Wine Tasting in the Swan Valley

On Sunday the weather wasn't looking too good and so we decided to go north to the Swan Valley and do a bit of wine tasting. Paul (Nige's brother) is over from the UK and the minute ands thought that this would be a good trip for him to see some of the WA countryside, whilst experiencing a little culture!

We stopped at a really nice brewery and had lunch. Of course, there was nothing on the menu that was vegetarian but I had a nice salad (minus the ham). We then went to a small vineyard and sampled some wine. The wine was delicious, even though the actual tasting "shed" didn't look all that luxurious. We bought a case of mixed between us and vowed that we would save it for a more "special" occasion. We just had one bottle that night as we thought it would be rude not to .....

Six Hour Mountain Biking Event

Got a cat on Sunday ... lost him on Tuesday ...

I lost Max today.... I went through the whole house looking for him, even checking cupboards and drawers. Normally he would come running when called and because he has a bell, you can hear him a mile off. I finally came to the conclusion that he must have made a run for it when I was carrying in a huge box of diet coke.

I went around the whole neighbourhood looking for him, knocking on doors and meeting the (very) polite neighbours.

At 2.30 I had to come back to the house to get ready to pick Anna up for school. I was dreading telling her that horrid mummy had lost her cat! I opened the fridge to get one of the diet cokes out when I heard a bell ring... I checked through the fridge thinking that the cat must be in there. I even checked the freezer in case I had accidentally shut him in there (not that I'd been in the freezer mind). I then came to the conclusion that I was losing it and hearing things ... when out popped the cat from behind one of the overhead cupboards in the FITTED kitchen! Somehow, he had managed to squeeze himself in the gap at the back of the highest cupboards in the kitchen and gone up to the roof. I have no idea how he got there, or what he was doing there. I'm just glad he's back.

Now to tell the neighbours that the scary, frantic "pom" found her cat in the roof ....

We have a new addition to the family!

Well, my resolve caved and we went to the RSPCA on Sunday and chose a cat for Anna. We don't feel ready for another dog but the house feels very lonely without a pet. We met a few cats but decided on Max. A five year old tabby that is being rehoused as his owner had to go into sheltered accommodation as they are unable to have pets there.

Max is very cuddly, likes being picked up (so far!) and is quite happy just to sit and have a snuggle on your knee. He kept us awake last night meowing but hopefully when he gets more settled he'll quieten down.

Anna loves him (thanks goodness ....)

We're Moving

We have found a new house and are moving at the end of the month! The house is gorgeous. It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, family room, study, formal dining room, kitchen, theatre room, wine cellar, double garage and a POOL!!!

It's far too big for us but what the hell...

Start making your reservations now!

Sharks Ahoy

There was a lapse in the rain and so we decided to have a picnic on the beach at Hillary's Boat Harbour on Sunday. There's a beautiful stretch of beach at the harbour which has a child's playground and the sea is calm and clear.

However, when we got there the beach was closed due to sightings of a 4m Great White shark, just off the pier. There had been a carcass of a dead 15 tonne humpbacked whale washed up onto the shore which had attracted the sharks.

It was like something out of Jaws ... guards patrolling the beach and anyone entering the water (including paddling) were immediately asked to get out.

Freaky, scary and exciting all at the same time!