We have been very busy since our last post.  We travelled from Geraldton to Mullewa where they were holding a rodeo.  We have been trying to go to the rodeo since we arrived but each time we had just missed it or it was not for a couple of weeks.  We had found about this rodeo when we were in Broome and planned out our travels down south just to fit in to see it.  The rodeo was taking place in Mullewa – a very small town east of Geraldton – about an hour away.  We headed out there on the Friday morning and we had been told the camp ground opened at 5pm but thought we would get there a bit earlier.  We got there just after lunch and the camp ground was already half full!!! On the Saturday ,morning the action started at 9am.  There was bull riding, bareback (bucking horse) riding, roping steers, barrel racing and lots of other types of events such as best UTE (utility vehicle).

The day was quite warm and very exciting.  We both got quite hooked by the events and the commentator was great so you knew what was going on.  Everyone seemed to be dressed in jeans and cowboy hats.  the events lasted all day till about 6pm just as it got dark – they then had a country and western live music until late into the evening.  We went and listened to the music and by this time it had got quite cold – so we wrapped ourselves up in a blanket to watch the show.  We had a great time and would love to get to another rodeo while we are here – but not sure if that will happen.

On the Sunday we headed from Mullewa to Perth.  Perth would be our last big city before leaving in a couple of months time.  The weather is now really changing.  It is very cold overnight and in the morning and then warms up a bit during the day and then when the light goes the temperature drops again.

On our first day in Perth we headed for Kings Park.  Kings Park is the largest inner city park in Australia and one of the largest in the world.  Here we went on a guided tour round the Botanic Garden with a lovely chap called Leon.  He had so much knowledge and enthusiasm for the park it was just great.  He told us all about the plants but also about the aboriginal background to lots of plants.  It was a very enjoyable couple of hours we spent with him.

After the park we headed to Ocean Reef to visit Barbara Warren from Ashtead.  We have known Barbara for many years but she has emigrated to Australia last August.  It was great to see her looking so well and being very happy with her new life.  She has made some good friends and found a new church which is fab.  We had a lovely day and evening with her catching up about home etc.

The following day we spent at the aquarium in Hillary just outside Perth.  They had a really good set up there with an underwater tunnel which has sharks and huge stingrays swimming above you.  It is situated right at the harbour so the water is pumped straight from the sea and into the tanks.  The only disappointment was that they didn’t have any baby turtles in their rehab pool – but I suppose that is good that none have been abandoned and need to be there.

The following day we spent back in the centre of Perth at the Swan Bells.  The Swan Bells were donated from England in 1988 and the bell tower was finished in 2000.  We listened to the bells being rung as they are every couple of days.  As the bells ring the whole tower shakes. Some of you will know that Phil is very into Bell Plates, well let me tell you these are nothing like those but the thought of Ashtead Baptist giving it a go at house group makes us both laugh… You can climb up to the top of the tower and get a good view of the city.  Unfortunately when we were there they are were doing a lots of construction around the tower.  They have moved old buildings and put them nearer the harbour.  When it is finished it will be really good but it just didn’t look good for us.  The bells were very loud and sometimes they sounded like they had got a little out of time but still was ok.

That evening we spent in the company of Fiona and Sean (daughter to Ian and Evelyn Grimstone, from Ashtead Baptist Church).  We had a great evening with them and their children with wonderful food – thank you for a great time in your lovely home.

Friday morning we headed south again down to  Busselton.  Here we were visiting a very old friend Nigel  and his wife Amanda and their two children.  We had a lovely couple of days with them.  They were great hosts, feeding us and entertaining us.  We don’t think we have seen Nigel for nearly 30 years one thing for sure though is he still has a unique sense of humour (they all call it daddies jokes….)