Week 14 and 15 | Family Frivolity

September 08, 2017

SNAPSHOT

I've rolled two blogs into one because we had the luxury of popping the Jayco into storage and staying with my family in Perth for a couple of weeks but also managed to still get out and about! It was like travelling but at the end of the day we all had our own bathrooms, bedrooms and flannellette sheets to climb into - not exactly authentic camping (actually not at all!) but we relished every second we could with our families and were thoroughly spoiled in return ❤️ I can't talk too much about the leaving part because I'm still sooking and Leigh has stopped handing over his hanky so pretty sure I've crossed the line hah hah - enjoy our Perth experience!!!

WHERE ON EARTH ARE WE?

Baldivis, Perth, Western Australia

Our base for the next couple of weeks, we rolled into Perth after leaving Dongara around lunchtime and are in a small amount of shock at the dip in degrees! We might have to do some op shopping and stock up - I refuse to pack away the shorts just yet!!! Our time spent with my sister and her family was really special - we got to do things Aunty's and Uncle's should be able to do anytime - watch school performances, help with homework, be woken every morning by a chubby two year old saying "wait up UNCLE"......cuddles and bedtime reading, experiencing many first words, watching the sweet and adoring relationship all four girls have with each other - the highs, the lows (cause no-ones kids are perfect right?), quality cousin time...and wonderful catch ups with my elder sister and her beautiful family........❤️❤️

Dunsborough | W.A

A pre-booked long weekend away was fantastic and Dunsborough never disappoints! Despite the wild and predominantly woolley weather we loved West Side Rocks at Yallingup, Simmo's Icecreamery, Eagle Bay Brewing, the roaring fires, red wine and Leigh's famous slow cooked lamb - This whole region has something for everyone!

York | W.A

Leigh is chomping at the bit and despite loving the family catch up is obviously needing to fix his travel bug so we decided on a day trip up to York, a place that his own family used to take day trips to when they lived here in the 70's......I doubt things have changed too much since then in York but this only adds to the beauty of it, quaint buildings set amoungst wild flowers and bubbling brooks - this is certainly different from the Perth we are used to! The bakery has the most delicious pies, ye olde Lolly shop tamed the most fractious child - so much to see and do for a day out and well worth it! We took a different route home thanks to our "next to useless" In car navagation system (the built in one! Not me!) and meandered through picturesque Jarrahdale......

Fremantle | W.A

Fremantle has always been one of my favourite places in W.A but due to time constraints in past visits haven't managed to get there so another day trip to this iconic "foodie heaven" was in store today!......we wandered the streets, visited the museum, indulged in fried mice and chili missels at Clancys Fish Shack and contemplated the prison tour but our lifeline for the day had run out with the girls......sometimes the most frustrating thing is how our "to do's" as parents have to go on the backburner to put the girls needs (and our sanity!) first.....another time! Because we travel to Perth often we also decided to save Rottnest for another time - we wanted to keep $200 in our pockets for something else down the track!

What else did we do?

- horse riding

- bush golf

- celebrated Father's Day

- homework!!

- trampolining

- skate park

BEST PART vs WORST PART

🐣Liv

Best part: Seeing my cousins!! I didn't want to leave 😫

Worst Part: Hurting the arch of my foot on rocks in Dunsborough - sooo painful!!

🐴 Maggie

Best Part: Spending time with my cousins and going horse riding and to Build a Bear.....

Worst part: Hurting my ankle on Kiri's trampoline.

🏌️Leigh

Best part: Catching up with family and Fathers Day lunch - top shelf ladies!!! Was fantastic to revisit York again and Maritime Museum in Fremantle!

Worst part: Melbourne not making the finals 😡

🌺 Rana

Best part: No surprises here! Obviously seeing my family - but I was also thrilled to explore parts of Perth we don't often get to see.....just a bit more space for everyone was needed and by the time we get back in the van we should be refreshed and ready to roll!!

Worst part: Goodbyes - they are always crap. And also my 12 year has developed some "pre-teen" behaviour that is less than desirable....wish me luck!

LESSONS LEARNT:

📝 Never ever completely trust your a nav system. Ever.

📝 Western Australia needed double the time frame we actually had!

📝 Travelling time literally goes twice as fast as normal every day time (and caravans get smaller once you have a break from them hah hah)

NEXT DESTINATION:

Margaret River, Pemberton, Walpole, Albany, Esperance