Hello! Here we are at the end of 2024. The years certainly seem to go faster as you age! We hope the year has been a good one for you.
This is our tenth year of retirement and we still haven’t found time to do all the things we want to do. We continue to keep very busy and have to log out times on the calendar to make sure we can fit in all the things we want to do. Life though, continues to be good for us.
As members of The WACA, we try to get to as many cricket games at OPTUS Stadium and The WACA as we can. A fabulous atmosphere and the stadium is just brilliant. We have just finished attending the first test match - Australia vs India. Brilliant weather for cricket, but sadly not a great result for the Australian team. For us though, it is a great day out and we are able to meet up with friends, or go with friends and share the whole experience. We are looking forward to a summer of cricket ahead.
After much planning, we made it to Tasmania during February and March. And it wan’t a disappointment! We left Perth mid February in our Land Cruiser for the drive across to Geelong before boarding The Spirit Of Tasmania. The trip across started with bush fires at Balledonia and the highway being closed just before our arrival in Norseman. Luck or good timing while we were fuelling up at the roadhouse got us talking to a Fire Officer who told us a convoy of trucks was being police escorted to Caiguna and departing shortly if we wanted to join them. The road was going to be closed again after the convoy departure, with no known time plan for a re-opening. So after travelling from Perth to Norseman, we joined the group. After a very long day of travel we arrived at Caiguna late in the night and slept in the car. What an amazing adventure. Seeing several hundred semi trailer trucks passing us in an East -West convoy as we travelled along in our West- East convoy was awesome! They were enormous with one after another passing us by. It really brought home to us how isolated Western Australia is when a disaster to road or rail occurs.
The trip across Bass Strait aboard The Spirit Of Tasmania was just brilliant! Paula who gets seasick couldn’t have asked for a better crossing. We had a cabin and would recommend booking one if you are thinking of doing the crossing. We were so lucky while we were in Tasmania for our four weeks with the weather. Only two days of drizzly rain! Nothing stopped us going out and about and exploring this beautiful state. We were wowed by the scenery, the food, the wines, the architecture, the people - everything. Our trip had pre booked accommodation for each town we were staying in, and this took the stress out of worrying about where we would stay and allowed us to fully enjoy each day. Our hotels, farm stays, guest houses and motels were all in wonderful settings and close to tourist sights and eateries. We can not fault them.
We did all the touristy things you do when you go to Tasmania as we had not visited this state before. So many highlights, but seeing Platypus in the wild at The Tasmania Arboretum, Glow worms in the Marakoopa Caves, a chair lift to The Nut in Stanley, Cradle Mountain including wombats, Gordon River Cruise in Strahan, the city of Hobart, Bruny Island, Salamanca Markets, Port Arthur, Seahorse World and The Platypus House at Beauty Point ……………. You get the idea, it was fantastic. We were away for seven weeks and we just had a great time, not just the four weeks in Tasmania, but travelling through towns and crossing the Nullabor. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and have put a return trip to Hobart on our wish list, to do all the things we didn’t have time to see while we were there. For those who haven’t been to Tasmania, go. It will not disappoint.
We headed off again in May in our van, travelling through the Wheatbelt area of our state. Unfortunately we both got sick while we were away so we didn’t do lots of walks or exploring, but rested and took it easy for the time we were travelling. We still enjoyed ourselves doing lots of bush camping and some caravan parks. The night sky away from Perth is always spectacular especially when you are by yourself in the middle of nowhere in the quiet. Steve was also able to get some metal detecting in during our travels, with some nice little finds.
While we were away and after much discussion, we decided to sell our caravan and upgrade to a new one. We decided to go with Elross Caravans - a local Perth caravan builder. This makes it so much easier for discussions when planning for our new van. The order has been placed and it should be ready in July/August 2025!!!! Like everything in life there are compromises with the new build, but generally we are happy with what we are going with and look forward to picking it up and getting out there again. Our lovely Lotus van that served us well, sold in three days!!!! The new buyers got a great van and we have to get used to doing other things while we wait for our new one.
We enjoyed a two week staycation in Mandurah mid year, taking our bikes with us planning on doing lots of bike riding. The weather was not great but we still managed to get out and about. While we were there we had visits and sleep overs with family and friends. The indoor pool and spa was a big hit even with the damp weather. It was a really nice and relaxing time and have another two weeks booked for 2025.
David is still at Austal Shipping in Naval Base. He is fabulous with his kids and we are so proud of him. Sophie is amazing, 3 little children and continuing to study law - and continues to achieve outstanding grades. She juggles her time so well and is doing a great job. She went to England for a short visit during the year with little Freddie to see her family. It is nice that she was able to do this. While she was away, we had Poppy and Nora living with us so that David could continue his work with as little interruption as possible. He would come over for dinner and read or play with the girls before heading home. It was a pleasure to have the girls, but you do forget how busy and exhausting it can be. They were really good and it was so nice to have them around.
Poppy is heading into Year 2 next year. She is such a kind and empathetic little girl. Nora starts Kindy and is absolutely ready for it. She will keep the teacher on her toes! Freddie is turning two in 2025 and is a gentle little boy. They are delightful children.
Tyler is now 13! He seems to have adjusted to High School life well and is achieving good results. We have him over to stay during school holidays and he is never any trouble and is easy to please and entertain. Poppy, Nora and Freddie adore Tyler and they all get along well. It is so wonderful and such a joy to spend time with all of them. We love them so much.
Ashleigh is still at Hammond Park and had Pre Primary this year and will be moving to Year 2 in 2025. She isn’t impressed but will rise to the challenge. She works very long hours and is a perfectionist so there is always something to do. She has Long Service Leave owing to her and plans to do some travel next year. She still lives in South Perth in a lovely little unit that suits her needs.
She and Steve’s dad Denis continue to have a wonderful relationship. “Pizza and Plonk” nights are a regular on their social calendar, as well as heading out to lunch or to the Swan Valley for wine testings. It is so lovely. Denis still lives in the family house is keeping fit and healthy and will probably outlive us all!
Mark continues to live his own life in his house and while we don’t hear from him, David and Ashleigh try to keep in contact with him and keep us filled in.
October saw us heading back to Broome again with our lovely friend Vicki. We stayed at Moonlight Bay Apartments which suits our needs well. We caught up with Heather and Glenn and their friends Gary and Jan this year and had lots of fun with them all. It wasn’t as busy as it has been in the past and we had a great time. We just enjoyed wandering around, stopping here and there and then back to our apartment to watch the sunset and enjoy the warmth that is unique to The Kimberleys.
Steve continues to go metal detecting when he can, which unfortunately hasn’t been out and about as much as he would like. He loves it and often will find an old coin or two or some interesting artifacts. He suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee which slowed him down and underwent a procedure early in November. While he is still in the recovery phase and there is still a little irritation, hopefully it will settle down and he will be as good as new!
Paula keeps busy playing in the garden, sewing or reading and we both have lovely lunch dates by ourselves or with friends. The Capri in Fremantle is becoming a favourite spot with Vicki, some lunches going from 12 - 6pm! It is all good!
All the best to everyone for a Happy Christmas and a wonderful and safe 2025.
Love and good wishes to you.
Steve and Paula