Farewell Perth (15 hours ahead of VI so it is the 31st here)

Again it is difficult to leave …. But leave we must. Again we look forward to seeing family and friends back home, celebrating marriages, birthdays and just being together.

Before we leave here are a few tid-bits about Perth – As we have often said, it is rather like a park with a city set into it.

With the help of Wikipedia, here are a few facts:
Perth is the capital of Western Australia. With a population of 1,507,900 it is home to three-quarters of the state's residents. The city is also the fourth most populous urban area in Australia, and the fastest growing major city in Australia.
The metropolitan area is located in the south west of the continent between the Indian Ocean and a low coastal escarpment known as the Darling Range. The central business district and suburbs of Perth are banked by the Swan River.
Perth is one of the most isolated metropolitan areas on Earth. The nearest city to Perth with a population over 1 million is Adelaide in South Australia, which is 2,104 kilometres away as the crow flies. Perth is physically closer to East Timor and Jakarta, Indonesia, than it is to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

It is loaded with beautiful beaches but swimmers need to be mindful of currents, tides, sharks etc. That being said, it is a paradise and the beaches are enjoyed safely by throngs of people
especially in the very hot summers (Dec to Feb) … Spring brings a fabulous array of wild flowers. Winter is cool and ‘when she rains she pours’. This can also include very strong winds as well as balmy temperatures. The winter also includes fabulous sunny days when a T shirt and jeans will do! We have experienced all of the above! The ‘Perthites’ (not official lingo) take it all in stride and when caught in a downpour they just wait it out under cover or settle in for a flat white … part of WA meaning both Western Australia and ‘wait awhile’. Ron has been using his time well and practicing his flat white preparation skills.

The people are great, uniquely Aussie and very welcoming even if we do speak with a heavy duty Canuck accent! There are lots of great websites like http://www.westernasutralia.com/ for a little arm chair travel.

We have been blessed to worship at New Life City Church and at YWAM. Youth With A Mission Perth is a dynamic campus with people from all over the world. It is a great place from which to mobilize people to bless the nations. It has been a joy and a privilege to be here. For more info check out http://www.ywamperth.org.au/.

The time has come to say goodbye so, for the time being, Cheers Mate!
And how about those West Coast Eagles!

Jen, Thomas and More Great and Wondeful Kids

Thanks to everyone for these recent photos everyone!

This is Rudy and Cassidy - Cass just turned 4! See you soon!
Isaac with his new kitten.

















Tegan in her Daddy's shades

















Kyla in her uniform. she's lovin' it and Micky D's

MEMORY FLASHES

New Tim Tam Packaging!

SOME MEMORY FLASHES OF THE LAST 10 WEEKS

Food:
· 4 course dinners on Via Rail
· Family feasts in Elliot Lake
· Deep fried elderberry blossoms in Bavaria
· Turkish falafel in Berlin
· Chili mussels in Freemantle
· Dim Sum in Perth

Sounds:
· Approaching trains in Berlin - U Bahn especially
· Salut … with eye contact!
· Bird chatter in Perth – very cheeky
· Cheers and tears when we received the text – it’s a boy!
· Thomas’ newborn cry
· Cheers and groans watching the Eagles (Perth’s aussie rules football team ) and the

Wallabies (Australia’s rugby team)

Sights
· Mount Robson from the dome car on the train
· Isaac and Tegan in Elliott Lake
· The social interaction of our multi ethnic community in Berlin
· First glimpse of newborn Thomas Nathan Brownhill
· Our homes away from home – 5th floor flat in Berlin, spacious south Perth bungalow
· Marty and Annika’s demolition/renovation

Smiles:
· From a train driver – WA stands for ‘wait awhile’
· Tim Tam (Aussie biscuits – read bikkees) words of endearment
· Feeding a wild ring neck parrot our apple
· Aussies trying to convince us that Vegimite is tasty

Moments:
· Being welcomed by Marty and Annika at the train station, in Berlin and Caleb and Jen in Perth at the airport
· Reconnecting with Klaudija and Hans-Martin and meeting David for the very first time.
· Riding fist class on the German ICE train
· Trying to find our departure gate in Frankfurt
· The emotion walking through the Jewish monument in Berlin and seeing the 10,000 coarsely made iron faces of agony in the Jewish museum
· The cross section of humanity in the Dubai airport
· Meeting Rosemary and Bill for the first time
· Making and visiting friends at YWAM and with other home exchangers
· First mornings in new places – walking on the water front in South Perth

People:

• all the amazing people

South Perth

Getting up close and personal with a bird of paradise








Ron and our hosts Rosemary and Bill
heron by the river bank
"Palm Tree Island"



we have just moved from south to east Perth ... enjoying some extra time with Jen and Thomas....
It's all good...

Mr Magnificent!

Thomas is thriving and settling into his routines. Jen and Caleb are great parents!
Thomas resting in his Grandpa's arms....
Today he went on an outing to Freemantle so his mom and grandparents could have some chili mussels! Thanks for sleeping though it all Thomas...

All on a Winter's Day

A day at the beach and a seaside restaurant


















Early morning mist over the City















The Lord Mayor's boat house

Fun in Oz

Can you see the joey? It was trying to eat leaves like mom.....

Fun in Aus:
Eating at Wagamama – great food – a ‘fusion’ noodle place in Subiaco – a suburb where the King Edward (make that King Eddie) Hospital is located
People watching while having a flat white (coffee) in Forest Chase in the centre of downtown
Walking along the parks by the river’s edge in the sun in the WINTER!
Learning a little lingo Aussie style:
· Arvo = afternoon
· Onya – good on you – well done!
· Doona = quilt or duvet
· Fussed = worried
· Jumper = sweater or sweat shirt
· Lemon squash – lemonade
· Lemonade – pop like 7 up
· Lollies – candy
· Rice bubbles = rice krispies
Bird watching in Kings Park
Watching a greyhound which regularly runs in the park by the river
Being connected with YWAM and all that means
Making new friends via the house exchange sites – our amazing hosts and another wonderful couple who live opposite the cove where Jen and Caleb’s wedding photos were taken
Observing all the ‘winter’ blossoms and foliage and smelling the wonderful fragrances after a rain.
Seeing a play put on by an aboriginal theatre company
Reading in the garden at the back of the house
Visiting Caleb, Jen and Thomas and Caleb’s family
Watching the games - the Eagles (Aussie Rues Football/Footie) and the Wallabies (Australia’s National Rugby Team)
Just being here ….. riverside and beach walks, enjoying Aussie humor
Bike riding on the waterfront
Chatting with the locals – very friendly, humorous and open
Taking the ferry across the Swan River between downtown and South Perth
Super helpful, friendly bus drivers and courteous car drivers even if they all drive on the wrong side of the road!
Appreciating the good signage
Approachable kids with lots of charm
Shop keepers who call you ‘darling’!
Lots of small non-chain interesting shops
Intersections that have nice brickwork and many round-abouts
Unidentifiable (to us) fruit growing on trees in people’s yards
Lots of bird noises – especially the cheeky ones
Lots of freebies – guided tours, museum, art gallery etc.
Great bus system with Smart-rider cards available and free buses and trains in the downtown core.
Relaxed casual way of being…. You should come!

A few More

A Grass Tree


















Swan River Boats











A cooperative Ring Neck who just finished eating our apple! Very brave and very cheeky!


















a little Aussie humour at this cafe - have not eaten there - at least not yet!

Photo Gallery

a view of the Swan River

Thomas in Grandpa's arms



















Claisebrook Cove from the spot where Jen and Caleb's wedding photos were taken.

Out and About

Thomas makes his debut at church! What fun to be part of it all!
A Kookaburra posing for the Canucks - he didn't laugh for us but the pose was great!
The old train tunnel at John Forrest National Park
Typical topography - lots of texture and grass trees.

Thomas is home

Happily Thomas and Jen were discharged on Thursday and are settling in with Dad in their apartment. All is well. Grandma and Grandpa have been on the hunt for a beanie small enough to stay on his little head. We are off to deliver our find after the Friday Night Worship Service.

Today we went for a bush walk with Rosemary and will post photos soon! We were in the John Forest National Park - the place where Jen had her hen's party bush walk before the wedding. The kookaburras and the ring necks were happy to pose for photographs! We were happy to snap them! Stay tuned for photos!

Thomas' First week

Week one has been somewhat dramatic for Thomas. He showed signs of infection and, since Jen had a dormant strep infection, she was on antibiotics during labour and he was put on antibiotics after birth. He has had some problems with chocking on mucous and is under the lamp for jaundice. That being said, there is another reason for a cautionary approach to his care.
This week in Perth three previously healthy children under the age of five have died of a combination of strep and influenza A. How very tragic. As you can imagine there are very busy emergency wards as parents are extremely concerned if their child becomes ill.
all this means that Thomas and Jen will remain in hospital a couple more days .
All that said, Thomas is absolutely adorable and we look forward to a healthy week two!
He has Jen's eyes and Caleb's chin. We are anticipating being able to have some nice long snuggles very soon!

Thomas Nathan Brownhill

It's a boy

Baby Brownhill arrived July 5th at 8:30 PM. 7.5 pounds.
He is yet to be named! He is bright and alert and lovely!
We thank God for a safe delivery and a healthy baby!