So this is incredibly overdue but I guess Perth is on my mind as I cannot get over the fact that Roxanne will be in my hometown on my birthday! Slightly jealous.
Although I was there only 8 months ago….I flew home at the end of February to surprise all my loved ones.
The following is what I did whilst I was home (although I don’t actually remember everything).
My personal porter very early in the morning in London.
I actually pulled the surprise off as well, I’m not quite sure how. With help from Dee (the only person that knew I was coming) I landed in 38 degree heat. It was too hot but so exciting. I actually got my sister to pick me up from the airport. This was her face.
I then went home and almost gave my mother a heart attack. Once she got over the shock she proceeded to call her friends and when they said ‘’hello’’ shove the phone into my hand so I could surprise them with the thrill of hearing me on the other end. Most people were surprised. Although her sisters who live on the east coast were not at all excited when I told them I was just calling to shock them. No Aunty Anne, I’m not pregnant, me being home IS the shock!
I had timed it well though, that night Mum just happened to be cooking a bbq with her famous potato bake. So I got involved with a delicious meal, sitting outside watching the sunset. I then fell asleep on the couch.
The next day I went to Jus burgers with Mel and Mollie. Driving in the sunshine in Mel’s car did remind me of the summer after we graduated high school – the original summer of fun. Was great to see the girls again. That night I went to the Campbell’s to catch up with everyone, especially Dee. I met Pat the dog and impressed them with my gift of Monster Munch (I think I was the only one who ate them).
Wednesday a few of us went round to Kayla’s for a delicious afternoon tea. We ate fruit and vegan cupcakes and drank iced tea before having a swim. Kayla was literally about to give birth any day and looked absolutely beautiful. Was a lovely afternoon in the sun. I then drove to Mollie’s new share house. I drove, into central Perth, during peak hour, along the river with the sun in my eyes…I was freaking out. The only driving I had done in the previous 19 months was parking Liam’s dad’s car and driving on the wrong side of the road whilst on a quad bike with Caris in Ios . So that was a little stressful and I managed to get lost, luckily Mollie was happy to drive to the pub where we had chicken parmigiana and Beez Kneez. So much food and beer! I think I was still jet lagged so wasn’t a late night, but did appreciate Mollie force feeding me Tim Tams.
The following day I went to see Gavin and Maria’s newly built house. Kathy and I then went to Dan Murphy’s to stock up on alcohol (made sure I saw all the sights of Perth whilst I was home). That night some of the Greenwood crew had a bbq at the Petale's. These bbq’s are famous as there is always so much delicious food. Sat in the backyard with boys that I hadn’t seen in a very long time, was a lot like the old days.
On Friday I went shopping at Whitfords City (another of Perth’s draw cards), looking to spend some pounds on Australian fashion (yay Valleygirl!). That night Deidre and I had a hot date. We started the night in Leederville having a romantic meal (yay byo!) and then went to the Garden. From here we went into the city so I could go to Ezra Pound for the first time, very excited to drink out of jam jars and catch up with friends (oh hey Lee who lives down the road from me in London!).
The next day I went to lunch with Mum and Kathy at White Salt, overlooking the ocean, before heading to Caris’ for a pool party. This was the closest thing to a crew night I’d been to, in a long time, was nice to be in the backyard enjoying good food, drinks, tunes and company.
The next day was Future Music Festival, I’d purchased a ticket months before (there was a panicky moment as Dee lost the tickets but it all worked out fine). There’s really nothing like an Australian festival. We did our usual thing; get some food, get some drinks, take photos in the front garden and hop on public transport along with the rest of the city to listen to some great music.
We may have missed Ke$ha (lol!) but we were super excited to see Mel!
Oh hey Jess!
We rocked out to the Chemical Brothers together whilst surrounded by cold sweaty boys. Before being picked up on the side of the road to come home and eat some more food.
Monday was a bank public holiday in Perth so I arranged with my lovely girlfriends from uni to catch up in Freo. Jo and I did the usual car pool along the coast to meet Karls and Amz at Little Creatures Brewery. We tucked into the famous food and ales whilst sitting over the water in the sun. It was rather hot and I had to request sunscreen (yes the supply it in pubs coz it’s NEEDED!) although the waiter thought the amount I put on was hilarious (if only it were factor 50…..), I still managed to get burnt!
As Jo had a bbq to go to I stayed with the others until Hamish met us and drove me to The Boulevard, the updated and fancier Floreat (where I spent my last Saturday in Perth). Where we ate way too much delicious food and drank tasty wine whilst I was incredibly entertaining after a day of drinking in the sun, of course.
The next morning I met with Mel and Sarah for breakfast at Hillarys marina. We then drove to Cottesloe where we checked out the Sculptures by the Sea art exhibition and went for a swim.
This is the picture I sent to my team where I was working at the time. I don’t think they were jealous at all.
On Wednesday I went to Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park to visit Dad. I wish I actually had a good camera because this is a beautiful place, the scenery is so Australian and it was very peaceful and relaxing. I did manage to take a couple of pictures.
Kangaroos!
That night Caris, Kristen and I went to Korean BBQ to cook our own dinner.
We then went to Helvetica, a new Whiskey bar in the city. And took photos in the toilets – we totally fit in at this Melbourne-esque bar.
Chandeliers in the alleyway.
Thursday I don’t know what I did during the day but that night I went to dinner with Josh, Katie Kristen and Felicity to all reminisce on when we first were in London. We went to Outback Jacks to feast on kangaroo, crocodile, and steak – yum!
Nom Nom Nom
This was the 4th attempt of Josh to take a pic with all of us in it.
Finally, someone else, offered to do it for us.
On Friday Dee and I went to Fremantle markets to wander around and spend money on sweet smelling soaps and souvenirs. We then had chai lattes and carrot cake at a café on the cappuccino strip.
I then returned home to Mum hosting a dinner with a load of friends and family. We convinced a couple that their drive home would be so much better if Kathy, Mollie and I were in the backseat. We were dropped in the city to go to our old stomping ground, Amplifier. Oh, how it had changed! In 2009, before the Broads and I left for London we spent many a Friday night in Amplifier dancing amongst huge crowds of people. We still danced; there just weren’t as many people.
Amplifier - no people and no money!
So we left...
But soon we were back..
There was still a live band though, who obviously were more than happy to let us play their instruments and drink their black vodka.
Mollie thinks we're hell good musicians.
McDonalds to end the night.
The usual 2am train wasn’t running that night so they had replacement buses instead. Luckily for Kathy and me, we were the only ones on there so we had a great time and then requested he let us out somewhere that wasn’t a bus stop so we could cut through the bushes to get home.
Well, what would you do if you had a bus all to yourself?
The next day was Saturday, the day of my birthday party. This meant a bunch of girls coming round to help me get dressed, do my hair and eat and drink on the deck. All the girls looked like babes, whereas I ended up looking like a giant dinosaur with squinty eyes. Was still good fun though.
Broads in the forgiveness pose.
Then we got into the jumping photos.
Soon everyone was involved.
My ladies.
Standing on the mat for some reason.
After pre-drinks then headed into the city to go to the Generous Squire, another boutique bar that had opened whilst I’d been away. It was so lovely to catch up with the bunch of friends who were there.
I was there at the beginning.....and now they're getting married!
School boys.
Southfields neighbours reunited.
K-Dog loves me.
Uni pals.
Craigalicious, all grown up.
Awkward lean. Josh in the background.
Jay Pay.
Great poses guys.
Texts from England?
London peeps in Perth!
Sisters.
Who was this guy?
Yeah these photos are censored....
Of course the girls and I had been partying for hours now so the fact that there were tears and people ended up on the dance floor (literally lying on the floor) was not a surprise. I then got kicked out of my own birthday party. It was all a bit confusing, earlier in the night a bouncer had made me walk a straight line – I wasn’t drunk so I literally strutted. I was definitely not in London anymore. So I may have ended up on the street crying on the phone to Roxanne until I found some friends. The plan was to head to Republic to take advantage of their 3am cheeseburgers but the line was too long so ended up getting a lift and heading home.
Mollie and I looking hot on the way home.
Seriously, who is this guy?
The next morning was my birthday; I woke up alone, with a fuzzy head, still in my party dress, on the couch and proceeded to have a panic attack. It was a slight quarter life crisis! So then of course I organised with friends to spend the afternoon at a Sunday session, drinking across the road from the beach; at the Cott. Again, it wasn’t the same as it used to be but was still lovely.
Oh hey, we went to school with the musician playing!
Again the night got confusing but I ended up going out for dinner. Anna ordered nachos. This is what she got….
Oh Perth.
The next day was Monday and my last day in Perth. Jojo took me to the beach where we swam and ate ice creams. That night I went to my fave restaurant to both celebrate Dee and my birthdays and say goodbye to everyone.
Mum seemed to have forgotten that Gavin is a giant.
I was then driven to the airport to head back to London.
My porter arrived to take my bags so I could hop straight on a flight to Dublin for St Pats Day!
Maybe that will be my next blog....
