Escape to Mandurah

We left Perth at lunchtime in 40 degree heat. An hour later we were in Mandurah where it was 34. We are staying in Seashells at Dolphin Cove, where we can class ourselves as regular customers. This time last year we were upgraded to the amazing penthouse suite, but now we are back to a normal 2 - bedroom apartment. It still has a lovely sea view and is perfect for setting off on early morning beach walks.

At the moment there are waves coming in to the normally calm cove. We put this down to the full moon, and tonight's Supermoon, which is exerting the maximum gravitational pull on the earth.

Night of luxury

My Christmas present from C was a voucher for Crown Towers, the 5 star hotel next door. JL scoffed at this idea, so I invited E to come along for this mini staycation. It was a great success! The offer was a New Year Escape and included a bottle of champagne and a late check out. What we didn't expect was a room on the top floor, the 22nd, with amazing views over the Darling Ranges. We could see planes taking off from Perth Airport.

Our room was very luxurious, with a large bathroom full of amenities and a even a TV. We didn't indulge in lying in the bath watching, as the views from the picture window were more enticing. E quickly took possession of the chaise! We explored the delights of the pool area for an hour. Then JL arrived, as I was hosting a champagne supper with some Kailis sushi purchased earlier in the day together with the freebie bottle, which went down a treat.

Crown Towers from our apartment balcony.
Our room was at the top corner.

View from our room (2210).
Our apartment block is 2nd from the left.

E enjoying a mango & passionfruit slushy.

Night view of the stadium (blue) and footbridge (white).

E taking over the chaise.

Looking from the bedroom to the bathroom.

Bathroom with TV.

Even the carpet was luxurious.

What to have for breakfast without being too gluttonous?

Pools.

E stayed in for hours.

We must do this more often!

Beach walk

During the hot months the bushwalking group arranges early morning walks along the beach somewhere. Yesterday we walked from Floreat to Scarborough and back. The southerly wind made it very hard going, so a few of us decided to walk back along an inland path, more protected from the wind but near traffic.

We set off at 7.30 am, struggling in the windy conditions. Our destination, Scarborough, can be seen in the distance: a white high rise hotel.

We stopped to watch some kite surfers taking their life into their hands in the rough sea.

The life saving people ( in red and yellow) were preparing for a busy day. They were planning children's games here for later in the morning. Behind them, their base tent and a beach buggy can be seen.

Art collection

I've decided to make a photographic record of all the pictures hanging on our walls. This may come in handy in the event of a burglary - though these apartments are very secure and break-ins virtually impossible! These pictures tell the story of my life.

Starting in my bedroom:

From my Japanese period: purchased on a trip to Japan to visit C, who was teaching English there for a year. I like the composition of the Japanese characters and numbers.

This is one of two Japanese prints of geishas.

Now to the living room, where we have run out of wall space in this small apartment:

Lowry print of Huddersfield (where I come from). This is a signed print.

From my Singapore days. This is my only original  painting. It is by the Singaporean artist Tay Bak Koi. He was my favourite artist when I lived there, as his work depicted the days before industrialisation changed everything.

More from Japan. These are prints of bridges, which fascinated JL, the left hand one showing heavy rain falling.

A reminder of several holidays spent in the Kimberley. Ingrid Windham produced innumerable prints; this one is entitled Mulla Mulla and the Lagoon, but it is the boab trees that are iconic.

Messing about on the river

Back from the frozen northern hemisphere, E enjoyed a day by the river with her friends. The oldies were not invited but came anyway!

Xmas photos

On Christmas Day, we were invited to lunch with S and G who live in the next block to us. Also there was Y, whose husband H is a chef and working in Kalgoorlie over Christmas and New Year. He is actually volunteering at a Care Home, to make sure the residents eat well over the festive period. Then S's son arrived with his partner, loads of food and a beautiful King Charles spaniel. The two young people are both twins. I almost believed them when they claimed to have met at a Twins Convention! They are getting married soon at Howard Park Winery which is on land near JL's old Group Settlement farm near Cowaramup.

Flower arrangement by Meredith

S is manager of a team of ladies who clean my house and many others in the vicinity. They have just about cornered the market around here as they are so efficient. Meredith used to have a Florist's Shop, which is why she is so good.

A few nibbles to start

Difficult to get everyone to smile at the same time!

That's better!

Christmas ham

Huge feast

S and G live on the ground floor and have a small patio outside, seen in the background here. A few weeks ago, something fell down from the top floor and hit the ground here. It was a suicide. The person had claimed to be interested in buying the top floor apartment; as soon as the agent showed him in, he went straight to the balcony and threw himself off.  How horrendous! Luckily, a member of the local fire brigade lives next door and came to organise the clean-up before S and G arrived home. The same thing happened in our block some years ago, and the people moved out next day! On another occasion, people on the ground floor were enjoying lunch on their patio when something fell on top of their table. It was a cat, a dead one!

Amazing dessert courtesy of H the Chef! A luscious trifle, unbelievably delicious!

Boxing Day at the beach

Coffee afterwards

Moonflower at Como

They only flower for one night of the year!

The Holly and the Ivy

No holly in Perth. This is what grows around here at Christmas.

E has gone to England to spend the hols over there. She was booked on the non-stop Qantas "Dreamliner" to London on Saturday night. At Perth airport 40 passengers were bumped off "due to weight restrictions". How could that be? Those flights have fewer passengers anyway, because of the need to carry extra fuel. She ended up having to fly next day.

Before leaving, she had been busy making lots of Christmas cards, one for each of the English rellies she would meet:

She says it's cold and rainy over there. It's 37 degrees here. I've just been for a swim, but the pool was full of some rowdy people drinking beer out of GLASS bottles, so I told them off!