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Thursday, 27 March 2008

END OF AN AMAZING TRIP! !

Thursday 27th March 2008 Day 390

WE DID IT!

This the end of the most amazing and awesome trip of our lives. A year away to see the world. We have learned so much, changed our views in extraordinary ways, met amazing people and most of all, we have experienced seeing the world. We also learned about each other - as you do when you're together 365 - 52 - 24 - 7 !! How many people can do that with their partner and survive the relationship!? We now know, without a doubt, that we are certainly the soul mates we always knew we were.


And so, this is the end and here we are~! HOME!! But,now we have to get down to unpacking - and it's a nightmare. The more I unpack, the more I realise I DO NOT NEED the stuff I own!!! There is so much of it! It's depressing! If there is one profound thing I've learned from all this, it has to be that a simple life is the best!


And another thing is, it's great to be back HOME COOKING - oh, it's the simple things in life that we most appreciate!

Yes! It's great to be able to actually cook on our own stove, have our own fridge to put our groceries in and live in our own home!!!

We do know that home is where the heart is, and our hearts have travelled, and experienced, and explored, but now here we are, in the best spot on earth - where else but Perth! We're back, and back to work, and moving on with our lives. Our once-in-a-lifetime trip is over, and so is this blog. Now we await the arrival of our precious grandson and our future lives. Until the next time, ciao and lots of love from us - hope you enjoyed sharing our travels as much as we enjoyed our travels. xx Jen and Greg xx

Monday, 24 March 2008

CATS ARE HOME!

18th March 2008 Day 381

We picked up our cats from Geraldton yesterday. Elise and David have been looking after them for more than 12 months and were not sad to see them go!

So now, we have our bird, Tweedledum, who Mum has been looking after, safely tucked away in his cage..and the pussies firmly back in the home they left and loved.

We know they are familiar with it here...they automatically assumed the positions in the house, that they held before. Tizzie is back in her bowl and Milli is sitting on her mat outside our bedroom door.

It's as if they had never left home!

I think now, with the animals back home (but not the doggies, Aaww) we feel more settled. And happier.

We're finally able to just 'get on' with the unpacking.

Unpacking. Ugh. That's another story. All on it's own.

OUR DANISH NIGHT and EASTER!!!

Day 379 Shnapped!

Scottish!

Sean O'Hare! We were invited to Alena's partner Lars' house for a Danish Night in Bunbury and oh, my, oh, my, oh my! Greg turned into a Scottish Sean O'Hare!! Talk about hilarious - it's almost too unbelievable to describe!!

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DOCKERS lost their first 2008 AFL game to Collingwood! Arrgh! I was so sure they were going to win!
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EASTER is upon us. We're still enjoying being back in Perth and seeing our family and friends on special occasions.


On Good Friday we had Hot Cross Buns for lunch...then Greg and I went to Bob and Yvonne's for dinner. They are the most amazing hosts. The night started with a mixed nibbly platter and champagne which mellowed us all and opened up the conversation. The last time we'd seen these beautiful and hospitible people was on Feb 20 at Perth Airport when we arrived home from our World Trip.

Bob cooked salmon and Yvonne made a very yummy and special tiramasu for dessert. Ohlala..both dishes were beautiful. The night was beautiful.

Saturday, we started the day at the beach. We've decided we have to make the most of Cotts and 'use' the beach, the restaurants and the ambience...to justify the amount of rent we're losing by living here!!

Annie came over in the afternoon and we mulled over her relationships and love!

In the evening we relaxed....

Sunday we repeated the beach experience by walking down to Cotts and swimming next to the groin. SO refreshing and beautiful. We are realy enjoying being home now.

We went to Mum's for afternoon tea..and Annie came over for afternoon tea a bit later on. I gave mum a daintree leather bag which she absolutely loved..

It's been a good Easter this year. No homesickness and seeing the people we love. It's great to be home!

WE BOUGHT A CAR AT MIDNIGHT!

Day 378 Oh what a story this was, paying for a car - cash, at midnight!!!!

But the good thing is, now Greg is the proud owner of a pretty cool, four grand commo, with the lot!~ hehe

MUM'S 75th BIRTHDAY!

Day 377 Mum, John, Noreen, Rob, Guity, Justin, Nas, Sham, Kia, Andy, Jo, Annie, John, Greg and I all went to the Blue Duck to celebrate Mum's 75h birthday.

Wow....75!!!

She's a wonderful lady. And I love her. MY MUM ROCKS!!! :-)











ANNIE'S BIRTHDAY

12 March 2008 Day 375

Went for lunch at John St Cafe. Mum picked me up and then we drove into Freo to collect Annie.

We later dropped her back and collected my Jagamarra!!!!

After a conversation with Annie about Elise..and what she may be having...

I dreamt she was having a boy!

It was SO vivid. I was actually holding him in my dream! She was in the hospital room after having given birth, and i was standing outside holding her baby!!!

So real!

Saturday, 8 March 2008

INUNDATED with STUFF!

What more can I say?

The title says it ALL! Arrggh...I can't handle having 'stuff' hanging around my next anymore. Give me a backpack anyday! :-)

MOVING FROM STORAGE

Day 371

Greg met Aiden at Cotts and loaded up 5 loads from Storage to Cotts in the UTE Greg hired for two days.

Moving has started...

THE HOUSE IS A MESS!

WE'RE IN OUR HOUSE!

Day 371 HERE WE ARE!! SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR till we get all the rest of our stuff, but we're here, IN OUR HOME! ha! Home Sweet Home.

BACK FROM ROTTO..MOVING BEGINS

Day 370


Greg and I took the early boat and after a bit of a saga with the tickets (mum's name was on our ticket..but we told the captain and he watched out for her!) we caught the boat at 10.30am and Mum caught the boat at 4pm with Brenda!

We rode from Freo to Claremont...and then...STARTED moving all the stuff from Mum's to Cotts. I had no idea we had SO MUCH STUFF stored at Mum's! What a nightmare.

We also don't know if we have David's car yet. Saga goes on!

Picked mum up at C Shed, in her car, at 4.30pm

Had Fish and Chips for dinner.

Stayed at Mums.

Aiden comes tomorrow to help Greg move stuff from Storage!

ANNIE GOES HOME BRENDA ARRIVES!

Day 366 - 369

Rottnest Island WA

Day 367 Tuesday. Long weekend finishes. Rode in on our bikes to See Alena for lunch outside Salt House.

Alena was in her Rottnest uniform and had half an hour for lunch. She told us how her weekend was...(surfed a lot, didn't spend much time with Lars) and how Aiden was not settling into her home. On her part. She said Murdoch was paying for half the rent and it was a VERY temporary thing having him stay there. Aiden's looking for a share room somewhere for about $100 a week and finding it hard because he's a guy that's working, rather than being the usual, a student.

Met Mum and Annie at Rottnest Island Express after collecting Annie's bike from the Bike Shop (with the damaged derailer) for Annie's departure at 2.30pm.

On the way to the ferry Annie veered off and we thought she was going to be late for the ferry!! IT turned out she went to the chemist and bought me a gorgeous sarang and a tie clip. The sarang was white with sequins. So gorgeous. She presented it to me just as she was about to board the ferry..and said, "Welcome Home!" Aww.. We stillo haven't got our presents sorted out in our luggage but we bought Annie a present from Argentina which i think is gorgeous. (Lapslazuli necklace and earring set).

She gave mum her money for the accomodation and a clip and Greg a bag full of black jelly beans. She knows what he likes!!!

It was so sad to see her go. She was hoping John would be there to pick her up but she had said she'd see him later so it was doubtful he'd be there. As it turned out he didn't finish work until 5pm! (He works as a postie and had started at 5am that morning due to it being a public holiday on the Monday).

Ate leftovers for dinner (sausage stew).

Day 368 Wednesday Met with Alena and the Ed Officers to go snorkelling at the Touch pool in Little Parakeet. Meet for drinks that night while mum goes on the Bayseeker Bus to meet Brenda on the ferry. We rode back to the Settlement to see Alena off on the ferry and meet Brenda! She's from the Friends of the Marine Park. A nurse and good company. Apart from the incessant talking!


Had BBQ Chicken and salad for dinner> Yum. Finished our Yalumba cask wines! Won't buy anymore while in Rotto. HOliday's almost over. Can't afford the Yalumba casks now either!

Day 369 Thursday Meet Alena and Ed Offices at Pinkies for the touch Pool. Greg meets Alena for lunch. We go for long walk from Geordie Bay to Township. Stop at Quokka Arms for champagne and beer. That night, 6.30pm see 27 Dresses with Brenda, Mum and Greg. $8.50 ticket. Mum and Brenda had Subway, Greg and i ate bread with Balsamic vinegar and virgin olive oil. Saving money!!!

Relaxed on the balcony for the final Rotto night. It's been a great holiday!

RELAXING AT ROTTO

Day 365 - 367

Rottnest Island, WA

John and Annie had breakfast on the boat and Greg, Mum and i had breakfast at our Villa. Greg and i went and bought some provisions from the Geordie Bay Shop (expensive!!) so we were set for a few days.

We were going to have BBQ's for the week!

The BBQ was a bit of a problem actually, the ignition didn't work! It's a pain when things aren't what they should be. THe windows were filthy too. For $1050 for the six nights you'd expect the BBQ to work and the window's to be clean!

Talking about windows - the view from our balcony is superb! Overlooking Geordie Bay. We're staying in # 928 which i must admit does look over the Bay..but it also overlooks the houses in front. If the house wasn't full of scredaming children we'd be happier..but still, we were enjoying the peace of being on a remote island, away from the stresses of life!

The only thing that has been a negative is Annie's BIKE! SHe'd had a crash on it and cracked the derailer...so when John hopped on it yesterday to go and get his boat permit he finished it off..and now the derailer is completely damaged!

Greg and i took the bike to the Bike Shop but they said they had to get a part sent from town..and it all got too hard..so in the end she just said she'd take it to the place in Freo where she bought it..and get it fixed.

But it means..she has a new bike..but can't ride it!!!!

It turned out well tho..cos Annie can catch the bus with Mum..while Greg and i ride...

All things are meant to be!

Can't let things like that dampen the relaxing time at Rotto!!!!

xxx

BLOTTO AT ROTTO

Day 364

Rottnest Island, Perth WA

We packed up one rucksack and our dilley bag and drove to the Claremont Train Station in Mum's car while Greg gallantly road his bike, dropped that off and then drove the car back home and road back to the station. He had a major workout and it was only 7.30am!

It was a great way to get to C Shed to catch the Rottnest Express though. If we drove we would have had to leave the car in the car park and paid $6 a day for the six days we were away which seemed a waste. It was also not a great place to leave the car for a week either.

The train came straight to C Shed. So all we had to do was walk our bikes and luggage down to the loading area and get our tickets ($58 per adult and $51 conc and a 10% discount on the Show Your Card and Save RAC card) to jump on the ferry. Mum had previously booked them in her name so all we had to do was pay for them. It was weird how they issued the tickets. Mum paid her concession and was only given a Visa Card print out. I paid for mine and was given a ticket with two adults and a concession on it but it only stated payment for two adults.

When Annie came down later and bought her tickets she got a ticket stating 3 adults and one concession. It seemed a bit silly because it meant Mum had to get on the ferry and home on the ferry with one of us and we were thinking of going home at different times. Annette was going on the Wed and Greg and i wanted to leave early Friday morning instead of the 4pm Mum had booked to leave. Silly system.

We met John!!! After all the discussions and emails we've had about him from Annie..we finally met him down at the C Shed! He seemed a nice guy - just as we had expected. As we were sitting on the bus we were told to go on at C Shed to Rous Head I saw John sitting on the bench just outside one of the boats. He looked like he was refecting....

The bus took off and he looked over but Annie was engrossed in conversation with Mum and didn't see him. To me, it seemed he was a bit sad about her departure.

It was only a few hours later, after we'd arrived at the island..that i saw Annie on the balcony of our villa looking out to sea, with the same reflective look that i wondered if these two people really just wanted to be together for the long weekend.

This week away at Rottnest had been planned for a year. Jo had originally organised the villa but decided to take another week at a later date and since it was booked in Mum's name she asked if Mum wanted it. She jumped at the chance, asking Greg and I if we wanted to go (yes!!!) and Annie to make up the fourth person. Each villa has two beds in two rooms, making it a four bed villa.

Then of course, she met John. And there wasn't room for him there as well. Annie and John had arranged to see each other over the weekend but she was not sure when. He said he may come over to Rottnest in his boat.

Rottnest is an island 19km's off the coast of Fremantle. It's a holiday spot primarily for the Perth population with 80% of the tourists being from Perth itself. The beauty of the Island lies in it's casual lifestle, beautiful beaches, no car policy and it has a wonderful wildlife.

Greg's daughter Alena works at Rottnest as an Environmental Officer. We were looking forward to seeing her there once the Labour Long Weekend was over.

Our luggage came off the boat and was delivered to the spot (Geordie Bay) that our tags stated. All we had to do was to ride to our villa.

Just as we were settling in, wondering what to have for dinner John messaged Annie and said he was HERE! In Geordie Bay!

Annie looked overwhelmed to say the least. And surprised. But VERY happy!

She took off to meet him and soon Greg went down there to help secure a suitable anchorage for the night. They hooked up a piece of limestone rock to hold the anchor!

And the day turned from great..to superb! John rolled his esky to the shore...and we saw it was filled with Champagne, Burbon and Cola, cold water and goodies to go with it. So there we sat.....with his mother's champagne flutes filled with champagne overlooking Rottnests pristine waters.

BLISS.

He then impressed us all by producing meat and extra's to have a BBQ back at our villa. WHat a man. If he was trying to impress the family. He did!

We all got suitably BLOTTO at ROTTO!

By the end of the night..we snuggled into our beds...with Annie sleeping on John's boat (or sleeplessly staying on the boat as she said later she couldn't sleep!) and awoke the next morning to a beautiful Rotto Sunrise.

Oh, how i love it at Rotto!