I really feel that there was one HUGE omission regarding our stay at Settlers - and that was early on Sunday morning - trying to put behind me the horrors of the Portuguese Illegal Immigrants in Balingup - Vicky decided to walk the dogs round to paddock to get them used to the sheep ! I was sensibly sat on the deck with a cup of tea and my knitting - I certainly know how to have a good time !
So when Vicky shouted Mum come and have a look - I obediently left both items and journeyed down to the paddock where the most wonderful experience unfolded -- Mum Roo was there with two of her juvenile young ! They were in the bush just beyond the paddock fence - and watching us as we were watching them. A truly magical moment - which tipped the scales - but only marginally from the horrors of the previous night ! I've seen Roos in the wild before but nothing so touching as in the early morning dawn in the middle of nowhere - just perfect.
Right where were we - back from Balingup and washing red mud off my feet - glorious thought I should discard that fairly swiftly dear reader !
Monday Vicky was off for her skills test - so I came down to Dee's - in Craig's car - a Toyota Landcruiser - V8 - quite tidy actually - and absolutely divine to drive. I could get very used to it - he gave me $50 to fill up the spare tank (actually its got a proper name - but you know - getting used to the dementia bit of my future - I can't remember what its called !!!)
I happily chatted to the girls - Maddy was here and was going to take Dee to the hairdressers at 11am - so we had a chat before I blogged. We had Maddy in fits of giggles when recounting her Grandfathers arrival in Shoreham by Sea during the weeks before his marriage to Dee - I should explain to those who don't know my family, that my brother-in-law Arthur - Maddy's grandpa on her paternal side - was Anglo/Dutch, he spoke 11 languages and was eventually the Commissioner of Police in Aden. However in 1948 he was a lowly policeman in the Colonial Police in Lira a little town in Uganda, East Africa. It was from there that Arthur had returned and would take Dee back as his bride after the wedding. Well my mother - Granny Batten - was a terrible practical joker - so she devised a welcoming committee for Arthur's return (sufficient to put a less determined man off his goal of marrying the eldest daughter). My Dad was detailed to wait at the railway station with a HUGE golfing umbrella and escort Arthur back to the family home, that was situated in the middle of the town, adjacent to the Church where the ceremony was to take place on the 19th August 1948. On arriving at the ancestral home (we had lived in it for 5 years by that time) Arthur found the semi-circular driveway illuminated with many lighted candles, his future in-laws, lining the driveway with a selection of Pampas Grasses and muffled biscuit tins - just imagine the scene at dusk .... it took very little imagination for a passing cyclist (wobbling precariously at the vision before him) to report to friends and family that the Batten's daughter was marrying an African Prince and that they were performing a tribal welcoming ceremony ! Maddy thought this was hilarious bless her ! So did the family at the time. Dee's long term memory is excellent and she added the various bits and pieces that made up this wonderful reunion - she hadn't seen him for 3 years from the time they got engaged to the time they met when his boat docked at Tilbury !!! They had written to each other every day for those three years ! Dee's first and only love of her life !
Reminiscing is so lovely with Dee, she can remember every child, grandchild and great grandchild's name, date of birth and who they belong to - which is some feat - I'm just so glad I just have two grandsons and that's at a push to recount their full names and dates of birth !!! Dee however is an absolute fount of all knowledge regarding the family. However, what happened just a couple of minutes ago, sadly passes into the aeons of cyber space without trace. It can be very upsetting for her and confusing, however she has three wonderful daughters who care for her in their own special ways, and she is so loved and cherished. It has been oh so very worthwhile coming out here - now - to visit her.
It was decided on Monday that on Tuesday - Sarah would drive Dee and myself up to Kings Park - a beautiful park high up overlooking the city of Perth - it has the most glorious views of the surrounding area especially the Swan River and the foreshore (which is currently being dug up and replaced by something exotic at Barrack Street Pier where the pleasure boats moor up ! The Crystal Swan (owned by my nephews) is now in the middle of a building site, not that pleasant a demarking venue for a wedding or other up market occasion ! )
Vicky was married in the Japanese Tea pergola in Kings Park back in 2009 - I've not been back since and I so love the whole area, it is also one of Dee's favourite places. Description really defies its ambiance - it has everything there. The war memorial for the two World Wars are situated up there with the commanding view of the Narrows where the two rivers join and flow down to Freemantle and the sea. Plus ALL of Perth and the surrounding area and hills beyond - its just glorious. The park itself has the avenue of remembrance where each tree has a plague recalling the name of each of those who gave their lives in those two conflicts. These trees are now HUGE and its just such a peaceful memorial with the breeze whispering through the leaves.
There are also the obligatory cafes and restaurants and gift shops there too, but its in good taste and much improved from the original structures of previous years, all nicely paved around the hospitality areas. And the loos are MUCH improved.
Further away from the more commercialised area are the gardens, parkland, water features, Aboriginal art and a tree top walk ! Well Dee had her wheelchair and so we were able to take her further than she has been for some considerable time. We actually managed to take her up along the tree top walk - and then down to the water gardens in memory of the women who served W.A. in the early years, in fact Australian women had the vote before we girls did in the UK - a forward thinking nation for certain sure.
We stopped for a breather after the hill into the Banksia gardens - golly how many types of Banksia are there for heavens sake - they are all beautiful and so amazingly adapted to the somewhat harsh Australian climate.
Dee was ready for her nap when we returned to No 23 Halgania Drive, and thus ended another lovely day with my darling, adorable, gracious and grateful sister.
Wednesday morning saw us up bright and early - okay you can dismiss the 'bright' - Sarah was returning to KL on the 6.30am flight - so she needed to be at the Airport at 4.45am latest - Vicky woke me at 3.15am ( WOKE me - its the first time I've actually slept past 2am - and I was in a deep, deep sleep - so you can understand the removal of the word "bright" I txt Sarah at 3.30am when we left and she was obviously ready with her suitcase outside the front door when we arrived. Vicky is an excellent driver and we found the airport in the dark without any slip ups. Dropped Sarah off - and left her to find her flight - I shall be seeing her again next Wednesday night - my plane arrives at 22.00 ! I fly out at 23.58 on Thursday 26th ! So that journey will be repeated yet again but at lunch time instead of well before breakfast ! We got home with the dogs and it was raining - thankfully neither dog has much of a brain cell between them, so they were quite happy NOT to go for a walk - they had been out for a drive- so much more civilised. Strange to relate both Vicky and I were somewhat tired, so we dozed until we had to really carry on with the rest of the day - i.e. seeing Nanna Welch !
Wednesday, Nanna Welch (Craig's Grandmother) had invited us down to her place - so off with went with Google Maps - now this is where Vicky nearly had a serious car accident, she was laughing so much - at my expense of course - what else. Those of you who have Google maps will have a female voice telling you where to go, Sarah uses them in KL - I'm going deaf - (according to Vicky the better description would be "Gone" ) The voice uttered what I heard as "slide right" which I thought was a really silly thing to say - and when I mentioned this to Vicky - she just cracked up with laughter - I should have heard "Slight right' - needless to say Vicky took it further - and made up some equally silly instructions - "hand break turn into that parking place" "you idiot you've gone the wrong way - do a Uee NOW " - I'm not being allowed to forget that I'm somewhat hard of hearing !!!!
Nanna Welch is such a character, with a total heart of gold and a rod of steel running right through her, she obviously adores Craig - (as most Grandmothers adore their grandkids) but she doesn't have rose tinted glasses, she certainly calls a spade a spade ! She told me (and Vicky & she has told Craig) that Vicky is the best thing that had ever happened to Craig in his entire life, that she has wrought such a change in him, and the family are absolutely delighted and hope that she will continue to work with him, because he has so many rough spots that need rounding !!!! I left her with the knowledge that not only my family out here will always be there for Vicky, but that Craig's family are there for her too.
Nanna also had Jack and Millie behaving - she is some formidable lady to be able to do that !
Wednesday late afternoon and early evening - I was allowed by Linda - to take my turn at "looking after" Dee - Linda was off on airport duties - for a 5.30 afternoon flight and a delivery of passenger to some suburb of Perth. So I came over to Doncraig - with my knitting - praise be I was on the sewing up stage of the garment and not before time.
Dee and I had a lovely evening - chattering as we knitted, but before that we decided to go for a walk around the block - with the wheelchair of course, I've not up graded to the Goffer yet. Its a lovely area - very nice houses with well tended front yards, and the odd little park dotted about the place, we were out for a good hour or so, Dee walking on the flat bits and me pushing her up the hills, there are lots of uphills and very few down I've discovered at bit like the Mendips but nowhere so steep. Linda arrived back at about 7.30pm - so for the first time I had to drive in the dark - its only 18 minutes from door to door - so it wasn't that much of a challenge.
Today, as I write, its Thursday - Dee and I have been to Hilary's Boat Yard, and had a lovely morning, just strolling around, looking at the shops and purchasing a gift for Sheila - to give to a friend as a birthday present. There was no hurry - which of course I find amazing to comprehend - slowing down isn't an option normally. However, Dee enjoyed the stroll and her carriage rides - we stopped at the Dome for a Berry Bliss (for me) and a Triple Ginger Beer (for Dee) plus some gluten free biscuits ! We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. However slight panic - Dee lost her sun glasses - I know I should have been watching - but I wasn't - however retracing out steps to the Dome, and the loos - we eventually found the glasses in Dee's trouser pocket !!!! Home and to the computer - for me, and for Dee to bed for her afternoon nap ! I was sure I would be "sacked" by the sisters if on my first tour of duty I failed and lost the glasses !!! So glad we found them.
As we are off to Steve and Maria's for High Tea at 3.30pm I guess I had better sign off - go back to Vicky's change and be presentable for our social engagement - and remember to take Viv's gift of After 8's and polos to Steve !
Chat again soon.
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