Log Felling Competition
Fashion at County Show
Bridgetown
Balingup
A typical country road
April
You may be wondering where I have been since the beginning of March. Well I have been visiting my daughter Cathie and family in Western Australia. It was quite unexpected I made my mind up whilst talking to her on the phone, booked a flight and was on my way within a few days. When Cathie emigrated to Australia in 1996 she opened up a new horizon for me, it’s a very long way and the journey is rather tedious but well worth the effort. I have seen much of Australia during this time, it is a vast continent and I doubt I will see it all.. Now after 17years in Perth City Cathie and my granddaughter have moved to Bridgetown a Historic Colonial township 270 kilometres south of the city and classified in 2002 by the National Trust of Australia as a Heritage Town, the only one in the south west.. It was exciting after many years visiting Perth City I was going outback into the unknown. I had decided to drive down to Bridgetown.. I flew Manchester to Dubai and on to Perth a 20 hour flight that was ok, I did manage to sleep. Within the hour of arriving I collected my hire car at the airport and set off it was 1pm. I was so confident I had maps and precise instructions from Google and estimated my arrival in Bridgetown around 4pm but after driving a fair distance realised I hadn’t seen any of the names on my map. The Tonkin Highway leading from the airport was excellent, long and straight, in fact endless. But for whatever reason I was lost, heading east instead of south.I stopped and some very friendly Librarians in a small township somewhere far way from Perth directed me south again towards Bunbury where I was to find the Great Western Highway to Bridgetown. I was miles away from my original route heading for Albany. I couldn’t get in touch with Cathie to explain my delay as there was never a signal and the land lines didn’t take mobile numbers, so she was very pleased to see me when I finally arrive 2 hours late. Going home it took me 3 hours straight up the Freeway and into the airport, on time.
Bridgetown residents number approximately 2,500 they have every amenity plus a 24 bedded Hospital and Flying Doctor Service a very self contained community, Cathie has made a good choice. At the moment she is renting a large 4 bedded Queensland style bungalow in 2 acres of land. There is plenty going on all year round and the people we have met have been very friendly. We ate out often and attended a Rock Concert at the Local Pub where Darryl Braithwaite a well known Australian rock singer entertained us, he was good I enjoyed the experience. Cathie and I spent much quality time together it was great we toured the hills and dales and visited almost all of the nearby towns. Donnybrook County Show was colourful and busy, full of interesting events and in Nannup we became embroiled with a Forest Car Rally. Balingup is a pretty town small and neat with scarecrows dotted all around and wonderfully delicious sausage rolls.. My grandson came down for Easter he preferred to stay in the city, it was a full on weekend but I enjoyed having them all together. My granddaughter commutes to Perth during the week she is in her final year at University and its a rather stressful time for her but I have no doubtsthat she will qualify as a teacher soon.
It’s mainly a tourist area with farming logging and mining being the main industries in the Shire
Even though it was autumn the weather was exception 34 degrees C most days and we had roses in the garden, as well as a fairly big black lizard living behind the bins. One day we saw the cat playing with a snake I assumed he had dug it out of hibernation and for a few days the garden was a no go area. Then I found a frog in the toilet and following a rainstorm millipedes covering the patio for days with a variety of beetles and biting insects.. Being a Townie all my life I don’t think I will ever be truly comfortable living in the countryside, never mind the Australian Bush.. On saying that over time I did feel less anxious about the wild life, but the thought of it now makes me shiver.
Whilst I have been away enjoying the sunshine, most of my news for home has been about the bitter cold days and high wind, thankfully it has improved and we have had sunshine over the weekend. My crocus are out and some daffodils are in bloom, I will soon be mowing the lawns..
One week on I am back into my routines, picking myself up and moving on.
Bridgetown Website
