Day 199-218 Dianella, Perth

Friday, November 19, 2021

Dianella, Western Australia, Australia

A little check in just so you know we're alive and kicking and having a great time.

I think I'll just dot point some of the things we've been up to as they've been more catching up with friends than sightseeing or doing touristy things

Had coffee with Drew and Beth - friends from the days when our kids were in Little Athletics
Went to the Perth 4WD show and managed to spend a dollar or two on a new antenna for the car and a Rhino rack for the roof.
Took Craig to his brother Scott and Charmaine's for a few days and carried on to catch up with Carol and Tony, long time friends since our kids were little, in Kelmscott as well as their daughter in law and two of their grandchildren and met their gorgeous Ridgeback dog.
Had a day shopping all on my own without totalling demolishing the credit card
Went into the city and met up with Ellie, my former work colleague and friend and we had our usual very long lunch - such a good catchup
Picked up Craig from Scotts and went to Trevor and Jackie's (who you'll remember from previous blogs this trip). Jackie had organised for a heap of former colleagues from my days as registrar at Forest Crescent Primary school to come to their house for drinks. It was just brilliant and there were I think ten of us there who'd worked with me. Jackie had also looked out all the staff photos from my time there. What a trip down memory lane as I started there in 1987 and finished in 1993 when I moved to Queensland.
Had a coffee catch up with Jenny (who used to be Robinson for long time BSL people)
Went up to Kalamunda for another long lunch with Lee a friend from Gosnells Cricket Club days
Was up at dawn to watch Mia's excitement as she saw her birthday present - an indoor trapeze and opened our presents.

Reading her new birthday book

Then headed across to Scott and Charmaine's where Scott helped Craig (that should probably read the other way round!) to install the new Clearview mirrors we'd ordered. Then the four of us went out for lunch at the local pub. Back home for the birthday tea and ice-cream birthday cake!
Had a drive to Toodyay - a very pretty town in the wheatbelt area about 90km out of Perth and enjoyed lunch at one of the pubs there.
Walked Mia to school most mornings and picked her up a couple of afternoons - such a simple yet delightful pleasure.
Attended the school assembly where Mia was presented with an award. A proud grandparents moment. I think the last assembly I went to was when her dad was at primary school.
Tomorrow is Mia's birthday party where she's having 15 of her classmates come here for a Slime Party. Watch for photos of that!

So our time here is almost at an end and we'll leave on Monday to head south. But we've had such a marvellous stay spending time with Ashton and Mia and catching up with so many long time friends. We've rejigged our plans and are heading inland first as next week is Schoolies here and all the south west coastal towns will be inundated with teenagers. So we'll do a bit of a loop down to Esperance and back up to Perth for a few days to stay at Scotts before heading south again to do a coastal loop before coming back to Perth again for Christmas where we'll be based at Scotts but will stay a few nights over Christmas at Clive and Jo's. So more exciting times ahead.