Perth - We arrived in Perth almost a week ago (Monday) and time there really flew. We stayed with Lisa (Mummy) and Mari who were on tour in Vietnam and got to meet Dougal (dad) and Lucy (younger sister). Such a lovely family. Typical salt of the earth type people. Perth is a quiet city but is very beautiful. One thing you notice is the cleanliness everywhere and how attractive the neighbourhoods are. We had so much arranged and organised for us so our experience was fantastic. The boys slept in rooms in the house and Sara and I shared a lovely comfy high up bed in the studio in the courtyard at the back of the house. We went surfing as Dougal is a bit of a pro! but the waves were dumpers so we didn't have a lot of luck. We went fairly early and headed back for a yummy breakfast.

I remember the first shower i had at their house - it was the best one since being away and i'd forgotten just how lovely a power shower is!! As well as how good home cooking is - Dougal is master chef of the house hold and the first night we had a scrummy Indian!

One evening we went for a picnic by the river with some friends of theirs and were going to see an outdoor movie but decided it was move fun playing cricket, chatting and listening to Lisa's acoustic radio show which she had to dash off for.

On Thursday we over on the ferry to Rottnest Island (it's about a half hour crossing but it was pretty rough on the way). We stayed in 'The Lodge' and all 5 of us shared a dorm. Dougal joined us later on after he had finished work. We hired bikes and on the first day Mari and I hired a tandem. We went on a short evening ride to an isolated beach where most of us slept for a while in the cool evening temps. The tandem was a lot of fun but starting off was tricky and we'd fallen off before even getting moving. Mari and I had matching cuts on our ankles and we decided that for the following day we would swap and get a bike each. Not sure these were any easier as only single geared and the island was quite hilly! After a BIG continental brecky we headed off to a couple of beaches for snorkelling. Though on the second beach i found a shady spot and slept. We cycled back in time for a lunch time pie at the amazing bakery on the island before catching the 4pm ferry back.

We stopped in Freo (Freemantle) for supper on Friday evening at a Brewery called 'Little Creatures' - they had all the tanks surrounding the bar and tables. We headed back home to pack and shower before leaving to get to the airport.

I need to get going but i will catch up with my journal again tomorrow after i have dived on the Barrier Reef! Bye for now x