Birthday Bash and Off to Freemantle

Monday 10^th October and Tuesday 11^th October

Monday

Today was Caron’s official 50^th Birthday.  She even has a card from her local Federal Member to prove it.  The day started with breakfast.  This started at 8.30 am and went on until about 10.30 am.  We just sat around talking for most of the time.  Breakfast was bacon, eggs (poached or fried), mushrooms and tomato.  This was followed later by pancakes. Suzanne, Mathew, David, Xin Mei, Andy, Deb and I all enjoyed Caron’s birthday breakfast. (I think she did too)

Red and Yellow Beetroot

After breakfast, Andrew, Caron, Suzanne, Deb and myself went out to a local cheese factory and sampled some of their cheeses.  We also purchased some baked ricotta, pecorino and some feta.  Really nice stuff.  On the way to the cheese place we dropped of our car at the local Kia Dealer to get the service done.  We had it booked in for Tuesday but thought it would be good idea to get it there early.  We will head off to Freemantle tomorrow so we won’t have to drop off the car as well.

Cooked Beetroot - Red and Yellow

Beetroot Salad - Beautiful

Suzanne spent a lot of her time with the assistance of others to produce some really nice things for dinner and dessert.  She made kofta which is Middle Eastern and is like a meat ball, falafel which is made from chick peas and other pulses along with things like parsley and other herbs and couscous which is mainly semolina.  Suzanne made some changes to make them easier and healthier like baking instead of deep frying.  They were really tasty.

Lavender and Honey Cake with Lemon Grass Infused Cream

Suzanne also made a lavender and honey cake with lemon grass infused cream for Caron’s birthday cake.  Another culinary triumph.

After the meal all the young people played Uno, a card game with some interesting rules.  Deb and Andrew also had a go.  They took it very seriously indeed. (the kids that is)

While searching for herbs etc. for dinner Andrew found a cauliflower in the garden.  It was a beaut and 1.1 kilos of flowerets towards Caron’s goal of 200 kilograms of produce from her garden.

Tuesday

This morning we went up to Freemantle.  Andrew and Mathew had to go to work for a few hours so we accompanied them up to Fremantle.  We had a cuppa on arrival at a really nice place where we had some really nice coffee and freshly squeezed juice.  Deb had orange and I had apple.  The apple was nearly chewable.  Nice Granny Smith apples.

Trades Hall Freemantle - one of the first builkdings we saw

Andrew suggested that we visit a map and chart shop.  It was fascinating.  There were maps from all parts of the world, Britain, Europe, America and many other parts of the world.  There are large mats that can be used as a mat for laptops.  These mats are large enough to have the laptop and have an area that can be used as a mouse mat.  They have maps of Australia or the world.  I might get one when next we go to Freemantle.  They are small enough to fit in our large suitcase.

Chart and Map Shop

Picked up the car on the way back from Freemantle.  Got a call at about 1.00 pm to say it was ready.  Although we had picked up the trim for the windscreen in Bunbury we decided that we would get it fitted when we got the service done.  Lucky we did because we had only driven down the road about 500 metres when it came off right in the middle of a double lane highway.  

Luckily all the cars that came near it dodged it and it wasn’t damaged at all.  Took it back and they fitted it again, this time with a little windscreen adhesive to hold it in place.  It made it all the way back to Caron and Andrew’s place.  Will check it again in the morning.

Wesley Church - Freemantle

Deb had a walk around to Warnbro Sound which is about 100 metres from Caron and Andrew's place and took some photos.  I've included a couple.

Warnbro Sound looking South

We’re off to Falcon which is south of here tomorrow to check out the house where we will be staying for the next couple of weeks.  Should have some more photos of the area around there in the next blog.  Jan, Bernie and Ruth arrive late on Thursday.

Deb and Dennis

The Beach near Andrew and Caron's