Australia

Would have loved to Dreamtime yes - one day!

I'll hold you to that then Neil. Meanwhile - back to the mother country.

Hi Dreamtime. I've been to Perth, both back in the seventies and a few years ago. Had a bar lunch at the 'Moon & Sixpence' then. Our local publican/hotel proprietor and his wife are in Perth as I write. They have both become grandparents for the first time (their son and his Aussie wife) and left a fortnight ago for three weeks (him) and six weeks (her)! The locals have a card on whether they sell up to spend more time here/there!

Evening Wearethemods, Oh I remember the Moon & Sixpence, based on a Traditional English Pub - Murray Street in Perth. Sadly it will be closing its doors in May. I hope the new grandparents are enjoying the hot weather at the moment, they are lucky though as it has not reached a long spell into the 40's yet. I hope I haven't spoken too soon.

Good morning/evening Dreamtime, that's a shame that the pub is shutting down. It is situated in a busy central part if I remember, ideal for the office workers and for the evening 'town' visitors. Why is it shutting down?

Hi Wearethemods, redevelopement, high rise of sorts and retail underneath. They are so fond of demolishing anything that gives pleasure as always. There are a few not happy about it. I get the feeling 'they' don't like to see folk enjoying themselves. Oh forgot, they have the new Arena in Perth, which will cost an arm and a leg to enter !

Way back in the mid-19th century a Yorkshire farmer gazed over his land for the last time, the land that his father and grandfather had tilled over for over a century. The farmer was about to embark on an epic journey to a land called Australia - few people had been there, few people knew where exactly it lay. Not only was he about to emigrate but he was taking everything that could walk on the farm with him. He also would be taking everything in the farmhouse down to the last teaspoon or thimble. He arrived at the town of Freemantle, drove his flock and all his belongings to Perth and settled by the Swan river where he farmed until his death after his house had been washed down river a couple of times. In 2012 I heard this story, so visited for a couple of times for three hours each time. The story so fascinated me more than any other story I heard in Oz. I believe it's still an open house to the public (was this the real ark?). PS. In the 1950s scores of Coventry people, many of them my friends emigrated to Oz - at least two of them died from accidents out there.

The Moon & Sixpence in Perth.

Many thanks Dreamtime

Dreamtime. The farm I mentioned is now a cream teas place. Tranby, Maylands, Perth.

Tranby House, that's the one Kaga. Weddings and receptions held there, not far from the Swan River. The city centre has completely changed now of course, some for the good and some a bit 'iffy'. Too many continuous roadworks as everywhere else these days.

J Walker. My long story about Australia started in 1943 - my brother landed there, his aircraft carrier pulled in for repairs, they were hosted out to families for some weeks. In 1946 I answered a forces magazine for pen-pals - I wrote to a girl from Perth. My new CO came from Perth. 1948, I and two mates had medical for Oz, but one was taken ill and died two years later, so we pulled out, then the other one married and emigrated - some 12 years later he and his two sons died in a lorry crash. 1949, a cousin, ex-officer Royal Warwicks, begged me to go with him. I was involved and loving gambling too much (another story). He died in Brisbane 1999. 1987, my eldest son and family emigrated to Perth. We went many times, so did my other two boys. 1999, two of my boys were working on The Pier Hotel, Cairns, so we joined them, then travelled down the East Coast, taking six months. 2012, I felt I could not make the long journey. My two grandsons said if I could make it to Singapore they would look after us, so we flew out. The boys had booked the hotel, did everything. My son and his wife also turned up, then my youngest son flew in from Philippines and the other son flew in from Thailand, so the family were together for two weeks in Singapore. Of course my grandsons made us go on to Perth for a month. When we flew home they booked us in Singapore for another two weeks to break the journey.

Kaga - You must have caught a bit of the Aussie accent by now! - You almost qualify as a resident!

Are we all on the way out? Aussie flu Thanks JW, Dreamtime, et al for your flu virus!

You are most welcome MR, now blow your nose like a good boy and wash your hands more often!!