End of 2022 summary (Curaçao-Perth-Curaçao)

Friday 30^th December 2022, Oranjestad, Aruba.

So it seems it's been over six months since the last blog entry – not entirely sure how to get you up to speed! Since you last heard we have:

-stored Gráinne in the yard in Curaçao

-visited Amsterdam, the Singapore Airport swimming pool and Brisbane (and Karl Sydney) en route to Perth

-worked (well, one of us worked) for five months in Perth

-one of us became an Aussie!

-visited Sydney, Brisbane, the Singapore Airport swimming pool, Amsterdam, Galway and Amsterdam yet again en route back to Curaçao

-were reunited with Gráinne, did lots of spring cleaning, gave her a quick layer of antifoul, splashed, fitted the new radar, explored Curaçao a bit, watched some World Cup matches (vamos Argentina!!!), were the most Christmasified boat in the marina, spent Christmas at the beach and eventually left for the neighbouring island of Aruba (or Aarrrrrrruba as the pirates say).

So I think I'll cover the first five points in this blog and then talk about events since returning to the Caribbean in the next one.

Back in June we hauled Gráinne, packed her away as best we could and left her in the hands of the lovely folk at Curaçao Marine (which by the time we returned had curiously become “Curaçao Marine Zone”). Then tried to stop worrying about her as we headed back to Oz. This was a very exciting trip for Karl – his first time back in three years – and he did a pretty good job of setting aside his bitterness towards the Australian Government for having locked him out since the whole Covid thing started.

Gráinne being ever so delicately hauled out.

On the way to Oz we had a few hours in Amsterdam between flights so decided to head into town and explore. I had never been before and Karl hadn't been since his impoverished and starving backpacker days. We landed on a gloriously sunny summer day and met up with the Umnyama former crew (the famous angel of Barbados airport a couple of years back for those of you following diligently) for a sleep-deprived, jet-lagged cycling tour of pretty much everywhere.

Then onto Brisbane via Changi Airport pool. Such a civilised way to spend a couple of hours in transit – showers, a gym (if you're into that sort of thing, we weren't), a wee dip in the pool, cocktails and a view of the planes that includes the smell of jet-fuel. Back in Brissie we had a chance to catch up with everyone, Karl got to see how tall all the kids have gotten, we braved a visit to the Hardgrave Road house (it's all good!) and generally soaked up being back home briefly.

We got to visit our friends' new property out near Mt. Barney, nice to exchange sea views for land views.

And finally to our temporary home – Perth. Well, not quite Perth. We lived on the coast, west of Perth and a little north of Fremantle. We were actually closer to Freo, a quick cycle on a fabulous bikepath, and it became our spiritual home with us only venturing into Perth for the occasional concert or event. What they don't tell you in the brochure is that Perth winters are not like Brissie winters, no no no no no they are not. They involve low temperatures (solidly in single digits or teens), lots of rain and a hefty dose of wind. Brrrr. So we battened down the hatches, turned on the fire and gritted our teeth. We have two very old (longstanding? longterm? long-known?) friends in Perth so we had both guides and willing accomplices in exploring our local bars, micro-breweries and other cultural experiences (like wine-tasting).

Perth 'burbs.

This was pretty much my position all winter.

The glorious bikeway heading south past Leighton Beach to Freo. It runs from Freo all the way into Perth, very impressive.

My favourite neighbourhood sculpture. And Karl.

We did venture into Perth for regular doses of culture with the WASO. They seem very fond of fitting the biggest, loudest orchestra possible on stage.

Househusband Karl, as well as pretending to learn French and brush up on his Spanish, joined a crew at the Royal Perth Yacht Club (shhh, don't tell Gráinne) for the aptly named Frostbite Series of winter races. After a weak start (with some breakages, groundings and collisions) they pulled it all together for his final race and won line honours!

Karl neither paying attention to the sailing nor adhering to the crew dress code.

Meanwhile I was busy trying to finally become an Aussie. It remained a rollercoaster right to the very end with the ceremony initially having been scheduled for New South Wales!!! Grrrr. But the wonderful Town of Cottesloe came to the rescue, did some behind the scenes magic and had me added to their ceremony. Yay.

I had not been pre-warned that we were expected to stand up individually to take our citizenship oath, panic!

I created a little citizenship shrine back at the apartment.

So in general Freo was great. A lovely nineteenth century town with really well preserved architecture. And a busy port you can while away hours staring at from the Gage Roads brewery. The maritime museum has great tours of a Cold War era submarine as well as Australia II – the famed winged keel winner of the America's Cup back in the 80s. And the Shipwrecks Museum has the wreck of the Batavia! There's a really interesting old convict-era prison and excellent markets. And there are plenty of micro-breweries. What more could you want? Oh, and Rottnest Island and its quokkas!

View from the rooftop of The National

Australia II and its slightly creepy crew.

The contents of brackets can be so important: Rottnest slightly overstating its remoteness.

A quokka. We cycled all over the island without seeing a single one and then got back to the main settlement by the ferry to find they were everywhere.

Our local, Rodney's, has a boat as a bar and as much nautical stuff as can possibly fit on its walls.

Words cannot convey the experience that was the Rodney's Friday Night Fish Raffle but we were truly addicted. Never won the fish though thank God.

Then, after five months, just when Perth was warming up, it was time to head back to Gráinne. We had a quick pit stop in Sydney for a family visit, a quick pit stop in Brissie to catch up with friends, a quick pit stop at the Changi Airport pool to catch up with cocktails, a few frozen hours walking around Amsterdam and finally arrived in Galway just as the festive season was getting into full swing. We decided to bring Christmas forward and indulged in the Christmas Markets as well as a full roast Christmas dinner. And pints and bacon fries in Reapy's. Then another couple of freeeeeeezing days in Amsterdam with completely inadequate clothing having left all our winter gear in Australia. We got to catch up with the Umnyama crew again and discovered what brown bars are. And then in the blink of an eye we went from a frozen Europe to the warm tropical embrace of the Pietermaai Christmas Markets back in Curaçao.