Thursday 9th April 2009

Hi folks,

Well here I am 7 days in (today 9th April) and boy! what a trip. Let me start at the beginning, many of you will know what a problem it has been to get here, since November 2008 when I made contact with the Australian High Commission to make an appointment to get my long term paper Visa, only to be informed I could do it all on-line!, super! I thought, so cracked on and filled in the necesseries and sent them down the line, then sat back and awaited my visa.

One week later a call, plus an email from the Commission was to question me a to what I was doing in the UK, as they had me still on-shore Australia since 1990!!!!!! well since then I have had to surmount many hurdles and even at one stage thought forget it mate, stay at home, but it was a challenge, and so forth to battle, perseverence won out and my visa duly arrived.

After journeying up to Windsor on the 30th March, to stay overnight with Peter & Catherine (Longstanding Friends) I arrived at London Heathrow bright and early (7pm) to catch the 10.05pm flight to Perth, via Singapore, only to be directed to the Airport Immigration Desk, where I spent an hour proving once again that I had a right of entry to Australia. Once done and dusted, we departed on-time, although it was the new A380 Airbus, it really was cattle class (583 passengers) but being in the Emergency Exit seats eased the pain!

The flight was uneventful and arrived at Singapore on-time, I had just 45 mins to run and board the Perth Flight. Funny thing happened though, I needed a "Pee" and with my short fat hairy legs ran to the nearest Loo as fast as I could, what a relief! but! and this is the funny part when in Hong Kong amidst the expat "Gang" there was a Russian Woman who had been hired to design the mens Urinals at the New Airport, (Chep Lap Kok) and to avoid "splashbacks" she had to design some form of a target for us Boys to aim at, well in the bottom of my Pee Pot was the target "A Bee" and that brought a smile to my face, as she had thought that one up!

Arrived at Perth on-time and thought that by now I would be greeted by the Australian Tax Authorities, to my utter surprise there was Christina Hill (Steve was at work) waiting for me to whisk me to what has been a Haven of respite and Hospitality (5 Star) which has allowed me to get my breath, overcome jet-lag and settle.

I have seen all the sights (Freemantle & Perth) and again boy! how things have changed since I was here 20 years ago, but all for the better, took a trip yesterday (8th) to Perenjori, only 800 klicks up the line to visit with Dorothy (Chris's Mother) who is poorly, but what a trip!

I should just tell you that at this time of the year (Winter is upon us) when it is only 28/30 in the shade, the Old Folks (Called here Grey Nomads) all head North, so I am not alone in my adventure, I shall be meeting many like-minded people (Will have to dye my hair Black).


Folks I have my Camper-Van, had it serviced, new tyres, filled with Petrol @ 52p per litre, and we are ready, her name "The Nutcracker Sweet" why you ask? well I have worked my Nut's off for this trip, but you can read between the lines if you wish.

This weekend, we test the Van, we travel 4 hours down the line to "Margaret River" (the Easter Break) a testing time indeed, then next Wednesday 15th I travel to stay with Ron & Gloria Moss at Bunbury.

Next up-date 7 days time.

Regards

Nigel JG