Rainy Season

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather." - Terri Guillemets


There is a eucalyptus tree outside of our bedroom window. It's a tall tree; it rises higher than our five story apartment building. The trunk is slender and smooth. Only near its top do the branches point out in all directions sprouting thin green leaves at its tips. Generally speaking it is a very aesthetically pleasing piece of nature. The sort of thing struggling poets seek inspiration. This tree may be responsible for inspiring the next great ballad of our time, but it is also home to a flock of birds. Being generous, I would estimate the flock to include approximately one hundred birds. 

Planking and the Pinnacles

This past month has been very busy for Steph and I. I'm sure we've lost a large percentage of our audience due to our blogging tardiness. So without further ado, it is my pleasure to announce that we're back! Now, there's an entire month of news to share, so I shall start from the beginning; a very appropriate place to start. 

Fremantle Prison

One of our favourite spots in the Perth region is the southern suburb of Fremantle. It is at the mouth of the Swan River and is home to Western Australia's oldest port. The first British settlers (convicts) to arrive throughout the 19th century would have first set foot on Western Australia's soil via the Fremantle port. Consequently, it is rich with history. The streets are littered with beautiful limestone buildings, cobblestone roads, a boardwalk along the waterfront, and a friendly and lively atmosphere.

Back to School

Before Steph could enter a Western Australian school as a teacher, she was required to jump through flaming hoops and do some fancy footwork to boot. That is, she spent quite some time filling out forms, having her credentials authenticated, and patiently awaiting a response from the respective educational governing bodies.

March Sadness

Ryan not knowing what to do with his used meat skewer
while enjoying a cold beverage.

Last Friday Steph and I attended our first cocktail party. The event was hosted by the mining consultancy that I work for (Mintrex) and was attended by its employees and clients. It was held at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle. The event was scheduled to start at 18:30 and the museum was open for viewing from 18:00-18:30. We had a little difficulty navigating from the Fremantle train station to the museum and, as a result, found ourselves walking aimlessly through the deserted parts of the shipping yard. We managed to find our way, but no longer had sufficient time to view the museum's displays. What we were able to experience was enough to warrant a future visit to completely appreciate what the museum has to offer. 

Looking Back and Looking Forward

February was a blur. Despite the ferocious pace, however, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The most notable occurrence of the month was our involvement in extra-curricular activities. In addition to the Monday night Men's Basketball League, I also play pick-up ball on Saturday or Sunday mornings at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Steph is no slouch either. She volunteers as the girl's volleyball coach at Perth College. Early morning practices and away games have kept her busy and well traveled. Consequently, this month we have been much more social; slowly laying the foundation for beautiful friendships to flourish. This past Monday was Labour Day. We spent it with friends roasting an array of meats on the barbeque, and relaxing by the pool with delicious cocktails in hand. And the fun doesn't stop there. This Friday my boss is hosting a cocktail party at the Fremantle Maritime Museum. We can't wait!

No Shoes, No Shirt... Service!

One of the more peculiar things we've noticed is that it is socially acceptable to walk around in public without wearing shoes, or a shirt. This fashion statement is completely appropriate for the beach. It is simply impractical to wear shoes in the sand, or a shirt while swimming. But when the setting is the city's downtown in shops and restaurants, it is an entirely different matter. This behaviour has occurred at such a frequency that makes it highly unlikely to be coincidence. In addition, there is something casual about the way people flaunt this fashion which indicates they are not part of the barefoot running movement. These people aren't 'bare[ing] to be different'. Whatever the reason, it'll take a little while before we become comfortable roaming the supermarket isles amongst the barefooted and shirtless.