Special outings

Roger's brother David and his wife Sue are visiting us for 4 days. Dave has been to Perth before but Sue hasn't. We have enjoyed showing them a little of Perth. We had dinner looking over the Indian Ocean last night and how wonderful to watch the sun set once again. We never get tired of seeing the sun set over the ocean.




Not a bad view eh? And our meal was just so delicious. Staff were fabulous. After dinner we drove to Fremantle. We found it difficult to find a car park. It was a balmy evening and there were people everywhere.


We ended up at Florientina's for hot chocolate/coffee and dessert! Very nice indeed! Roger ordered this peach gelati (oh yum). It was covered in white chocolate.

Then we drove to King's Park to show off the beautiful city of Perth. Truly an evening to remember.

Marching away from March ! ! !

Roger, George, Gaynor and Irene drinking a toast to the grandparents to be!!

Kevin has given me a timely reminder that I have not blogged for a very long time. There are lots of reasons for this I suppose. I haven't been keeping up with my diary, or the writing that Roger and I do together. Life seems to have overtaken us at the moment and also it has been so very hot here in Perth, we don't really feel like doing much at all.

So, what have we been up to. I was very sick for 12 days with a flu/virus and a cough is still hanging around, though isn't too bad. I don't like the air conditioning at work, so this is not helping. Rog was very good at trying to look after me but most people kept away as they didn't want to catch my dreadful virus. Roger kept very well, which was a relief!

We continue to do renovations to our little home. We had a brickie in to pull out the window and door to the laundry, brick it up, so that we can make it into a walk in pantry. We need to have it plastered and then painted. We then need to think about shelving! We also had the ineffective air conditioner removed from our bedroom wall and that needed to be brick up as well. We are slowly getting more furniture, but it all takes time and energy. The spare bedroom is starting to take shape but we still need to unpack boxes when we get our new kitchen in April. We did manage to have a new air conditioner installed on one of the hottest days in Perth! We ran it for 72 hours non stop!

As I update this blog we are having another heat wave with temps 35C/36C. Far too hot for this time of the year and NO RAIN. We haven't had a decent rain since we returned from Europe in September. The drought is very bad in Perth.

We enjoyed a lovely visit from our daughter Glenda for 4 days from 10 March. I don't think we have mentioned that we are becoming grandparents to not one but two babies. Glenda is pregnant with twins and will be born end July/early August. She is 19 weeks now and all is going very well for her. She is still teaching but gets very tired. The darling put together some Ikea furniture for us and also took Roger on a supermarket shop (in the wheelchair) for snack food that he might like. A huge success. Glenda has just sent me some lovely pictures but I don't know how to get them from the email to my blog. I need Rog to help me and he is currently away for a couple of days with Jocelyn in New Norcia.

I mustn't write too much or you won't have time to read it. So, more soon I promise!

Australia - a land of contrasts

We are getting emails from friends worried about us here in Australia! So, I'd better update.

We are both well. We have been spending a lot of time getting quotes for this and that to do with our little home. My goodness it sure does take time to do all this, and also it is very tiring trying to co-ordinate all the comings and goings of tradespeople (and we're only getting quotes). It has been hot here in Perth, but we love the blue skies and warm weather. We sleep with a fan on each night as we can't have our bedroom window open. It's too noisy with the freeway (motorway) going past!!

We have both been devastated by the flooding in Queensland and then Cyclone Yasi. Our hearts have gone out to the many, many people affected by what has been going on. Then we have just had fires here in Perth in the suburbs of Kelmscott and Roleystone. The dreadful this is that the loss of over 70 homes could have been avoided. A man was using machinery that gave off sparks which started the fires! How tragic is that!

The fires were nowhere near us, but up in the surrounding hills east of Perth. Actually we were sitting having lunch down on the Canning River with our friends Julie and Richard Waterman who were visiting us for a few days from Cornwell, England (we knew them in Basel and Richard has now retired). Roger mentioned that he saw terrible smoke and we actually thought it was a lot closer than what it was.

We've had a lovely time with Richard and Julie, though to tell the truth, we get very tired these days with extra activities and I have to really pace myself, which is not always easy. We went on a lovely cruise on the Swan River down to Fremantle and back and then met for a picnic at Kings Park. Irene joined us which was great fun. Kings Park overlooks Perth and is quite beautiful. We took them swimming at Cottesloe Beach and it was perfect. I even managed to coax Roger into the water. Then we had fish and chips and watched the sun set over the ocean. They are now traveling down the south of Perth and having a wonderful time I hope.

More later. I must get myself ready for work. The big office move is tomorrow and it's all go!!

Dass Schnapps Trinken

Just to wet your appetites!!

This has become a bit of a Roger and Amy tradition whenever they get together. So, on Christmas Eve when we were celebrating at Tim and Amy's, out came the schnapps and Roger and Amy enjoyed a drink together. They didn't have to worry about sharing the schnapps.

Here's to you!!

Up the teeth and over the gums, look out stomach, here it comes!!

You're on your own with this one guys. Looks say everything!!

Christmas Day

All dressed up for Christmas Day 2010

Ready for the big feast (we dined outside)

Roger being presented with a Family Album put together by Glenda. A VERY emotional time for us both. It is just beautiful and a real credit to Glenda

Roger and I celebrated Christmas Day 2010 with our beautiful family at Glenda and Tom's in Nunawading. We began the day at ONE (the Church Glenda and Tom go to) as Glenda was singing in the band. Then home for drinks and nibbles before the rest of the family began to arrive. Glenda and Tom did an amazing job with the food which including prawns, turkey, ham, lamb cutlets and lots of lovely salads and vegetables. An incredible spread for us all to enjoy. 12 of us sat down at the table and here we all are:

l-r from back: Roger, Amy, David, Gaynor, Sue, Tom and Tim
seated: Anna, Glenda and Peach, Amy, Cheryl and Jocelyn

Here we are with David, Sue, Anna and Amy

Adventures over East

Roger and I flew to Sydney at 23.45 on Wednesday 8 December. We didn't sleep on the uncomfortable plane so arrived rather tired on Thursday. What a blessing to be met by Roger's cousin Alan who kindly took care of us and drove us up to his home in Springwood with his wife Carolyn who had herself just returned from a visit overseas (good timing for us).

They lent us their car and we drove from Springwood (in the Blue Mountains near Sydney) to Wentworth Falls to visit Roger's Aunt Margaret.

We had 2 lovely days with Alan and Carolyn and then they drove us to Sydney for Aunt Jean's 90th Birthday celebrations on Sunday 12 December. We enjoyed catching up with all the extended family. It was a very emotional time for my darling. Dave and Sue (Roger's brother and his wife) then drove us up to Newcastle to spend a couple of nights with them until our adventure drive to Melbourne with them beginning Tuesday 14 December. We sure did have a great time together and have Dave to thank for wonderful, comfortable accommodation along the way. Just a couple of photo's for you to enjoy.

Our weekend in Hyden

We had only been in our little home for a week when we drove to Hyden, 4 hours from Perth to spend the weekend on Cherith and Ken's farm. Cherith is my second sister. We had a wonderful time together. It was so peaceful and relaxing, though we were certainly introduced to the Perth flies whilst there. But they didn't worry us when we were inside the house.

On the Friday night we went into town to take part in a Hymn Fest. This is an annual event to celebrate the lives of 4 wonderful people who were great contributors to the community of Hyden. We had a great time singing and mixing it with the locals. And there's nothing quite like a country supper. Oh my goodness. Yum! Yum!

Whilst singing my little heart out I decided I would try and get my 4 lovely sisters together at this time each year to join in the fun. Jillian, Cherith, Irene and Brenda! We all used to sing together when we were teenagers. Jillian played the piano and Irene the guitar. If we got together for long enough we could even put on an item! You'll have to keep tuned in to see what actually happens next November!!!!!!!!!

Saturday night we had Cherith's amazing roast. My 2 nephews and partners were there as well. Then Sunday morning they arrived again to join in Uncle Ken's famous breakfast. Oh my goodness. What a cook up.

Ken in action. Just putting in the mushrooms.
He certainly had it all under control.

Country bacon. What more could you wish for! What an absolute treat.

Cherith's happy smiling face. She just had to do what
she was told and to hurry up about it!

After our very full breakfast we were treated to a ride into town in Ken's old Humber! Wow! What a beauty. Look at that chrome. We hardly know what chrome is these days. We were given a right royal tour of the town, finishing off with a Drumstick each. No, the dog (Sammy) wasn't allowed to come. Spot the legs!!

The country town of Hyden is famous for WAVE ROCK and that get hundreds of tourists a year coming to see the rock. Once you've seen it, you wouldn't come all this way to see it again. But we would certainly come again to visit my darling sister Cherith and my gorgeous brother in law Ken. What wonderful country hospitality we received. We didn't want to drive back to Perth Sunday afternoon, but the city beckoned unfortunately!