Summer of Change pt. 2

Day 8 - Back home

Tess came to say goodbye as we were clearing out.

The sky, the jeep, the free road - that's life!

Day 7 - Scenic Drive

Maybe because we knew our time at Wyadup was ending, we woke up earlier than planned. Sarah was up enjoying the sun's warmth with a book and chocolate milk.

When most of us were up, Max made breakfast for all with the free range eggs from the farm. We had bacon, garlic toast,eggs with milk and juice. There were two floors, some of us were enjoying the sunshine outside our room's balcony while the rest stayed inside.

After breakfast, we drove around to find a pier for Max to fish.

We were waiting for the waves to give chase.

A pit stop for delicious cakes at Salmon Bay.

While I had my hooks tangled with seaweed,

Max caught a fish...

Keli saluting the sunset.

Day 6 - Wyadup

We got up pretty early to say hello to the farm owners and animals.
Here we are feeding the chickens.

This is Judy, the lady owner. She brought us around the farm and introduced us to all the animals. This baby calf is called Squirt.

This is Rebecca. Elsie refused to go near Squirt for fear he would lick her.

I can't quite remember the others. Judy was sharing with us stories of the farm and answering all our questions. It was great waking up a morning like this.

The rolls of hay are to last them through the winter and you'll be surprise how heavy they are. One roll is food for three days so imagine how many they have to stock up!

This is Tess, a very vain girl. She went up to everyone for a tickle.

After our tour, we set off to have breakfast at the Caves.

There we go down into Jewel Cave.

Here are staglamytes and staglatytes

Those are dubbed organ pipes

and this, the hanging table.

Back in the car, we were on our way to visit the little factories in Margaret River.

We were going crazy trying to hunt down Cape Lavender. We made turns here and there...

To the Margaret River Chocolate Factory where everyone got something for home. We bought their Lemon Curd and Apricot Almond jam which is to die for!!!

The cheese factory.

And finally Cape Lavender where the Lavender Scones were waiting!

Then we were trying to beat the sunset to see the lighthouse.

Back home, we started the fire and cooking began.

We opened a bottle of Merlot from Cape Lavender, courtesy of Max and had a brilliant night!

Day 5 - Drive down to Perth, Margaret River.

Our last day at Chateau Freo, we packed our bags and waited for the cars. There was a tree of "Christmas lights" outside the porch that caught our attention.

Crossing the bridge over to Perth

and letting the wind get the better of us

we were screaming to the songs on the radio.

Our pit stop at Busselton where the longest of piers rested.

Families were everywhere enjoying the brilliant weather.

I can't remember what we were laughing about but it must be something that Max said.

And here we are eating and ready to fish!

Some sort of pufferfish we caught but we didn't have much time with it since one of the passerby ladies decided that she should free the little thing so she shoved through, scooped the fish up and tossed it into the ocean. It happened all so quickly that we didn't really see her face...

And almost immediately the skies turned cloudy and drizzles came down.

We reeled in and packed some Fish n Chips for the long car ride

and a little spin off the road brought us to a little part of heaven.

Then we had to ask for directions to our new home at Wyadup.

Day 4 - Train to Perth City

We decided to go on a train ride even though we were heading to Perth the next day. Train rides are always fun and you get another sight of the country. But of course we had to start the day with a perfect breakfast!

My eggs benedict

Keli's pancakes

Elsie's big breakfast

On the way to the train station

and homeward bound.

Summer of Change

Day 3 - Rottnest Island

A day trip offshore is always perfect with the sun high in the sky, the clouds floating by, and lots of wind from the sea and cycling down hill.

Our pit stop at Little Salmon Bay

Keeping cool with feet in the sand.

Quokka came looking for snacks.

Our picnic was shortened as we had to cycle back to return the bikes and catch the ferry back.

While waiting for the ferry we decided to soak up the sun.

Day 2 - Fremantle City

We had a hard time trying to find our house, Chateau Freo last night but our driver, Les, was an entertainment, we didn't mind going round the blocks before reaching home. The next morning brought more surprises as we went out to the back...

On our way to catch the Fremantle CAT bus, we explored the residential area around our place.

We alighted one stop too late and decided to follow the trail back.

We reached the Esplanade stop but couldn't figure how to get across to the Fish n Chips eateries so we stopped by the Maritime Museum before getting directions.

This is Malcolm. He stopped in the middle of the road to help us poor, hungry-for-fish-n-chips kids. He rode ahead while we followed behind and he told us stories of the Fremantle Prison and the history of Western Australia. He also told us about the award winning Fish n Chips restaurants. We had coffee together and said our farewells. It's awesome to meet people that go all out to welcome you.

Kelis - Where we ate.

An ode to the Whitman brothers.

After a relaxing afternoon, we came back to have a feast of home cooked meal. Everything was done from scratch except for the aluminum-foiled lasagna. We even had a short-lived bonfire.

Some had beer, some had water, everyone was happy to be out in the darkness and cold, eating and talking and enjoying the company.

Day 1 - Airport

At the budget terminal, we met each other for the first time. We were flying off to Perth, Australia, an entourage of 9. We were friends of friends of friends, except that I had my sister with me. School had just finished and for most of them, it was their graduation trip. Funny how I'm speaking of many but the photos here only show us four (it's our first meeting, don't forget). I was excited to see what Western Australia had to offer and was looking forward to all-day breakfasts!

My Favourite Man of the Time.

Time

From a file of pictures I randomly saved.

Last night, a friend came back. 

Let's call it Moldy.

Moldy flew into my room last last night and decided to hang on the yellow wall.

I left my shutters open and switched off the light.

I was hoping the lights in the corridor would lure Moldy out.

I couldn't sleep if I was being watched.

Moldy left while I fell asleep on the sofa outside.

Last night, I went to bed late.

I open the shutters for ventilation and light.

I drew the curtains across and had the lights switched off.

I laid in bed with my back against the wall.

I could not sleep.

Moldy came back.

It got caught in the curtains and tried escaping.

It was a beautiful sight to see a familiar shadow in the darkness fluttering against the light.

A thought struck me: 

Could it be Ah Gong? 

I must have fallen asleep at that moment.

Sundays

Sunday is a day I find hard to like or dislike. It's the day where everyone is free from work and school. Sunday is family day. We can decide to stay home and go about doing our own things. Even though we are doing things apart, it's a nice feeling to know that everyone in the family is home. We can also be home together playing mahjong or Wii, and the loser will have to mop the floor. Sundays are also best to get the family together for a picnic and a walk. Sundays can get exciting when we go for car rides in search for good food. That's why it's never a chore to be out with parents. They drive and foot the bill and their crazy antics drive us up the wall almost everytime but that's what makes it fun to be a part of this family.

Yet Sundays can be such a snore because the weekend is over in an instant and the week starts all over again on monday where I never fail to count down the days before the weekend is here again. It makes me more conscious of the routined life I have and that is upsetting.

On the side, something I've been caught up in:



Although it doesn't have anything to do directly with sundays but to take Rachael's word, there are things I have to let go and that includes my habitual sunday laze. 

Image

"Strange, I had never seen the Baronin in this light before," the Baron was saying, and he crossed his knees. "If I should try to put it into words, I mean how did I see her, it would be incomprehensible, for the simple reason that I find that I never did have a really clear idea of her at any time. I had an image of her, but that is not the same thing. An image is a stop the mind makes between uncertainties. I had gathered, of course, a good deal from you, and later, after she went away, from others, but this only strengthened my confusion. The more we learn of a person, the less we know."

Nightwood, Djuna Barnes

I have no idea what he's singing but I love the video.

Snapshot

EVERY LIFE HAS one true-love snapshot. For Eddie, it came on a warm September night after a thunderstorm, when the boardwalk was spongy with water. She wore a yellow cotton dress, with a pink barrette in her hair. Eddie didn't say much. He was so nervous he felt as if his tongue were glued to his teeth. They danced to the music of a big band, Long Legs Delaney and his Everglades Orchestra. He bought her a lemon fizz. She said she had to go before her parents got angry. But as she walked away, she turned and waved.

That was the snapshot.For the rest of his life, whenever he thought of Marguerite, Eddie would see that moment, her waving over her shoulder, her dark hair falling over one eye, and he would feel the same arterial burst of love.

That night he came home and woke his older brother . He told him he'd met the girl he was going to marry.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

Ah my sleepless nights, 

Spent switching through the different channels on cable,

And pacing around the room, in search of means and ways to fill the void.

I find my shape in the sofa.

My head goes through the records,

The need to write, to jot down and make a list

Swirls up.

I cuddle up to one side. 

Heike's Picnic

Although it started off rough (very much due to the tremendous heat), we had a lovely time. I very much prefer picnics to eating at restaurants. The ambience is naturally great so it's perfect to spend intimate time with friends or family. And the best part of it all is when you get to go supermarketing with a bunch of people you love.

Extreme Fun

I know! What can be so extreme about this? Wait till you download the machine, then we'll talk! Remember to leave your speakers on 'cos that makes all the difference!!!

This is why I stay home more and more >...