Take five days off and there were a few dramas.  Firstly, the phone/answering machine/fax hasn’t been working since Monday. I sent someone in to check and we think that the wall connection got wet, as the roof at the office had a leak, and it was right over the top of the phone line, hence the phones not working.  It is now fixed and working again, so my most sincere apologies for the inconvenience.  Secondly the auto responder to all the emails didn’t kick in straight away, so we will be replying to all of your emails in the next few days.  Thirdly the night before I leave to go away, I decided to wash everything that I own and my washing machine dies, so it’s been fun all round and defiantly doesn’t give me the incentive to go away again!!!

Now about the mini break…

Dave my husband decided that seeing as I hadn’t been around much for the past crazy 6 months that we should head away for a break.  He had pre requisites for the mini break, and 6 weeks notice, then left me to find to the location:

1.       No phone lines and no mobile phone

2.       No internet facilities

3.       No laptop/or computer of any description

4.       One camera body and three lens – shudder and big gulp

5.       Pack light – only two bags – OMG he is nuts

6.       Relax and have fun with no distractions

So with this list I hit the net trying to find something that works.  Firstly I must state that I am a self confessed hotel snob, I only like the best and it’s rare I don’t get my way, spoiled I know.  However with being a photographer I do get to see and stay at some interesting places, were tissues have a higher thread count then the bed sheets. Anyway back to the planning, after the first two hours of searching I have given up all hope, THERE IS NOTHING ON THE PLANET THAT FITS THE ENTIRE LIST, then it hits me Rottnest.  I spent every Easter holidays of my school life at Rottnest, and OMG the list works, could it be as simple as a 30 min boat ride?  So again I hit the net and there are still cottages available, so in less than two hours I have planned the trip, organized the tickets and invited two of our friends to come along for the trip, WOO HOO. 

The big day arrives, we can’t catch the ferry from Hillarys (5mins from home) as they don’t run over winter, which I think is weird as the island is completely booked out, so the taxi picks us up and we are off to C shed in freo.  If anyone remembers the past week it pretty much rained the whole time, which makes it fun, lugging all your stuff and bikes to your cottage when it’s pelting down with rain.  But it didn’t matter, it was everything I remember, basic accommodation, single beds (little to no thread count sheets) 34cm TV and amazing views what more could you ask for. 

Everyone was a little concerned that I was going back to rottenest, as the last time I was on the island was leavers and before that as a kid on holidays.  See something happens to me every time I go to Rottnest, it’s probably why mum stopped bringing us over here for holidays.  Every year without a doubt I would hurt myself and have to go to the nurses’ station.  I have almost lost an entire toe one year, I broke a bone in my arm dodging a peacock and the list goes on.  So I have a file about an inch thick, of weird and wonderful things that I have done on the island while on a bike. I was determined this time to come back without a stop at the nurses station, all fingers crossed.  So Dave being the super star that he is, gets my brand new bike out of the shed (he brought for me over a year ago) and gets me to ride every day until we leave, to lessen the odds of me crashing into something or someone.  Guess what it worked,  I have successful turned a corner, and come back from Rottnest injury free, and all the quokkas and peacocks are also still alive, WOO HOO. 

So here are some photographs from the trip, as I said the weather was yucky most of the time, which made for some cool shots, but it didn’t stop us from venturing over the island and exploring.  Enjoy.