How we value an occasion that spans the world and brings other dear friends to Perth… JG and Lynne flew in to help their daughter Caryn, a very new immigrant to Australia and about to have a caesarean birth. With barely days to spare, Lucy her sister-in-law, hosted a baby shower immediately the Osterbergs landed! Saxon and Lea attended while George slipped in the back door to spend the afternoon with his shamwari JG and godson Wayne.
The next day George became an OAP with a family braai to celebrate his birthday. Our Arian secretly hoped his heavily pregnant daughter would produce a grandchild on his day to match Finn’s arrival on his Aquarian grandmother’s day. Saxon and Paul had other ideas and sprang a surprise party on him. As the covert preparations came to light and guests arrived George was soon in his element.
Being surrounded by special people makes a party.
After the party we slipped down to Fremantle to spend a couple of nights with Ken & Lynne Tinley. There, we kicked back with artist Lynne and musician Ken with ‘jamming’ sessions and of course there were plenty of environmental issues for the two ecologists to chew over. Even went to see a film together, “The Reader” which we found thought provoking and stirring stuff. A sixth sense drew us back to Manning and just as well as Saxon was in the early stages of labour, a week early. The surprise party must have taken it took its toll! In the midnight hour we heard with jubilation that a grand-daughter - Erin Ashley was safely in the world, a mere three days after her Granddad’s Birthday.
An early morning visit followed as we all made our acquaintances with Erin Ashley.
With the Easter weekend approaching a “hatching” season had occurred placing pressure on beds. Natural childbirth seemingly a rarity, gave rise to our daughter being discharge 18 hours after the birth and we found ourselves dashing home to assemble cot and baby capsule in readiness for the homecoming. To add to all the to and fro of the day Lea had an appointment at another hospital for an unexpected biopsy. Fortunately all took place smoothly and we were all back home in time to greet Erin crossing the threshold. Thereafter, Easter passed in a blur of activities that surround a newborn!
Tomato Lake - George is renowned for being a grandfather who casts an evil eye leading us to wonder why his grandchildren don’t steer well clear of him! As the above photo attests… Talia is besotted with him.
Throughout the month we were able to enjoy many outings with Talia whether it was long walks out in the many beautiful parks that surround Perth; catching up with fellow grandparents and their grandchildren; visits to the library and shops and a Grand Sunday that had us climbing aboard a bus, followed by a ferry ride across the river, attending Buddha’s Birthday Festival and circling around in “Perth’s Eye” down at Barrack Square, all firsts for Talia.
Talia’s big day out
Never mind that we caught the wrong bus home that necessitated being dumped at the end of the line…the wrong side of Manning and had to walk home. Fortunately Talia took it all in her weary stride.
LONG DOGS WA (http://longdogswa.blogspot.com/) celebrated their first anniversary as a walking club for dachshunds down on the Swan River’s south side with a social gathering and dog race over the ANZAC long weekend. As a result, we didn’t expect a big turn out – we were proved wrong! Folk were agog as more and more sausage dogs congregated and later took to the race track! All celebrations must have a cake and in this case, Saxon created a special canine doggie-licious ice-cream cake that went down a treat.
Long Dogs WA’s first anniversary
With that April has come and gone in a flash and in three weeks time the rubber tramps will up sticks and head for Cape Town!
