At Home Before Next Trip

We are soon to leave on our next adventure.

In the mean time I have acquired a new Nikon 7100

 plus a SUPER WIDE Sigma zoom lens.

Also a very good friend has lent me 3 other lenses!

So here is a try out of the Nikkor 60mm Micro.

This beautiful cactus was on one of my walks...

so back with the camera, hand held in the wind. not bad if I do say myself.

After I got the wide angle we heard that Queen Mary 2 was in port

 so down to Freo to try out the lens.

By god it's wide...

Those of you who follow Alison's Facebook will be aware that JJ has moved to the UK.

He organised a get together with his friends at Kings Park to say good bye.

Also Alison's stepson Alex was coming over with his partner & baby,

so Robert also came over....

Some things never change, check out Alison's smile with both of them in bed

 when I got back from my walk!

It was my Mum's 89th on the 15th of Feb. so we took her out for a morning tea.

Hello

One of the reasons for Alex to come over was to introduce Kelly & Freya 

to Joma & Pops. Also Jim came along, so the whole family was there.

JJ & Robert took Alison & I to Taylor's for breakfast before Bert 

flew back to Melbourne with Alex & Family for a week.

Then the centre of the known universe arrived...

We have a Grand Daughter.....

Freya

Peek a  Boo.

I might be biased but she's gorgeous.....

As I am not related I was titled Grump Pa

( a fitting title)

So Alison was Grump Ma

(my title)

And do you think she wasn't half SMITTEN. 

Who me...Freya has not got your ear ring!!!

A morning at the beach had Kelly so ecstatic she took up "pole dancing"

Irish version!!!

Now Alex is quite a wine buff, but used to European wines...

So I cracked a bottle of Warrabilla Reserve Durif.....

They don't have anything like that over there.

He was in Heaven!!!!

Then one of their "clean skins"

What can I say???

AWESOME perhaps.

A good night was had and not a head ache next morning,

which was just as well as we were off to the zoo.

You know who had a great time.

The three of them crossing the Rain Forrest walk.

Ever seen a Baby Meerkat? they're as cute as Freya!

Dad & Daughter getting a drink...

Alex & Kelly wanted to do a couple of Swan Valley wineries.

So off to Sandleford. Then Jane Brook for lunch.

On to Olive Farm.

Their last day saw us off to Cottesloe for Sculptures By The Sea.

Another chance to try out the Ultra Wide Zoom...

I love this lens!!!!

Kelly, Freya & the Phantom Photographer...

Then over the road for an Ice Cream.

Back to the car.

Is this a 21st photo in the making?

A couple more shots of the Art works and our lovely time came to an end all too quickly.

I think I enjoyed this Grump Pa lark.....

Hopefully we are off on the 27th....

We'll keep you posted!

Hamelin Bay

Hamelin Bay which is a short distance from Augusta, which was 

our destination of choice for a short trip away before Xmas.

Stephen was playing with a new camera  that we had acquired...

but that's another long story.

Debbie and Anthony came with us and we set up at the caravan park.

We had checked this place out last year with them and 

Stephen thought it would be good for some serious camera work...

we did not count on the flies or the wind....

The Old Jetty is iconic in it's simplicity..

surrounded by sand and sea.

Sunrise at the back of the point..

History of Ship wrecks and storms of the area..

three ship's in one day in a particularly bad storm.

The remaining pylons just showing through the water.

and the sole fishing boat.

Wineries where a must and D & A had never been to Voyager Estate,

not only was the wine good but the surrounding are immaculate.

The second largest Flag Pole in Australia.

How many gardeners would you need to keep this up?

A drive through the Booranup Forrest.

A walk on the beach...

Photographer's foot prints!!

This you had to see to believe..

NO photoshop here!!!

?

Z

T

Another drive n the forrest.

The side of Caves Road.

Then on our way back home we stopped off at Busselton to visit Kevin and Margaret.

Sunrise over the marina and canals .

It was a lovely week to finish off our year.

We are now putting the blog away again for a few more months..

we should be back towards the end of March..

In the mean time 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

&

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.