All images copyright Keblawben 2009

Keblawben Photo Index

Nice Photos Gallery

Guns and Monasteries

Sunday 1st February  38c

A glorious 'blue dome' morning so down to the markets to do our weekly shop. Back to the house for a quick cool down in the aircon before headed off to Mossman and the WW2 gun battery tunnels. The guide took a shine to Kebs as they had a switchboard like the one she used in the TA. Yes she is that old! Back home for a cool down again before heading to Creatures Loft for our weekend brewing economy support function. Sat watching the boats in the harbour and folks having fish and chips while drinking cold beer. Heaven!

Mossman WW2 Battery	To defend the port of Fremantle
The guide took a shine to Kebs as they had a switchboard like the one she used in the TA.	Creatures Loft
'Unworry' sums it up	Pam (our landlady) does posh gardening
Laurie divining for wifi	Nero knows where the Smacko's are

Monday 2nd Feb

UK made our news, massive snow falls, the forecast for here was 38c....what a contrast. We headed to the beach and had to keep going in the water for a cool down, kept our eyes on the shark spotter helicopter up and down the beach (if he stops and hovers, you worry!). Even had to go to South Beach Cafe for an ice cream. By 6pm it had cooled to a pleasant 28c so we sat outside with a beer. Pam (our 'landlady') joined us for a cider.

Tuesday

UK at a stand still. 38c again here. Thanks for all the photos of the snow you sent us. Edna and Pam thought they were great. It made us very grateful for where we are. Glenys went to the beach. We were a bit 'crispy' from yesterday so stayed at home and then did a beer run.  Glenys's tan is amazing I'm not sure they will let her back into the UK. Susan and Charlie came to ours for the night. A few beers outside before heading down the strip for dinner where we had a few more beers!

A few beers in the Sail & Anchor	Laurie making his mind up what to eat
Cocktail time!

Wednesday

It had cooled down to 30c today.  Again Charlie was up at 7.00 so we all were!
Had a lazy breakfast then Susan and Charlie left us to head back home. We managed to mooch to the strip for an ice coffee. Loz came back to the house and Glenys and I went shopping at Target. Up to Joondalup for our Kul-Cha fix. It was really windy by now so we had to hold onto our beer glasses while at Paddy Malone's pub.

Lilly is too good at this

Thursday  5th Feb

Up early as we were meeting Wendy at Doug's 7.45. to go 'up the road' ..140km to New Norcia the only monastic town in WA, founded in 1845.

Wendy volunteered to drive, Loz navigated and Doug, Glenys and Kebs were like big kids in the back of the car. We did the town tour which was brilliant our guide was a young girl from Manchester. Had lunch and an Abbey Ale, very nice, before heading home. It was so hot in the car.

New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia On 1 March 1846, a Benedictine mission to the local aborigines was started about 8 km to the north, led by the two Spanish Benedictines, Rosendo Salvado and Joseph Serra. Within a year the mission was moved to where the town is today, and on 1 March 1847 the foundation stone of the monastery was laid. The place was named New Norcia, after Norcia in Italy, the birthplace of St Benedict.
The town of New Norcia has buildings in a Spanish style of architecture, along with some other historical sites. Among these are the two old boarding schools, St Ildephonsus' and St Gertrude's, the Abbey Church (containing the tomb of Rosendo Salvado), an old mill, a wine press, a hotel, and the monastery itself.
trying the Abbey Ale
"get your laughing gear round that Wendy"	Doug's had fun

At the same time that we were at New Norcia, these were the pictures from home (courtesy Kath & Trev McAvoy.)

Village Church	Rectory
Old coach house
our house

Friday 6th Feb

Went to the beach, it was hot but windy so we all ended up looking like sandmen! Had an ice cream before heading home to cool down (getting to be a habit) Mooched to the Dome Cafe at Bathers Beach for an ice coffee.

Tonight was our torchlight tour at the prison ("not for the faint hearted")  it was dark by the time our tour started. We had a good group which included a birthday party of 14 year old girls who screamed at everything! It was great fun. Managed to sleep OK even though we had bodies thrown at us and convicts jump out. Must be the rusty nail we had when we got home that helped!

Our Beach Cafe	Choc Ices are compulsory!
Yes, we did go on holiday together	Interesting clouds
Prison torchlight tour