Here we go!

And we are off! Boarding lounge is slowly starting to fill up so it's a good thing we got here early. Time to kick back and de-stress, and get into the holiday state of mind :-)

First task for Ray is to get mum onto instagram so she can post her photos and share our experiences. But more importantly share all the food we hope to try!

37 degree day!

This is what the start of a 37 degree day looks like in Perth. 7'ish in in the morning with a cool breeze. Not a cloud in the sky and the dogs get a run before it gets to warm for them.

But the flies! They are out in force this morning!

One more sleep

Well, finally started packing - barely 24 hours till we get on our way, we've started our packing. Not that there's that much to pack I guess.

That's after a day at work trying to finish off, etc. Didn't quite get away as early as I had hoped, but a little earlier which helped. First things first, a quick nap to start my 2 week break. It's been that kinda, uh, six months or so?

A sign of the times, part of the packing process is, getting the technology together. That includes getting the multitude of cables, charges, power boards and adapters, as well as, importantly, getting the entertainment sorted! Mind you, I probably should be trying to get some shut eye and nicely wound down from work to be able to really appreciate being in a whole new place.

Oh, we had a pretty sunset this evening, sun was bright red and the sky was all hazy.

Andre Rieu Perth Arena

Andre Rieu 's concert in Perth. Ave age of the audience?  To hazard a guess I would say perhaps 60? Well, seems like it anyway.

Not having been to one before I can see why he is popular. His concerts are all about fun and nostalgia and music and of course waltzes. 

Perth station platform 7

Next step in learning how to blog. Blogging on the go and adding a photo.

This is platform 7 at perth station for the fremantle bound trains. That's me on the way back to work after coming into town for lunch.

Prepping for travel

Prepping for travel and the blogger app for android is installed. Test post number 1.

Seems easy enough I guess when you try to do the basics. Now what about photos?   Can't be too difficult I guess. Just keep trying!

Melbourne Cup Day!

Melbourne Cup 2016

The race that stops a nation, yes it's Melbourne Cup Day.

Not that it gets that festive, this being Perth, and it not being a public holiday so I'm still at work. But, it's the one day that I get a bet on. Well, a couple of entries into the office sweep, even if it's not a bet at the Tab.

Had a nice lunch, watched the race on the big screen, and one of my horses came in 2nd for a win of the princely sum of $30! That's $30 more than I have won in more years than I can remember.

Osaka Japan

On another note, the countdown is gathering pace, and it's only 4 more sleeps till we get on that plane to Osaka! It's starting to feel unreal now, going to a whole new place, something we haven't done for a long time. Well, not since our 3 week trip to New Zealand this time last year. Or that 8 night cruise up the WA coast in May this year.

After years of not having much time off at all, this could be something I could get used to, two holidays a year, to break the year up. Some people say the best thing to do once you get back from a holiday, is to start planning the next one. 

Well, I'm eagerly waiting for a landmark date that will be coming up soon, January 11, 2017. That's a special one for me, marking 7 years since I started my current job. Not that 7 years is anything special, other than the fact that it marks the day I get entitled to a wonderful Australian tradition called Long Service Leave! Make that 13 weeks of paid holidays that I get to use over 2 to 3 years. Spread that 13 weeks over say, 3 years, and add that to the usual 4 weeks annual leave, and that makes something like 8 weeks of holiday a year for the next 3 years. Now that I can get used to!

But back to it, it's probably time to start getting ready for, Osaka!