7th March 2025 – Fremantle

On Friday, our last planned day in Perth, we once again visited the Bocelli Espresso for breakfast, then boarded the train to Fremantle. Our initial destination was the Fremantle Markets.

We entered the market at one corner, wandered around a bit, not buying anything apart from some fresh fruit pieces, and left by the opposite corner. Our next destination was Fremantle prison, where we took the Convict Prison tour.

After the tour we wandered back through the markets then headed to the beach, stopping briefly for photos at the “I heart FREO” sign, near the fishing harbour next to Cicerello’s.

We had a quick swim, showered and changed, and wandered off to the Gage Roads brewery for a pint of Single Fin and glass of wine. We also shared a chicken quesadilla as we watched boats returning from their days at sea.

We then took the train back to Perth, where I counted the steps from the station to the hotel… 293. That evening we had difficulty choosing a place to eat. We did enter a Korean BBQ restaurant, sat down and read the menu, but left soon after, since we had no idea what to choose. We ended up at a superb Thai restaurant which was conveniently directly opposite our hotel.

The next day was going to be quite different from our original plan. Thanks to tropical storm Alfred, we were no longer flying to Brisbane on the 08:20 flight on Saturday morning. Instead we were flying on Sunday night at 22:50.

That meant another night in WA. We’d chosen to take up Rachel’s suggestion to visit the Margaret River region, in SW Australia.

6th March 2025 – Fremantle

With the temperature expecting to reach 30 something in the shade we decided against visiting Rottnest Island, in the vain hope of getting selfies with quokkas, and chose to visit Fremantle. Sian and Greg had previously recommended visiting the Fremantle Market on a Friday but we reckoned we could visit Freo twice.

We breakfasted in Perth at Bocelli Espresso, an Italian cafe opposite the main station. We were served by a Scots girl from Edinburgh.

The train station was opposite the cafe. Dayrider tickets were only 10.40 AUD each, the same price as 2 tickets ( outbound and return ) to Fremantle.

Day one therefore was a visit to the Maritime Museum, where we had a snack lunch, a brief look into the Gage Roads brewery, a paddle at Bathers Beach, and finally a walk back to the station, via Collie St and Market St, before taking the train back to Perth train station, which is only 300 yards from our hotel.

In the evening we drank and ate at The Globe, also a short walk from the hotel.

5th March 2025 – Perth WA

Wednesday was our first day in Western Australia. After breakfast at the One 60 cafe, just a block away from the Adina apartments, where Susan had smashed Avo and I had bacon and eggs we headed down Barrack St towards the Swan River. We had a quick look at The Bell Tower, then Elizabeth Quay, before making our way to the bus station to catch the free TransPerth bus to Kings Park.

After a coffee and cake we spent a couple of hours exploring the park before inspecting the goodies in the Aspects of Kings Park gallery. Susan admired several very expensive scarves before buying a birthday card for Alfie and I bought a book of Australian wildlife for Alfie’s birthday.

After returning on the free TransPerth bus to the hotel, for a rest and change of clothes, we headed out again, back to Elizabeth Quay in search of drink and food.

First stop was Petition Beer Corner where I had a couple of different ales and Susan a white wine spritzer, then we made our way to The Island at Elizabeth Quay where I had Chicken Parmigiana and Susan had fish and chips

3-4 March 2025 – Home to Perth

Our journey to Byron Shire, NSW started just after midday on the 3rd March with a taxi ride to Heathrow terminal 3 then a flight to Hong Kong. After an expensive beer in Hong Kong we boarded the next flight to Perth, WA eventually arriving at our chosen hotel late on the 4th March.

One of the receptionists was from Ayrshire.

On the flights we had the option of watching newer films such as Conclave and Heretic as well some oldies and a lot of films which were probably more suited to the Chinese speaking Hong Kong audience.

LHR to PER via HKG

I watched a couple of animations and documentaries as well as some normal films

  • Up
  • Robot Dreams
  • Free Climb
  • A different man

PER to BRE

I started watching The Wild Robot and a couple of episodes of Better Call Saul

On the return flights I watched

BRE to HKG

  • The Wild Robot
  • Waitress: The Musical – the start… primarily since it stars Sara Bareilles
  • Asteroid City – mostly with my eyes closed

HKG to LHR

  • The Long Game
  • Next goal wins
  • Here – with Tom Hanks
  • Gladiator II
  • High Potential – the pilot episode

Oz 2025 – 3rd to 26th March

On Monday 3rd March, Susan and Herb will set off to Australia to visit Perth Western Australia, Brisbane Queensland, and Ocean Shores NSW to visit Rachel, Mike and Alfie.

Trip Outline

  • Mon 3 Mar – Home to Hong Kong
  • Tue 4 Mar – Hong Kong to Perth WA
  • Wed 5 Mar – Perth / Swan River
  • Thu 6 Mar – Perth / Rottnest
  • Fri 7 Mar – Perth / Freemantle
  • Sat 8 Mar – Perth to Brisbane to Australia Zoo
  • Sun 9 Mar – Australia Zoo to Ocean Shores
  • Mon 10 Mar – hire car
  • … TBC
  • Fri 21 Mar – return hire car
  • Sat 22 Mar
  • Sun 23 Mar – Ocean Shores to North Stradbrooke island
  • Mon 24 Mar – North Stradbrooke island
  • Tue 25 Mar – North Stradbrooke island to Brisbane
  • Wed 26 Mar Brisbane to home via Hong Kong and LHR
Continue reading →

2 Apr 2023 – Bowral and Maroubra

The next morning we had to take down all the decorations and generally tidy up.

While moving the side board, that had been used to support the camera for the instant photo booth, back into the side part of the barn I stubbed my big toe.

That slowed me down for a while.

Mid morning, some people turned up for the promised barbequed bacon and egg rolls. But this wasn’t going to happen. Instead there were a couple of trays of savoury wraps and other breakfast like items. Quite a few hangovers were being nursed. Some people didn’t rise as early as others.

At lunch time, a party of a dozen or so set off to a pub to meet one of Steve’s mates, an Army chap who was on assignment in Canberra.

1 April 2023 – Rachel and Mike’s wedding

With the ceremony planned to begin at 2:30pm we still had quite a few tasks left. Graham and I went to Mittagong to purchase several bottles of wine, to replace those which had been imbibed the previous night, 20 large bags of ice and more bacon.

Then, after more setting up, the groom’s party, plus Graeme and myself headed off to Bowral for breakfast, a sneaky beer and a bit of a soaking from an uninvited rain storm.

By 1:30 the place was ready for the wedding guests, who started arriving, quickly filling up the car park and overflowing into the overflow car park. The iffy weather started to clear and the sun broke through the clouds.

When the guests had gathered in the meadow overlooking the lake, the wedding party made their entrance. There were two bridesmaids, to balance the two best men, two flower girls (Ava and Isla), and finally Rachel accompanied by elder brother Graeme.

After saying their vows to each other Rachel and Mike were duly married and the party began, with drinks in the meadow.

All of the wedding guests had been assigned two tasks by the official celebrant.

  1. Make friends with someone you don’t know
  2. Take a silly photo.

Here’s my attempt at task number 2.

The wedding party went on late into the night. We were watered and fed to excess. Some of us smoked huge cigars. We met many of Mike’s and Rachel’s friends and danced with quite a few as well. By the official end some were less sober than others. Bed about 1:30 am for me.

31 Mar – Maroubra to Bowral

On Friday we travelled south to The Highlands Lake House, on Shale Lane, just outside Mittagong / Bowral.

We stopped for breakfast at Mittagong, then visited Aldi to purchase some groceries – bacon for Sunday, salt for margaritas – before driving to the Lake House to meet the others preparing the barn and the lakeside area for the wedding.

While Mike’s mum Bea baked several wedding cakes in the Lake House, many others took on several jobs outside and in the barn area – setting up outdoor lights for the evening, preparing the wedding arch, creating signage, moving fire pits and generally looking busy.

By 5pm I was worn out and feeling slightly unwell. Soon after Louise presented Rachel with her hen party messages from those in the UK who couldn’t attend the wedding, I crashed out in bed.

The others went to Bowral for dinner. On their return they partied for hours.

29 Mar 2023 – Taronga Zoo

On the Wednesday we had a family outing to Taronga Zoo, Mosman. Once again Gr. and family set off early. We went round to Rachel and Mike’s and got a lift with Bea and Alfie, arriving at the North entrance a couple of hours later.

We did eventually meet up with the Cowes for a late lunch, then visited the Chimps, Tigers, Giant Tortoises and the free flight bird show, before catching the ferry back to Circular Quay then tram and bus home.

Dinner was a chicken pasta dish at Rachel and Mikes.