Sunday, 26 April 2009
Here are photos from Perth's ANZAC Day Parade yesterday, 25 April 2009. These shots were taken from the St Georges Terrace and William Street intersection in the CBD where I watched the march with Bjoern and Ola.
Bagpipe, brass and drum bands were in full throttle with Waltzing Matilda being by far the most popular tune
Some of the elderly veterans were driven around in vehicles
Dad's 7 RAR Battalion who fought in Vietnam. This year Dad marched in Adelaide where he had a reunion with old army mates.
The Sikh Community's section was colourful
The Turkish also had a section. As well as fighting against the ANZACs in Gallipoli, the Turkish also fought on the same side as the Australians in Korea.
Later in the day, I caught up with several of Dad's close friends and their associates at Rigby's Bar & Bistro, including Bluey, Johnno, Drabs, Fritch, Batesy. Monty and Van.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
I recently logged into my QANTAS Frequent Flyer account to update my details. They obviously hadn't been updated for a while because my home telephone number still had 7 digits. Adelaide changed from 7 to 8-digit dialling codes in 1996(!) as this Wikipedia article details.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Today, several work colleagues and I had fun painting and tidying a house in Perth's northern suburbs for Joondalup Youth Support Services (JYSS). The house, as part of JYSS's Supported Accommodation, shelters young people with instable backgrounds whilst they learn life skills. Previous clients had left the place in a terrible state and it needed care and attention.
Turner & Townsend employees have one day per year they can dedicate to volunteering and Dave did a great job organising today's work.
As a tribute to our times together in the last 5 days and because I took several memorable photos of Eilish and Breandan yesterday in Mandurah, I have dedicated a blog post to them.
Waving to a passing boat in the Mandurah Marina
Breandan enjoying the cruise
Eilish relaxing on the boat
Breandan leaning over the side of the cruise boat in Peel Inlet
Eilish tries to avoid the camera while Breandan in his new skull gloves plays his new harmonica (both Mandurah purchases)
If looks could kill I would not have survived the Mandurah-Perth train trip
At Cafe 130 in Leederville Eilish saved her hot chocolate until Ola and Bjoern arrived whilst Breandan gulped his down - one of their many dichotomies.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Shannon wanted to go on a decent train ride before she left Perth. Prior to today the most we had travelled on a train was from Fremantle to Perth. Today we caught the train from Leederville to Mandurah, 70 km south of Perth and the terminus of Transperth's southern (Mandurah) railway line. As today fell during WA school holidays we could buy a family ticket for unlimited travel public transport after 9 am for only $8.40 - bargain!
The rail line to Mandurah was opened in December 2007 and this has helped fuel the city's growth. Mandurah is now both Western Australia's second largest city and regional Australia's fastest growing city.
Upon arriving to Mandurah Train Station, Shannon, Eilish, Breandan and myself caught a free shuttle bus to the city's foreshore. This bus runs either every 10 or 20 minutes depending on the day and facilitates the city's vibrant tourist trade.
After a picnic lunch on the foreshore we went shopping before catching the 2 pm Bouvard boat cruise to the Mandurah Marina, Peel Inlet, Harvey Estuary and canal areas.
3 heritage-listed historic buildings contrast with Mandurah's modern mansions, villas and seaside apartment blocks
On the boat cruise we saw several dolphins along with multiple osprey, shags, swans and pelicans. Unfortunately, the dolphin calf above is dead but its mother still tried to keep it afloat in the hope it would live.
One of the many mansions and accompanying yachts surrounding Mandurah's artificial canal district. This one has a private 30 seat movie theatre. This area is so attractive to wealthy Perthites that vacant blocks of land alone sell for between $1.5 and $2.5 million.
With the boat captain after the cruise ended
A White Vienna Coffee, Mocha and 2 Babycinos at D'Lights Cafe near the market complex
Waiting for the train to Leederville in Perth Underground Train Station after a long day, including a short walk across Perth's CBD. In Leederville we drank more coffee and ate cake with Bjoern and Ola before returning home and packing.
I'm about to take Shannon, Breandan and Eilish to Perth Airport for their overnight return flight to Adelaide. We have had a fabulous time together in Perth and I'm extremely glad to have taken the opportunity to give them a holiday in Perth.
Today, Shannon, Eilish, Breandan and myself went to Scitech, an interactive science and technology centre aimed at school-aged children. This is the perfect place for hyperactive 8 and 10 year olds as they can run from exhibit to exhibit once their 7.23 second attention spans end. Later, after lunch, we visited Dave and Theresa in Yokine for spiders and Rummiking (very similar to the Turkish Okey game).
Scitech's Going Places-the Technology of Transport is currently exhibiting. Breandan flew the above plane simulator without crashing.
Family heat sensor photo
A robot drew these pictures of us. Which drawing is of who?
Monday, 20 April 2009
Yesterday morning we caught the train from Leederville, via Perth Underground to the Esplanade station. This was the kids' first ever 'underground' train ride. At Pier 3, Barrack Square we met Bjoern and Ola for a coffee before the Captain Cook Cruises Perth to Fremantle Swan River cruise.
Breandan in front of the Kings Park Escarpment destroyed by a deliberately lit bushfire
A mansion of epic proportions overlooking the Swan River
A nice yacht in front of moorings and riverside apartments
Shannon, Breandan, Eilish, Bjoern and Ola approaching Fremantle on the boat cruise
Buskers entertaining the crowd near the Fremantle Markets- juggling fire sticks while another person is standing on your head also juggling fire sticks is very impressive
The chocolate flowed at Fremantle Chocolate Factory
At Little Creatures Brewery Eilish is entertaining herself playing Snake on my mobile phone whilst Breandan is giving Ola a massage
The Fremantle Prison was about to close by the time we got there although we still had time for a very quick look
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Today was another fun and busy day with Shannon and the kids. In the morning we walked to Lake Monger and then back home via the Leederville train station footbridge.
At 11 am Bjoern and Ola met us before we drove in convoy north along the coast to Hillarys Boat Harbour. Our main destination was AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia. There we saw sharks, fish, rays, seahorses, lobster and many other sea creatures. On the way home we drove via some of Perth's most expensive addresses in Mosman Park.
Posing behind a speed camera sign on the way from Lake Monger to Leederville
Jellyfish in an aquarium at the aquarium
Some pufferfish are dangerous - they can kill you with their stare ;-)
Ola, Breandan, Bjoern, Eilish and Shannon all trying to touch the sea creatures in the outdoor touch pool
Posing in Ola and Bjoern's Mini Cooper S Cabrio
Friday, 17 April 2009
Early this morning, Shannon, Eilish and Breandan arrived to Perth Domestic Airport from Adelaide for their Xmas present holiday. Their Tiger Airways journey was Eilish and Breandan's first ever flight!
Today we stocked up on food at Subiaco Markets and then spent the afternoon in Kings Park from where the following photos come.
One of many parts of Kings Park I visited for the first time was the Banksia section of the Botanic Gardens.This immature and slightly deformed bloom was asking for its picture to be taken.
Shannon at the top of the elevated walkway and the kids further down; all looking out to the Swan River. The CBD is visible in the photo's background.
The four of us with South Perth, the Narrows Bridge and the Swan River in the background
A couple of frogs playing around the water garden
Chauffeur, am I really meant to get into this?
The young lovebirds enjoying their first ever limousine ride
The Queen sent her congratulations
The delicious wedding anniversary chocolate cake
Cutting the cake
The family photo
Enjoying a hard-earned decaf cappuccino
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Marga and Poppop's
diamond wedding anniversary celebrations on Friday were a joy to behold.
At 11am a stretch limousine arrived in front of Mum and Dad's house in Henley Beach. Upon seeing the luxury vehicle Marga thought the chauffeur must have gone to the wrong address! 10 of us piled into the back of the custom vehicle for a tour of Glenelg, the Adelaide CBD and West Lakes, where we arrived to the Lakes Resort Hotel for lunch. This was my grandparents' first ever limo ride after over 80 years of life!
Towards the end of lunch I read out congratulatory letters from all and sundry:
- Federal Opposition Leader Malcom Turnbull
- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
- South Australian Governor Kevin Scarce
- Member for the Electorate of Grey Rowan Ramsey
- South Australian Premier Mike Rann
- South Australian Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith
- Governor General Quentin Bryce; and,
- Queen of Australia Elizabeth R
I knew my Mother's parents were exemplary and popular people but I didn't know their network extended this far! :)
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
On 9th April 1949 Marjorie ('Marj', 'Marga') and Edward ('Ted', 'Poppop') married in South West England. This Easter in Adelaide my maternal grandparents will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary - what an amazing achievement!
