Doing time.

Easter monday we headed off down the Canning Highway to Fremantle. Fremantle is the port city for Perth and has loads of history and lovely old style buildings, not to mention massive container ships with big cranes for the boys to enjoy. Mum and Dad got new hats and then we took a guided "tram" tour to see the sights. We'd done this before but it was a good way for the new arrivals to see round and this time we also included a tour of Fremantle prison. It was a scary place and although really rather beautiful on the outside it certainly looked a pretty desolate place to have to spend time.

The Prison Gates from outside....

...and from inside....

Just like in the movies.

The excercise yard. At the far end were the washbasins and loos-outside in the yard itself.

It was a fascinating but rather disturbing insight into a place that must have been really desperate to inhabit. Although built by convicts in 7 years the 1850's it was astonishing to find it was only decommissioned in 1991. The cells were originally just 7 feet by 4 and as many as 50% of the convicts died overnight by simply suffocating. Eventually the authorities cottoned on to why so many deaths were happening and the cells were widened and given ventilation which solved the problem.
After our tour we were lucky enough to be let back out and went for some very welcome tea before hopping back on the tram and seeing more of the city. The war memorial was decked out in flowers as the Anzac day service had taken place during the morning, and the views from there are beautiful.

The top of Alfie's head dwarfed by the obelisk.

Alfie was so tired he fell asleep for the rest of the tram ride, poor thing, but woke in time for an ice cream at the end.
Probably because of this nap (I don't know what Ru's excuse was) the boys were still full of beans when we got home so B took them out on our newly reassembled bike trailer. My bike has the best gearing for pulling it so he took that, but heaven knows I don't think I'd be fit enough to pedal those two hefty monsters around!

Where did they go but yet another playpark?!

By the time they got back it was nearly time for dinner and soon bed beckoned both adults and children alike.

Today was still bank holiday here ( Officially Easter monday as yesterday was Anzac day) -so we headed for the beach. Hillarys harbour to be precise with its lovely safe inner beach which is great for the kids. Both boys were very keen to get in the water and see if there were any fish to be caught. Sadly there weren't today but they still enjoyed splashing about. Then Alfie set about making a sand castle, which turned into more of a fort, and I helped a bit to get the moat dug. Before we knew it there were 3 other boys asking if they could join in the fun cos the castle was "really cool" and Alfie, who's incredibly sociable, was thrilled with himself  :o)

Brian decided he'd make the most of the opportunity for a dip too and headed out to the deeper water for a swim. He came back more quickly than expected and it turned out he had found a different sort of fish on his travels- he'd been stung by a jellyfish across his face!! Fortunately it wasn't too serious and he put some vinegar on it at the fish and chip shop as we had lunch later, which helped a bit. As we walked along the quay afterwards we saw lots of  tiny jellyfish, only about an inch or two across and I guess it was one of those that got him. Poor Brian- he was only just getting over the tummy bug I'd given him!
Also on the quay was a special Thomas the Tank engine "train" ride. It only took about 3 minutes around the quay but the boys were entranced. When we asked it turned out to be free -so on they hopped!

Sitting in the troublesome trucks.

Choo choo, off we go!

Even better, they got a Thomas stamp on the back of their hand, and were allowed to keep their ticket, one of Alfie's treasures which he'll keep safe.

We got back home in time to iron a shirt or two as Brian's off to Singapore in the morning. He'll be back Saturday but it's still a shame when he has to go. It'll be lovely for me to have some company here on this occasion though.