Pam made a “cut and come again cake”.  Busy little bees!!!

Today, Saturday, Pam and I spent a few hours at the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, very interesting how badly they have been treated over the years.  Some beautiful items showing the intricate art work.

Then there was the tame emu!!! So gorgeous, just wanted to be stroked.