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Published: January 20th 2006
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Hi Folks,
Sorry about the delay in getting journals onto this site, the site was down for maintenance we think!! Never mind here we are and after two fantastic flights from Heathrow to Singapore and Singapore to Perth we arrived on time and frantically excited. The first flight seemed very quick, we had a good journey and sat next to an elderly lady Irene from Birmingham who was off to New Zealand visiting her daughter this is the 13th time she has done so and was quite a seasoned traveller on Singapore airlines. I saw 3 films on the flight, Wallace and Gromitt and the Were Rabbit, Sky High and Skeleton key all thoroughly good entertainment and kept me amused. Actually managed to get some sleep as well so that was good.
Arrived in very steamy heat in Singapore and went to get showered, after getting refreshed, had a beer yes I know!! at 8.30am but of course in London time it was 12.30 after midnight!! so that was our excuse apart from the fact that we were thirsty. We had 2 hours wait and got the second plane at 9.30 to Perth. After a good flight arrived in
Perth at 2.30pm in the afternoon, after collecting baggage I went through the passport control and was ushered quickly through passport control and customs. Amazingly I was through quicker than David and got to ring his Mum first to say we had landed and come to meet us. Thirty minutes later David was reunited with his Mum after 3 years absence, so quite emotional but we were soon speeding towards Perth and South Lakes where she now lives. After settling in at Bobbi's (David's mums) place at a very nice single storey property with small swimming pool and lots of ground we decided to visit his brother Peter's place and after all the family greetings we had a chicken family meal wine and were really made to feel completely at home. Australians are very comfortable to be with, they do not stand on ceremony and you can really fit in straight away I have found.
After a good sleep with me apparently snoring like a trouper (according to David, hmmm!! he snores too!) We awoke next day to a cloudy day!! What cloud? I hear you say? Noooo!!! What has happened to the weather? In fact it rained and
"HMAS Ovens"
"The submarine was huge but cramped inside" after a leisurely breakfast we were driven to Rockingham, Bobbi had made an arrangement for David to visit a Podiatrist to get treatment for his feet and while he was being treated, I went with Bobbi to the beach and a walk with ice cream along the front, it was so strange walking around in short sleeves in December in warm sunshine (by now the sun had appeared). After picking up David, we drove to neighbours of Bobbi's who had been helping her move to her place only within the last week or so, after a beer there we went back to Rockingham for a really good fish and chip meal and then later drove to Mandurah another pretty seaside town further down the coast and back towards home, then we went to Fremantle (Freo) and just had a short walk around this fascinating town with it's oldie worldy buildings then back to South Lakes dropped Bobbi off at home then David drove to Peter's to get onto the Internet to start the blog journals but did not get to far, after a beer for me we went back to Bobbi's for a great spaghetti bolognaise meal and bed and
"Australia 2"
"The keel at the time was controversial, but is commonplace now" sweet dreams.
The following day it started cloudy but after a light breakfast we had decided to go to Freo for the day. After setting out to catch a bus, we missed this (because we left the house too late!!)with the result that Bobbi kindly drove us in to Spearwood where we caught a bus into town with an arrangement that we meet with her at 6pm to have a meal together in town. The bus journey was uneventful that is till I wrong footed stepping off and turned my ankle (the pain!!) more from embarrassment than anything else. After buying a strapping for the bruised ankle and pride, we were off exploring, with a walk through the old town of Freo with its balconied Victorian buildings strangely reminiscent of New Orleans. There is the Old Roundhouse which was used for a jail and a grid network of interesting streets with "The Cleopatra Hotel" and other very old hotel buildings with intricate carved cornices and details and preserved and listed for posterity. The weather by this time was getting warm and clear blue skies set it all off perfectly, what amazes me is the really blue sea (something we
"Freo Street scene"
"Where is everyone?" do not see very often in the UK apart from Cornwall and Devon when the sun shines that is).
We decided to go to the Maritime museum with a tour on the HMAS Ovens a submarine in dry dock which was in service just prior to the nuclear age. It was huge and fascinating particularly when you see the cramped living quarters for the 64 crew with 32 on and 32 off duty they literally shared a bed 50 % of the time on board and the small storage areas for their kit!! Don't think I would like to be cooped up in cramped conditions like that (very claustrophobic!!) After touring the Maritime museum itself with the Australia 2 proudly on show (that’s the yacht that won the Americas cup in the early eighties) with its "special keel" that caused a lot of consternation at the time, but was perfectly legal, (American sour grapes, me thinks). After a drink in town and a little shopping we met with Bobbi, and went for a fish meal in Cisserello's a popular restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf it was fabulous. Then the heavens opened and it poured with rain, yes literally poured the proverbial "cats and dogs" type rain there is a picture of me having my photo taken with an umbrella on the wharf. Then as quickly as it started, it stopped and we headed home, farewell beautiful Freo for the moment. Tomorrow we get the plane for Sydney and the next part of the adventure down under. So when we got back to Bobbi's we packed and went to bed early.
More soon keep logging on!!
Richie
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