Two Weeks Into One

Last night we returned to Perth after two weeks on the east coast, Tim working some of the time and the remaining time enjoying the company of family and friends, a bit of winter weather and partaking in the culinary delights that are on offer at Munong located at Smiggin Holes.

As you would expect at the opening of the ski session, Smiggin Holes was cold but lucky for us the icy wind wasn't around. Unfortunately for anyone that listened to the radio or TV and then headed to the snow, they would have been dreadfully disappointed as most announcers were very creative in their description of the snow, whereas in reality there wasn't much snow.  As usual Peter and Terry prepared and served us incredible meals and to counteracted the eating fest we hit the slopes to walk off some of the amazing food.

After three days it was back up to the sometimes wet and cold Sydney where we enjoyed catching up with everyone and also attempting to spot a whale. Between June and September most Sydney sider's have a need to get outdoors to try to capture whales frolicking around on their annual migration to the warmer northern waters. We were no different to everyone else and not only saw whales off The Gap at Watsons Bay but also saw Peter, Sue and family on their boat trying to sight the whales as well.

All the photo's are thanks to Tim's creativity as I neglected to take my camera.

The welcoming wet streets of Sydney

Smiggin Holes

On a walk

The Gap Watsons Bay

Peter Sue & family

Avon Valley

We've just had a long weekend for the Western Australia Foundation Day and so we headed out to the Avon Valley located about 90km east of Perth, which had been recommended to us as a must place to visit.

The drive to Avon Valley reminded us of the countryside around Bowral with the township of York having a Gyp just like Bowral except that it's not populated. York is a small town of approximately 3,000 and is the oldest inland town in WA that originally relied on wheat and the sheep industry but now focuses on tourism.  Not all businesses have a tourism focus as we went to one of the bistro's for lunch at 1.40pm and was told the kitchen had just closed. We spent the afternoon enjoying what was for offer including admiring the beautiful old buildings and then finding a small cafe that was frantically busy to enjoy lunch sitting out in the sunshine.

There's a small market located in the Old Mill that has beautifully crafted timber furniture and a fantastic Alpaca shop with the owner being very passionate about her product. I bought 200 gm of beautiful hand painted alpaca wool, which I can't wait to start knitting to see how it knits up.  In York there's also  a motor vehicle museum and the usual variety of tourist shops.

We also drove to another town called Beverley that has a gliding and skydiving industry but didn't seem to have much else except for primary industry.

The Old Mill

A beautiful piece of furniture for sale at the Old Mill

The York Town Hall

Inside the town hall

Beverley Town Hall

Not Enough Hours In The Week

After having worked full time until we moved to Perth I thought I would have plenty of opportunities to do all the things that I wanted to do but I'm struggling.  It's all my sporting activities that prevent me from the sewing, quilting and other things that I also love to do. Yoga three times week, the gym, swimming, golf lesson plus practice and then fitting in my walking training - a hard life!  I'm not working but I still really look forward to the weekend just to have a rest.

What a winger you say or I would say if I heard it being said when I was working, but in saying all that I love it and I pinch myself everyday and say how lucky I am.

I went out today for a 15km walk and discovered parliament hill, I don't know if its called that but that's what I'll call it, parliament house is located here with other government buildings overlooking the city. Opposite parliament house is Solidarity Park that's dedicated to free speak and includes memorials for many people who have been killed in work place injuries. One very moving memorial was for a teenager who was killed at work it even included his hard hat.

Parliament House 

Parking spaces outside Parliament House ? for the members of Parliament

 A beautiful old house and green space

Dumas House is a government building which seems to be out of place as it sits next to the beautiful old building above