Last Month in Perth Time flies when you are having fun, and.... have I been having fun!!! Spend 3 months in a city and you really begin to feel like you live there. For the past month, I have been catching the train to work as usual; spending the evenings going to the gym (running or spinning); walking to the beach; relaxing with my lovely housemates; watching films or going to the cinema. Catherine and Tim have also got me hooked on a 1980's programme called Sea Change - we have virtually been watching an episode every other night - it rocks! I have spent my weekends swimming, visiting Fremantle, Cottesloe Beach; or since we have pumped up the tires on Graham's bike, cycling around Perth. Perth city is sooo cycle friendly - cycle tracks cover the city and run through lovely open spaces, nice park land and along the river. With such gorgeous weather, all this greenery and beautiful views across the Swan River, it is just rude not too. Catherine and I managed a 20km cycle last Sunday, pretty good considering we were all rather pipsi the night before. Well, going out with a Gaelic football team, I am not sure that the night would take another course.... The night began at the Irish Club in Subiaco, where prizes were given to the football team for their efforts. It was then time to jump on the party bus, which was just hilarious. Disco lights flashed all night long and funky tunes escorted us to various Irish bars around the city. The best bit of the night would have to be the Abba Tribute band, singing ACDC! We made the last train home, and managed to eat pies and Tim Tams before bedtime - a gallant effort indeed! Some what more glamorously, I also attended the WorleyParsons ball. I got dressed up in my glad rags (traveller style posh dress and sparkly flip flops, ha hmm, very chic), drank champagne and boogied to a Tina Turner tribute and very excitable Darren Reid and the Soul City Groove. What is it with crazy performers here in Oz?! The food was pretty good, and conversation made interesting, whilst trying to talk over our mains as Tina hailed in the background....The night ended well, and a good time was had by all (although Stu may have sustained an injury after dancing on the table and smashing a few glasses!). I can also say I have proudly been to see a live AFL (Australian Football League) game. AFL is huge here in Australia, very much like football is in the UK. The girls and boys at work said to get a true Australian experience, I would need to go and kindly invited me to see the West Coast Eagles play the Western Bulldogs. On the way there, the trains were rammed full of supporters, all very excited for the game. Trans Perth even provides free public transport to and from the Subiaco Oval on football days! On arrival, the stadium was full with 43,000 people. I understood the rules too, which was great! Of course, the West Coast Eagles won the semi-finals, which was especially very exciting for "Eagles" supporters Jo, Nuala and Trent. Sunday sailing has kept form and I have had some beautiful days out on the Swan River with Dom. Sunny and windy, sails fully hauled and me at the helm, what more could a girl ask for?! Well, a go at Dinghy sailing of course! Bright and early last Sunday morning, I climbed aboard a Laser and had my first go at solo sailing. It was a completely different experience to sailing a boat, but great being so close to the water and every move I made, effected the movement of the boat. I think I am hooked. Sadly, I have been a little sick of late - wee bout of cold, so I spent my last Saturday and Sunday morning on Perth, sleeping on the couch - very exciting! I did manage to see the end of the AFL grand final - the Eagles won against Sydney, so naturally the afternoon sounded with cheers and beeping horns. Feeling a little better on Monday, Tim, Catherine and I hopped onto our bikes, and cycled in the 23 degree heat to King's Park, calling in at the Subiaco Markets along the way (and for afternoon snacks on the way back). Kings Park is gorgeous, full of very old and very tall trees and lots of extremely pretty flowers, including the Kangaroo Paw, which looks a little like the paw of a Kangaroo. We strolled around the park, taking in the stunning views of Perth City and the Swan River, watching the water falls and the children on the camel rides...It was definitely worth the 30km cycle. As mentioned, we lunched at Subiaco Markets - they are great, with eateries, and fruits and vegetables from all countries and cultures, and some of the most beautiful orchids I have ever seen. For dinner, the 2A Deakin Street house mates took to Fremantle; with pre-dinner drinks at Little Creatures (sparkling red for me) followed by Sandrino - a very cosy Italian. On the way home, Mirella kindly asked the train driver to make a special stop at Swanbourne so we could get off (I am not so sure that she was aware that the train was going to do his anyway, but it was a very nice thought). All in all, a splendid last day in Perth! In doing all of the things I have done over the past three months, I have seen a fair amount of Perth City Centre and it's suburbs; Swanbourne, Cottesloe, Claremont, Nedlands, South Perth, Northbridge and Fremantle. Each suburb has a personality of its own, which has made my stay here lots of fun. The crazy thing being, that there is still more for me to do! I have also met some great people (the Worley gang); made some fantastic friends - Catherine, Tim and Mirella have been fantastic to live with; Dom and John have been great company whilst sailing Patty May, and fellow sailors Matt and Jayne, have made good bar-mates after a day's sail- I will miss them all. But, both sadly and excitingly, the time soon came for me to move on - on the 3rd October, I jumped on the Easy Rider Bus that will take me up the west coast, eventually as far as Broome. There I will meet with Jess and venture the rest of Australia. For now, my first stop is Lancellin, for a spot of windsurfing. So, look out for the journals and photos soon to come from WA. Lots of Love, Em x