Hi,

We'd like to pre-empt this entry by saying that we've already typed this blog out once, it was a very long one and it got deleted, because of that this is going to be very basic, sorry!

Tuesday: we decided to take the bus the other way to Aquinas collage (where Amy's dad studied), while walking through the gates we noticed a couple of signs saying 'private property' and 'visitors must report to reception', so we didn't feel too comfortable to just walk around as we had wished to do. We just walked to the monument and then made our way back to the bus stop. After, we went to make use of the free WiFi (and ice cream sundaes) in McDonalds but didn't get anything done, due to it being the lunch hour and everyone having their laptops out. We were especially annoyed at one guy who seemed to be uploading a million pictures onto facebook. After giving up on the internet we made our way to the art gallery, which turned out to be shut on Tuesdays, and not any other day of the week!

Wednesday: We had an early start (early for us anyway!) and went to Kings Park, where Amy showed Mary-Ann the tree top walk and it's scary heights. We also visited the memorial there and an Aboriginal art gallery. After that we went home and started the very hard task of packing for the house sitting. We became quite concerned about how we are going to take all our stuff to melbourne, as we had managed to fill 2 suitcases, 2 rucksacks, a food bag, a handbag and a laptop bag, just for 2 weeks.

Thursday: Travelling on the buses and trains was a challenge with all our luggage, but thankfully we got picked up from the train station by Yvonne who took us to the house. We spent the afternoon making ourselves comfy in the house and enjoying the pool, spa bath ensuite, Wii and Guitar Hero, free internet, and tucking into the rather full pantry. Ellen and Chuey popped by in the evening and drove us around the area so we could get to know it. Once they'd left we ordered Dominos pizza, because we discovered that the oven was not working.

Friday: Just another day of errands, and Jo's sister (Jo is the owner of the house) came round to look at the oven and ended up phoning her husband who was an electrician, and eventually they decided that the oven had just had its day. So they very kindly offered to lend us a spare mini oven they had. Later that night, Amy somehow managed to slice into her finger whilst putting away the washing up. It wouldn't stop bleeding, and now Mary-Ann has to do the washing up.

Saturday: We left the house at the wrong time for the bus, and had to wait for an hour in the high 30s heat. Whilst waiting we noticed a lot of smoke going up into the air in the distance and were worried that it may have been a bush fire, however it probably wasn't as we've not heard anything of it since. We went into town and visited the art gallery (we got the right day this time), it was huge and made us feel exhausted just looking around it (nothing to do with the heat!) Then we did some window shopping around the Perth markets, which were quite small. When we were waiting for a bus home from the train station we were approached by a couple of guys, one who was very drunk kept trying to high five and hug us, until a transit officer chased him off. It then looked like they were fighting, but we're not sure as the view was obscured by a bus. In the evening Mary-Ann went to make a cup of tea, but came out screaming about a cockroach. Amy then joined in with the screaming when she saw it jumping up behind the CD player. It was the hugest jumping flying cockroach ever! Amy encouraged Mary-Ann to trap it under a bowl, which she did very bravely, but then we had to call Chuey (who just happened to be driving past) to come and get rid of it for us. As if that incedent wasn't enough, Mary-Ann later discovered a lizard in the bath.

Sunday: We took a dip in the pool as it was 39 degrees (what else can you do in that heat?) Later in the afternoon we went to a drinks/BBQ thing, which was a nice chilled out way to spend the day. We got home and introduced ourselves to the neighbours, and then watched Little Miss Sunshine (the best film ever) with our dinner.

Today (Monday): We did a more touristy thing, and went to the Perth Mint. Amy had already been before, but we both found it really interesting and were tempted to blow all our travelling money on the jewellery and just go home! We were both mesmorised by the boiling hot gold, when being poured and moulded, and also by the 2nd largest Gold nugget in the world. We also weighed ourselves in gold, and we're both worth around $2,000,000.

Amy has made us some Anzac cookies tonight, which are an australian cookie that are slightly like flapjack, but are more crunchy and have coconut in. Yum...

Lots of love,

Us xxx