Across the railway line

We actually live on a peninsula, where the Swan River does a big loop. Normally I would walk on the side facing the city (below the word Burswood on the map). Now it’s got so busy, I’m looking for different ways. Today, I crossed the railway line and the freeway and found a quiet spot with a boat ramp:

I noticed an old factory had been sold for an apartment building and there was a huge photo of the area to generate interest:

Our block is second from the right of the row of towers and Crown is to the left of those.

The following pics were taken near the boat ramp:

There are not many ferns around, but this is a nice clump:

Autumn?

The spell of hot weather has finally come to an end. Today we woke up to a relatively coolish overcast day, albeit very humid at first. I varied my early morning walk in order to avoid crowds on the river bank.

This photo shows Crown’s car park, now relatively empty. We have never seen it like this. In the foreground is a row of luggage trailers, belonging to Hughes, a chauffeur service that normally brings guests from the airport.

In Crown Metropole and Crown Promenade, the 600 interstate travellers who came off cruise ships have now finished their 14-day isolation. However, most of them still can’t go home because there are very few flights to get them away. So, they are staying put, still at government expense.

As I continued my walk this morning, it was obviously an autumn scene, even though Western Australia doesn’t have many deciduous trees:

Nearly back home, I came upon another of JL’s feathered friends, a white ibis:

A few months ago, this ibis lost its mate and now it comes alone every day to the lake in front of us. Today it was about to scavenge in a rubbish bin.

We are enjoying a few Easter treats today, thanks to C’s deliveries of chocs and fresh veggies:

Mind your back!

It’s getting like Piccadilly Circus (to use an old expression) as I walk along the river early in the morning. People are trying to beat the heat of a 36 degree day, but there are just too many folks out there. Dog walkers, runners, mums and dads with push chairs all compete with speeding cyclists who yell “Bike behind” and expect people to make way for them. Today I witnessed a man carrying his little dog who refused to budge for a cyclist and they yelled insults at one another. I’ve started walking on the grass instead of the path. There is also a theory about droplets flying in the slipstream of cyclists to worry about. 

Back home, this notice has appeared outside the main entrance:

Talking of police officers, they have been told that beards are no longer acceptable in the force because they render face masks less efficient.

Doings

A bushwalking friend sent us this joke:

Just be careful because people are going crazy from being in lock down! 
Actually, I've just been talking about this with the microwave and the toaster while drinking coffee and all of us agreed that things are getting bad. I didn't mention anything to the washing machine as she puts a different spin on everything. Certainly not to the fridge as he is acting cold and distant. In the end the iron calmed me down as she said everything will be fine, the situation is not too pressing. The vacuum cleaner was very unsympathetic... told me to just suck it up, but the fan was more optimistic and hoped it would all soon blow over! The toilet looked a bit flushed when I asked its opinion and didn’t say anything but the door knob told me to get a grip. The front door said I was unhinged and the curtains told me to pull myself together.

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JL has made friends with two magpies which sing to us every day. This morning he gave them some whole meal bread crumbs:

At sunset, I gave him some chicken and barley casserole:

I spend the afternoons reading my way through some Georges Simenon novels, available as e-books from the library. They transport you away from Covid19 to the seamier side of last century Paris. We really enjoyed Rowan Atkinson in the all too short Maigret series. There are about 70 books, so I shouldn’t run out!

We briefly went outside last night to see the super moon rising. My iPhone is not much good for such a photo, but JL could see a lot more with his binocs:

Closer to home

JL’s nephew has an American wife. Last month they returned from a trip to the US and knew that they had to self isolate for 14 days. They decided to load up their boat and go across to Rottnest and moor it offshore. Shortly after that, the island was cleared of tourists in order to accommodate passengers off the Vasco da Gama. Back home, D started to feel unwell. She went to a clinic and the result was positive. Husband still OK as far as we know. A policeman called at their house to make sure they were still there in self isolation. He remarked that they were lucky to have such a nice residence to stay isolated in.

We are still fine. JL spends a lot of time studying the graphs and trajectories of the virus as he likes doing mathematical puzzles. My main distraction is thinking what I can produce for dinner. We are not short of supplies except for fresh green veggies. These have become scarce or expensive.

The weather has hotted up again, so the only time to walk is early morning. Yesterday I went past Crown. The two cheapest hotels in the complex, the Promenade and the Metropole, now house Australians who have returned from overseas, in isolation for the 14 day period. Travellers cannot be trusted to stay at home otherwise. The most expensive one, Crown Towers, is still being used by normal guests. I gleaned this info from a security guard who eyed me as I walked past.

Grey heron walking near the golf course.

Gardening etc.

Bloggers are reporting on progress in their veggie gardens. I miss mine a lot, even our windswept plot at Quinns. The balcony at Burswood gets a fair bit of wind and hot sun in the late afternoon, though the latter must surely die out soon. Here are a few shots of what I’m growing now:

Bottom right is parsley and perpetual spinach in a big black pot. On the far wall is an olive from Quinns being trained as a climber. I don’t expect any olives but it looks nice.

This is a very productive chilli, which I pick green when they are not too hot. It is planted in an old esky, seen here from the back:

Today I planted some garlic plus an experimental spring onion which may or may not regrow.

I also transplanted a self seeded climber which had started to grow in a pot of rosemary. JL thinks it is a passion fruit vine. Fingers crossed!

More news on the ill-fated Artania cruise ship which is still here in Fremantle. Apparently it was launched 36 years ago by Princess Diana in Southampton as the Royal Princess, and has changed owners and names a few times in the interim. Local journalists are looking around for things to write about.

Let them drink wine

C brought us some essential supplies last night. The Police Commissioner has clamped down on alcohol sales, so I can’t get these delivered any more and there are limits on sales at bottle shops. I’m not going shopping. It’s two weeks since I visited a supermarket.

JL’s grandson got married today. It was to have been a splendid affair, months in the planning, at Wise Winery near Dunsborough. The new law on social gatherings states only 5 people could be present, i.e. the celebrant, bride and groom, plus two others. 10 are allowed at funerals.

One of the passengers from the Artania cruise ship has died in Joondalup Hospital. It turns out that most of the crew are Filipinos and Indonesians. No wonder they don’t want to go back home. The Norwegian captain is apparently a TV star in Germany in a long running series about cruising.

Essential supplies!