Time has marched on and we’re now very busy getting ready for our upcoming trip to Canada and Alaska – we leave in less than 2 weeks. The rest of my UK travel write ups from March will have to wait for another day – it has seemed a bit strange writing about the spring arctic freeze when the UK has been basking in a heatwave!
We don’t get snow and ice here in the winter but we have had some wild storms and gales and spent a fair bit of time yesterday mopping up from floods in the garage, patio area and a small stream that flowed through our kitchen window from the gutter, which had backed up with the sheer volume of rain.
It seems a far cry from the glorious few days we had the other week – beautiful sunny skies and crisp winter’s days. As it was our wedding anniversary, we decided to drive out to the Swan Valley for lunch – only a half hour drive from our home near the coast and you are effectively out in open country. There are many cafes, restaurants and wineries to choose from and the countryside is dotted with vines, which grow well in the river valley (see here and here for previous posts about this area).
We ended up at a new place for us, the Riverbank Estate Winery in Caversham. The Swan River meanders adjacent to the vines on the property and the food, prepared from fresh seasonal produce, was superb. Afterwards we had a wander round the grounds – probably just as well after a 3 course lunch and wine (not too much for Monsieur though as he was driving!).
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Le Chic En Rose 
Looks great! Happy (belated) anniversary and enjoy your upcoming trip. Strangely, I didn’t know the name of the river through Perth until yesterday when we met up with a friend who now lives there! He was back over for a family wedding, and told us that where they live is next to the Swan River. I’m sure there’s a name for this phenomenon where you here something and then keep coming across it, but I can’t think of it.
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Thanks Anabel! What a lovely place to live right by the Swan River what a coincidence I should put this post up today. Yes there must be a name for this kind of phenomenon where you hear or think of something then keep coming across it – some sort of telepathy?! Perhaps you need to come out to Perth?! 😃
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I would love to some day!
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One to put on the wish list! 😃
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We have been getting great weather here in the South of England and we are making the most of it. Some very exciting travel plans ahead, I will be looking forward to hear all about it😄
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It’s been such a wonderful summer Gilda – our daughter in London is loving the warmer weather finally a good English summer! Yes I’ll have a lot to blog about over the coming weeks – a completely new area for us so will be interesting. Enjoy the sunshine! 🙂
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Sometimes the action overtakes blogging speed doesn’t it? More important things to do. Glad you had a good anniversary and of course you’re excited for Canada xx
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Thanks Jo! Yes sometimes something has to give – I wish I was quicker at techno stuff at times too! I have been running around trying to organise everything recently. Now having to get a few things fixed up before we go away – the front sensor lights blew in the storm too and I want to get it all sorted out for our lovely house and pet sitter before we leave. Hope all is well with you and I’ll be along soon to do some “walking” xx 🙂
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I didn’t realise you used a housesitter. That’s a lot of work before you go. 😦
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It works well for the pets Jo which is why we started doing it but yes you do have to get everything spic and span before you go! We are lucky to have the same sitter as last time – the pets love her! 🙂
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Canada and Alaska. Gosh, how fabulous. Have a great time.
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Thanks Coral – this will be the first time we’ve been to North America will be interesting to see how we get along! Blog posts to follow! 🙂
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Safe travels Ros to you both. xx
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Thanks so much Gill – we must catch up when we’re back! Hope all’s well with you xx
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Have a great trip to Canada and looking forward to seeing your pictures from that trip… Nice winery tour. (Suzanne)
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Thanks Suzanne – we are looking forward to it. We hope to get to the eastern seaboard one day but haven’t got time on this trip! 🙂
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Canada is indeed a very big country so it is best to focus on one area as otherwise you are always running. Canada is like Australia which needs a very long vacation or multiple trips to visit in its entirety.
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That’s what we thought Suzanne – I certainly think you’d need a very long vacation to visit Australia or as you say do multiple trips. We certainly hope to do the east coast of Canada one day 🙂
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