No Favourites Here

Australian Academy of Science

Late last year, the Australian Academy of Science announced it's annual award prize winners of which Andy was awarded the Frederick White Prize . So last week Andy presented his lecture 'Surprises in the Southern Ocean' at the Shine Dome. That evening we had to scrub up to attend a black tie dinner at the Gallery.

Perth Playgrounds

Are just the BEST! Here is the Dinosaur Park in Kings Park, officially known as Synergy Parkland. It has giant sculptures of local dinosaurs which are perfect for climbing on as well as 3 playgrounds. And did I mention a coffee shop....

    

 

Matthew and Muppet Day

While in Perth we met for the first time Matthew, Heather and Adrian's 3 month old son. Matthew enjoyed interacting with our two girls - pulling faces with Katy and holding hands with Ella. Muppet on the other hand was very wary, keeping the girls at an arms length despite their best efforts at patting him.

AQWA

Instead of a party, we suggested to Ella that we venture to Underwater World for her birthday. It was me though who was showing my age. I've been a few times before to Underwater World - firstly as a student and secondly as a teacher!! However these days it is now known as the Aquarium of Western Australia. Anyhow with Nana, Grandad and Nayne (my nana) in tow, the girls explored the wonders of the ocean and rivers. The conveyor belt travelator was still as I remembered but for the girls the highlight was Mettams touch pool and holding different starfish.

Bunbury

Our trips to Perth always involve an overnight stay with our very good friend Annwen and her children Ashley and Nathan who reside in Bunbury. It just so happen that on the Saturday, the local orienteering club SWOT were holding an event at Evedon Ridge. Parking at the quarry certainly provided entertainment for Ella and Katy while Andy and I tag teamed. Combining the steep slope, dry gum leaves and notorious WA red gravel made for a very slippery course. Fun all the same especially with the sunny warm weather!

Next stop Annwen's house. Before our tour of Annwen's new enormous abode had even finished, the girls had already reacquainted themselves and Ashley was busy painting fingernails and toenails! The kids played heaps together (with the occssional disagreement) and were pretty exhausted by bedtime.

Next morning was perfect - morning run followed by cooked breakfast then down to the Bunbury foreshore to scoot, skate and ride and enjoy a takeaway coffee! With the school term beginning the next day for Annwen our visit was short and sweet but as always very enjoyable. 

Happy 5th Birthday Ella

For the second year running, Ella spent her birthday in Perth. As per usual the birthday cake is an important factor in celebrating ones birthday. So wIth Andy in charge and assisted (?) by Ella and Katy a wonderful rabbit cake was produced. Ella spent the day shopping, cake making, swimming, bike riding capped off with a family dinner with nana and grandad. Her 'party' this year was a trip to underwater world but more on that later.

Perth

Our visit to Perth in April was slightly different to previous ones. Namely Nana was mostly at work while Grandad was at home. Luckily for the girls Nana set up various fun activities (like egg decorating) to keep the girls and Grandad busy while I embarked on my annual renovation challenge. This time around renovations included fridge swapping, weeding, painting (8 internal doors and my old bedroom) and various odd jobs. All of these required numerous visits to Bunnings which for the girls meant a play on the indoor castle (much more exciting than the local Bunnings playground). And of course while I was busy at home, Andy was busy at UWA.

So our trip wasn't all about work - Mum and Dad bought a few secondhand bikes. Ella was a speed demon on hers while Katy had a tricycle with a handle out the back so we could assist when necessary. Katy slowly got the hang of steering by the end of the holiday but flatly refused to pedal!

We visited our favourite playground the 'Pirate Ship." Dad, the girls and I enjoyed lunch there which was lovely. Unfortunately we forgot it was still school holidays so the playground was absolutely packed and trying to keep an eye on Ella was difficult.

The weather was beautiful. Warm enough to have mud baths naked in the backyards as well as venture down to the river for a paddle.

The girls became experts on watching out for Grandad's foot (where he had his achilles tendon stitched back together) as well as finding his crutches and reminding him to use them. We had the community nurse come most days to dress dad's wound as it had been infected. This provided some interest and the teddy on the bed also ended up needing his leg bandaged too!

Grandad wasn't the only one in the wars. Amy, mum's 13 year old poodle was taken to the vet with bad breath. Turns out she had a gum infection as well as requiring a trip to the doggie dentist. Now I thought human dentists were expensive - Amy had a scale, clean and 6 teeth removed all for $1700!! No wonder why mum and dad still need to work!

Security Breach

Sorry for the lack of posts but we've been enjoying ourselves holidaying in Perth.

For this trip we decided for the same price to avoid the direct Canberra - Perth which leaves Canberra at 7.30ish pm to land in Perth at 12ish am then arrive at parents house in Kardinya by 1ish am. Rather we left Canberra on a 10am flight to Melbourne, had a 2 hours wait before boarding at 1pm which had us land in Perth at 4.30ish pm arriving at Kardinya by 5.30pm. Much more civilised!

However it was in Melbourne airport where we needed to kill some time so off we ventured. Now we all know what 2yr olds are like good fun most of the time but also determined to show some independence some may stubborn. So we are walking from our gate at Virgin towards the general food and check in area with Andy and Ella leading the way when Katy decides she doesn't want to walk and plonks herself down. After a few encouraging words which got me no where I said 'oh well just have to leave you there Katy' and keep walking hoping we would get a short distance before she would come running.

Unfortunately two things occurred simultaneously- Katy didn't come running (she was about 15 metres away) and we by this stage were heading into the security section (without actually realising it). Andy  turned around, began to walk back towards Katy intending to pick her up and in the process set off all the alarms!!! Within seconds, were flashing lights, sirens blarring and guards running!

Katy meanwhile had stated to moved a little towards Andy but then deciding that it was a game turned on her heel and ran! With The guards blocking Andy we stood and watched helplessly. Katy still thought it was all very funny that was until one of the guards caught up with her and carried her back! With lots of disapproving glares we continued on our way....