May 11, 2009 - Perth - Monday

fine, warm 24o I got the call that Matthew was able book the car in for the necessary work.fine, warm 24o I got the call that Matthew was able book the car in for the necessary work....

May 10, 2009 - Perth - Mothers Day

cloudy, warm 23o Mother’s Day and Bev’s first phone call was at 6:30am from Donna. He is going to book the car in asap to have some warranty work done before we head north, so our departure from Perth has been delayed a day or 2. ...

May 9, 2009 - Perth

Clear sky, warm 25o We had a good sleep, a little cool this morning, but soon warmed up to a beautiful day.Clear sky, warm 25o We had a good sleep, a little cool this morning, but soon warmed up to a beautiful day....

May 8, 2009 - Merredin to Perth

Clear sky, warm 25o Well what a story today! The caravan park is fine just in the wrong location. We were only 100km’s from Perth, so off we drove. ... Arrived in Perth at 2:10pm & met up with Tanya. ... At Joyleen’s now.Clear sky, warm 25o Well what a story today! The caravan park is fine just in the wrong location. We were only 100km’s from Perth, so off we drove. ... Arrived in Perth at 2:10pm & met up with Tanya. ... At Joyleen’s now....

Mar 29, 2009 - Subiaco Oval - Footy

Sunday 29th March 2009 A short morning stroll takes us to the banks of the Swan River near the apartment.Sunday 29th March 2009 A short morning stroll takes us to the banks of the Swan River near the apartment....

Mar 28, 2009 - Swan Valley and other birds.

Swan Valley and other Birds Saturday 28th March Another sunny day so it’s off to the Vineyards to sample some local produce.Swan Valley and other Birds Saturday 28th March Another sunny day so it’s off to the Vineyards to sample some local produce....

Mar 26, 2009 - Quokka in Rottnest Island - What the...?

Thursday 26th March Rottnest Island lies 19 Kms off the coast from Perth and got its name (allegedly) because the first Europeans saw numerous king-size “rats” – but they are actually Quokkas. ... And it is most pleasant – though I expect even more so once the last ferry has left and it’s much quieter and you can sit drink in hand and look over to the lights of Perth on the mainland. ... The ferry journey back is a bit of a bore – full and with folk behind us that are making a racket and bouncing on the chairs - and no, they are not kids, probably about mid 20’s – but maybe high on something! So, was Rotto worth the visit? – Yes.Thursday 26th March Rottnest Island lies 19 Kms off the coast from Perth and got its name (allegedly) because the first Europeans saw numerous king-size “rats” – but they are actually Quokkas. ... And it is most pleasant – though I expect even more so once the last ferry has left and it’s much quieter and you can sit drink in hand and look over to the lights of Perth on the mainland. ... The ferry journey back is a bit of a bore – full and with folk behind us that are making a racket and bouncing on the chairs - and no, they are not kids, probably about mid 20’s – but maybe high on something! So, was Rotto worth the visit? – Yes....

Mar 25, 2009 - Pretty in Perth Pt 2

14th March Saturday Early doors, Neil pops down to watch the local Surf Live Saving Team do their Saturday practice session “all welcome” – and Pancakes served afterwards! And the place is hoaching at 8.00am – I counted 43 separate Kayaks and 5 five man “Surf Boats” all speeding round a buoyed course – busy, busy! Our morning is considerable less frenetic – leisurely breakfast, do some washing, go out for a walk, come back have lunch! Then in the afternoon down to the beach – the Life Saving Team have a weather board up – saying “Wind Easterly Force 3”; “UV Index High”; “Max Temp 32 Deg C”; “Surf conditions – PERFECT” – and it is just that – beautiful today! Carolyn has tried, with good effect, to clean one side of the gas BBQ – so Neil decides to cook on the other side of it tonight – and after a minor conflagration – all is well and the Beef Kebabs are pretty good – though the biting insects drive us indoors as soon as the meal is finished (that’s their meal as well as our own!)!! 15th March Sunday Partly cloudy today – so a Plan B day we think – let’s go North to Hillary’s Boat Harbour – yes, that really is the name of the place – Why? – Well ask Hillary! Now, here the problem arises – we plan the journey – get to the train station, for the one train an hour, and find that the trains are not running for a while today!! The board says a replacement bus service – the 906 will operate – Great! But from WHERE will the bus go – no info?? So, we have to phone up to find out (not using our own mobile – there is a phone provided at the station, free of charge) - and after 2 mins the nice girl says every 15 mins from Curtin Avenue – now happily we know where that is!! So, to cut a long tale/journey short – the expected 1 hour trip, takes 2 hours – and whilst interesting, not that informative – as the bus drivers drive like “frustrated racing car drivers” – and we are thrown about like “corks on a storm tossed Ocean” – AND, Dear Reader , the drivers mostly seem to be mean and surly types – even the females! Why is that? Does the job “drive” them to it? Or is it a characteristic looked for at interview? Nevertheless we do arrive at Hillary’s Boat Harbour in one piece – and boy is it hot here – though it is only about 20 miles North of Perth. ... Back in Perth we call into the Visitor Centre (Carolyn’s idea) to enquire about options for going North – and twenty minutes later we have booked flights/airport transfers and two weeks accommodation in Exmouth (1200 km North)! It will be Easter school hols when we are there and the guide books say “do not arrive without a booked bed!” So, for a change we now have a firm plan for the next five weeks (three more in Perth and two in Exmouth). ... Bed and Board sorted!! Wednesday 18th March – One month since we left Edinburgh! Today is a lazy day – Library/Shopping and the Beach in the afternoon.14th March Saturday Early doors, Neil pops down to watch the local Surf Live Saving Team do their Saturday practice session “all welcome” – and Pancakes served afterwards! And the place is hoaching at 8.00am – I counted 43 separate Kayaks and 5 five man “Surf Boats” all speeding round a buoyed course – busy, busy! Our morning is considerable less frenetic – leisurely breakfast, do some washing, go out for a walk, come back have lunch! Then in the afternoon down to the beach – the Life Saving Team have a weather board up – saying “Wind Easterly Force 3”; “UV Index High”; “Max Temp 32 Deg C”; “Surf conditions – PERFECT” – and it is just that – beautiful today! Carolyn has tried, with good effect, to clean one side of the gas BBQ – so Neil decides to cook on the other side of it tonight – and after a minor conflagration – all is well and the Beef Kebabs are pretty good – though the biting insects drive us indoors as soon as the meal is finished (that’s their meal as well as our own!)!! 15th March Sunday Partly cloudy today – so a Plan B day we think – let’s go North to Hillary’s Boat Harbour – yes, that really is the name of the place – Why? – Well ask Hillary! Now, here the problem arises – we plan the journey – get to the train station, for the one train an hour, and find that the trains are not running for a while today!! The board says a replacement bus service – the 906 will operate – Great! But from WHERE will the bus go – no info?? So, we have to phone up to find out (not using our own mobile – there is a phone provided at the station, free of charge) - and after 2 mins the nice girl says every 15 mins from Curtin Avenue – now happily we know where that is!! So, to cut a long tale/journey short – the expected 1 hour trip, takes 2 hours – and whilst interesting, not that informative – as the bus drivers drive like “frustrated racing car drivers” – and we are thrown about like “corks on a storm tossed Ocean” – AND, Dear Reader , the drivers mostly seem to be mean and surly types – even the females! Why is that? Does the job “drive” them to it? Or is it a characteristic looked for at interview? Nevertheless we do arrive at Hillary’s Boat Harbour in one piece – and boy is it hot here – though it is only about 20 miles North of Perth. ... Back in Perth we call into the Visitor Centre (Carolyn’s idea) to enquire about options for going North – and twenty minutes later we have booked flights/airport transfers and two weeks accommodation in Exmouth (1200 km North)! It will be Easter school hols when we are there and the guide books say “do not arrive without a booked bed!” So, for a change we now have a firm plan for the next five weeks (three more in Perth and two in Exmouth). ... Bed and Board sorted!! Wednesday 18th March – One month since we left Edinburgh! Today is a lazy day – Library/Shopping and the Beach in the afternoon....

Mar 20, 2009 - Perth

1 million live here and 75% of them live in Perth. ... Perth is the most remote large city on earth. ... Australia lost, but the competition brought money and attention to the town and our guidebook has more good things to say about Fremantle than about Perth. ... We can travel to Perth from the dock down the Swan River, which gives both cities a scenic conduit. ... Until the recent world wide economic down turn, Perth has had a booming economy because of all the mining going on nearby. ...

Mar 13, 2009 - Free in Fremantle

Fremantle (Freo to the locals) on Friday the Thirteenth – Spooky! 13th March Friday Fremantle is one of those places that everyone we speak to says “you must go” – But our first impressions are not that great – nice but not “Wow”. More from Perth next Episode Copyright ...

Mar 12, 2009 - Perth

Finally a large city! I was beginning to forget what they looked like. After a year and a half of tiny towns and very modest sized cities when I flew in to Sydney I actually found myself slightly amazed at the amount of houses I could see out of the plane window! Anyway seven hours worth of flying later and I arrived in Perth and found myself in a windowless, non-air conditioned dorm, with one broken fan that only blows in one direction (the opposite to my bed). ... Blimey I sweated that night.Finally a large city! I was beginning to forget what they looked like. After a year and a half of tiny towns and very modest sized cities when I flew in to Sydney I actually found myself slightly amazed at the amount of houses I could see out of the plane window! Anyway seven hours worth of flying later and I arrived in Perth and found myself in a windowless, non-air conditioned dorm, with one broken fan that only blows in one direction (the opposite to my bed). ... Blimey I sweated that night....

Mar 12, 2009 - Pretty in Perth

Pretty in Perth 5th March The 5 hour flight passes in a flash – probably something to do with the copious amounts of wine the Hostesses were handing out and also watching 2 films – Slumdog Millionaire (OK but don’t really see what all the hype is about and doubt that it’s worth an Oscar) and Body of Lies (again OK, quite violent but casts an interesting slant of the USA’s involvement in the Middle East!). ... This was great – loads of choice and the option to make up your own playlist – kept her happy for the whole flight! On arrival at Perth it is HOT – 33 Deg C – and both our bags come round the carousel together – that’s a first! Out of the terminal we spot a Shuttle bus – A$ 15. ... 00 each to the hotel, but would have to wait 20 mins – So, we head for the Taxi rank and are soon on our way with a driver who comes from Afghanistan – but he knows where the Perth Ambassador Hotel is and 25 mins later and A$40. ... ’ What no Mushrooms – and not a Green thing in sight – Watch out Heart!! (While Neil was tucking into this, I was having yoghurt and fruit – and he didn’t even bring me back a sausage!) Later we decide to visit the beach at Cottesloe, which is a suburb of Perth. ... So we phone a few, but they only want at least 6 month long leases, until we speak to a lady with an apartment available now near Cottesloe – at A$495 for a long lease but A$650 for a short one!! So, we arrange to see it tomorrow! 8th March Sunday We get some cash in case we do like the apartment and need to leave a deposit and head for the Railway Station – but take a wrong turning – Neil’s fault – and almost miss the train! The apartment is quite nice – do look at the photos – and though the patio area is not as sunny as we would have liked – at least we have somewhere outside to sit! So, we take it at A$630 a week (all bills included, except the landline phone) for 4 weeks! If you have Google Earth or Mapquest you can have a look at the place; the address is 451 Stirling Highway, Cottesloe, Perth, WA, 6011. ...