Another new beginning

We are expecting another little bundle of joy, due 11th November. All very exciting!

Sold!

We put our house on the market and were surprised how fast it sold (in 3 days!), as we haven't found anywhere to move to yet we are currently homeless - luckily my Dad is happy to put us up!

Ferguson Valley

We just spent a few nights down in the beautiful Ferguson Valley. Rolling hills, quaint farms, narrow roads - very reminiscent of the English countryside. Checked out 'Gnomesville' (random place, just by the side of the road where travellers have placed gnomes and now there are literally thousands scattered around), Potters Gorge, Honeymoon pool, Dardanup and Donnybrook.

Frank and Elly's Wedding

We had the pleasure of attending Frank and Elly's fabulous wedding last weekend. The venue, meal and atmosphere was fantastic, and Rich fulfilled his best man role superbly!

Sculptures by the Sea

Every year Cottesloe has an exhibition called 'Sculptures by the Sea', this morning we went down there to have a look.

Karri Cup

Ealry starting grid for the 100km

Went down to Northcliffe (about 5 hours drive from Perth) for the long weekend for the Karri Cup 100 km mountain bike race. Great weekend with 500 riders, lots of nice people and nice bikes to look at. Saturday night saw a circuit race of a 800m track- fast and furious for 15 min. The race start on Sunday morning started well, but at about the hour and a half mark the skies let loose with huge thunder and lightning and plenty of rain. The trails turned muddy, making the ups feel tougher and the downs more interesting.

The half way stage was suppose to be at 50 km. I thought my speedo was out as it was reading 60 km and I wasn't even there yet! Talking to others at the half way mark I realised the race was longer than even the organisers had planned. The return leg was promised to be only 40 km, making a total of 100. a combination of mentally not being prepared for the extra 17 km, a crash with about 10 to go and a distinct lack of food and hydration meant the last 10 km were super tough.

I finished in 10th place in the Solo Open Men which helped ease some of the pain! I think I will stick to enduro races this year- so once the wounds have healed it's back on the bike in training for the 6 hr race coming up soon.

Max Speed

I've been doing quite alot of road riding lately, trying to get to a group ride on a Saturday morning. The roadies are quick and it has been a struggle keeping up with the top guys. We went for a hill ride up to Kalamunda the other week. Hard work up but lots of fun on the way down. All time top speed- 83.63 km/hr!

Jackson's friends

Jackson loves to hang out with his furry friends when he wakes up in the morning. First thing he does is ask Rich or I to put his friends into the cot with him, then he sits chatting away to them for a while.

Yanchep National Park

On the morning of Richard's birthday we went to Yanchep National Park. Jackson loved seeing the koalas and kangaroos. If you ask him what a kangaroo does he will hop up and down, although every now and again he gets confused and says 'whoof' (...'no Jackson, thats what the dogs do'!)

Making Daddy's Birthday present

It was Richard's Birthday on the weekend, so last week Jackson and I got out the painting stuff and decided to create a masterpiece for Rich to proudly display in his office.

Chilling out

It has been hot lately, so Jackson has found a great spot under the air con to chill out.

The Zoo

Went to the Zoo yesterday, we bought a yearly pass so didn't need to spend hours there as we will come back many times, so this time we explored the African Savannah.

Final stop - Stirling Ranges

We finished our road trip in the Stirling Ranges, spending 2 nights camping in a bush camp site with a vista of the mountains. Once again we packed our time there - climbing some of Bluff Knoll (Jackson fell asleep and I got tired - hmmm, must work on my fitness!), went to Mount Barker town, had lunch in a cute tea house, and did a walk in the Porongurups - all of that on our 3rd year wedding anniversary! We returned to Perth, tired, sick of the car, with 5 loads of washing and lots of happy memories.

Helping Daddy set up the tent

Our campsite (you can just about see the tent and car in the bushes to the right)

Climbing Bluff Knoll (... well some of it!)

The Porongurps

Next stop - Esperance

We left Kalgoorlie and headed south to the lovely town of Esperance. I must say, it takes a lot to impress Rich and I when it comes to beaches - the main reason being we have seen quite a lot around the world and we live close to some pretty amazing ones in Perth, but Esperance beaches truly impressed us. Beautiful turquoise water, sand that feels like talcum powder and no-one around. We were particularly impressed with Cape Le Grand beach in Cape Le Grand National Park - just stunning. In Esperance we began what, no doubt, will be something we will do as a family for many many more holidays to come - we camped!

At the top of Frenchman Peak in Cape Le Grand National Park

Surfing!

Almost standing!

Show off.

Our road trip - 1st stop, Kalgoorlie

At the end of December we packed the car and went on a 10 day road trip, taking in central and south west of WA. First stop was Kalgoorlie, where we stayed with Selby, Em, Ethan and Owen. We spent our time seeing the Kalgoorlie sights - the Two-up Tent, the Super Pit, Hannan Street, as well as a trip out to the Broad Arrow pub - along with avoiding the 40oc temperatures in Selby and Em's lovely garden.

The cousins having dinner together

Checking out the Two-Up tent

The Super Pit

Swimming and splashing at the local pool

Christmas Day!

We all enjoyed Christmas 2008. Jackson didn't understand the whole present opening thing, but he enjoyed his presents and all the lovely food.

Stretching after a big Christmas lunch

Checking out his new tent

Watching his new Wiggles DVD on his new sofa

Landsdale Animal Farm

We went to Landsdale Animal Farm again on Sunday, as per usual Jackson loved seeing the animals!