Spring in Perth

How very nice it was to finally catch up with Cliff and Jasmine in their lovely home. The weather turned beautiful on Day 2 of our trip, with temperatures of between 10 and 18 during the day and between 15 and 20 the last couple of days. I wish we could have brought some of it back.

How can sunshine be so damn bright ? Nights were a different matter; on with the socks! With the addition of youngest sibling Roger, it was good for the 3 of us to be together again, this time with the shadow of hospitals and death behind us. Much fun was had by all. And then there were the markets: Fremantle showing Olde Worlde, Kalamunda's charming outdoor stalls, lovely supermarkets, (gazing at meats seemed to be a pre-occupation), fishing at Rockingham, tea at a rose and tulip garden. How nice is that? Weekends there really do provide respite for the soul.

It was freezing at Kalamunda because it rained on and off; the winds sent tent tops helter skelter and hot chocolates and tea were the order of the day. I loved Kalamunda because of the knick-knacks and delightful finds. There was this lovely elderly lady playing 60s music and Calendar Girl and Talk Back Trembling Lips were in my head all day. Cliff said it's a 60's city and it's true; most places we stopped at were playing 60's music. Speaking of music, it was extremely reminiscent of Jedburgh Gardens to hear Freight Train being plucked on the guitar; I am still whistling it.

Fishing at Rockingham was another windy affair. Hubby snagged a small swordfish, to the envy of Cliff who claims that he has caught many fish there ... This catch was proudly fried to accompany ikan bilis sambal, for a nasi lemak brunch. It was a beautiful day, that day in Rockingham; kids were jumping off the pier, mothers and kids frolicked in the clear water; seagulls flirted against impossibly blue skies and cormorants were diving in and emerging with fish i.e. no wonder we caught only one. My clip-on shades lost the battle with the wind and took flight, right into the water, fortunately for me, close to the beach. Little Justin, aged 10, came to the rescue and waded in to get them.

One evening saw a delightful catch-up with old friends from K.C. for a good giggle. We've known each other since age 7. Imagine.

We initially booked a one-night's stay at a B&B called Carmelot, in Carmel, in the Perth Hills. Yes, Carmelot, complete with Lancelot and Guinevere rooms and an actual small castle behind! I assumed wrongly that it like a 3-hour drive away, when it was only 45 minutes. So we cancelled our rooms after spending time driving around winding roads, and having tea, and photographing a kookaburra at Lesmurdie Falls.

We celebrated Cliff's 61st birthday with a bbq - we despatched "I-can-take-the-cold" volunteers outdoors while we savoured the lovely meats within the warm confines of the family room. Even I was drinking wine! The lamb chops had to be devoured quickly before frostbite set in. Salad, anyone ? Fresh from the garden. The proud gardener had about 15 rose plants, a strawberry plant, lavender, a grape plant, spring onions, lettuce and pak choy among other things. Roger & Co presented him with some flowering plants and Adan and I a rose plant which he picked out.

It was sad to leave; but there is always another time. Cliff and Jas said later that the silence after we all left was deafening. Thank you, both of you for the love and wonderful hospitality.
(Please bear with Author for photographic memories as it takes time!)