SNAPSHOTS OF MARCH

Days in Maida Vale passed in family routine and events that made writing up a blog appear rather mundane – which it wasn’t as this is our time to be involved with family and be part of them that we solved  constraints by producing snap shots of our visit here  which of course runs well into mid April.

We watched the family romping in the sea on Talia’s sixth Birthday down on Bathers Beach, Fremantle followed by supper from the nearby Food Market. This is a relatively new venue and was certainly very popular. 

TRADITION evolves! Grandad first made a ‘cake’ for his new bride. Over the years he made it for his children with their help and now all the grandchildren love to be involved in Grandad’s deliciously sinful cake making. Talia and Erin’s had their first turn, in this Perth creation. 

Not to be outdone, Lea produced hot cakes for Labor Day breakfast wearing her newly made shorts – standard camping uniform usually made by Ruth Smith. Making was very stressful for Lea and the least said or seen up close, the better! 

   

Party Time – Grandad was kept busy in the lead up. He made an ice cream parlour shop front for Talia’s birthday and a dog kennel for Erin’s birthday. 

Disruptive – Yes! But travel time is less onerous when Granny sits in the back with the girls and becomes a crocodile.

Grandad’s wishing well makes a wonderful addition to sand play.

Despite the emotional trauma Harley dog’s spine caused last year – she is still up to catching a mouse just to please the love of her life- grandad!

George refused to stand beside the mirrored screen he’d just completed constructing for Saxon, at the end of the veranda, for fear of spoiling its lines.

Easter Sunday – weather perfectly suited for a big family picnic out at Yanchep National Park with Kay and Alan Gee and Tom, Holly and Carmen Rutter.

1^st April dawned – the 16^th anniversary of our arrival Down Under and we took time off to head into the city of Perth for a few days.  Viki Shelver took Lea to lunch in Kings Park and we talked and talked and forgot about a camera. AND, we celebrated Di Ryan’s birthday on ‘Fool’s Day’ down on the Swan River.

  

The camping fraternity enjoy a ‘catch up’ to mark Di’s and Jenny’s birthday.  From left: Pete Ryan, George, Jenny Woodgush, Di Ryan, Marcus Woodgush, Velda Herring, Lea and Peter Herring. 

Next day,Lea happily socialized with her friends morning, noon and night! Frustration was  forgetting to mark the  morning and lunch with Eggy Boggs; the lovely afternoon walk in Kings Park midst the wild flowers  with Jean Rogers (nee Macdonald) before the two of them rushed back to afternoon tea with the Ryan’s and Ady Emmerson nee Pearce. Before the cups were allowed to get cold, Lea and George charged off to Nedlands for an evening with the Lords.

Not so long ago Des and Liz only looked after dogs now they have four grandchildren! We met Ava down on the sports field with her parents Conks and Andrew before handing over their dog Lily. Baffy tows Ava...  

Midweek- Lea spent a good part of the day in her favourite Boucla Cafe in Subiaco meeting Di Godson for an early morning coffee closely followed by another with Heather Mortimer nee Hayter. Lea anxiously wondered if she would recognize Heather as she hadn’t seen her since  her teenage years! Our parents were close friends throughout their lives in Zimbabwe. Much water had passed under our bridges and it was wonderful to catch up on the decades and, yes we saw family resemblances in each other immediately so inner fears were groundless. Before we knew it was 3 in the afternoon...

It was also midway between birthdays and that night, Wendy Low prepared a special birthday dinner for Di and George.

Party time! left:- Di, George, Lea and right:- Sancia and Denis Griffiths with Wendy Low.

EVENTFUL - George may become a cook? He made his Fridge cake in March and in April to much fanfare he made  Banoffee Pie for Wendy’s dinner party.

   

On our last day in the city Ryans and Beggs saw a beautiful film “Performance” followed by an impromptu dash to Fremantle to partake in a sardine lunch at Kailis Brothers.  Very disappointing! All our sardines were overcooked and over-crumbed with no flavour what-so-ever.

The vivid sunset colours seen from ‘Sunset Ridge’ are seldom captured on camera but George made the attempt as another visit with our Gee family and H-Dog came to an end.

With apologies and a ‘little’ adaption to songwriter Cat Steven’s words, we end mid April on this note!

Well, we left our happy homes to see what we could find out,

We left our folk and friends with the aim to clear our minds out,

Well, we hit the rowdy road and many kinds we met there.

Many stories told us of the way to get there.

So on and on we go, the seconds tick the time.

There’s so much left to know,

AND we’re on the road to find out...