Perth IX

17.11. - Sun – We went to the Kingsway Shopping Centre and on the way to it already saw Oldtimers one or two vintage cars.

It was like making a time-warp seeing this getting fuelled up!

By entering the parking space we saw, ohhhh, Perth is just like Braunschweig - afterwards you read about what had happened or you stumble in it by chance – a vintage-car meeting!
So, instead of getting picked up at home we met H, B and their Son here to have a look around before going to Caversham Wildlife Park.

Very, very cool, no? Still I´m very glad I live today, not back then!

And thanks again, guys, for picking us up!
We browsed through the souvenier shops... ahh, if I had the space I´d brought little Niece one of these local made horses!

Instead I took this little tea-frog (and a dunny):

We had a coffee, then met up with Mandi and her family and had the first real Aussie picknick in our lifes!

Cheers to you all!!
It came along with a pressie for me, too:

  „Cooked with love“ - a book full of receipes of all the kid´s families attending Mundaring Primary School, with both Mandi´s kids on the cover and Mandi being mentioned as one of the co-producers of this great fundraising-project.

And the first receipe of them is Mini-Pizza-Muffins, that remind me of my friend P who made cookies for all and Pizza-Muffins for me on her Birthday at the office :-)

  Now, life is funny at times!

  Cause also... I´m working for (not at) VW in a B2E-project where so far we managed to get together three cook-books for fundraising for children.
P presented me with every single one.
(Have in mind Ingo is the chef here, too ;-)

  So it´s fair to say I have 4 very personal cook-books by now!

  The picknick came along with the kids playing, the fathers joining in at football – thanks for letting us being a part of it!

Like, really!
This was very special!
Though, I have to apologize... in this heat I just can´t eat much!

  On we went to see and partially even touch and feed the animals – awesome!

This cute fella thought we have food - sorry, mate, no..

What a beautiful little fella, huh?

This one isn´t dead...

... it was just stinking hot that day!

This one has a joey in it´s pouch, how cute:

(My little Niece went all ahhhh and uhhh about the pic :-)...)

This peacock...

was beautiful but also mean, he chased the kangaroos away.

And here you gotta see a whole different species, the J-D-bunch:

Don´t point at me, it was the J-Mummy´s saying! ;-)

We got to touch a koala-bear, too.
I didn´t want to, actually, aww, this poor fella! They open only at certain times and pick different animals, too. But the one "on display"... poor guy.

I just very gently touched his fur, but bet many really grab him.

But!

I never felt a fur like that, it was awesome, so... rich, not only soft but so.. full.
I don´t wanna encourage anyone to bother those guys. But it was a special experience for sure.

  And I really got to touch kangaroos - albinos even!

Mandi´s Son got some food for the kangaroos and offered some to me, too, thanks, B.!

  I took three and went over to one being awake in this heat.

It took two pieces. No one stood beside me, anyhows I found myself offering „one more piece“?
I didn´t say, „Noch eins?“, but spoke in English to the kangaroo! I had to chuckle at myself.

  But then again... when we´re with others – may I say friends? I guess so, huh? - so, when we´re with friends, we try to avoid speaking German at all and when you talk English all day, this obviously happens! You include the animals as well – I don´t wanna be rude, no? ;-)

  And here is the obligatory pic of Ingo the Dingo, the way Ingo always manages to teach people how to pronounce his name (Mark came up with many more, starting with bingo and all, though! I like the Dingo, cause we have fun memories of it).

  It was a very hot day, at least when you just come from Germany.

  But it was fun also visiting a donkey, a very hairy, tall horse, living with a very tiny pony and watching the kids having so much fun as well!

  Later on we had to say good bye to Mandi and her family, and went on with H and hers to find a proper place where to... ah, um... marry.
Mind you, we´re together for nearly 20 years, still this feels weird and though I got it we actually will marry, when Ingo says „heiraten“ I always nearly fall off the chair, it sounds too real.

  They drove us all around the place in Joondalup, took time and gas for us, thanks, guys!
The first place wanted some whopping $500, just as Kings Park – mind you... do people actually pay $500 for a 30-minutes ceremony?!!!
Not us! H and B found a nice place where we can even let go off a fancy restaurant that could make Ingo sick for days if things are not cooked the proper way, but leaves us the option to make it Aussie style: A BBQ! :-)

Casual and safe, that´s our style!
A big YAY for understanding friends!

  As again a mixture of Wanneroo and Braunschweig: We didn´t go for a BBQ but we really got married here:

And by now I feel really a bit different, being married - is this normal?
Kinda safer, more connected.
When I feel "the" ring (story to come) I feel safe. Anyhows.

  On we went with a growing boy.
After some Salt and Vinegar Crisps (YUM), he had an ice-cream, then more Crisps, then, tadaaaaa:

  Chicken Treat!!!

Thanks for stopping - driving! - there with us - sweet, sweet memories. But it wasn´t the same anymore! Portions are huge, guess it even tasted less good.
But awww for the memories!

The slogan has changed again from, as we first got to know it:

  We Treat Chicken Right

  To later:

  The Chicken Lover´s Chicken

  to now

  „The Home Of Your Favorite Chicken“

  By golly, those poor Chicken, huh? Someone not knowing what Chicken Treat actually is might think, awwww, how sweet and caring!

  Later on... even more Crisps, you go and grow, Pal! ;-)

  Thanks, dear friends, for a wonderful Sunday!
And, yes, thanks, H, for making me drink enough, no headache on this side :-)

Perth VIII
Perth VII
Perth VI
Perth V
Perth IV
Perth III
Perth II
Perth I

 

Better Go Before You Go

Guess there are two people here who will now be more aware of how they behave on the road...

But from the start.
The drive to work is 30 minutes, back, due to more traffic, 45.
Anyhows, just for in case, I usually "go" before I start my drive home.
I hate driving.

Yips, today I felt weird from lunchtime on - I kid you not. Maybe getting a cold? (Hope so not!!)

I drove through Wolfsburg, onto the highway, off the highway and... perhaps once a year there is a traffic jam at the exit. Yes, today. Luckily just for those turning left and they stood so close to the left that we could pass them, very nice.
I got stuck behind a truck - no worries he "sped" at 100 km/h.
Until... Leere - cars standing.

There was a crash on the highway and people took this detour.
It took me 1 1/2 hours to get to Braunschweig and I deeply regretted I didn´t go, I tell ya.

In Volkmarode a man suddenly stepped onto the street to bring something to his car - there was enough space between us but I was alarmed.

This is Püppi, a pressie from Ingo. She accompanies me since 2008, he bought her in Wilhelmshaven, it was the year he was so severely sick.
Over 4 years she sits in that place, but today, in a turn, for a sec I thought there is someone on the street.

Somehow all those were signs, I guess.

Well, I´m on my way home, 450 m to go. At the corner of our fav restaurant:

That corner is "mean": I have to turn left (which is like turning right in Australia). I have to wait till no car from the front comes and then there is another light for pedestrians and cyclists - as car driver you cannot see if it´s green or red, other you´re very close and then often you see people crossing although it´s on red cause they just know you´d stop for them cause you´re not sure.

I was first so I knew the lights are still green. A cyclist came, I let him pass and started.
Next sec I had a cyclist - certainly in dark clothes and without a helmet at my car, I couldn´t break and we preceeded two meters together.

By golly!!!

He stood there screaming at me I should stop right there, I told him there is a place to park the car, he called the police meanwhile.

I was shivering so heavily from shock, he told me to calm down, nothing much has happened - but I couldn´t, he even took me in his arms and patted me on the back.
Even my legs were shivering heavily.

I don´t know how fast he´s been and somehow I think it wasn´t my fault, either.

Police didn´t come, he called again and said they tell him they don´t understand him with his phone, if I could call?
I couldn´t but handed over my phone. He gave it back to me, laughing - I have the same brand.
It took forever till the police came - thanks to the shock I didn´t have to go anymore at least...

I thought I´d calmed down, but the officers, too, said I should do just that: Calm down.

In the end I will get a fine (!!!) and my car´s insurance will have to pay.
Still: I thank that man.

It could´ve been a woman with a child or whatever. OK, a woman with a child wouldn´t speed and would take care the car sees her.
I guess the man will be more careful from now on - and me, too.

Ingo says he hates that corner - I have to take it every day - the other route is no through-road anymore due to construction works.

Am I thankful nothing serious happened.

What was funny: The police officer asked that guy if he has his ID with him. He replied: Yes - though usually I don´t.

Freaky, no?
As if the lesson was planned for both of us.
I wished for an easy place to park the car - and I got one, too.

And then I could "go"...

Addendum: The cyclist just called me. It´s just the tyre, nothing more, 100 bucks. He´ll have the bike back tomorrow, he told me, laughing. And asked if I´m ok by now...

Perth VIII

Ok. When you´re in Joondalup Shopping Centre seeing two guys glued to the telly, the woman taking pics of it and it has a "real" footy on... might be Germans. Or maybe people from Braunschweig. Very likely us.*
Yes. It was us.
So... here goes another round of Wanneroo-off-/Braunschweig-online-blogging of our "adventures/beautiful times" in Perth :-)

Oh, I mean, guys! You´re in the time-zone, you can watch professional footy games in the mornings! Even if we had a sports-channel, it´ll be in the middle of the night, you´d need more technology to... aw.

For some reason (like Ingo pacing!) these are the only two pics I took of the Shopping Centre :-(
Anyhows. Here goes:

15.11. FRI – Went to Joondalup shopping Centre today. Huuuuge.
Bigger than last time!
At Target I failed in finding clothes. Like totally. Finally gave up and bought the skirt that was the less ugly.
$36.
Boooy.
K-Mart was the solution again! Clothes for a price I´m willing to pay and that are my style.
Really @Target: Who wears dresses with several layers in this heat???

  I know, you might say: Joondalup Shopping Centre?! See the Museum, make something more advanced.

Well...

Anyone in for the String Theory? Anyone who loves Farrokh Bulsara?

Here goes. Just.Give.it.a.Go! (See the poster above)
(This is NOT Farrokh Bulsara but Acapella Science - yay, to him, too! Heaps!)




My answer to the museum and all: We´ve seen it.
We´ve been there.
We have nothing like Joondalup SC in Germany. It´s „heaven“ for us.
There is so much stuff we don´t get.
We don´t buy the lot, just having a look and giving ahhhs and ohhhhs :-)
OK, I admit. We buy a lot, too.
Who knows when we´ll be back?
Meanwhile we live in the German „advanced“ area, way behind you... (Post on that to come!)

  Later on we went to Perth City,...

awww... don´t you just adore how old and new is mixed?
... tried to relax with a beer at the Brass Monkey - they have some sail & anchor amber ale beer, brewed in Freo, very yummy! Very refreshing!

But we couldn´t. It was late. Hence It.Was.LOUD!!!!

Boy. Am I getting old?
It was pure stress! Soooooo LOUD!!!

  Next we went to Forrest Place to see the „Grand Opening“ of Christmas Season.

  Being German... when they say they start at 6 we´re there 5:30, right?
Just to make sure.
And to get good seats.
And... just to make sure, right?
We´re on time!

  So. There we were, squeezed in between heaps of people. Heaps of kids, waiting for Santa.
One nasty boy right to the right behind us, crying every 5 minutes, just like that.
People kept turning their heads, but the mother just didn´t care. The boy got „instantly“ all that he wanted.
Right behind me – I picked chairs in the last row – another row emerged with a chinese man and his son. The son bumping constantly in my back, the man talking LOUD to his son/in my ear.

Really, thanks, Mum.
I should not have listened to you.
I should have turned around yelling GEHT`S NOCH?! SOLL ICH AUCH MAL BRÜLLEN?! In his ear!
A language he assumambly doesn´t understand as well.
Annoying!

Later Grace told me she saw us from on top near Myer´s with me getting angrier by the minute.
Thanks for not posting the pics! But... I am German ;-)

6:00. 6:15. 6:30.... 7:00.
No.thing.
We left.
Really, I mean Channel 7 was there and all and they have nothing but pics of waiting and waving people on the screen?!
Great event.

  Back to the Brass, but more LOUD, so back home.

By bus.

(Ordinary pics? I get homesick....)

Grace called when we were already on the bus (sorry, Grace, we didn´t know how to work the phone to get you!!) - she´d left also.
Not just us Germans were annoyed about the unexcused delay.
Really, just saying, "sorry, due to technical problems..." I would´ve understood!
Aw, well. Some days are good totally, some aren´t perfect, right?

We left the bus with a „Thank you!“ to the bus driver who thanked us back :-)

Perth VII
Perth VI
Perth V
Perth IV
Perth III
Perth II
Perth I

* They were called the "Braunschweig Lions", now the fashion company "New Yorker" took over and forced their name on them, sad, they lost the link to our wonderful city, to Henry The Lion, still a bit they´re "our footy-team".
Anyhows, they were cool, funny, great...
In 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013 German Bowl Defenders and in 1999 and 2003 German Bowl Defenders in American Football - we spent heaps of great time there (until it went too pricey for too little service - hello, management!

Perth VII

OK, finally another round of mixing Wanneroo "offline-blogging" with now...

14.11. - Thursday - Today we met Grace from Perth Daily Photo and her husband, Patrick.
Well, to say we met... you can guess it maybe? We got pampered just once again, gotten picked up right at the Caravan Park! Thanks to you two!
We went to Hillary´s Boat Harbour, chatted along, at the dolphin-wishing-well (see pic above)... are you allowed to tell? Well. It´s me. I wished for health.

Sad story around it, though, Grace told me:
They lived in the harbour, were loved and fed by all Perthies, you could even swim with them - loved by nearly all. After a while one after the other died, very likely got murdered.

Me again, too shy and too busy to ask for a proper pic - but that is to come, after all we met more than once :-)

This piece of art comes with a function I learned - it measures the wind velocity, nice!

Wow for this dinosaur, bet a great place for a kid´s party:

Aww, these colors!

One girl at our bakery (they really call us newly-weds and asked how married life is like. Ummmm. We´re together for nearly 20 years!), anyhows, one of them collects lighthouses, if we could bring her one?

You should expect some here, no? We browsed through the shops, too, but all I got for her is this pic of the men walking ahead, talking about Grühnkohl...

Grace pointed out those exposured cats who thankfully looked well fed and healthy.

Still a shame people leave their cats there!

Again: Awww, those colors, this scenery!

Thanks, you two for taking us - and bringing us home, too!

We didn´t do much more this day, it was just too plain hot.
Dinner at Subway and that was it.
Still it´s just plain awesome to walk through the Caravan Park, past the eucalytus tree (-smell!!!-)

and on to the Kingsway Shopping Centre. Past the Smile Makers (dentist), see and hear the ravens... awww...
It´s our second home – and a treasure, also in he simple things.

  Simple things like saying „Thank you!“ to the bus-driver when getting off the bus.
In general I have to say Australians/Perthies are more polite than people back home. Refreshing!

Perth VI
Perth V
Perth IV
Perth III
Perth II
Perth I

 

Never, Ever Give Up

I saw this on FB at Frankie´s place. At the end it says "Please Share!", which I do.



Over here, to always be able to re-find it - I think blogger is more handy than FB in this.

Perth VI

I know. I´m slow. This doesn´t mean I don´t cherish our holiday in Perth!
Since there are no related pics there are random ones. Random ones I love none the less!
Maybe even it´s the other way round, I miss it too much?

The - in these 3 weeks - always (apart from... coming to that later) clear blue sky, always.
Sun, always, warmth, always.
Oh, do I miss it!
FB/Bloggy-friends.
Fun.
Being lazy.
Pie.
And now... grey, grey, grey and cold.
And back to work on Monday - good thing apart from.... yah know.

So. Back to the "offline-diary" 2013...

Wed, 14.11. - Today we went to see our „wedding-counselor", C.
I think we were rather quick, still it took us 2 hours!

We were able to pick short, but very fitting vowes and all. It was all so unreal. We´ll get rings and … oh, my.
We´re getting married. Like.... much bigger than I ever wanted (very small to others, I guess, though).

We got it all as a leaflet, very nice! (Note from today)

C also told us at the beginning of the year the only 45-y-o manager of our Caravan Park got murdered. Maybe that´s why the place is so run down.

  After the „session“ at C´s we hopped on train/bus again and made our way to H and B for a BBQ. The bus driver – now behind „bars“, it´s sad - helped us to get out where Ingo pointed on the map, very nice.
Sadly it was wrong, though, about 2 km to go still – in that heat.

I asked some guy for the way and he led us through, thankfully via a shortcut, too.
We had to ask via smartphone – thanks again, H! - for the way and then their Son came to lead us to the house :-)

  Their dog didn´t kill me, B made a great BBQ and there was yummy salad!

  To put more honey …. awww, that´s a German saying and I don´t put honey anywhere anyway. Their Son sure is a very smart boy.
We both, why ever, wore Braunschweig t-shirts that day.
Their Son recognized there is the same label of the city of Brunswick on both our (very different like looking) shirts, on my cam and there is a tag saying „Braunschweig – Heimat (home)“ on my backpack. Very attentive!
He also asked me if I slept well, still remembering we came a long way and have 8 hours difference in time to catch up!

When we left I guess he wasn´t sure how to say good bye and guess what?
He came up with high-fiving us :-)
Next time I´ll try the Live-Long-And-Prosper-guesture of Spock.

  We are pampered, B drove us even home!!

Perth IV
Perth III
Perth II
Perth I