I arrived in Perth about 12.30pm after a great 5 1/2 hr flight from Brisbane to Perth. Hardly a bump at all.Caught up on some website work that hadn’t been a priority but I had a solid 4 hrs to tend to it so it was a constructive flight if nothing else.

Organised the previously booked hire car – ended up with a Nissan 4WD XTrail – not into those big things but seems what you book doesn’t always mean thats what you get! But am very impressed – drives really nicely.

Got the GPS switch on and headed out to the Swan Valley to our Accommodation at “The Vines”. Kemm and I have stayed here before – ideal apartment accommodation on the golf course and close to all the Swan Valley Vineyards.

Stopped off at the supermarket on the way and did some grocery shopping to see us through the next few days. Checked in and watched some tv for a bit and eventually headed back to the airport to collect Mum.

It was absolute chaos at Perth Airport – about 4 international flights had arrived together so it was over an hour before Mum appeared.

Anyway, now all settled into the apartment – awoke at 3am to a huge clap of thunder overhead and pounding rain. Hope it’s going to disappear now the new day is here.

Mum had arrived very tired as one would expect – 7/12 hr flight (“that’s the last long haul flight I’m doing” – heard that before!) had a fall in AKL yesterday on leaving and arrived with a very sore knee and went to bed last night very sore so our first stop might be to a chemist for a knee bandage.

Not sure what the day ahead will bring yet!