Andrei and Pete on the 5th tee...a rare moment when they weren't chatting....Nat and I enjoyed our game as well.

 

Pete took this photo of Chris and I at the Oxford Hotel where we enjoyed a yummy dinner and a nice bottle of red.

 

Italian lesson at Janet's...i verbi!.....and another wonderful supper !

 

At work...this is what I do....above is an image of a brachial artery...

 

A late addition from the holiday snaps...Pete emailed  this to me today ....he took it with his iphone on Bluff Knoll. It's the only photo we have of the two of us together during the holiday....I like the reflections in the sunnies! Brightened up my first day back at work.

 

 

The view up Murray street towards the cathedral in the city....I began my Christmas shopping!

 

Scarborough Beach Road Mount Hawthorn....Jane and I had a coffee at the New Norcia Bakery. We swapped holiday photos on our ipads...most of mine were taken with the fantastic camera that Jane had lent me...I had great fun using it ...thanks Jane!

 

Sala Thai restaurant on Stirling Highway Claremont.....I had dinner with the girls...Natalie, Sharan and Renate....it had been a long time between drinks so we had a lot to talk about! Back to Sharan's for coffee...well, red wine really. I had a very enjoyable evening.

 

This morning we woke early and drove through the Stirling Range and made our way home in time to celebrate Natasha's birthday.

 

Happy Birthday Tash....you are and always have been such a joy....

 

and now we are very pleased that you have Todd in your life. 

Mandy and Graeme cooked us all a delicious meal for the occasion...

 

After arriving in Bremer Bay yesterday afternoon and walking all around the inlet and town beaches...this morning we drove around the peninsular, stopping and looking at the beaches there.  This is where we had our final swim of the trip ..Little Boat Harbour beach...very pretty.

  

After leaving Bremer Bay we drove across to the Stirling Range National park and decided we had enough time to climb Bluff Knoll ....it is was a great idea...the wildflowers were sensational

 

This morning we set our alarm for 4.30 so we could see the sun rise over the water...I was excited..we grabbed a windcheater and ran down to the beach. It was just amazing... the colours over the ocean and the sand dunes were spectacular....and I loved seeing all the little animal footprints over the sand that they had left during the night.

 

Our final swim at the beach at Pt Ann...we were very sad to leave and vowed to return in the not too distant future.

 

On the way out of Fitzgerald River National Park, we climbed West Mt Barren. At the top we had a great view of the park all the way to the coast. The little mountain in the photo is Mt Bland. The wildflowers in the park have been amazing but at the base of this mountain there were so many...and so many different species...(It is one of the most botanically significant national parks in Australia).

 

Pt Ann Fitzgerald River National Park...this was to be our favourite stop of the trip....look at how close we were to the beach and imagine the wonderful views we had. It was so isolated...the stars that night were like nothing we had ever seen.

 

The beach was breathtaking with the views of the mountains behind... and the sand was so white and fine, like icing sugar....there was this mirror effect.  

 

On our way to Hopetoun we stopped at Stokes National Park , a small National Park with very limited access for 2WDs....this is a view of the paperbarks along the Stokes inlet shore.

 

View of Culham Inlet and Four Mile Beach near Hopetoun.

 

Change in the weather....this is West Beach in Hopetoun. It made Pete and I realize how lucky we have been with such beautiful weather earlier. We spent the afternoon walking along the beaches in the strong winds then picked up a nice bottle of red from the Hopetoun pub and spent the evening reading our books and occasionally  going outside to watch the lightning.

 

We are now camping at the Duke of Orleans Caravan Park . The beaches just keep getting more beautiful...above and below are photos of Wharton Beach...unbelievable....

 

and Little Wharton Beach...my favourite......again all to ourselves....

 

 

This morning we set off on a coastal walk form Lucky Bay to Thistle Cove ....such  a lovely walk, fantastic granite outcrops and beautiful views along the coast...above we are approaching Thistle Cove where we had a swim...we had the beach to ourselves!

 

 

Climbing Frenchman Peak...Cape Le Grande National Park....really unusual rock formations at the summit and panoramic views of the stunning coastline.

 

The crystal clear water at Hellfire Bay where we stopped for a swim and lunch

 

My first unforgettable view of the beaches of Esperance...this is West Beach.... We spent the day exploring the beautiful beaches along the Great Ocean Walk

 

Le Grande Beach in the Cape Le Grand National Park ...we arrived early afternoon

 

Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grande National Park  at sunset... we stayed in the campground here..

 

Lake Magic Hyden....The Wave Rock Walk Circuit.

 

Pete looking at the Aboriginal rock art in Mulka's Cave ,16km north of Hyden. We then walked the Kalari Trail  over The Humps another giant granite outcrop.

 

Our van, that will be our home for the next 10 days as we venture south.

 

Wave Rock...Hyden...where we spent our first night, Spent the afternoon walking over the top of Hyden Rock.

 

Elton John again...Tonight Pete and I went to drinks at Bar One first with his clients and then met Mandy and Jeremy at the concert. Elton is truly a magnificent performer and I really enjoyed his band especially his drummer...one of the originals, Nigel Olsson.

 

Above is the view of the our golf course from the bar..how lucky are we....and below is a photo of the kangaroo paws on the 11th tee. Today Pete and I played with Jane and Paul in the Davidson Clock. It was a beautiful day and the course looked lovely. Paul was my partner and we played well, but Pete and Jane together had a  good score of 7up which won them a prize.

 

Elton John Concert...Opening night of the Perth Arena....sensational. The Arena is fantastic and the concert was brilliant. Enjoyed a great night with Pete, Tash, Todd, Jo, Ash, Jenny and Jane. 

Scenes from the movie "The Sessions" which Pete and I went to see this evening. It's a movie based on a true story...great performances( possible Oscar nominations?) by John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H Macy. I enjoyed my Dome coffee as well.

 

Such a beautiful day for golf today...and the jacarandas just looked stunning against the blue sky. I had a really enjoyable game with Jane, Renya and Robin.

Cathy being filmed at work for an award she is receiving (thought I would grab the chance for a photo ) ...Alex lying very still as our volunteer!

 

Emmylou Harris and her band at the concert hall......wonderful! Pete and I had a great night with Brad, Margaret, Ray and Kylie...dinner at the Grosvenor then the concert. The support act...Ben Abraham (young singer from Melbourne) deserves a mention, he had a gorgeous voice.

 

Claire and Carol at bookclub #2 last night. We read and discussed Cathy's choice which was "Into the Darkest Corner " by Elizabeth Haynes...as always, a good night

 

Douglas Kirsop exhibition at Linton and Kay

 

Wild afternoon in Perth...City Beach....

 

Margaret, Lorenz, Jonine and Shirley...lunch at Shirley's...our "$1 for a 3 putt" group ....a marvellous day.

 

Pauline and I...and to be honest, I am taller than her because I was trying on her gorgeous shoes with a very high heel!