Super Service in Subiaco

After a night at the Christian Convention Centre where our caravan was being stored for $3 a night we were definitely ready to spend some time at our friends place. Mel, Mark and Ruby lived in Subiaco which is a very trendy, inner city suburb of Perth, close to everything. The kids were so excited when they saw the size of their house, the TV, foxtel and a room to sleep in that was bigger than the whole caravan.

They were incredibly hospitable and from the moment we arrived we felt very at home. We had the whole long weekend to spend together before we had to leave for Melbourne and they had the weekend planned for us.

Their house was directly opposite Kings Park, an open parkland with both manicured gardens and walks as well as natural bushland. Josh and I took Raffy the dog for a walk in the morning. A fantastic park to have at your backdoor.

Mel is a hairdresser from home but is also very into self –development and a healthy lifestyle. The house always smelt amazing with incense, frankincense or oils burning throughout the day. Mark is a director of a large concrete company in Perth as well as a keen sailor and boatie. His latest venture was building some high class motor boats in China at present. They were really interesting and fun people to be around and were wonderful to our kids too.

 

Our Ruby was happy to be playing barbies and dress ups with their Ruby, Oscar single handedly commandeered the TV remote and Jem just happy to get his lego out and play. Especially happy as Mark had recently come back from China the day before with the complete Star Wars DVD collection. What more could he want? Josh and I on the other hand were pleased to have some adult conversation and company. We were all very content!

Fremantle was next on our itinerary and a drive along the coast through Perth’s beachside suburbs. A stop for a GOOD coffee and a run around on the beach for Raffy the Highland Terrier and we were off again to the well- known Fremantle markets.  Fremantle has a lot of history surrounding it with an old gaol, cobblestone paths and historic workers cottages. Today however, it is a very busy port and an increasingly trendy alternate community.

The streets were lined with entertainers, pubs were full of young people and buskers singing their hearts out along the cobblestone paths. There was a buzz of activity all around. Oscar was keen to sample the Indian food at the markets, Trace, Mel and Rubes keen to look at everything the markets had to offer and Jem as usual ready to go home and play with lego.  As we walked to the markets, the kids were enticed by some rides in the local park, the bungy ride catching their eye. So, true to our word they all had a go on it. Jem enjoying his first experience.

 

 

 

After a stop at the local fish monger for some seafood we were off home for a dinner feast, relaxation and more Star Wars.

Public holiday Monday was spent walking through Kings Park and the gardens, viewing the cityscape and playing on the grass with the kids, along with what seemed like most of the population of Perth. Mark is a bit of a chef at heart and likes to have a say in what is happening in the kitchen. He has a pizza oven in the courtyard which we were lucky enough to experience. Well we thought we were.

 

By early morning we were woken with Rubes coming down two sets of stairs, having vomited on both landings, soon to be woken by Jem vomiting and shortly after Oscar. It was going to be a long night. Trace wasn’t feeling great either but an injection from Josh kept her going to care for the others. Coming out both ends, it was not pleasant and we were thankful that we had two bathrooms and a whole section of the house dedicated to our misery.  

Mel, Mark and Ruby were absolutely wonderful to us and even though we had only known them for only 5 days before our visit, it was as if we had known them for years when we left Perth. They were incredibly generous to open their house to us and make us feel so welcome. What's more they wanted Trace and the kids to stay with them again when they returned from Melbourne without Josh for a few days.

Besides three sick children our other problem was that we were leaving for Melbourne that day in the late afternoon. Josh was on the phone to find out if we could change tickets, only to find out that we had until midday to make a decision. Luckily the kids picked up throughout the day and with no food, water and a bit of sleep they managed to get through the four hour flight to Melbourne and straight to bed at Debs house at midnight. Thank goodness!