family visitors!

dougs aunt and uncle spent the last two days with us here in perth, as a side trip while uncle junior was here in australia visiting from england. it's been years since we saw him last and it was so great to have him here with us and spend a bit of time with the kids.

we took them to fremantle for the day, doug unfortunately couldn't come as he had training scheduled at work... but it was fun all the same.

we wandered around the courtyard and galleries of the fremantle prison...

which aunty favz loved, seeing as she actually works for one!

i love fremantle prison, so much history to be found!

the kids had a good time... being little goofs as usual

maddie and i from above

uncle junior is a rugby coach and played years ago for the samoan team... he's still super strong and was able to swing my kids about with no effort at all, which they loved!

we paid a visit to the fishing boat harbour afterwards for lunch, fish and chips of course!

at the most famous local store, cicerello's

uncle junior and baby alex

icecream for dessert. anything goes when aunty is here!

a quick hello to bon scott before we took off

and of course a photo with our favourite sign!

the kids loved having uncle junior here with us -

we just hope it's not so long between visits next time!

a day in freo

today we went off to one of my favourite places in the world - fremantle. i couldn't possibly have let sam come to perth and not shown off my precious freo! of course first stop was the prison. the tours have changed since i last went, so i found myself learning lots of new information on our way around, whilst trying to keep joseph in check and feeding baby a along the way. sam must think she's in a madhouse.

fun fact #1 fremantle prison only closed in 1991, basically coming down to the fact that the cells didn't have running water and it would have cost a fortune to fit it. 

inside the more modern block. this is the first time i've been on a tour that goes in here... all the others covered the older areas.

front view of the prison as the tour ends and you walk back to the front gates. the large piece on the right is the chapel. 

chapel view from the front

fun fact #2 the video clip for the acdc song jailbreak was shot in the chapel.

i love the prison and learning more about it. you can learn way more about it here. what a cool place to explore.

of course a visit to fremantle is not complete without visiting the markets. although they aren't nearly as fun these days as they seemed to me as a child (but really what is these days?!) they are still amazing, full of awesome food, colours, displays and just a cool atmosphere. i don't think they'll ever close.

we wandered down to the fishing boat harbour a bit later in the day, to get some fish and chips for lunch. (also a freo must!) we love this funky freo sign and decided to get some more pics with it (last set can be found here, along with the reason we love it haha)

me: joseph come and have a photo with this heart.

joseph: no

me: aunty dom will love it

joseph: (runs over) okay!

oh that kid. the cutest, but the actual worst.

one last walk back to the car past the bon scott statue and then out of freo we went

fun fact #3 in my early days working at the funeral home, i was rostered on to assist with a funeral at fremantle cemetery. i was wandering back to the main gate, when i was stopped by a couple who asked me where they might locate bon scott. before i continue yes, i had heard of acdc, but really only knew their music and definitely not the names of any members of the band. i said, "does he work here?" they lost it laughing and said, "noooo, he was the lead singer of acdc, he's dead and his ashes are buried here." me: ohhhhhhhhhhh. i have since learned the location of his ashes and where the bon scott memorial entrance to the fremantle cemetery is... but oh did doug and i have a laugh about that. he still brings it up occasionally and we'll have another giggle. 

we made one more stop on the way home up west coast highway... at cottesloe beach. it was the perfect afternoon, beautiful outside - and sam loved having a wander while joseph had a play and i fed alex yet again...

here's our pommy girl loving the late afternoon sunshine and the beach.

i hope she's loving her stay here. it's amazing finally getting to know her. ♥

doing time at fremantle prison

one of the coolest tourist attractions that i think perth holds is the fremantle prison. home to prisoners until 1991, it is a true piece of history of our state and i love to go on the tours and learn more about it. so today, while i dragged cara around the place, we began our day right here - at fremantle prison.

tours are worth every cent and i highly recommend you go and check it out one day, whether you are a tourist, or a local. it is so interesting! and if you can't, read up online via the above link!

we had to take this little monkey with us today... i'd like to say he was well behaved, but he was really intent on giving himself a tour!

inside the main cell block

and in the day yards...

and my favourite part - the chapel. such a cool place to sit for a few minutes. you can even get married here if you so desire!

i must admit, it's so hard to think of this being a fully occupied and working prison when there is silence in here, but knowing that it was so recently blows my mind, especially seeing as the main reason they finally closed it down was because of it not having toilets in the cells.

this place certainly has a lot of stories to tell! make sure you take a listen some day. night torchlight tours are my favourite, but they are all brilliant. 

doing time...

last night i took "my girls"
to the freo prison for the torchlight tour

the torchlight, as it's name suggests is at night - and is dark and cold.... with lots of crazy goings-on. unfortunately this was a little too much for one of girls - who just didn't take it well when stumbling upon a "ghost" in the yard, when mass hysteria and sobbing ensued. however, we did all have a lot of fun and... it was definately worth it!

what can i say? i am truly 100% a freo gal at heart :)

me and the husband. hotness personified.
gotta love a good behind bars pic!
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