Meeting new Australian Friends in Commonwealth Park Canberra

We travelled to Canberra city centre by bus but we were concerned as there was to be a big election vote to take place on Capitol Hill on Monday and thought it would be very busy. We decided to walk from the city centre to the Commonwealth Park where we were going to visit the portrait gallery. It was a hot 80 plus degrees and we have found out that very few people walk to places they all go by air conditioned car. However if we had gone by car we would not of experienced the magic meeting we had with two new oz friends. As we crossed the park we came to a shelter and there they were studying. I had always seen Australian people as large in statue I suppose this was because of their rugby players

.These people  were so broad Oz we could not understand a word they said but this did not stop us having a memorable moment that we all shared together and will stay with us forever. Photos follow.

Maria with new oz mates

I had to tweak their hats to get this look

Dave with his two new Australian friends

Water Shortages

The 3 minute Shower utilises Oz pioneer spirit of make do and mend.

Experience in Melbourne.

When you are away from home it is natural to make comparisons with your homeland and at home water has at times been short which has meant the garden did not get a water.

But here water is precious and it is not until you realise what drought conditions mean,  does it  make you realise the seriousness of the problem.

This problem was tackled head on by the Australian government with the introduction of the 3 minute shower.

Now shower timing is something that I have never tried before but did feel the 3 minute rule could be a bit discriminatory as the male body is usually a larger body mass to cover.

Before entering the shower I wondered if the time to get the temperature correct was taken out of my allotted time. While I was doing that I WAS planning where I would start as I did not want to be in a position of all soaped up and not have time to rinse off.

As I entered the shower it was then I saw the Government devise supplied to control the 3 minute time rule. Through the steam I saw attached to the glass a small egg timer!!!

I turned it up and the sand began to flow from one tube to the other. As I started to soap up I kept an eye on the tube and I could see the time was going quickly.

And then as the steam built up in the shower the sand in the tube slowed and although it was a great egg timer, in the shower the timer was not so effective.

I found that with all my concentration on the timing, when I got out of the shower I was not sure what I had been washed and what had not.

 I also thought Maria is going to struggle with this BIG TIME

The end.

Maria and Didi  friends from 40 years ago

 This is Maria and Didi who left old London some 40 years ago, Didi looked after us  with her dog Millie.

Unfortunately I was suffering with gout so our stay in Melbourne was limited. It was however most enjoyable as we were able to talk of times gone by and happy memories. 

David Gout showing on big toe

Blog Free Period

Dear friends, family, and other interested readers.


Been through difficult period on our adventure but follows blogs to come soon. Don't give up on us!!! all readers will be given a certificate of loyalty on our return..

Blog Subjects to come.

1 The 3 minute Shower and oz pioneer spirit of make do and mend

2 Partnership magic !!! New Role play.

3 Travelling Adventure turns sour. Fit to sick.

4 The oz experience 6 countries [ called states] in one.

5. Every country has news telling the people how bad things are. [ People like to know how bad things are]  Just listen to gossip!!!

6. Blog writing- Is it like one way letter correspondence??

7. Perth best city for us so far.

Friendship is wonderfull

Forty Years have past since David and Annette decided to leave old England to start a new life in Australia.
David and Annette used to play badminton with us on a Thursday evening in Walthamstow East London.
When they left they sold us various bits of furniture to us as we were getting married in a few months time.
We had kept contact over the years with Christmas cards and they had visited the UK about 13 years ago and paid us a visit one evening. They now live in a lovely home in Perth and we agreed to meet up.
On arrival at Perth airport they greeted us with warmth that made us feel it was like yesterday that we had parted. The smile and laughter brought back memories of our times together.
They told us that for the time we were with them, that we should treat their home as if our own and they said that when we went off to do our trip down the west coast we could use one of their cars.
Friendship is the most wonderful phenomena of being human
No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever." 
We will remember forever the way that David and Annette made us feel welcome. Thanks.