Mom and Dad Visit Perth!!

My parents came to visit me and Graham in February! We had a great two weeks with them here in Perth. It was their second trip to Perth and a great time was had by all.

A few photos from their visit:

Mom and Dad arrive in Perth!

 Mom always brings an extra suitcase full of goodies for me!

Dad at Graham's University Campus UWA (University of Western Australia)

Mom at UWA campus.

Mom and Graham at Valentines Day lunch at a restaurant on the beach called Indiana! 

The views didn't look like Indiana to us. Its named for the Indian Ocean.

Mom at our neighbourhood hangout The Como Bowls Club. Its our usual weekend hang out.

Dad and Graham at The Como Bowls Club, Dad's new favourite hang out too.. 

Mom and Mary closing night of my show!

Mom and Dad at Kings Park. We had a nice morning walk before lunch at Perth's largest park.

Kings Park, one of the look outs!

Relaxing at Mary and Graham's house.

Dad getting some sun at the pool and checking the airways for local hams.

(ham radio)

We went to the SwanValley and saw some of our favorite winerys!! 

Testing the grapes..

Yep.. their ready! 

Mom at our favorite Swan Valley Winery Harris Organic! 

SAILING!! We took Mom and Dad sailing with our good friends!!

Mom with our favorite sailing friends Peter and Helen!! 

Sailing on the Swan River was a great night, we even saw dolphins!

I think the dolphins made a special appearance for Mom and Dad.. Actually I am sure they did!

I took Mom and Dad to a great little cafe called The Secret Garden. Its near my home in South Perth, good breakfasts and yummy treats!

Mom and Graham and the Bowls Club. We spend a lot of time there.. haha

Graham is in his bowls uniform for completive bowls called pennants. A uniform is also called Club Colours. If it was the USA we would say Club Colors. 

Dinner at Mary and Graham's! Graham made prepared some beautiful fish.

Dog Beach! Windy day at the dog beach, right after I snapped this picture a black lab ran past at the bottom of the photo. He was cute! This is the place you can take your dog for a swim.

People Beach!! haha

It was windy!! This is the Indian Ocean at Trig Beach

Take Mom to a beach and she find treasures.. She doesn't care for swimming but she can spend hours searching the sand for the perfect shell.

We took a day trip south to Harvey and Bunbury. This was at the May Gibbs Cottage, with a beautiful English cottage in Harvey. A perfect spot to have a cup of tea.

 As we enjoyed out beverages and snacks we became surrounded by BIG Skink lizards. About 14 inches long.. It was a funny surprise. 

Dad back again at the Bowls Club chatting with Bevin. 

 Dad buying drinks at the Bowls Club bar.

Graham practicing Bowls

Mom getting a lesson in Lawn Bowls from the novice champion Graham. 

She did pretty well!! 

Dad comfortable at the Bowls Club on his last evening in town.

It was so wonderful to have you in town Mom and Dad. I am so glad you got to spend time on our beautiful river, at our favorite hang out and got to meet some of our Perth buddies!

I miss you every day. Thanks for loving me and raising me with big strong wings and courage to pursue my dreams.  I love you!!

Can't wait to see you again this year!!!

Secret Bridesmaids Business

Back in October 2012 I started working (directing) on a play called Secret Bridesmaids Business written by Aussie playwright Elizabeth Coleman.
The show was part of The Old Mill Theatre (South Perth) season for 2013. This pay was the first one off the block for the year. I am so happy how the show turned out!!

From the start of the process I was extremely lucky, being able to find the perfect cast! All 6 cast members brought buckets of talent, experience and patience to the production. It was a joy to work with the cast and crew at the Old Mill Theatre. An easy and hassle free experience rare in theatre these days.

For those of you far away who didn't get to see the show it was about the night before a wedding. The 2 bridesmaids know a secret about the groom and argue wether to tell the bride this secret or not. In the end the bride finds out that the groom as been having an affair with a friend of hers hours before the wedding. Its a comedy so all of this get revealed in a humours way. In the end the friend who had been cheating with the groom gets made a last minute bridesmaid and the groom see's his worst nightmare coming true when the friend blurts out she was having an affair with the groom and she gets tossed out of the hotel room in her underwear after having the bridesmaids dress ripped off her by the other bridesmaid and mother of the bride. The groom then tries to explain why he did it.. to the chagrin of the females in the audience... Every night the audience laughed and yelled out comments to the groom. On opening night he even got boo'ed, he was not a likeable character but the actor handled it well!!! People seemed to love the show, and it was great to see all that hard work pay off..

For the set we had a luxury hotel room complete with a minibar. Many thanks to friends who helped me build and dress this set. It really gave the actresses and actors the perfect place to perform this hilarious show!!

The icing on top was that my parents traveled out from Indiana to see the show here in Perth and they came along on closing night and had a great time! I feel so blessed!!
Thanks Mom and Dad I am so glad I got to share this with you!

A few links about the show:
A review:
http://www.theatre.asn.au/theatre_reviews/secret_bridesmaids_business

Press:
http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/secret-bridesmaids’-business-south-perth
http://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/about-town/secrets-lies-and-wedding-cake-comedy-delivers-20130131-2dn0y.html

A few photos:

We even dressed up the isles with pretty white bows on the theatre seat rails.

Directing this play was a joy!! I am so grateful to the cast, and all the kind people at the Old Mill Theatre for working so hard on this show and making it an amazing production!!