Thursday 13th October

4am alarm goes off, frantic washing, shaving(Pete not Al) and dressing in time for MD Travel to pick us up at 5am for the run to Manchester airport. 0900am boarding Singapore airlines Boeing 777. Nice aircraft, plenty of legroom and loads of films and stuff on the entertainment screen in front of us. Meals were generous and tasted good, also added bonus of complementary drinks - gets my vote every time! Flight was very comfortable with brief stops at Munich and Singapore.

Friday 14th October

Arrived Perth Airport 1500hrs. Took an hour for the Border guards to let us in!! Then Eric and Judith met us at the gate with a big banner( made by Rebecca - Pete and Cath's daughter) welcoming us to Australia. Eric drove us back to Shoalwater Bay in their Land Rover Discovery. Had a most welcome cold beer then unpacked our cases. Cath popped in with Rebecca and 2 very friendly hairy brown Labradors. After a nice dinner we had a chat and then an early night.

Saturday 15th October

Woke up to a bright sunny day. Walked down to the shore (2 minutes), met Emma, Olivia, Harry and Otis the Labrador and then along the sands to the ferry for Penguin Island. What a wonderful place, there are boardwalks all over the island so it is really easy to get about. We saw thousands of nesting gulls who were not that pleased to see us!! Loads of chicks and eggs being sat on, by the birds I hasten to add! We also saw scores of Pelicans who also nest on the island. These are very big birds and are fantastic flyers. They glide around looking for thermals to take them up and it is fascinating watching them. We did see 1 Little penguin resting under a rock. At that stage I was thinking Penguin Island should be renamed Seagull or Pelican island but we were later told by a warden that we had probably walked by 50 or more penguins hiding in the undergrowth or under the boardwalks - they kip during the day and go fishing at night.

Caught the 1pm ferry back to mainland and went back to Eric and Judiths for lunch - chicken salad - yum. After lunch went out to Pete and Cath's place. They have a terrific 5 acre plot with a beautiful house amongst the trees. Cath has an amazing garden of fruiting shrubs and trees - if Cath doesn't grow it, it doesn't exist! I was most jealous of Pete's garage which is as big as a barn - I could keep several Jaguars in it! As well as the dogs there was a very large horse wandering about - Rebeccas I believe. Callum their son, has converted their former home into his music room and there were various other buildings around, in all a lovely family home. About 4pm Judith drove us back to Shoalwater where we watched the 2nd half of the Wales v France game. Not happy about the outcome, since there may be children reading this I will refrain from further comment!

Sunday 15th October

Sun spliiting the flags today, 35 C forcast. Judith and Eric declared today to be family day when all the family came over to see these strange folk from the old country. It was a wonderful day, meeting all of Eric and Judith's children and their families, David, Peter, Rob and Emma, Susan, Callum and Rebecca, Olivia and Harry( a very loud delightful wee character). Eric got to work on the BBQ and we had a great feast that was washed down with generous quantities of ale and wine. This gathering commenced at midday and continued late into the evening.

Monday 16th October

Slow start today - can't think why! Eric and Judith took us to Freemantle or Freo as they call it. Seems to be an Aussie trait to abbreviate words whenever possible, Rottnest Island becomes Rotto, relatives are relies, superannuation is just super, and automatic irrigation of your garden is retic - haven't got a clue how that comes about! Anyway Freo is lovely old town, many buildings from the turn of the century and a great port. We had a walk about the centre and then out the Roundhouse - an old fortification turned gaol. Then out to the port where we had lunch by the quayside near the sailing ship, Endeavour - a copy of Captain Cooks ship. After lunch we visited the Maritime Museum which is brilliantly presented and full of information about shipping and life in WA. Public transport is impressive around Freo. They have free bus services running on set loops round the city and down the coast. We parked easily next to a bus stop well outside Freo and caught the bus in - easy peasy no parking probs. After we got back to the car we drove back to Shoalwater Bay and called in on Rob and Emma. They have a lovely house next to a park - the kids can run out of the front door straight into a safe play area with swings and climbing frames etc - smashing.

Tuesday 17th October

Day trip to Rotto. We drove up to Freo and caught the Rotto Express ferry to the island which about 18 kilometres off the mainland. The island gets its name from the Quokkas that live there. They are wee marsupials that wander around the place totally trusting of people. They look a bit like big rats when you first see them but on closer inspection you see they have big back legs like Kangaroos.By the way we have not seen a Kangaroo yet, I think they are an Aussie kid on like the Haggis!!! Anyway back to Rotto, the island was discovered by a Dutch chap( in european terms - the aboriginals had known about it for 40,000 years!!) who thought the Quokkas were large rats hence the name. We took a coach tour of the island which is ecologically fascinating. Apart from Quokkas there are many birds nesting on the island including several pairs of Ospreys which we did see. Lunch was taken in the Dome restaurant overlooking the jetty and sealane back to Freo. We caught the 4pm ferry back and Eric drove us back to Sloalwater Bay.

Wednesday 18th October

Pete and Alwena caught the train into Perth. Eric was a bit tired after the Rotto visit so Judith drove us to Rockingham station and we got on the suburban line to Perth. This is a great city, the train takes you underground right into the centre and you pop up in the main shopping drag. The centre has been pedestrianised and there many shopping arcades that run down towards the Swan river including one that is constructed as a copy of an old London street from the 16th century - strange that somebody should think to do that out here but whatever floats your boat! We wandered down through the city to the Bell Tower that sits by the river. This recently built tower has a ring of 18 bells 6 of them from St Martins church in the city of London - how they nicked them was not explained. We then picked up some sarnies for a picnic and caught the bus (which is free within the city limits - now there's a sensible approach to getting people onto public transport) upto Kings Park. What a wonderful place - its up on a hill overlooking Perth and has the most beautiful Botanic Gardens that we have ever visited. They have local plants from all over Australia growing in separate areas with information plaques on them all. There is also a series of info boards explaining how the Aboriginals use the various trees and bushes for food, medecines, tools, shelters, bedding etc. Having walked many miles we finally made our return to Rockingham on the train where Judith picked us up in the car. In the evening we all went out for a meal with some friends of Eric and Judith's, Bill and Marge. We had a chinese banquet style meal which was most enjoable.

Thursday 19th October

Pete and Alwena tired today. In morning went for a walk along Shoalwater Bay, absolutely beautiful beach, golden sand, turquoise blue water and a chain of wee islands 500 m off the coast. After lunch chatted to Eric and Judith and then Alwena did our washing whilst I got this blog thingy going. In the evening Eric and Judith took us to Sunsets restaurant in Rockingham to meet up with Peter and Cath, Rob and Emma and Susan and David. We had a splendid meal, very generously hosted by Peter and Rob, whilst we watched a beautiful sunset across the bay. This was wonderful evening and so kind of our Australian family to arrange it.

Friday 20th October

Today we took our leave of Eric and Judith who had looked after us so well. This was 'au revoir' not 'goodbye' I very much hope we will return to see them again. They drove us to South Guildford to meet up with Vicki and Glynis who are Alwena's cousins on her Mum's side. They took us on a tour through Guildford before taking us for a delicious lunch at the Rose and Crown where we ate outside in the Gazebo - specialy reserved for us. We then drove out to York on a scenic route through the bush where we saw our first Kangaroos which soon hopped away when 'big feet' Pete tried to get too close for a photo.On the route out of Perth we travelled through the vineyard area of the Swan Valley. Glyn drove into the Sandlford Estate down a long tree lined drive to the reception building where we sampled some of the wines - delicious - a 2007 Shiraz was particularly good. We then travelled on to another vineyard where one of the white wines had gold flakes floating in it!! £84 a bottle, a bargain, we were assurred the gold is safe for consumption. Back on the road the buildings gradually thinned out and we were in the bush. Not what I had expected, the bush consists of large trees as well as bushes, is sometimes densely wooded at other times open grass land. This is where we saw the Kangaroos - until then a mythical creature. After an hour or so we arrived in York and drove down the main street which has many old buildings in it, built in the colonial style. The hotels have extensive verandahs at 1st floor and ground floor level and look like the buildings in old New Orleans. We then arrived at Glyn and Vicki's house, a lovely colonial style bungalow standing in 1/2 acre of gardens. We were met at the door by Zak a huge, very hairy German Shepherd who fortunately is graciously welcoming to strangers in the company of Glyn and Vicki.

Saturday 22 October

Glyn and Vicki took us up to the top of Mount Brown from which there are tremendous views over York and the surrounding countryside - the wheatbelt. We then returnred to York and visited the Motor Museum which is one of the best private collections in Australia. As well as an interesting collection of cars there are all sorts of car bits and motoring memorabilia. We lunched in a Lebanese Cafe opposite the museum and then had a look round the town. We visited the Dogs b******s Emporium - yes I got the tee shirt to go with TDB our beautiful blue Jaguar XJR. Whilst in this dubiously named establishment we met 2 ladies of mature years who were working away at sewing machines but were very pleased to stop and pass the time of day with us. One was from Liverpool the other from Stoke - couple of right characters who had come out to Oz as immigrants many many years ago and told us some tales of their early days in the country. In the evening Glyn and Vicki had booked a table at the Imperial Hotel where we had some delicious steak, good wine and some very refreshing Ozzie beer - well I did-- not too sure what the ladies had!

Sunday 23rd October

Vicki and Glyn had arranged a guided tour of some Aboriginal sacred sites. We met our guide, Justin Kicket, an elder of the Banderlong people, at York Town Hall and followed him in his 4x4 out to Mibrong, a farmstead now owned by his family. We parked up and walked through the brush to the Moon cave, named after an ancient painting of the moon on the cave wall, a place of great significance to Justin's people now retuned to their care. Justin told us a lot about the history of the area, much of it researched by his father, Everett Kicket, who was also an elder and dedicated promoter of Aboriginal culture 9and the first Aboriginal cop in WA). Justin drove us around this special place and showed us the women's cave and the men's cave, where younger members of the tribe were educated and in the boys' case initiated. Justin does a lot of work with Aboriginal youths who need a guiding hand - a cultured and dignified man his knowledge and manner were very impressive. a

After the 4x4 tour we returned to Mibron where his wife had prepared some 'Damper' which we ate with jam and cream, yum. Glyn then drove us to Beverly a small town 20 k from York. We had a walk down the main street which is very similar to York's colonial style buildings. A small shop selling collectables drew us in with the promise of Devonshire teas to which temptation we succumbed, more yum. We walked on towards the Town Hall, a very striking Art Noveau building and were looking at the Beverly Air Museum, which was closed, when an old fella pulled up in a car, jumped out and asked if we would like to visit the museum. Turned out he was a volunteer curator at the museum and opened up for us. The museum contained an eclectic collection of aircraft bits and bobs, photographs and some early home built gliders from the locality. Crazy people these Aussies!

Monday 24th October

Glyn and Vicki took us to meet some friends of theirs who breed miniture donkeys. Larry greeted at the gates of their grounds and introduced us to their little donkeys and also one rather larger specimen, a french Poitou, which can be taller than Clydesdales! His wife is the one who breeds the minitures Larry favours the regular sized donkeys. He told us some amazing things about donkeys which turn out to be very surprising animals, much under rated. We also met Larry's pet pink and grey Galahs and a very large Red Tailed Cockatoo(these are threatened with extinction at present). We then drove out of York to Northam and Toodjay. Northam is the larger town and a commercial centre for the region. It lies on the Swan river and we had a very interesting walk along a riverside path and over a very ancient wooden bridge. The birdlife in and around the river was remarkable. Black swans, Spoonbills (nesting in trees!!) , Stilts, and many other species I did not recognise. We also saw a long necked turtle in the water that had caught a bird and was eating it! That evening Vicki and Glyn cooked a special meal for us accompanied by a rather nice shiraz/cabernet.

Tuesday 25th October

Vicki and Glyn drove us to Perth airport to catch the plane to Darwin and stayed with us till boarding. We had a wonderful time in York with Vicki and Glyn and were sorry to say goodbye - hope we get back this way some day. We were fortunate in getting seats with extra leg room (by emergency exit, a condition of which is that in the event of a crash landing you open the escape hatch for the rest of the passengers after exitting first yourself - seems sensible). The flight was pretty good, we got fed and watered and it was only a bit bouncy as we got up north. The only downside was we lost another 1.5 hours due to travelling further east! We caught the shuttle bus from Darwin airport and got to Novotel, Atrium at about 5.45pm. We got a surprise when we went to our room - we have a suite! A living area complete with equipped kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Aircon in all rooms, punka wallah type fans and 2 LCD TV's - bit posh for us but we'll manage! Went down to the bar for a 'snack' which turned out to be quite a substantial meal - washed down with some good beer & dry white wine!!!