Interviews, Fireworks and a visit from Charlie and Jo

It has been a while since our last blog... Rupan has been home to the UK for a week and went from 40 degrees to -2 degrees in 24 hours!
Sadly the trip was not fruitful as Rupan had come home for an interview that she didn't get - still, it was lovely to see family and get out of the heat for a while! Steve was shocked at how smelly Rupan was on her return but was very pleased to see her (after she had had a shower!)

Mum and Alex

Dad and Alex

Steve had to fend for himself here in Fremantle (Rupan had stocked the fridge with food so that he wouldn't go hungry) as he had first and second round interviews with Bankwest and is still waiting to hear the outcome.....

On Wednesday night, Charlie and Jo Giddings arrived for a long weekend from Brisbane. They hired a car and went down the coast to Margaret River for a couple of days.

Thursday the 26th January was Australia Day and we celebrated by watching the fireworks in Perth from a vantage point in King's Park. The Fireworks display was fairly impressive, particularly because there was a thunder and lightning storm going on at the same time! Rupan even managed to capture some of it on video.

Steve waiting for the fireworks to start

Friday was the last day for the registrars in Freo so we had a leaving do. We started off in the Blue Room (Doctor's mess with VERY cheap drinks) after work and carried on into town for a bit of a boogie - well some of us danced, Steve stood by the bar and sampled his first Aussie Guinness...

The heat has been a little unbearable reaching a peak of 43 degrees! We ended up having to buy a couple of pedestal fans in order to get some sleep!

Charlie and Jo returned from Margaret River on Saturday and we spent the next couple of days chilling out in Freo - Charlie was particularly keen to visit the Little Creatures Brewery as he is a huge fan!

The Gang at Creatures

We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Cottesloe beach with lunch at The Indiana before they had to head to Brisbane.

Kayaking at Penguin Island

This weekend Steve wanted to have a go at Sea Kayaking. His hairdresser (at Kennedy's - where men go to talk about manly things) recommended going to Penguin Island. This is part of Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, off the coast of Rockingham, about an hour south of Fremantle.

We arrived early yesterday to meet the kayaking instructors. We were allocated a tandem kayak (also known as 'the divorce kayak') and some very attractive kit, including personal flotation devices and a weird hat cape thing. The kayaks were taken down to the beach, and we had a brief lesson before launching into the water.

Steve was in charge of steering (a no-brainer with Rupan's past track record!) and both of us were armed with paddles. We first paddled to Seal Island where there were 6 big male seals on land and a smaller female that came and swam near our kayaks. Next we paddled to Penguin Island where we spent the next few hours. We went for a walk around the island which is the most North-Westerly colony for Little Penguins. They are the smallest penguin species in the world and are currently they are moulting. During this time, the Little Penguins are not able to go and fish as their feathers are not waterproof. They are very shy and spend their days hidden in various spots around the island.

There are a few Little Penguins that have been injured and rescued and are not suitable for return to the wild. These ones have become a bit pampered and one of the guides told us that they can't feed them live fish anymore as they are scared of them and end up being chased round the pool by whitebait!!

After a picnic lunch, we had a snorkel in the slightly chilly water. Steve was hoping to see a weedy sea dragon, but we saw mostly a lot of seaweed! Finally we paddled back to the mainland and headed home.

Feeling a bit sore today!

Having a kayak lesson in all the gear

Moulting Little Penguin hiding under the boardwalk

The sand bar from Penguin Island

Action Shot!

New Year Albany Road Trip

For the New Year weekend we decided to venture to the South coast of Western Australia on a road trip, but Bluey was a bit poorly and wouldn't start! The roadside assistance man towed Bluey away and left us with a courtesy car for the road trip. Fingers crossed for Bluey!

We headed south on the Albany Highway (which is VERY long and VERY boring) and 5 hrs later we arrived in Albany. We had dinner reservations at 'The Wild Duck' and enjoyed a delicious meal with a drop of local Denmark Pinot Noir - turns out that the Great South-Western vineyards produce just as nice plonk as the Margaret River ones!

On New Year's Eve morning, we headed West along the coast road to the Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Our first stop was the Valley of the Giants for the 'tree top' and the 'ancient empire' walks. The Park is full of Tingle trees, some of which are more than 400 years old and tower more than 50m tall. Some of the older Tingles are hollowed out in the centre and are big enough for Rupan AND Steve to stand in. Staying in the national park, our next stop off was at Conspicuous Cliff, a bit of a hill to climb but we were rewarded by stunning views over the bay. Further along the coast was Peaceful Bay - not so peaceful as it was full of 'schoolies' getting a little tipsy!

Steve twitching in the tree-tops

Rupan in a Tingle

Steve in a Tingle

Conspicuous Cliff

Peaceful Bay

Fireworks at midnight on the beach - Albany

For New Year's Eve night, we popped into Albany for a spot of dinner and a few beers in the White Star. Just before midnight we headed down to the foreshore with a bottle of Champagne and watched the fireworks display.

On New Year's Day we explored Torndirrup National Park on the peninsula South of Albany. We took a scenic drive around Frenchman's Bay and stopped in at a few lookouts on the way. The first lookout was the 'blow hole' which is created by the surf blowing through fissures in the granite rocks - only it was a bit of a calm day, so no blow hole action! More impressive was the 'natural bridge' and 'the gap' which have been formed by natural wearing of the huge granite stones that once connected Australia to Antarctica.

Can you spot Steve?

Rupan at the blow hole

Steve on the natural bridge

Hope you all had a great weekend - HAPPY NEW YEAR!