Back to reality

So, the great adventure is finished and we are now back home and ploughing through all the post and answerphone messages. Mind you, we had 15 messages and 14 of those were either about PPI or new government incentives!

As a finale, a few last memories of our trip. 

This is the church in Lesmurdie that we went to a couple of times. Lovely church and lovely people. 

Perth airport, waiting for our first flight to Singapore. 

Our plane arriving at the terminal. 

Lining up on the runway ready for takeoff. 

Goodbye Perth. A last look.

A selfie in the plane. 

Sunset somewhere on our journey.

Singapore airport and one of their ornamental gardens. They have wonderful areas with children's activities and quiet areas. 

We had five hours at Singapore before the next flight just after 1pm. As soon as we were on the plane they gave us supper - at 2pm. Then, lights out and off to sleep. In the night snacks were available to anyone who wanted them. During the flight we were going to cross several time zones, hence the supper when we set off. The airline were trying to 'normalise' our flight so that the next meal, which would be in daylight, would be breakfast. But, because we were moving backward in time over the timelines, our airplane calendar needed manipulation to end up with a sensible meal at a sensible time against the UK clocks. In the course of the flight we had to lose 7 hours, the difference between Perth time and London time. When we had our breakfast it was 9 o'clock local time (in the country we were flying over) but 7 o'clock London time. So all the window shutters were closed to give the impression of early morning but when I peeked outside, it was brilliant sunshine! The shutters were only opened when we approached England in time to fully wake up and get off the plane. 

Anyway, full marks to Singapore Airlines, they managed out 'time travel' superbly. 

We will be home for two or three weeks before settling off again on the boat for six months. So, don't worry if the blog goes quiet for a while, you've got six months of activity to look forward to! 

Saturday and Sunday

Well, they always say: 'save the best till last,' and they certainly have. 

Saturday saw us taking the bus into Perth to avoid all the parking costs and problems in the city. 

The main reason for going into Perth was to visit the Bell Tower. 

The Bell Tower has a 16 bell peal and is one of three such peals in the world. Twelve of the bells came from St Martin-in-the-Fields and were donated to the State of Western Australia as part of the 1988 Australian bicentenary celebrations. So, for us, a visit there was a must. 

The tower looks a bit like a spaceship! It is fully equipped with a lift, sales area on the ground floor, bells and ringing chamber behind glass so that visitors can watch what's going on, and toilets! At the top there is a viewing platform where you get a full panoramic view of the Swan River and the city. 

The platform can also be used as a wedding venue. 

Here we are in the ringing chamber just chiming 10 of the bells. 

Every Saturday visitors are invited to chime the bells just to get a feel of what it's like. 

Here I'm peering through the glass to see the bells. 

A monitor in the ringing chamber to show what's going on up top. 

When we told the tutor that we rang in England we were immediately invited to go back and ring properly with them on Sunday. Wow, no begging on our part, just, you're here in Perth, come along, you must ring on 16 bells. 

Follow that! 

Well, strangely enough, we did. On Sunday morning we went to Lesmurdie church again and were welcomed in as if we'd been going there all our lives. Ron's sermon included lighting four candles and he referred to dear old Ronnie Corbett who died last week. It surprised us how much English programmes and comedy are appreciated over here and the four candles, or fork 'andles, got laughs all round. He then brought in a deeper significance using the candles as his visual aid. A wonderful sermon. But, at the end of the service he called Brigid and me forward and invited the congregation to pray for Brigid and her ministry at the Chapel. A unique end for our time in Australia. 

We then went along to the Bell Tower and made ourselves known to the team. 

I managed a touch of Grandsire Doubles and then we all rang rounds on the 16 bells. Amazing! 

The band were very friendly and send their greetings to the UK. They also commented on the fact that there were enough visiting ringers in the tower for all the bells to be rung. 

Afterwards, a celebratory lunch on the quay. 

Lamb for me. 

Barramundi for Brigid. We followed that with creme brûlée and cheesecake. Yummee. 

After that (we really were trying to cram in as much as we could) we set off to listen to Linda's orchestra playing at an outdoor concert. Unfortunately we just got there as everyone was packing up to go home. A great shame but at least we were able to say goodbye properly to Chris and Lynda. 

Apart from the one hiccup, a memorable last day in Australia. 

Tuesday to Friday April 1st.

Sorry folks, that I haven't posted anything since Monday. The truth is that without moving on to a new place, I didn't want the blog to become a boring catalogue of: got up, had breakfast, went out, etc. 

So, where have we been the last few days? 

Well, on Tuesday we decided to visit Rottnest Island, a former penal colony off the coast from Perth. So we made our way to Fremantle in time to catch the ferry across. What we hadn't factored into the equation was that this was the last day of the school holidays and hundreds of people had the same idea as us. So, change of plan and a walk round Fremantle instead. (Also, the ferry and bike hire would have cost £90!) 

Here is the Roundhouse, completed in 1831. At 1pm each day a cannon is fired from the ramparts and in olden days would have been used by all vessels in harbour to calibrate their timepieces. 

Further along, a nice place to sit in the shade - formerly the morgue! 

Replica coffins now used as seats. 

We then went into the shipwreck museum where one area had a story about the Canvey Island Monster. 

Well, I never knew that! 

The museum also house hundreds of relics from ships wrecked along WA’s treacherous coastline, including the original timbers from the Batavia (wrecked in 1629). We spent an interesting hour or two there in a fascinating museum. We realised that the timbers in our house are probably as old as those of the Batavia! 

After lunch, up to visit to prison. I decided not to have the guided tour since having spent 8 years in a women's prison (teaching, I might add!) I didn't think I needed a tour of another such establishment. 

They let us both out in time for tea and coffee down near the quay. 

On Wednesday, what did we do? Oh yes, we went to Scarborough and Cottesloe, both coastal towns just north of Perth. 

Lovely open beaches with some surf but very little shade. 

We walked around for a while until we discovered the exercise machines. 

Brigid walking off numerous lunches! 

I did have a go as well but those photos are on the video camera! 

We then sat for a while (exhausted after all that exercise.) and people watched - a delightful pastime. 

Thursday saw us exploring the Kalamunda National Park. 

We did a bit of driving and walking, exploring different areas of the park. 

The trails are well laid out with plenty of cycle paths as well. 

Here is a view across to Mundaring Weir Reservoir. If you enlarge the picture you can see the water but levels are low at the moment. 

In the afternoon we drove across to meet up with Peter Pack who is over visiting his daughter in Bassendean. On the way across we went through High Wycombe and Guildford. I just hope that the satnav realises we're in Australia and not England, otherwise it could be quite a detour! 

And then, on Friday, we went and visited my cousin Chris and Lynda. We had a great day out with them. They showed us some of the areas that you only get to see when taken around by locals to the area. Mind you, in some places they were surprised by the amount of development being undertaken. 

We visited Rockingham with lovely beaches and cafes on the seafront. 

We had lunch here and after, the customary photo. 

Then on to Mandurah, the Little Venice of WA. 

They have some wonderful children's play areas here. 

A pirate ship complete with telescope, wheel and plank. 

Then off to the Applecross area of Perth and 'millionaires row' where all the money is. 

A gorgeous sunset looking back down the harbour. 

So, a busy few days for us. It could have been even busier as we had an invite out from one of the church people to a folk evening. We are continually amazed by the friendliness of all the folk we have met. Long may it continue.