Tara for now Perth
I have had a great 3 weeks with family and its almost time for me set of to Blackpool .IF Western Australia were a country on its own merits it would be the 10 th biggest country but has a population 0f around 2.5 million ( I think they all go to same beach as I do when I go !) Cottesloe Beach was our very first area we visited when we arrived in Oz in 1982 and a lot different than the Blackpool beach where I grew up and loved (still do) Time has gone so quickly and I m sure as we get older the days are shorter ! I have been lucky enough to have travelled all around this state and viewed a lot of the breath taking sights (also motor homed around Oz 3 times) my twilight years will be spent exploring the UK and beyond as I still have a great passion for life ‘Maybe in the future years I will “rerun” around Australia again ( I should be twins) even at this ripe old age I have the strongest of urges to see more and more SO for now (until next March at least) farewell Perth,you have been good to me .Hervey Bay was great BUT rapidly becoming just a memory.I now have an 18 hr (spread over 24hrs) flight ahead of me BUT Christmas just around the corner and I feel that is going to be absolutely fabulous as they say Tara for now
Last Weekend in Perth and Playgrounds and Chocolate
Geez the time has flown so quickly and I,ll be back in Blackpool before you can say @Emirates@ On this particular day we familied to Swan Valley to use a Brand new park opened just a few days and it was Buzzing! Some of the playground equipment is fantastic and even had the old fashioned Gang Plank I have mastered such a long time ago. In thia new estate it boasts that there is a Playground in the area every 300 metres .Grankids loved it (as I did) even had a running stream the kids can paddle in.We had a lovely picnic there and then drove on to a Chocolate Factory in the Swan Valley and I went round 3 times so I could get the free tastings on offer! I bought some Rocky Road & Peanut Brittle that lasted a very short time once back at base.In glass cases there are models of Space creatures and Sci-Fi scenes ALL in Chocolate (bugga I,m drooling again!) being full of freebie chocolate we drove home and Paul cooked a very delicious Paella (when the kids arrive in Blackpool for the best Christmas ever I will hopefully show them where Mussels come from,they tend to cling to Blackpool’s glorious 3 Piers) I finished the night off by drinking what was left of my cardboard box wine and Baileys ! At precisely 10.20 pm the 8 hr warning for Flight Check in came on my email and that done PLUS selecting seating for the 18 hr flight I staggered off to bed a very Happy man.Roll on my new Car !!
Snakes,Crocs and other Australian Creatures
Today we visited the Crocodile farm in the Swan Valley,near where I used to live and this is the first time I have attended this “Zoo” altho it is good to see animals close up I thought the caged area areas were very much on the small size.A Fox was walking up and down with a Tennis ball in its mouth and obviously it was distressed by the small confines.Snakes were very active in their small glass cases.Plenty of school children were around and very much excited ar seeing Australian Creatures up close,even getting to hold certain snakes and pet Dingo,s! Th Crocodile was enclosed in a very small area and was also active when he/she spotted us by making a very quick swim in the small pool ( it is an ideal place for Mother in Laws to go pettin the amphibious creatures !) and I was sad at the whole state of the place,Emu was very stationary and I have been lucky enough to see most of these animals/creatures in “real” life travelling around Oz in a Motorhome.This place reminded me of my childhood days in Blackpool when we would visit the Tower indoor Zoo and animals barely could move with their small indoor heavily barred cages ( but we were only kids then and not aware of animal cruelty , Blackpool now boasts a terrific outdoor Zoo)
Too visit this Zoo have a look at their Website for a family of 4 entry is $40
http://www.wareptilepark.com.au/
Perth Australia and the Town Hall and a FREE Mandolin Orchestra Show
Designed by Jewel and Manning in the Victoria Free Gothic style, the hall was built by convicts and free men between 1867 and 1870. Its decorations contain a number of convict motifs, including windows in the shape of the broad arrow , and decorations in the shape of a hangman’s rope. In my early years at DSC once a month we would take residents to a Disco held here for Intellectually Disabled People and residents from all over the Perth area would attend it is was always a FUN activity.Currently every Tuesday Lunch concerts are held utilizing different varieties of music,this time I attended a Mandolin Concert and featured a singer doing a song from early English periods.The show lasted for an hour and is totally FREE as all weekly concerts are and a free raffle is also offered.I attended with friends of mine from yesteryear and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.(alright I confess to doing a McDonalds after the show!) The Town Hall is magnificent and open to the public for a “look see” Presently I am in my last few days in Perth and having a wonderful time with family and the grankids are certainly wearing me out ! Hervey Bay is now just a memory and I am moving on with great enthusiasm.
If ever in WA go and visit this wonder building from the past,you will not be disappointed
Apart from Lunch the day was FREE thanks to the wonderful use of my BUS pass that I have used extensively
Whiteman Park W.A
Whiteman Park is a 4,000-hectare (9,900-acre; 15 sq mi) Bushland area located 22 km (14 mi) north of Perth. The park is in the suburb of Whiteman, in the Swan Valley where I used to live in the upper reaches of the Swan River It encompasses the source of Bennett Brook – an important Aboriginal location, and source of mythology of the Wagyl and stories about aboriginal occupancy of the area The Park is known for its biodiversity, including over 450 endemic plants and more than 120 vertebrate animals (some of which are rare and endangered). Over 17% of Western Australian bird species occur in Whiteman Park, including migratory birds attracted to the habitat provided by Bennett Brook and associated wetlands including Grogan’s Swamp, a Conservation Category Wetland.The state government purchased the land from a variety of private owners in 1978, to protect the underlying aquifyer as a drinking water source for Perth. The major owner was Lew Whiteman (1903–1994), after whom the park is named.
We lived minutes away from this magnificent park and often frequented it with our own kids and Residents from the Hostel
The last Picture shows a special tree that is very unique and used to be called Black Boy trees BUT P.C has changed the name to Grass Tree !!!Was at the Park only a short time due to closing and I have missed alot of photographic chances .Absolutely beautiful tho
Brilliant Weekends in Perth n Fremantle
Friday we went to a newly refurbished Whitfords for dinner in the new Chinese Bar,food was great but service left a lot to be desired I got mine after complaining they had forgotten me (and they had) What a fantastic weekend ! Started Saturday by helping with house maintenance and the out for a BBQ at mt nephew & nieces beautiful home.Wine was flowing freely,food was bloody lovely and the chat was very interesting,the kids were happily watching cartoons while the big people carried on having a lovely evening.Their daughter Cass called in to say hello and bought me my favourite Cash White Wine ( others call it a cardboard box,which in reality is!) Ifinished the night off with a delicious Baileys and feeling very merry to boot!
Sunday daughter Jayne and S.I.L Paul took me and the kids on a mystery tour and ended up at an adventure workshop,We started off by going on a 9D virtual reality plane and roller coaster ride,altho we didn,t move from our seats it seemed we were actually doing the rides ! admittedly I closed my eyes a couple of times and the kids were beaming (think I heard the S.I.L screaming too !! I became a spectator as the others played Computer induced Ball Games and was quite happy to do so
Next up we traveled to a kids playground in Bibra Lake and in all my life time I have NEVER seen a play park as good as this !! At this point I was extremely jealous because I wasn,t a kid!It is a brand new Park and full credit to the Bibra Lakes council for making it so family orientated
After this episode finished we went off to one of my very favourite spots FREMANTLE and we went into Joes Shack for the obligatory Fish n Chips washed down with beer ( naturally).The outside of the building looks wrecked BUT never judge a book by its cover ! it was lovely inside and we had great window views of the harbour. Freo was absolutely packed with people (first proper sunny hot day since Ive been back) and we were very lucky to find the one vacant car parking spot in Freo!! We were all feeling rather knackered after this and took the beautiful Indian Ocean coastal drive home..What a fantastic weekend !
Perth West Australian Royal Show 2017
This is a “Biggie” in West Australia,s Calendar altho for a family it can be extremely expensive ! Grandson Will and myself caught the train to the Show Ground ( that huge a show it has its own Railway Station!) We walked MILES taking in all the side shows and off course Grandson was very interested in the Showbags on display ( Crafty Grandad said we will get them when we are finished,otherwise it would be in,buy Showbags and get outta there very quickly!)
I have very fond memories over the years and the migrant centre (our first Australian Home in 1982 is virtually just around the corner ) I have lost children (mine) and residents with disabilities lots of times but I never worried as they would always be found ! Some of the rides were very scary and all the training I had as a kid in the world famous Blackpool playgrounds & fairs went right out of the window ! However we did mange the Ferris Wheel and Sky Lift were negotiated no problem! Fortunately grandson Will wasn,t too concerned with missing out ‘,We fed our faces at one of the 100,s of food outlets available,had a tour of the animal compounds and eventually bought some showbags ( Capt Underpants being the main buy!) We arrived at the Show early and crowds weren,t too bad,as we left crowds were swelling,I believe around 350000 attended last years show over the 8 day show and apparently figures are dwindling possibly due to costs ,It was a great experience for me tho and brought back some wonderful memories ( I believe I have the best record with DSC for attending the Show 6 days on the trot!)
Bells Rapids on the Queens Birthday
25th September is a Public (Bank) Holiday here in Western Australia and is to celebrate the Queen of Englands birthday (apparently it is celebrated on different days of the year in other states) On a cold wet windy day that we were going to spend on a Magical Mystery Tour (cancelled due to rotten weather) we opted to go to Bells Rapids nestled in the Swan Valley at the foot of the Darling Range.Over the past 30 odd years this has become a very favourite spot for me and I came here often with residents (and friends) who lived within the Disabilities Services Commission (DSC) combine also my previous employment as a Social Trainer.A walk bridge spanning the Swan River over the white water rapids make this an exciting viewing spot during the Avon Descent. Perfect for a picnic and bushwalk or that special day out, grey kangaroos can be seen at certain times of the year.Winter is always the best time after the rains to see this wonderful spot,also Hank Marvin of Cliff & the Shadows used to live up the top of the Hill and has at times waved to myself and the guys I took out there,The Housing on top of the hilly Scarp is known as Brigadoon (I believe the entrepreneur who originally owned was the ill famed Alan Bond,winner of the yacht race America,s Cup in 1983,never before won by any other country in almost 150 yrs except USA ,and what a fantastic day that was as I was only a one year old Australian then!!) Bike was at the entrance to Bells
Dinner,Pleasant Surroundings and Bloody Weather
Friday night we ventured of to California Pizza for a meal in the wonderful Hillarys complex,kids were well behaved ( that wouldn,t have been my younger brother and me as nippers!) The Complex was very quiet but then again I thought I was back in Blackpool ! it was windy,raining very hard and COLD !! Naturally the kids blamed me for bringing the English weather over to Australia.Saturday I arose from my pit at 11.30 am !! spent a lazy afternoon doing nothing and sent Daughter and S.I.L to the movies and a meal whilst me n the grankids pigged out on toffee,s (lollies) and pop watching Capt Underpants,Madagacar 3 and Spongepants Bob in 3D .Boys were on best behaviour an a very pleasant night was spent.Sunday today I was awoken by Will and informed we are going on a Magical Mystery Tour .Day started off well got to a lovely Riverside Cafe and then ?!?! the heavens opened up and was getting rather cold again ( I had front seat in the car and it had a lovely electric Bum Warmer !) Sadly the trip (venues were outdoors) had to be cancelled with all saying they have NEVER experienced a weekend like it ! Course I was to blame! this trip will be now rescheduled to next week ( weather permitting of course)
Happy Daze & Kids and the Joys of being Singlez
Its been great catching up with the kids,weather has been cold,damp and at times very rainy !Will has been great,Charlie is so excited about his pending trip to Blackpool and I have shown him various reasons why he will love Blackpool,altho mesmerized whilst sat next to me he fell soundly asleep,head on table,such joy.I caught bus/train into Perth and renewed my lost transport free pass and at reception it took less than 2 minutes before I had a shiney new card in my back pocket ! Next the Bank and I had a giggle with the serving ladies and have now secured my bank account and in the process getting rid of 3 cards I don,t have ny use for,then train into Joondalup using my shiney new free transport card and into Centrelink and help given was first class and I can now give my away from Australia over the Internet and believe me that can be very time consuming visiting these places,Also I had my voting slip for allowing same sex people to get married and I think over $20000000 has been spent on this which is ONLY a plebicite !! Perhaps the leaders of political parties can concentrate on non urgnt matters including unemployment,better health services,pensioners,job seekers and other mundane items that need to be addressed (and yes that was pure sarcasm).In coming months when I return to the UK I will be cutting down on FB friends and also in the not too distant future I will once again taste freedom in becoming a single person again ! At the ripe ole age of 72 I feel revitalized and look forward to more adventures in and around Europe..Roll On !!
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 