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2020 FLOWERS AFTER THE RAIN
Flowers after the much needed rain and dedicated to my beautiful mum on what would have been her 78th birthday had she not been stolen from us too soon 8 years ago xxxxxxx
2020 FREMANTLE & THE PRINCESS
The long awaited Queen with Adam Lambert concert has arrived in Perth and Lola is very excited. I have donated my ticket to her friend as I simply can't tolerate the large venue crowds no matter how much I'd love to experience the concert.
So we made a weekend of it, hiring a house in Victoria Park which welcomed Daisy (the poodle) to join us and did a little more exploring along the way.
2020 COTTESLOE
Taking a day off from the "shop till you drop" weekend, we head out to explore the beaches including Cottlesloe and Scarborough. Scarborough water front district was a little disappointing in that Daisy was not welcome, however we asked a the pub on the edges if she could sit with us outside and they were welcoming so we enjoyed ciders and tapas rather than exploring the waterfront entertainment and stores.
2020 GETTING TO KNOW PERTH
After a bit of freestyling, catching up with friends with a long weekend at Wandering, sweltering in 45 degrees in the dry bush, we collected Lola's friend for a week or so in Perth. Both cashed up from their part time jobs, their plan was simple - shop til they drop, and they did.
Meanwhile Brad and I hung out watching the peeps of Perth go by.
A couple of weeks later we are back in Perth again for the Queen with Adam Lambert concert.
2020 FAMILY TIME
Planned for months, the arrival of my beautiful family countdown begins. A controversial visit this year -a healthy debate at work lead to us departing earlier than planned just before their arrival. This was fabulous as we were able to spend the whole time with them this visit. The daunting task of finding alternative accommodation (during peak season) for all of us, as it happens turned out perfectly.
We are free, the fam loved their accommodation and we had a great time exploring, eating and drinking as usual.
Thanks for visiting, maybe we will come over east for visit this year too xxxx
2019 WE QUIT
Soon to be flying free again and feeling on top of the world today because we just quit our jobs. Issuing the park owner with our minimum 2 weeks notice required, with the option to extend to 3 months to assist to train and recruit, he accepted the later so we will continue to do our best through to the end on 21 January or sooner if recruitment and training is successful.
It is bitter sweet as we are very proud of the huge things we achieved , the community we’ve created and the results that speak for themselves. However, it has taken a ridiculous amount of dedication and commitment and you reach a point where fighting a constant uphill battle is no longer worth the fight.
So we will say farewell to the fabulous team of staff we have built around us and goodbye to some seriously lovely residents and see you around again to a number of regular guests we have come to know.
At the time of our departure we are pleased ti focus on the facts that speak for themselves when measuring performance from the start to the end of our management tenure:
Tourism Quality Star Rating increased from 3 star to 4 star
41% increase in gross Revenue while reducing comparative salaries and expenditure
28% increase in overall Occupancy
A cohesive team unit established with fully documented administrative procedures
Introduction of legislative compliance including WH&S and Residential Tenancy
Significant capital improvement of existing buildings
Converting old rundown caravans to modern parkhomes, income increase over 100%
Renovation of old bungalows increasing occupancy and revenue over 40%
Onsite sale of old vans to owner occupier improving aesthetic and community satisfaction and park reputation
Support new capital development of 18 motel rooms and 38 temporary worker accommodations
Compliance and commissioning of new Waste Water Treatment Plant
So we depart with our heads held very high and wishing the very best to our team and future managers.
Looking forward to a well deserved break and back in the bus - the next adventure is in conception faze.
2019 BRAGging RIGHTS
Very proud parents we attended Bunbury Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) on 18th October 2019 where Lola had a sculpture on display.
She made the bird sculpture as a standard part of her Year 9 art class. Her teacher very impressed, recommended she submit it for the Iluka Visions 2019 art competition to be held at BRAG. With Lola's reluctant permission, her fabulous teacher submitted her work where it was accepted by the entrants panel and on diisplay during the exhibition.
A fabulous evening, we then went back on a quieter day in Nov to snap some more pics and enjoy the exhibition. Some amazing talented students, it was so impressive.
About Iuka Visions: *"Showcasing the creativity of South West High School Students, the Iluka Visions exhibition is now in its 29th year. This annual exhibition highlights the quality and imagination of students from over 15 High Schools across the South West.
The prestigious Iluka Prize will also be awarded on the night, which is offered to one Year 11 or 12 student to partake in a week long internship at Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. Past winners who have completed this internship have gone on to study and build careers in the arts.
Awards night from 6pm, all are welcome! Exhibition runs 12 October - 24 November 2019"*
2019 STOCKTON LAKE
A night at Stockton Lake, in the coal mining town of Collie.
2019 WANDERING
What a lovely few days being the sole occupants of the Wandering Caravan Park. We wouldn't normally use a CP camp kitchen, but this one was so well setup we took advantage. Pleasant bush walk with a narrow flowing stream and the beginnings of a stunning flower park. A great time of peaceful bliss and the brewing of some new life decisions.
2019 CUNDERDIN
Cunderdin is said to be the Noongar name for the hill which lies to the south of the town (aussietowns.com.au).
Another small wheatbelt community it boasts the No 3 pump station museum, an Ettamogah Pub and immediate neighbour to Meckering the home of one of Australia's largest earthquakes back in 1968.
The summary from this mob is the caravan park was clean an easy despite the 38 degree day. The IGA had all we needed to stock up, the butcher shop had the best BBQ sausages ever and lunch at the Ettamogah pub was shit.
We spent far too long searching for the infamous fault line from the 1968 Meckering earthquake to no avail and I almost forgot "The Big SLR Camera".
The only musuem I'm actually interested in closed for the couple of days we are in town. I must admit it was not screaming welcome, come in to me at all.
2019 SOUTHERN CROSS
Still on the Great Eastern Highway and the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, Southern Cross is a small town founded by gold prospectors in 1888.
The town itself is unremarkable though we did get a lovely ice cream from Margaret at the drapery after a quick step back into 1955. We did find some nice spots to explore on the outskirts amongst the vast fields of wheat, hot suns offering awesome sunsets and sparkling white salt lakes.
2019 MERREDIN & THOSE SILOS
Travelling the Great Eastern Highway #94.
Not the most intricate of Silo Art we've seen (reminiscent of clip art), nonetheless it was quite the adventure following the Google Map directions to the Merredin silos.
Fortunately for us it led us right up to the grain fillers without a gate or sign warning of entering a no go zone.
Thus we were quickly but gently moved on, but not before grabbing a few snaps and filling the bus with wheat grain then out through the concrete tunnel and back on to Highway 94.
Originally planning a couple of nights rest stop, the Merredin CP was clean and neat but far too crowded for us surrounded in a sea of white vans and campers and line marking trucks parking way too close for comfort. So onward and eastward to Southern Cross.
The beginning of the famous rabbit proof fence an interesting roadside stop and the odd flower amongst the brownscape.
2019 A FEW FLOWERS LEFT
We head north east to Southern Cross to avoid the coastal school holiday crowd and take a road not yet travelled. Via Williams and Narrogin then the Wickepin-Corrigin Road we pulled up in Yealering for a peaceful stop in quiet and clean park overlooking the retreating lake.
Dinner and a game of pool at the local Yealering Pub finished off a roaming day seeking the last remaining spatters of stunning wildflowers along the roadside. Some of my pics may be weeds, I have no idea what they are, but all are beautiful to me.
For only the second time in years, the bus wouldn't start in the morning. Brad had serviced before we left and it now seemed to be having a fuel blockage. Perhaps a filter seal I'm told. No drama, a 15 min delay and the old girl's up and off again.
2019 BOATS & BIRDS
There is certainly an abundance of ships, boats and birds in Bunbury. A relaxing couple of hours on the bay and up the river we enjoyed plenty of both. Pictures feature the Yellow Spoonbill, a lovely bird I've never encountered before.
2019 CAN AN ALPACA LIVE IN THE BUS?
They are just adoreable and so fulll of individual character, charisma and charm I can see why they are said to make great pets. Brad has said "no more dogs" well move over poodle, I think we might need to make room for an Alpaca.
2019 THROMBOLITES, SEASHELLS AND ALPACAS
Just for something to do. Headed out for drive toward Mandurah via Preston Beach.
Preston Beach had loads of cuttlefish and some lovely shells and the usual WA stunning water and sand and no one else about. Then stumbled across the Lake Clifton Thrombolites "Observation boardwalk overlooking living rocklike organisms, called thrombolites, on the shore" which I'd never heard of before. The day was dull and windy I think this would be fabulous on a clear, calm and sunny day (will let you know).
Stopped with intrigue at some listing boats on the estuary where Brad put his drone up for a closer look definitely some damage done. And then those adoreable Alpacas on the side road - I think they deserve their own page, I'm in love.
Not bad for a couple of hours out of the park.
2019 OVERNIGHTER DOWN SOUTH
I found myself on a solo roadtrip Bunbury to Albany and back in a fleeting overnighter. A beautiful time of season for this, cool and pleasant sunshine, glorious bright and colourful yellow landscape. Spring is in the air along the stunning aqua beaches with shoreside whales, feeding sooty oyster catchers and bobtail lizards soaking up the sun.
We are still loving and finding more new wonders the WA South West has to offer, it's endless it seems.
2019 STOCKTON LAKE & RANDOM PARASKATER
We've heard about a camping spot at Stockton Lake, just outside of Collie. An old open cut coal mine, it's now a camping ground so thought we'd check it out to take the bus for a weekender. And more fun in the sun in Bunbury with a paraskater????
2019 PERTH AND BACK FOR FLEETWOOD MAC
It's not often we get the time to go and explore Perth and this time was no different. It warms my cockles that my 15yo daughter and her friend have purchased tickets to see Fleetwood Mac. So off to her first concert alone 2 hours away to see one of my favourite bands who I'm still yet to see.
This meant that after a 10 hour day, take the 2 hour drive to Perth, have some dinner and a quick wander then pick up the girls and take the 2 hour drive home again before back to work in the morning.
But at least we got to have a little look around and the girls loved the show.
While waiting, we found ourselves in the centre of Chinatown and found a little Korean alley restaurant which was very authentic in it's presentation, patrons and amazing food. Must bring Lola back here one day.
2019 BODY BOARDS & ARTISTS
A day of great talent. We called in to regular Back Beach Cafe and was in awe of the body boarders we saw boarding just in front of the rocks and couldn't figure out how they were not smashing in to them. I'm still not sure I know how other than the waves they were catching is where in the incoming waves met with the outgoing creating a burst of water flying them up in the air. Great fun I'd say.
Then off to the BRAG art gallery where we saw a range of art events (details to follow). Note, no flash photography.
