More pics please!

We've had a request for more pictures, so I've started an album on Facebook. Only a few on there at the moment but will keep adding as I get chance. The PCs in the hostel are a bit temperamental, so it isn't always as easy as it should be.....

There are no pics of Em on there at the moment - I have to wait until she has vetted them and told me which ones I'm allowed to use!

Just click on the link to Oz 08 Photo Album - you don't need to be a member of Facebook to view,

Take care,

Cheryl xx

Day 11: A change of plan........

Beach at Halls Head

Last year when we visited Australia, it looked almost certain that we would be moving to somewhere north of Brisbane - Bribie Island would have been our number one choice.

It has taken us precisely 11 days on this trip to change our mind. Now, we will be moving not to the east coast, but to the west, and to somewhere south of Perth.

We have a bank account (and money heading towards it), and Daz is enrolled on two college courses, and has applied for his plumbers licence. He should have that, and his gas licence before Christmas.

We have spent the last few days exploring the areas below Perth - Halls Head, Mandurah, Secret Harbour, Rockingham (Emma's favourite) and Singleton (another one to get Emma's approval, mainly because she likes the name!) to name but a few. We have looked at the houses, the shops, and of course, where the nearest beach is and what it is like.

We have also talked over some of the less interesting nitty gritty stuff like work and wages and mortgages etc etc. And I've looked at the REALLY important stuff - like where are the nearest bird and photography clubs..........

Both east and west have their pros and cons. But we think west may have a better climate for working in (less humid), it is beautiful, and there is plenty to do for anyone who would like to come and visit.

It has also fallen right with the plumbing courses - Daz has got on the last one week migrant's plumbing course that they are running. After this one, the course is changing to a year long course (evening study). And that course may not actually be offered for another 8 months or more anyway.

So west it is. At least, we will try there first. If it doesn't work then we can always fly east later on.

Now we have done a few days of serious fact finding it is back to the fun stuff. Tomorrow we are hoping to get to see these penguins at long last, and Friday we're going to scare ourselves silly with the torchlight halloween walk at Fremantle Prison!

ttfn,

Cheryl xx

Day 8: Rottnest Island and a bad day diving

Rottnest Island is located off the WA coast, near Fremantle. It was named in 1696 by a Dutch sailor who mistook the island's small indigenous marsupial, the Quokka, for a large rat. Rottnest means Rat's nest.

Today the island is a holiday destination, with its many beautiful bays and beachs attracting day trippers and holiday makers to make the most of swimming, cycling, boating and surfing. The Quokka are still numerous, and are one of the main attractions.

They are incredibly cute and confiding, if a little dozy. The first I saw (after several hours of not seeing one, and thinking I never would) was scavenging around the tables in one of the cafes. It was so confiding that it was sniffing at people's feet under the table, and tickling them with its whiskers.

After that they came thick and fast on my walk back to catch the ferry, foraging about under trees and in grassy areas. And they really didn't mind if you walked up close and stuck a camera in their faces.

So, my day, chasing birds (a few more new species ticked off) and small furry marsupials in the sun on a beautiful island, was very good.

Shame about Darran and Emma's day. They both went out to dive near Rottnest, but only managed the one dive, and that one they had to cut short. The swell under the water was so bad they both were finding it very difficult, but as they both suffer from sea sickness it also made them both ill. They had to cut their first dive short, miss lunch, and then also miss the second dive of the day. And as if that wasn't bad enough, they dozed off on the back of the boat, and are just now, as I am sat typing, applying thick layers of aftersun to very red legs..........

More news soon,

Cheryl

Day 7: Going to Scarborough

The wind howled, the rain bucketed down, and there were some of the biggest cracks of thunder I've ever heard, but it has still been a great day.

We have hired a car for the rest of our time here, so set off to explore the area above Perth. Our first point of call - Scarborough. Not that Scarborough here is anything like Scarborough back home. Far from it, though it is clearly set up with the tourist in mind. What it does have that our Scarborough doesn't is a pristine beach, turquoise blue seas, big waves, and lots of surfers doing their stuff.

What it did have today that our Scarborough often does, was gale force winds and torrential rain. Cue a dash to a cafe for a 'veggie burger' (two slices of toast with a fried egg, slice of cheese, tomato and lettuce - they do struggle with the vegetarian concept over here).

A slow trawl up the coast to have a look at a few areas (Emma informing us of why they were or were not suitable as places for us to live), stopping off for a stroll along the beach (and a sighting of an Osprey carrying something furry), and to drool over the boats in Hilarys quay.

And, best of all - we got to go to Sizzlers for tea(my favourite eating place ever! Great steaks with eat as much as you want salad bar. Em and Daz not so impressed. Can't think why not.... www.sizzler.com.au). As we pulled into the car park there was a noise I hadn't heard before, and there across the road was a flock of around 40 Long-billed Black Cockatoos. Stunning, and a new bird for me.

Couldn't have ended the day on a better note (as far as I was concerned anyway).

Bye,

Cheryl xx

Day 6: Swimming with dolphins....

....... or not as the case may be.

There were certainly plenty about. We saw lots from the boat. But get in the water and they magically disappeared.

Or at least, they did when I got in the water. Emma saw lots up close, Daz saw a couple under in the distance. Me? I saw not a jot. I could hear them, which was pretty amazing in itself, but also really frustrating because try as I might I couldn't see a thing.

I could see the legs (and bum) of the swimmer in front of me as we swam in a long line all holding on to one another, and occasionally I could see the other swimmers in other lines, but that was it.

Ah well, that's what happens sometimes when you're dealing with wild animals I guess. I was possibly the only person on the boat by the end who hadn't experienced at least one dolphin swimming by under the water.

Perhaps they were trying to make amends on the way back into shore, when 7 or 8 dolphins in two groups, one each side of the boat, treated us all to a show of their best bow riding techniques. It was worth the trip just for that.

Take good care,

Cheryl xx

Day 5: Floral dance

Emma isn't feeling as though she is on holiday. She needs a beach. Or failing that, a forest to walk through (!).

Thank heavens for Perth's Kings Park botanic gardens. Plenty of trees there to keep even the most keen enthusiast happy. And trees of all shapes, colours and sizes - some with rather remarkable caterpillars attached, or at the very least rather remarkable flowers.

And talking of flowers, if the trees weren't going to keep you happy, then the flowers most definately would. October is one of the best months in WA for wildflowers, and they are certainly in full swing. Like the trees, and indeed much of Australia's wildlife, they are rather unusual if not unique.

Lots of photographs later, and after a lovely tea in the cafe, dusk fell and it was time to do the city lights again with the 'big' cameras, messing about with light trails from the cars on the highway.

Lastly, a bit more messing around with torches and 'painting with light'. Now, it's time for bed as we have an early start in the morning - we're off to swim with wild dolphins at Rockingham. Talk about excited...................

Will add a photo when I can (we took plenty....) - this pesky pc won't let me!

ttfn

Cheryl xx

Day 4: More jetlag, and a trip to the other side....

Jetlag is not fun. I don't think I have ever suffered quite this much on past trips. 3 nights in and I still haven't had a decent night's sleep. Emma and Daz couldn't sleep the first night, then they slept last night but I couldn't get off at all. And now it is nearly 3am and Emma and I are both messing around on the Internet as neither of us good sleep once again, and gave up trying at 2am.

I really, really hope our sleep patterns sort themselves out, and soon!

I keep having to retype this as I'm making lots of mistakes. Tired, but not sleepy. Hmm......

So what did we do today? Well, we braved the queues in Woolies, hoping they would be better than yesterday. They weren't, but we got our supplies anyway. And I got a new pair of much more comfortable shoes. Lesson learned - don't trust Clarks!

Then we headed over to the 'other side'....... well, we got on the ferry (because Emma wanted a ride on the ferry) and headed over to South Perth. We didn't really know what we were going to do when we got there, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

As it happened there wasn't a lot to do unless you went to the zoo, which we didn't want to do. So we went for a drink, wandered around a bit taking in the sights in the local park (Daz thought the sights were fantastic - the women's boxing club were out warming up on the grass.....), and then went and wandered about a bit by the river.

Have seen our first Black Swans of the trip (and heard them call for the first time - gorgeous), and have also seen Darters, Pelicans, Willie Wagtails, Egrets (flying - not sure which one!), and Lorrikeets. Oh, and some form of puffer type fish.

Tomorrow we're heading for the botanic gardens which are in full bloom with wildflowers apparently, and we're also hoping for a good sunset over the city for some photographs,

ttfn,

Cheryl xx

Day three: Jetlag and poorly feet

Sunday night saw two out of the three of us suffering badly from the effects of jetlag, and consequently saw very little sleep for the three of us.

When we eventually dragged ourselves out we decided just to have a look around the city centre, and pick up a few supplies.

Several hours later we came back with a couple of t-shirts for Daz and one for Em, the new AC/DC CD, no supplies what-so-ever (we couldn't face the queues in Woolworths), and two very sore feet for me!

So much for nice sensible Clarks shoes - agony does not make for a happy shopper. Daz can't believe that at 38 I still can't manage to buy a pair of shoes properly..........

Tired, and just a little grumpy we all trundled back, but moods improved no end with a good coffee, a change of shoes, a rest, and a nice big bowl of pasta for tea.

Cheryl xx

Day 2: City Lights

A quiet day was planned to relax after the flight and to get over the jetlag, and that is exactly what it turned out to be - a very quiet day.

Much of it in fact was spent in the hostel playing about on the Internet, whilst Emma did a good chunk of the course work she has had to bring with her. We thought if she could get as much of it done asap, then it wouldn't be hanging over us for the rest of the holidays.

After noticing that we hadn't moved far all day, one of the members of staff suggested that we take a break, a bottle of wine and a taxi, and head up to King's Park to watch the sun set over the city.

But there was course work to complete and first drafts to be emailed to school, so that didn't happen. It was almost dark when we decided we really should head out, and so that same member of staff suggested we take a six pack of tinnies and a taxi, and head to King's Park to sit and watch the city lights.

As he seemed determined to get us there we decided it would be rude to do otherwise. And off to King's Park we headed, though with sandwiches from Subway rather than a 6 pack.

And he was right - an amazing sight and well worth the trip. Pity we hadn't taken a 'proper' camera with us (will go back another night for that). So, the pic above is taken on the compact. And there are some more shots of Flickr (linked from the right hand menu) of us just messing about with the lights.

A quick walk around some of the park in the dark, and then back for an earlyish night, via the ice cream stall.

Cheryl xx

Visas validated

So, after a long but very good flight (Simgapore Airlines look after you so well!), we have landed and the visas have been validated. Another step nearer, and I think Darran is happy that he can relax now because we have done what we needed to do to ensure that we can move properly next year.

Daz is off to a trade fair tomorrow on a fact finding mission, whilst Emma and I will be doing her homework. An, erm, interesting start to proceedings.....

But now all we are going to do is go to bed and get some much needed sleep,

ttfn,

Cheryl xxx