Yummy lunch at Jus Burgers Northbridge (my first time there) with the delightful and talented PhD students Alex, Rujia and Annette...a great way to celebrate my last day at work before my holiday.

 

One of the beautiful, original buildings of Royal Perth Hospital that I walk past every morning on my way to work.

 

After attending a marvelous session at the Perth Writer's Festival, I was inspired to join up with Twitter....my first tweet....

 

Again the Perth Writer's Festival....

 

Rod and Pete...Rod and his wife Deb and Ian and Sue came for dinner and surprisingly it became rather cold!! We are staying at Rod and Deb's holiday house when we are in New Zealand...very generous of them.

 

Natalie, Cathy and I at the Perth Writer's Festival held at the University of Western Australia...fabulous!

 

Tash and Chris eating icecreams after dinner...

 

My walk to work..past the giant fig tree outside the original buildings of Royal Perth Hospital.

 

A quiet night at home tonight... I have decided to try and learn to play well, Beethoven's Sonata No14..."Moonlight" . This lovely book of sonatas (complete) belonged to my dear friend Marie-Louise Sermon...I think of her when I play...

 

Tonight I enjoyed a meal, wine and movie with Natalie and Cathy. The movie was "One for the Money" staring Katherine Heigl and Jason O'Mara(very cute!)......there were lots of laughs in the movie but I think I enjoyed the dinner and conversation beforehand more.

 

Helen Shanahan at Barchetta on Cottesloe Beach. Pete and I enjoyed a delicious meal and red wine whilst watching the sun set and listening to the talented Helen Shanahan...we think she will be famous one day!!

 

City Beach...cloudy humid saturday morning...and a few stingers in the water...but we girls enjoyed our walk and our swim.

 

Mabel Talbot park in Jolimont...another lake close to home...lovely to walk around listening to Lucie Thorne .....

 

Lucie Thorne at the Ellington....Peter and Tash have been fans of hers for a long time but I had never heard her live and was thrilled...she is so captivating, a wonderful evening,shared with Peter,Tash and Todd...and some lovely Upper Reach red wine.

 

Mandy at our italian lesson tonight.....reflexives. Helen's kitten Lucy joined in the class.

 

A night at the opera..."Elektra" by Richard Strauss...a combined production by the West Australian Opera Company and Opera Australia. Fabulous! The soprano ,Eva Johansson was exceptional and the set was amazing with some breathtaking special effects.

 

Lunchtime at work....Venus,Helen,Sandra,Veejay and Jing....five different nationalities...

 

Juliet picking figs....while Chris sprayed the olive trees...I collected fallen macadamia nuts...Pete helped pick figs from the higher branches. 

A lovely weekend.

 

Snorkeling under the Busselton Jetty...absolutely wonderful ....

 

Wyadup...fabulous place for a dip on a hot day...the water comes rushing over the rocks,a natural spa!

 

On the verandah at sunset at Chris and Juliet's house down in Yallingup. Down for a long weekend to catch up with Chris and Juliet before they go to Europe and we go to New Zealand. We never seem to find the time in Perth!

 

Every wednesday evening I meet with a lovely bunch of ladies to learn italian. Ecco una foto della nostra maestra, Raffaella Basini...here is a photo of our teacher Raffaella Rasini...an entertaining and very patient lady.

 

Lovely long lunch with Danielle at Sassella's.

 

First meeting for 2012 of my "other " bookclub. Lively discussion about an enjoyable book. Still a little shy to ask for a photo of the girls...maybe at a later meeting this year. 

 

One of Rottnest's beautiful inland lakes

 

Swimming at the Basin....

 

Pinky Beach Rottnest Island ....over for the weekend with Peter...guests at the Lodge...thanks to 96fm.

 

First bookclub meeting of the year....discussed the book by the Australian author Maris Morton, and next month discussing The Secret River by Kate Grenville (one of my favourite reads).

 

First Italian lesson of the year.