This year got off to an exciting start for Graham and I, my Mom and Dad visited us from Indianapolis Indiana. We saw Mom and Dad last in July back in Indiana, so it was great to get to show them our new home in Perth.
Graham and I have a small 2 bedroom apartment in Perth so fitting us all in was an interesting challenge. It did not take long from my Dad to install his ham radio station from our front porch. He tied a long wire antenna to a tall tree on the street and then brought it back to our apartment. It was hanging about 10 feet off the ground from the tree to our front door ( a distance of about 30 feet). I am sure the people living on our street thought it was pretty strange, but in the Wolfla family things like that are normal. He was able to talk to his friends back in Indiana as well as new friends he made in Perth. He even went out to lunch with some of the local hams! It was fun to come home from work and see Dad chatting away on his radios!
I had to work most days of my parents visit (yuck I know). But Mom, Dad, and Graham got to have lots of fun together, they saw nearly all the sites of Perth. Visiting a reptile park, and the Australian Mint. I think Mom enjoyed the more simple things like going to the fruit and vegetable market, and super market the best though. I do have to say our local fruit and veg shop is pretty cool. They sell all kinds of great things, butters, cheeses, meats, candy, baked sweets, its a truly European shop. One could spend hours there and come home with tons of yummy fatty things. I love to visit on Sundays and come home with something spoiling for Sunday dinner.
Over a weekend Mom, Dad, Graham and I went down to one of Australia's most famous wine regions, The Margaret River. And yes, there is a river there although Graham claimed there was not one. We drove over it on the way into town. But don't worry I still thing Graham is perfect, as most commonly claims. Margaret River was beautiful, and I started to wonder why in the heck we did not live there. Its about a 3.5 hour drive from my home in Perth. Its green and on the coast with some really great beaches and reefs. We went to some of the best wineries the region had to offer, and stayed in a cozy hotel near town. Mom spoiled me while in Margaret River and bought me a pain of Birkenstock sandals. I love them! I know I will have them for a long time to come.
Mom and Dad where with us in Perth for the Australia Day public holiday. Its like the 4th of July, but it does not mark the day Australia won its independence from England like the 4th does for us. Instead its more like a "Yay for Australia Day". Australia is still tied to England in some weird ways. The queen is on the money, there is a Union Jack on the Australia flag, and Australia is a member of the Commonwealth. Kind of like being a member of the Queen's Club. Anyways. Australia Day Celebrations happen all over the country on January 26th, there are citizen ceremonies and fireworks, also lots of BBQ's and beer drinking (this is Australia after all). Graham and I took Mom and Dad down to see some fireworks and an air show (with airplanes) on the fore shore (shore line of the city). The fireworks where really cool, and I have to say better then any firework show I have seen in Indianapolis over the years, although the cities are of similar size. We brought a picnic dinner with us and had a few cocktails. It was a great night!
It was easy to get use to having Mom and Dad home with us, so as you can imagine it was hard to see them head home again. Although I suspect our cat Kit did not mind seeing them leave, (traitor). I feel so blessed and am truly lucky to have parents who are willing and able to travel to other end of the earth to see their daughter. Its not an easy trip, from my front door in Perth to my parent's door it takes a little over 34 hours travel time. If you have not traveled this far before, please let me tell you..... Its Far, really far. And only getting longer with the new laws being placed on air travel. But if it keeps us safe, its worth it! I am still waiting on a teleporter though! I hope to be the first commercial buyer of that product!
I am working on a trip home in June of 2010 at the moment to see Mom and Dad, and my girls in Boise. I will keep you posted on how it goes. It maybe just me coming home as Graham is studying non stop this year!
We love and miss you Mom and Dad! Thanks for everything!
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