(watching WA v QLD 20/20)
Hi All,
In case you were wondering what has been going on, and by popular demand, we have decided to update the blog. I (rob) did my first days work for 3 months on the 7th of this month. i wish it was as easy for Em as it was for me. The agency Emily is applying through have given her form after form, and course after course, to start work for what might only be a week worth of shifts. We can't understand what the difference is between nursing in Vic or WA, or anywhere in the world for that matter... Litigation is yet another hurdle, police checks and working with children checks, although nationally checked, are only state recognised, there goes another $80. Why, if there is a 300 nurse shortage in WA, do they make it so hard to nurse?? anyway, enough whinging, Em should be practising again by monday the 19th.
From the 12th - 16th Jan we were joined by The Billson's and Grandma K for some summer fun by the Scarborough beach. it was a very relaxing week catching up with family and seeing some more of the sites (before they got burnt down yesterday) here in perth. FYI- Friday was 42deg with Nth winds and some smart cookie decided to set Kings Park alight.
We have been spending lots of time with my Cousin Joel and Kerry and kids Zane and Lily-Ann. Zane (3yrs) absolutely loves his floaties, so we have obliged to swim at the resort pool almost daily - what a shame... Lily (9mths) also loves a splash.
My cousin Peter has a 62ft Charter boat, which he shared with us on friday 9th. we went over the swelling seas to rottnest island and had a boat party, spent the night on the water, then ate the freshest crayfish possible, from the hands of the great white hunters in scuba gear straight to the onboard barbie. the story would have been even better if i liked crayfish! after a refreshing swim and once the scuba divers had had enough, we went back to Hillary's boat harbour and disembarked 'The Pelican' to solid land, much to Emily's delight.
My cousin Corey had been busy up until boxing day getting his latest short term accomodation ready for lease. It is a brand new, 3br, double story, entertainers delight house, backing on to the world famous vines golf course. good if you like golf i suppose... Anyway, once the tenants vacated, Corey and Michelle put on a big roast for us and others, a bit i of a house warming party i suppose, so that was nice.
so up til now, the weather has been simply HOT! it is the hottest start to the year for 15 years for perth, and here at the Vines you can add another 2 degrees as there is no coastal breeze. We have been staying mostly with my mum's sister Wilhelmina and her husband Chas. It is a lovely 2.5 acre block with 2 cows, 20 chickens, 2 ducks (8 hatchlings eaten by crows), 20+ homing doves, 50+ coy fish in the back pond, 100+ tadpoles in the front pond, a westy terrier Mitsy, maltese cross Minette, cat Clementine, two parrots, Hughie and Georgie, 3 rats (2 dead so far, still hunting the 3rd) and as my Aunty would say, one sexy chick. It really is a lovely escape. Willy and Chas have been great hosts, very generous and easy going.
The whole McIvor Clan have been very welcoming and it will be sad to leave on the 27th, but we need to keep moving. we will have been in perth just over a month, and frankly, we are getting itchy feet, so we will brave the feirce heat, rain and wind of the north, and continue to explore.
This will probably be the last blog until after Australia day, so we hope you will have a safe long weekend, and hopefully Barack will still be around to change the world, and hopefully it wont be cold and rainy like it looked to be yesterday in melbourne! over and out
"Back on the road with a new Tropical resistant tent" 
