We hosted thanksgiving this year which was great since last year we did not celebrate it in Africa. The Miller clan met up at Galey’s farm for some pumpkin patch fun. They have a giant corn maze and a train that goes around the property. You even get to take a tractor hay ride out to the pumpkin fields to pick out a pumpkin. It was great fun!
We then came back to our house for drinks, appies, and a yummy dinner. It really is nice living close to family again 🙂
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At times it felt like our global story would never end regardless of chapters ending. Due to travel agent error our previously arranged flights home required re-booking. No longer stuck to a European route home, we opted for a slightly longer path; one via Australia.
Visiting my Uncle Mike and Aunt Christine in Oz has always been on my personal to-do list. I recall discussing a potential visit with my Mom (Mike’s Sister) as far back as high school -as a post grad course of action. Alas, fate finally set the course.
Our flight from Johannesburg went great and the kids once again proved their traveler-prowess. We departed during an electrical storm so the first 20 minutes of our flight was very bumpy which Deanna did not like at all. We arrived in the early evening into Perth after an eleven hour flight and some extra customs grind. We were greeted with warm temperatures similar to Jo’burg and hugs from Mike & Christine.
We spent our time in Perth on the beach, adventuring around parks, a Christmas festival downtown, the Aquarium etc. We went to a lot of places and got a good feel of the city thanks to Mike driving us around our whole stay. The kids really earned their gills as Mike & Christine are avid divers and their personal pool and passion certainly rubbed off. Incidentally, Rhys is also more comfortable around dogs now too. Seems their dog Mitchy left a great impression as Rhys still mentions/misses him to this day.
Even after a ten day visit, Mike and Christine remained gracious hosts. Normally we’d cut any family related visit to a week at maximum for everyone’s sanity, but we were at a loss for flight times due to Aussie schools being let out for the busy Christmas holidays. Rest assured we escaped with necks narrowly un-wrung and hugs still shared upon departure… all the while unsure when we’d be down-under again.
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Visiting Reabold Hill and its view of downtown Perth:
First playground visit of many, just a few steps from our door:
Visit to Kings Park:
Perry Lakes played host to a skateboard demo/ reunion with Jimmy’s cousin Michael-David and his family:
Mandatory ‘Roo & Koala photo-op at Caversham Wildlife Park:
Claire has no fear and loves snakes!
Our best family photo ever!… ? Complete with wombat:
Day trip to Fremantle aka Freo:
Playing in the surf was a favorite activity:
“Aqua” aquarium in Hillarys:
Quick visit to downtown Perth’s chaotic Christmas festival:
Saying goodbye is never easy…
Since our arrival in Johannesburg, we have had a list of things to do and places to visit. Golf Village was on our list and with only weeks away from our departure from Johannesburg back to Canada we finally found time to visit.
The morning we visited golf village it was fairly sunny but once on the greens it turned to wind and rain. We had fun anyway and both realized we were really out of practice.
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