So we arrived in Australia halfway through January. Its about 40 degrees outside when we land and its absolutely toasting. Fantastic!!!
We had 5 days of chilling out and seeing the Perth family before Naomi (hopefully) started work at the clinic!!!
On our first night we had a good ole Aussie bbq at Lou’s house :) something we had both looked forward to since the last time we were here. We also got to meet the infamous Adrian and Tom, which was great to finally put some faces to names we had heard so many wonderful things about.
Our way of meeting Joe (Libby’s boyf) was at his birthday party on our second day. Those Irish definitely know how to throw a good party, and definitely think that paddling pools should be vital necessities at house parties!
Of course, shopping is always a vital necessity when arriving in Perth and seeing for the first time in 2 years!!!
And then there was Australia Day, which was planned to be a massive night. But with Naomi having to do an introductory massage on one of the senior therapists at the clinic the next day and having drunk a lot of alcohol over the previous couple of days, we all chose to watch the Aussie Day Fireworks from the ZigZag road in Kalamunda that overlooks Perth from the hills and is just round the corner from the Wolfe household.
So after this, rather than bore you all with a day by day account, we will just do a round up of the things we have got up to. However Chris did spend 3 and a half of the 6 months in Malaysia playing paintball, and Naomi spent a lot of her time working (no surprises there) so there may not appear to be a huge amount to update lol!
Work Placement at Subiaco Sports Massage Clinic
For the last 6 months, Naomi has been doing a work placement at the amazing Subi Sports Massage Clinic. It all started with an initial treatment with the fab Andreas. I was so nervous, but looking back now, I don’t know why I was, as Andreas is the loveliest person and the clinic couldn’t be anymore laid back.
It is a very professional set up with memorabilia all over the walls from all the famous teams that the clinic have worked with, very very intimidating.
Initially, I was doing 3 training sessions a week, and offsetting it with reception shifts, while also getting daily treatments from the therapists. But slowly I was doing less and less training, before they decided to start to get me training. I started to do one clinic shift a week treating therapists and their friends and family, and also one corporate shift a week with one of the firms that the clinic works for. This helped me to build up my confidence until the clinic owner, Bernd, felt I was ready to be let loose on the general public :)
Now at the end of my time here, I am still doing some reception shifts, but I also do 4 massage shifts a week and have a regular client base. Some of my clients have included international Hockey and Rugby players and elite Ironman and Triathletes, experience I would never have gotten anywhere else!
I have enjoyed working at the clinic sooooooo much and am gutted to be leaving there as in another life (and if the Aus govt didnt have there silly visas) I could see myself making a real career out of it at the clinic! I am gona miss all the wonderful people I have met there and hope that I will one day be back to see them all (or maybe see them when they are in Europe).
To all my fave Subi pals, miss ya and luv ya!!!
Libby and Duncan’s birthday
So in Feb, it was both cousin’s birthdays. For Duncan’s birthday, everyone went to play Supagolf (oversized clubs and golf balls on a 9 hole course) out in the Swan Valley. We spent most of the time watching Libby and Lou chasing their balls across different freeways lol! Then we went for lunch at the brewery that is connected to the Supagolf.
For Libby’s birthday we went to the Valenders house for a meal and then out into town for drinks, but it was all about the birthday cake that made the day. Libby is obsessed with birthday cakes. So when she woke up and there was no cake to be seen anywhere, she pulled the biggest hissy fit……. it was hilarious….. and everyone including 11year old Tom was in on it. Anyways after about an hour of huffing and puffing, Lou thought it was about time to bring out the amazing cake. Now Libby is observed with the local cupcake shop, so Lou went this particular shop and decked out a special tiered posh plate with a special Libby cupcake. OMG, it was amazing!
Rottnest Island
Naomi got an unexpected day off mid week, so we decided to head over to Rottnest Island, 20km west off the coast of Perth. It was a nice early start and we wanted to make full use of our full day in Rotto!
The ferry ride over was a nice bumpy interesting journey, passing all the freight boats docked outside Perth. It took about half an hour to get over.
Now Rotto is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, and also its bicycles!!! Before heading over, all we heard from everyone was how much fun it was to chill out and cycle around Rotto. What no one actually told us was how hilly it was, and we’re not just talking one hill…….. its hills upon hills upon hills, oh and more hills.
The views from Henrietta Rocks on the south west coast.
Unfortunately Chris’s leg wasn’t feeling to great, so we had to take long pit stops at every nice beach we found. Oh shame lol! But it didn’t stop us from having lots of fun, snorkelling, swimming (beach sleeping lol) and of course cycling!!!
Something else Rotto is famous for, is its Quokka inhabitants, a marsupial native to only Rotto. Small, and thought to be shy, but they like to hang out in the popular eating spots for obvious reasons!
We decided to cut across country rather than do the coastal route around the island to take a look at some the beautiful (and very smelly) salt flats/lakes that are inland.
We spent the late afternoon chilling and snorkelling on one of the north east’s beaches. Chris enjoyed some well deserved zzzzzzzz’s while Naomi enjoyed lots of time in the water.
My deserted beach!
Some arty pictures of the beaches
When we got back to the wharf to catch the ferry back to Perth, there was an unexpected guest waiting to entertain us during our wait. A pelican had taken residence at the end of the wharf, waiting for one of the fishermen to hand it it’s dinner. We did not realise how enormous pelicans are!!!
After a couple of drinks at the Rotto Arms, we enjoyed the sunset over the island back on the ferry! Great day out :)
Trip down south (Busselton and Margaret River)
Before Chris headed off to Malaysia for the first time, we decided to take a weekend away together and Chris took charge and surprised Naomi by taking her down to south west coast of Australia to an area near to Margaret River (wine country).
We stayed in a town called Busselton in a fantastic, very posh lodge (Inn the Tuarts) in the middle of a forest called Tuarts Forest as it is full of a type of tree called Tuarts which are native to only Western Australia.
For the price, this is one of the best places we have ever stayed, with the most HAAAAAAAAMAZING breakfast. For the first time ever, we forced ourselves out of bed every morning just to have the breakfast, which was huge, made with all local and fresh ingredients and just to die for!!
We spent our first day in and around Busselton just chilling out and taking in the sights and the beach. Enjoying chilling in the shade of the longest pier in the southern hemisphere at 2km long!
We had facilities at our hotel to do a BBQ so we took full advantage and bought some local food and wine and dined like kings for the night :)
Even skippy came to join us for dinner. It was our first experience of kangaroos on this trip, and they were literally within meters of us grazing in the back garden of our hotel. Great end to the day!
On our second day, we headed down to the Margaret River vineyard area. We had no plans, just to drive and enjoy the beautiful day and see where it took us.
Our first stop was a vineyard called EDWARDS. Hmmmmm wonder why that one took our fancy!!!! It was a lovely family run vineyard with exquisite wines. Being our first stop though, we didn’t drink too much!!!
We then drove down to Prevelli beach, but it was way too windy and sand was going in our eyes so we didn’t stay for very long. But on our way down to Prevelli, we drove past a surf art sign, so we back tracked to go and have a look!
The lady who runs this art workshop, is well known in Margaret River, and as the surf is so tough here, many people who break their boards, bring them too her for her to paint! She only uses recycles goods (mostly surf boards) and is the loveliest woman, and of course, we had to get one!!!
We then went into Margaret River for some lunch and a potter round the shops! Did a bit of purchasing in the surf shops of course!!!
Then we headed back up north towards Busselton, via Bunkers Bay, a bay that many people had recommended to us as it is deserted and beautiful. And we totally agreed on both points!
As we had such a nice time at our hotel the evening before, we decided to spend it at the hotel again. We were enjoying the quiet and early nights too much, especially as we had to head back to Perth the next day :( but not before enjoying another of the fab breakfasts!!!
Once we got back to Perth, Chris flew to Malaysia for 8 weeks, while Naomi stayed in Perth to continue her training and work at the clinic!
AFL for Chris’s Birthday
Not long after Chris came back to Perth, it was his ‘29th’ birthday ;)
Naomi bought tickets to go and see some Aussie Rules Football. We went to see West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn Hawks at the Subiaco Oval. It was an absolute scorcher of a day. We were sat between two groups of Aussie lads who took us under their wing and not only tried to force beer down our throats, but also very nicely explained what the hell was going on on the field of play, as a lot of the time, we didn’t have a clue lol!!!
West Coast won fortunately. But it was like no football match we had ever been to. There was no security, unlike the footie matches back home. All the supporters sat together and socialised nicely with each other, unlike the segregation back home. It was just very weird. There was also no atmosphere, no chanting and just didn’t feel right. We really enjoyed it, but it doesn’t even touch the sides on going to a game of footie on in the UK!!!
Mundaring, Toodyay and York
On one of the bank holiday weekends, we decided to go for a few day trips inland into Western Australia and discover a few of the older towns and see some of the fantastic scenery.
On the first day we drove along the long and winding Mundaring Weir Road from Kalamunda out into the country. The road takes you to the Weir (lake) via national parks. Baring in mind it has been on our doorstep the whole time, we should have done this sooner and more often as its very enjoyable.
We firstly stopped off at the Dam that is on Mundaring Weir to take in the pumping stations and scenery (and an ice cream of course!).
The long walk to the other side, and the continuation of the Bibulman track once there.
We then had lunch further along the way in Mundaring town, which is literally like a pitstop on one of the main roads that leads inland! Lots of bakeries there though :)
We then headed back into the Hills and drove around till we found Darlington Wine Estate where we took in the views.
Then we headed back towards Kalamunda and decided to watch the sunset from the ZigZag road just round the corner from Lou’s house.
The next day we headed off out on the Toodyay Road, along with everyone else from Perth, or so it seemed! We planned to visit a couple of country towns and to just enjoy a nice drive in the WA countryside.
When we got to about 10 miles out of Toodyay, there was all of a sudden a sign that said “Toodyay – Scenic Drive”. And it really was scenic, with steep farming hills towering over either sides of the road, and not a human, house or car in sight for miles. It was pure tourist bliss!
Toodyay is one of the earliest inland towns in Western Australia, established in 1836, which for Aussie standards is very old lol!!!
We had a bite to eat and a potter round town, then got on the road to York, via some scenic drive detours.
York is the oldest town in Western Australia, established in 1831. Walking down the main street in York, ignoring the cars and people, you could almost imagine being there in 1831 as a lot of the buildings are still intact or have been restored very well.
After leaving York, we had a long drive back to Kalamunda with all the other Perthians who had ventured out to the countryside for the day. On the upside, it was through more national parks, so was very scenic again :)
Tree Climbing with Dunc and Nushka!!!
We had to put this in here as its hilarious. Duncan loves his tree climbing and has been climbing in the garden in his spare time. Anyways, one day we went out there, and him and his friend Tom were hoisting Nushka (the dog) up into a tree. Now you would think this is cruel, however weirdo Nushka couldn’t have looked any calmer or happier than being up a tree with Duncan. It was the funniest and surrealist thing! Weirdo fluff dog lol!
Mamma Mia
As part of Naomi’s thank you to the family for putting her up for 6 months, Naomi took Lou and Libby to see Mamma Mia at the Burswood Theatre in Perth. We had so much fun, singing and dancing and getting our cameras conviscated for taking pictures lol! All Naomi wanted to do was take a picture of the three ladies dressed up and singing Voulez Vous for Mum!!!! Lol! Oh well, so not many pics from that night at all!
We then went for a very posh dinner at Victoria Station and to end the evening with a bang, watched the England vs Germany World Cup 2nd round game at Sports Bar in the casino. However we left at half time after the disallowed goal as the fans were all starting to get a bit rowdy with the germans, so we watched the 2nd half at Neasa’s house to end a fantastic evening, even if England did lose :(
Our final week
So we have come to our final week in Perth :(
On top of all the jobs we have had to do in preparation for heading off on the road again, we also somehow managed to fit a few sightseeing things in at the same time!
We headed into the city; did a coastal drive along the river; headed up to Waneroo and Burns Beach; did wine tasting in the Swan Valley; took Nushka for walks in his favourite Jorgensen Park.
And best of all, we got to have lots of nights out and drinks with all our family and new friends from Perth that we will miss lots!!! No photos though as we had to buy a new camera this week due to our one packing in :( but lots of awesome memories!
Big thanks to Lou, Libby and Duncan for being so wonderful and putting us up in their house for this period (you mad mad people lol). You really have given us a home away from home and we will miss you all lots!
Goodbye Perth!
