lockdown accomplishments

soooooo we are in lockdown again... but our kids are still at school? we are all so confused. the schools have all their restrictions in place but are saying that the kids can still attend and we are all confused, but also happy for that normality. 

i got stuck into my ironing and got the whole lot done. the basket was my biggest one and stacked double its size on top. crazy. i can't even remember when i did it last. but it's done and i feel very accomplished, especially when madeline handed me an honour certificate for completing my ironing. it was covered in stickers and all and then she told me to pose with it for some photos like i was back at school. she's a crack up.

oh well, here we go again, what will our covid future bring?

 

sherbert for jen's birthday

it's besties birthday today and seeing as she was in perth for an appointment, we met up at sherbert in maylands for a cupcake. alex checked us in 14 times much to the amusement of the staff. 

covid has reared it's ugly head here in wa and we were under mask restrictions, but still had a good time. i'm so lucky to have a friend like jen. 29 years of friendship and counting!

(edited to add: we were super lucky too as we just managed to make it through, before a 4 day lockdown was introduced starting the next day. yikes)

 

maddie's lyrical solo

to this girls, dance is life.

she and madison decided earlier this year when they attended the country dance challenge to compete for step up in their lyrical and jazz troupe (in their words) that they could dance better than most of the entrants in the own choreography duo category and decided they were going to get onto making up their own dance together. they have spent countless afternoons doing so and have it pretty much ready to go for the next competitions - and this week - she has started on her lyrical solo for competitions with her teacher miss amelie anddddd her lyrical duo, also with miss madison. she is so excited about it as there is nothing else she would rather do. i love watching her dance her way through life!

 

spiritually minded

if this is in fact true, then it explains so very much. i have so often wondered why i react so much to the feelings of others and why people come to me when they are upset or need advice. it drives doug crazy actually... was that ***** on the phone again? what do they want noooow? 

the anxiety is so true as well. a few years ago - a friend with diagnosed anxiety was telling me about how it feels and all the issues she has and that was when i suddenly realised that i had anxiety. my whole life i had thought i just felt things so much more than other people and really that i was crazy. but then it all made sense and i realised it was something i actually couldn't control. since then i have been working harder to worry less about things i cannot control, and work on focusing on things i can. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. but it's a work in progress, just like me!

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Anxiety is more than just worrying.

Anxiety is the restless nights of sleep, as you toss and turn. It’s your brain never being able to shut off. It’s the thoughts you over-think before bedtime and all of your worst fears become a reality in dreams and nightmares.

It’s waking up tired even though your day just started.

Anxiety is learning how to function with sleep deprivation because it took you until 2 am to shut your eyes.

It’s every text you wonder ‘how do I word this properly?’ It’s a double or triple text in case you messed up. Anxiety is answering texts embarrassingly fast.

Anxiety is the time you spend waiting for an answer as a scenario plays out in your mind of what they could be thinking or are they mad?

Anxiety is an unanswered text that kills you inside even though you tell yourself, ‘maybe they’re busy or will answer later.’ Anxiety is that critical voice that says ‘maybe they’re deliberately ignoring you.’ It’s believing every negative scenario you can come up with.

Anxiety is waiting. It always feels like you’re waiting. It’s the inaccurate conclusions drawn as your mind takes off and you have no choice but to follow it’s destructive lead.

Anxiety is apologizing for things that don’t even require the words, ‘I’m sorry.’

Anxiety is self-doubt and a lack of confidence both in you, yourself and those around you. Anxiety is being hyper aware of everyone and everything. So much so, you can tell if there’s a shift in someone merely by their tone or word choice.

Anxiety is ruining relationships before they even begin. It tells you, ‘you’re wrong, they don’t like you, they’re going to leave.’ Then you jump to conclusions.

Anxiety is a constant state of worrying and panicking and being on the edge. It’s irrational fears. It’s thinking too much, it’s caring too much. Because the root of people with anxiety is caring.

It’s sweaty palms and a racing heart. But on the outside, no one can see it. You appear calm and at ease and smiling but underneath is anything but that. Anxiety is the art of deception for people who don’t know you. And for the people who do, it’s a constant stream of phrases like, ‘don’t worry’ or ‘you’re overthinking this’ or ‘relax.’ It’s friends listening to these conclusions you’ve drawn and not really understanding how you got there. But they’re there trying to support you, as things go from bad to worse in your mind.

Anxiety is wanting to fix something that isn’t even a problem.

It’s the stream of questions that make you doubt yourself.

Did I lock the door before I left?’

Did I turn off the stove?

Is the straightener still on?

It’s turning back around just to double check.

Anxiety is the uneasiness at a party because you think all eyes are on you and no one wants you there. Anxiety is that extra shot you take and it seems like you’re finally relaxing. Until you wake up the next day hungover, full of regret and wondering what you said to whom and do you owe them an apology?

Anxiety is the overcompensating and trying too hard to please people.

Anxiety is being everywhere on time because the thought of being late would put you over the edge.

Anxiety is the fear of failure and striving for perfection. Then beating yourself up when you fall short. It’s always needing a schedule or a plan.

Anxiety is that voice inside your head that’s saying ‘you’ll fail.’

It’s trying to exceed people’s expectations even if you’re killing yourself to do so. Anxiety is taking on more than you can handle just so you are distracted and not overthinking something.

Anxiety is procrastination because you’re paralyzed with fear of failing so you hold it off.

It’s the triggers that set you off.

It’s breaking down in private and crying when you’re overwhelmed but no one will ever see that side of you. Anxiety is picking up and trying again because the only thing worse than overcoming other people is overcoming you and your own demons.

It’s beating that critical voice that says, ‘you really fucked up.’ or ‘you should feel awful right now.’

Anxiety is the want and the need to control things because it feels like this thing in your life is outside of your control and you have to learn to live with it.

But more than anything anxiety is caring. It’s never wanting to hurt someone’s feelings. It’s never wanting to do something wrong. More than anything, it’s the want and need to simply be accepted and liked. So you try too hard sometimes.

And when you come across friends who begin to understand, they help you through it.

Then you realize this might be a battle you face every day but it’s one you won’t have to face alone.

Photo: Melrose Boyer

be not weary in well doing

 

the weirdest thing happened to me this week. i have been feeling the burden of anxiety crushing me down so hard, and really feel personally attacked by two people i know, who are meant to be friends. it became worse and worse until it was eating away at me and i couldn't bear it. during this, i kept having constant inspiration for things i could speak about if i had an assignment for sacrament meeting. i even mentioned it to doug, who was like yeah okay jade. but then came the miracle. a few hours after i mentioned it to him, i got a message from a member of our bishopric, asking me to speak this sunday, with less than a weeks notice! 

it was so unbelievable. i knew for sure then, that the thoughts and feelings i was having were definitely for a reason. he had thought of someone and even called them, only to know it was me he needed to ask, and his wife had had the same impression when he asked her who he should call. this is not coincidence, this is absolutely inspired. so i started writing and it all came so easily. it's about the times that life isn't easy. because sometimes it's what people need to hear. 

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Good afternoon Brothers and Sisters. Today I would like to speak on something a little different. Being weary in well doing. This weeks Come Follow Me readings have a pretty clear message of repentance and forgiveness. In Section 64 of the Doctrine and Covenants, there’s a verse that really sticks out. Verse 33 reads: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”

In response to all the quarrelling and unrepentant Saints, Jesus Christ commands the Saints to repent and forgive one another as they try to build Zion. Do we get weary in well-doing? Absolutely. The footnotes that accompany the word “well-doing” are benevolence, good works and self sacrifice. It reminds me of all the things we do on the daily to try and build Zion around us, and how weary I become trying to do so, often seeing little or no reward for my efforts.

The end of the verse brings motivation, fortitude and encouragement as Christ reminds us that we are laying a FOUNDATION of a great work, not the entire building, or end product. In time our small efforts will allow great things to proceed, not right now, but gradually over time, possibly even years from now. As we remind ourselves of the fact that we will not see the end result today or tomorrow or maybe even a year from now, our expectations of others around us sometimes need to be put in check, and we realise that we need to repent of our short comings and forgive more readily, for mistakes and errors as we all continue to learn and come together as we build our little Zion here.

So as we build our little Zion, the most important question is: What am I doing today, to get me where I want to be tomorrow? Am I kind to all? Do I include others? Am I honest and fair? Do I represent the gospel in my words and actions? And most importantly, am I doing my best? The Lord does not expect perfection from us, He only asks that we do our best. As President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Do your best, it will all work out."

Sometimes our best may feel as though it is not much to offer. In the world we live in today, there are so many pressures around us, eating at us and trying to make us feel less than worthy. Pressures to be the perfect spouse or parent, career pressures and all of the pressures we put on ourselves. The Lord only wants us to do the best we can, but so often we push ourselves to do so much more. This is when we can become weary in well-doing. By communicating regularly with the Lord in prayer, we are able to have a clear impression on what is important and required of us, which allows us to be attentive to the things that matter most. Blessings come as a result of seeking and heeding the promptings of the Holy Ghost. President Lorenzo Snow said, “This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint … that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.” End quote.

President Russell M Nelson said, “The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children. Through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits. Whatever our place in life, we can pray to our Heavenly Father and receive guidance and direction, be warned about dangers and distractions, and be enabled to accomplish things we simply could not do on our own. If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small. I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honour the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.” End quote.

When we turn to the Lord in prayer and become in tune with Him, we will often receive unexpected, even what we might consider unusual promptings. To do that something we wouldn’t usually do. To go somewhere out of our way, to message someone we don’t know well or haven’t had contact with in a long time. The Lord hears our prayers and it is often through someone else that He meets our needs. President Monson spoke many times of how one should “never, ever postpone following a prompting.” I find if I do not act immediately, I will find out later why I should have and the reason the Lord spoke to me at that time. If you have ever doubted if that small push came from the Lord, or your own head, move on it as though the Lord himself sent you a text with instructions. 

Do we check in with others? People who we know and love, who may be feeling hurt or forgotten? When someone has suffered grief or loss in their life, these feelings remain for some time, sometimes for always. Be the one to remember occasions and check in with these people. Sometimes they may feel angry with the Lord for their trials, and to feel His love brought by the arms of another can allow their broken hearts to begin to heal. Reaching out to lift another can be as easy as a message, an email, sending a favourite scripture or a story you have read – or for you cool people out there, sharing a meme.

Some of us will unfortunately experience infuriating unfairness in our lives. Elder Renlund spoke at length about it at the last general conference and explained it perfectly. Some unfairness just cannot be explained and that is what makes it infuriating. Unfairness comes from living with bodies that are imperfect, injured, or diseased. Mortal life is always going to be unfair. Some people are born in wealth and safety; others are not. Some have loving parents; others do not. Some live many years; other will pass away with so many years unlived, leaving their families to mourn and wonder on what could have been. And so the list goes on. Others make hurtful mistakes even when they are trying to do good. Some choose not to prevent unfairness when they had the chance to do so. Distressingly, some individuals use their God-given agency to hurt others when they never should. Sometimes being kind to everyone is hard. Especially when that kindness is not returned. When showing kindness may be towards those who may not deserve it or people who have offended you or hurt you, despite their best intentions. It would so easy if things had have been different. If we could have just forced people to do the right thing. But we fought to be here, in this time, using our God given agency. In these times we need to remember the words of the Savior and do good to all men. We are reminded in Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

Elder Renlund said, and I quote “Different types of unfairness can merge, creating a tsunami of overwhelming unfairness. My heart aches for those who face such unfairness, but I declare with all my aching heart that Jesus Christ both understands unfairness and has the power to provide a remedy. Nothing compares to the unfairness He endured. It was not fair that He experienced all the pains and afflictions of mankind. It was not fair that He suffered for my sins and mistakes and for yours. But He chose to do so because of His love for us and for Heavenly Father. He understands perfectly what we are experiencing.” End quote.

In times such as these it is easy to feel weary in well doing. It is hard to see that others may need your help, when we may feel that we need help so desperately ourselves. But I know, first hand, that the greatest peace comes from service in these times of grief and pain. During my time within this ward, I have watched others in the depths of despair find sanctuary in serving those who they felt were in greater need than themselves. They are laying a foundation of a great work. Those who give when they have nothing or feel as though they have nothing, are truly blessed for their efforts. As President Nelson said, “The Lord loves effort and effort brings rewards. We keep practicing. We are always progressing as long as we are striving to follow the Lord. He doesn’t expect perfection today. We keep climbing. As in times past, our journey does indeed take effort, hard work, and study, but our commitment to progress brings eternal rewards.” End quote.

It takes great courage to be a man or woman of integrity when those around you forsake gospel principles. There will always be people around us who are not doing the right thing. Who you may secretly want to force to do the right thing. But try as you may, they don’t, they can’t and they won’t. That isn’t the Lords plan. The Lords plan allows each of us to make our own decisions. He fought for that plan. We fought for that plan. Christ died for that plan. And what he asks of US is simply that we do our best. What others do doesn’t matter. WE DO OUR BEST.

People have always been against the church and being dedicated and faithful, especially in these latter days. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “There are … millions of sincere and devout persons who disbelieve, oppose, and openly fight the Book of Mormon. … What is it about some words on a printed page—all of which are clean and uplifting and pertain to historical and doctrinal matters—that arouses such violent antagonism?

“Men ordinarily do not rise up to fight the Bible; they do not organize mobs and incite them to shed the blood of others because such persons believe in the scripture of the Old World. … The violent opposition to the Book of Mormon is one of the great evidences of its divinity. If it were not of God, Lucifer would not overly concern himself with it.” End quote.

We may spend our entire lives defending our beliefs to those who cannot and will not understand. But be not weary in well-doing. Being a strong and faithful church member is hard. Seeing others not be that is harder. Feelings of anxiety creep in. We feel less than we are. We can feel like we are running in circles. But the Lord sees us. He sees us and our efforts and knows our hearts. As President Henry B. Eyring said, “If you are on the right path, it will always be uphill.” We were given a promise of great joy, but never told that it would be easy, simply that it would, in the end, be worth it.

In 1975 President Ezra Taft Benson gave a talk entitled “We seek which is praiseworthy.” Though given long before my birth, I feel as though he spoke clearly of “not being weary in well doing.”

Our task is to stick with the kingdom, to not let anything or anybody disaffect or sour us toward that great gift that Christ has given us—his Church. The Church is true. Keep its laws; attend its meetings; sustain its leaders; accept its callings; get its recommend; enjoy its blessings. … Each week we make a solemn covenant to be like Him and take him for our leader, to always remember him in everything and keep all of his commandments. In return he promises to give us his spirit.

President Benson said and I quote ”Just a few years ago, we knew our Elder Brother and our Father in heaven well. We rejoiced at the upcoming opportunity for earth life that could make it possible for us to have a fullness of joy like they had. We could hardly wait to demonstrate to our Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them and how we would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil one.

And now we’re here—our memories are veiled—and we’re showing God and ourselves what we can do. And nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us. And then, as President Brigham Young said, we’re going to wonder why we were so stupid in the flesh.

God loves us. He’s watching us, he wants us to succeed, and we’ll know someday that he has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew it, there are heavenly hosts pulling for us—friends in heaven that we can’t remember now, who yearn for our victory. This is our day to show what we can do—what life and sacrifice we can daily, hourly, instantly bring to God. If we give our all, we will get his all from the greatest of all.” End quote

We are all quite simply attempting to lay our own little foundation here, in our personal corner of Zion. May we take heart, lift each other and be not weary in well doing.

I know of the blessings that await the faithful. I take comfort in my family being eternal and knowing that those that we have lost in this short time we experience here on earth, will be with us again, never to be parted. I know that the Saviour suffered for us, that all will be made right in the next life. I know that the Lord knows our hearts and our struggles, but loves us all the same, more than we can ever know.

temple lego

it's june... and we just got this christmas present out of the box and finally put it together. hahaha. there's been a lot going on for us and everyone and somehow it just got put to one side until now. but anyway to showcase it now... i bought this amazing "small temple design" lego set for the kids for christmas, which meant of course that joseph thought it was his... 

doug and him got it out and spent a few hours putting it together and it is so perfect. i love it! perfect design - and they even made the married couple out the front us, as there was hair options... he's a red head and i'm a blonde. it is such a cool set and my favourite bit is the name of the company that makes it: brick 'em young. classic. it will look gorgeous on display in joseph's room. 

president spencer w. kimball said, "it seems to me it would be a fine thing if every set of parents would have in every bedroom of their house a picture of the temple so the [child] from the time he is an infant could look at the picture every day and it becomes a part of his life. When he reaches the age that he needs to make this very important decision, it will already have been made." 

i'm all for it. i can't wait for the day my children get the chance to enter the temple. ❤

yw talent night

these little monsters were invited to make a special guest appearance at the young womens talent night this evening dancing their own choreography jazz duo. i thought it was so lovely that elena thought of them and invited them, a little sneak peek of the fun coming in young womens for madeline and another church opportunity for madison haha.

considering they had to condense the size of their routine quite a bit to fit in our relief society room they did so well. the older girls loved it and gave them lots of compliments.

and it's great that they have another chance to practice it in front of an audience as it won't be that long before they are on stage at comps!

i love these two little besties and all the fun (and drama! lol) that comes with them. they are the best fun!

 

peanut butter pretzel cheesecake

i am becoming well known for making recipes up on the fly. i remember watching my mum do it as a kid and thinking that i would never be able to pull that off - yet here i am years later doing the same thing haha.

i have a bunch of leftover peanut butter pretzels from christmas and because i haaaaaate throwing things awy, i decided to make a cheesecake and throw them in. i used my favourite cheesecake recipe as a guide and it was pretty damn good. i don't know if i'll have leftover pretzels again, but if i dooooo...

this recipe works with pretty much any additions, go crazy! i have made it with chopped up cadbury favourites, chopped up mars bars, malteasers, honeycomb pieces... honestly, the sky is the limit

peanut butter pretzel cheesecake

1 x 250g packet milk arrowroot biscuits

150g melted butter

3 teaspoons gelatine

1/4 cup water

375g softened cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1/2 cup caster sugar

300ml thickened cream

2 cups peanut butter pretzels

method

1. grease and line 24cm springform tin, place and place on an oven tray

2. process biscuits until finely crushed. add butter; process until just combined. press biscuit mixture evenly over base and sides of prepared tin. cover and refrigerate for an hour.

3. sprinkle gelatine over water in a cup. stand cup in a pan of simmering water. stir until dissolved. cool

4. beat cream cheese, vanilla essence and sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. beat cream in a separate bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. stir gelatine mixture into cheese mixture with pretzels; fold in cream. pour mixture over base in tin. cover and refrigerate until set.

5. serve decorated with extra cream and crushed pretzels on top.

so many things to be thankful for

i was so grateful to be able to attend the temple today - with so many things to be grateful for! we finally received word yesterday from that last insurance company (the one that had been stressing me out) - that the claim on oli's life insurance had been received, assessed - and would be paid in full. but the best was yet to come, the amount we had been expecting was just one third of what was paid out. we actually couldn't get over the figure that was owed.

what a relief and a lifted burden. i honestly was so happy/relieved that i burst into tears at work, much to the horror of my co-worker, who was just happy it wasn't anything serious. it had been playing on my mind for so long and to have such a wonderful end result was just the most amazing thing that could have happened. i was so full of gratitude and love today that i could have burst, especially after a final prayer the day before yesterday from both doug's sister and that by some miracle we would have a good result. so the temple was the perfect place to be. 

in good times and in bad, we take our prayers to the temple, for the temple is the place where heaven and earth meet - and we can be the closest to the lord.

bunbury lookout tower

we started heading back today and of course had to go via bunbury for a lunch stop off and so we could go up the lookout tower, so i could show the kids. alex stayed in the car with doug, while we "ran" up the stairs (yes i nearly died!) to look from the top. i spent a lot of time in bunbury with my cousins as a child and we would always come to the lookout towers so i loved the familiar view out onto the beach with the lighthouse in the distance. 

such a gorgeous place, maybe our next holiday will be here! we asked the kids where they would like to go next and their answer was busselton (maddie) rarrrrrrr don't know (alex) and kalgoorlie! (joseph). he's decided he wants to visit kalgoorlie so he can see the inside of the mines. he's super keen on it - who knows, maybe he thinks he's going to find abandoned gold nuggets and diamonds (wrong country mate) down there. but who knows where our next adventure will take us. only time will tell though. i do know however, we certainly won't leave it as long next time! ❤

 

canal rocks

at the suggestion of a friend whose family own a house in dunsborough, we made a trip to canal rocks after our cave adventure. oh. my. goodness. this place is so majestic. i would have been so sad to find out afterwards that we had missed out. there is the most amazing man made setup created amongst nature to allow visitors to get right up close with the ocean. a wooden boardwalk has been set through the middle of the two sides of the rocks to assist people on getting over. i certainly wouldn't want to try it without it!

from margaretriver.com

Witness spectacular seascape views across the Indian Ocean and up and down the remote coastline at Canal Rocks. Thousands of years of the Indian Ocean surging and crashing against this section of granite coastline has chiselled out a narrow channel between the granite rocks. A narrow timber walkway allows for easy access and great views of the rushing ocean beneath. It is always impressive no matter what the weather, but breathtaking when the big storms and swells roll in. 

The timber pathway meanders around and across the rocks, taking in grand seascapes with swirling water to little pools and lagoons where you can look for marine creatures like cheeky crabs to brightly coloured starfish. 

maddie was in her element, she is such an ocean girl and loved every second of climbing about on the rocks as we looked around.

and i just can't explain the change in doug when we visit the ocean. i know it sounds cheesy, but it's almost as though it beckons him. he will just watch the ocean for hours without doing anything else. i have to wonder if it brings him comfort especially now that it's a way for him to be close to his mum again. 

we spent ages climbing around on the rocks and enjoying our time at the oceans edge, all rugged up

and just chilling...

before we moved on again. i mean seriously, we kind of had to tear ourselves away from this view!

joseph and i even climbed the hill behind the rocks and sat on the top watching maddie and doug until they were done and enjoyed our little time perched up there together.

our little blonde squad, while these redheads kept up their ocean bonding. i was yet again incredibly grateful for nanna having taken alex for the morning as i think i may have died multiple times watching him stumble through these rocks.

our last stop, the cliff top lookout to have a look over the leschenault inlet before we headed back to our air bnb on the main street of busso. ❤

 

ngilgi caves

we headed off to the ngilgi caves this morning with madeline and joseph, while alex went off to church at busselton branch with nanna and grandad. thank goodness for that as mum insisted - and i had seriously underestimated how difficult it would have been if we had taken him with us. 

we were met at the visitors centre by our guide for the morning - the lovely lisa from the lighthouse yesterday and the kids were absolutely thrilled, as was she. we learned all about the caves history as we waited to enter via the heavy wooden staircase before descending into the caves.

we also learned that when the caves were first discovered in the late 1800s, people would come to explore as a day trip and spend hours in there, climbing over the rock in the dark, in their very best clothes. entry was only possible via a rope ladder and explorers had to use a lamp. there is a corner in the cave called cupids corner where honeymooners would sneak off for some private time. there's also an impressive amphitheater where dame nellie melba once performed. 

places like this make me wonder how people don't believe in god. his majesty is all over this place. knowing that 1cm of these pillars can take 100 years to make, simply by the constant drip drip of water over time is incredible to me.

Found online at margaretriverattractions.com:

Europeans first learnt of Ngilgi Cave around 1899. Edward Dawson, William Curtis and Fred Seymour are commonly attributed with the ‘European discovery’, apparently having found the entrance whilst out searching for wild horses and dingo pups in the area. Several accounts indicate that all these men then explored the cave together.

By 1899 there had been so many caves discovered in the region that a government report was drafted, proposing that several of them could be developed for tourism. The government was supportive and, acting on the report, a ‘Caves Board’ was established by J.W. Hackett to develop and promote the caves. Edward Dawson applied to the government to have Ngilgi Cave opened as a tourist site in 1900, and he was head tour guide and caretaker for the next 37 years.

During this time the cave was known as Yallingup Cave; in fact it was not until the year 2000 that the indigenous name was adopted. A tour of the caves during the early 1900’s was vastly different to what is experienced today. A coupon ticket system was organised by the Caves Board. Visitors travelled from Perth to Busselton by steam train, then continued on horseback to the caves and either camped in the bush, stayed in pioneers’ homes or lodged at Caves House Hotel; originally built to accommodate the guests to Ngilgi. Admission to the caves was by guided tour only, with a ticket costing 1 shilling (10c).

The caves were originally crudely lit by candle or kerosene lamps, with patrons stumbling along rough paths in semidarkness. If the guide wished to point out a formation he would light a magnesium flare which burned brightly for a just a few seconds before plunging patrons back into darkness. Ngilgi was the first cave in the region to have electric lighting installed, with power supplied from a generator near Caves House Hotel. Ngilgi Cave undoubtedly played a formative role in the development of tourism in Western Australia.

thankfully the caves are much better equipped these days with boardwalks and electric lighting throughout. we all enjoyed our visit and spent a lot of time looking at the formations and trying to spot some fairies in the fairy cave.

all too soon it was time to go and we headed back out the wide cave mouth off for our next adventure.

two very happy kids without their toddler brother hahaha.

busselton jetty

i haven't actually been to busselton since i was in high school. when i was in year 9 or 10 and staying with my cousins in bunbury in the summer, they had a bus service, called the runaway bus that went to busselton and back for the day, twice a week. i went with my cousin and her friends and had the best time wandering around, looking at the shops and just hanging out. that was actually the last time i was here!

but being here with the kids was so much fun! we booked tickets on the jetty train and to the underwater observation centre at the end. because it's really interesting, here's some information about the jetty from busseltonjetty.com.au

"Just two and a half hours drive south of Perth, the Busselton Jetty is situated at the northern gateway to the Margaret River Wine Region, in the seaside resort town of Busselton.

Extending 1.8 kilometres over the protected waters of Geographe Bay, the heritage listed Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.  As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia, it is a must see for any visitor to the Capes Region.

Construction of the Busselton Jetty began in 1865. Beginning as a mere 161 metres, sand drift resulted in an additional 131 metres being added in 1875.  Further extensions were made throughout the following 90 years creating the remarkable 1.8 kilometre length.

After more than a century of use and servicing over 5000 vessels, the Busselton Jetty officially closed as a Port in 1973. Once closed to shipping, government maintenance ceased.

Following the decline of government funding and the crippling effects of Cyclone Alby in 1978, a community group was formed to raise funds for much needed restoration and maintenance. Between 1987 and 2003, the community organisation now known as the Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association (BJECA) raised sufficient funds to replace 50% of the Jetty structure, establish the train service and construct the iconic Underwater Observatory and Interpretive Centre.

In 2011 a $27 million refurbishment of the jetty structure was completed. $24 million was contributed by the Western Australian State Government with the balance contributed by the Shire of Busselton and BJECA.

The Busselton Jetty stands as a monument to the spirit and dedication of the Busselton community."

joseph and grandad getting ready for our train ride.

it actually takes a long time to get out to the observatory but the ride is so nice, with the ocean air and a speaker in the carriage telling us information about the jetty and its history. we just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

alex especially. although he has more energy that 14 people combined, he loved sitting with us as we cruised along in the train. his little face all lit up.

i mean seriously. how amazing is that view!

as you can see from the photos, alex climbed from person to person as we went along haha.

the underwater observatory was incredible.

built at the end of the jetty, it is a cylinder built into the ocean, then emptied out, to allow public access and education - providing an incredible 360 degree view of the ocean life there.

"Explore one of only six underwater observatories in the world at the Busselton Jetty.

Your Underwater Observatory tour starts with a relaxing train ride on the Stocker Preston Express along the length of the Jetty with 360-degree views across Geographe Bay. One of our friendly tour guides will greet you at the end of the Jetty to guide you through the Underwater Observatory. As you descend 8 metres below the oceans surface you will be lead through the natural wonders that lie beneath the Jetty where it’s piles create Australia’s greatest artificial reef host to an inspiring forest of vividly-coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates. 

Discover more than 300 individual marine species in their natural habitat through eleven viewing windows at various levels within the 9.5 metres diameter observation chamber.

Each year during autumn and winter, the Leeuwin Current brings a narrow band of warm water down the Western Australian coastline. This warm southerly current is responsible for introducing an incredibly diverse array of tropical and sub-tropical species into Geographe Bay, resulting in coral growth at a latitude of 33 degrees south. This is a remarkable phenomenon when compared to the western coastlines of other southern hemisphere continents such as Africa and South America which have no coral growth below 5 degrees south."

look at the incredible views from the windows at the lowest level. the ocean floor is brimming with life and is incredible to watch.

this kid was obsessed. he stood at the huge windows just watching as the time went buy, loving on all the ocean life.

and even letting his little brother look on too

i love this pic. it's honestly like something from a painting or a movie still, just so calm and beautiful.

maddie loves anything to do with the water. she was in heaven and loved every second of this part of our day. i feel certain she would have stayed until close if we could have.

as the sun began to set, we made our way back. what a view. not a day goes by that i don't feel so blessed to live in western australia. we have so many beautiful places here to explore.

oceans, beaches, caves, coast, gorges. our state truly has it all. what a blessing to it is to be here. we could spend our whole lives exploring and i am certain we would still never see it all.

little mate watching the ocean as we made our way back

and a photo with my love. i hope this weekend away is doing him some good.

the kids had a little play on the shipwreck playground (so cool! i love the way it's even lying on it's side!)

while i walked a little way along and took some snaps of the jetty buildings. the sunsets here are just stunning. it's all so beautiful - i never want to leave. ❤