This little outing was taken during the last school holidays and it’s also just down the road from me. The Claremont Museum is somewhere I’d never visited even though we’ve lived here for 20 years. I thought I would check it out with my two munchkins.
The building was actually a school once upon a time, called Freshwater Bay School opening in 1892. It was subsequently used for a place of worship, a boarding house for young men and also a police station.
There is no entry fee which was surprising and when we entered the kids were given clipboards by the lady in charge with photos of tiny lego men which were hidden all around the museum.
Ready to start searchingLessons from the good old days
After spending a good hour in here we wandered down to the small river beach and as it was a hot day, they decided to have a paddle and build sandcastles.
Sand and water provide endless entertainments for kids.
Time for lunch and a play
After I had taken this photo I zoomed in and was taken aback at how creepy and ugly these mini sculptures were!
“Kids, hallowed be thy youth. Enjoy it while it lasts.” ― DON SANTO
Oh! to be young again is many a lament you often hear from old people, but I’m not sure I would want to be a child again. I’m very happy I don’t have to go to school anymore, especially not hundreds of years ago anyway.
“No matter if you’re 14 or 90 years old, you’ll never be this young again.” Matt Purcell
Tina from Travels and Trifles is the host this week for Lens-Artist and the topic if you haven’t guessed is “To be young again”.
Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to live in several different environments, each place different from the other. From bustling cities to suburban towns, each place has made me the person who I am today.
England
I was born in London and raised in Essex and lived there for 31 years. There are certainly parts of England that I love, London, the South West, the coastal towns. The environment is great in summer and sometimes spring and autumn, but the winters are not for me.
After living away from England for so many years, I realise I could not live there again. I’ve got too used to the wide open spaces and the sunny skies of Perth.
I enjoy a visit though!
Oceans, Rivers, Estuaries and Suburban Rooftops
Hong Kong
In my early thirties, I upped and moved to Hong Kong and it was a significant culture shock. The frenzied pace of life and the sheer number of people everywhere was overwhelming at first, especially the heat and the weight of the air, like a wet blanket over your shoulders. Anyway I soon fell in love with this City and also a few weeks later, my husband.
Hong Kong is not just a concrete jungle as many people think. There are many country parks and huge green rolling hills for hiking. Beaches on faraway islands only accessible by boat or ferry. Popular at the weekends for people to enjoy a calmer environment.
I remember when I first started work on the 37th floor of a skyscraper and travelled to work by ferry, I felt like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl!
I enjoyed 14 wonderful years here and both my children had their primary education here.
We were lucky enough to live in the countryside with views in the distance of the sea. We had six dogs, rescued by Anthony and Elena from the bins or left abandoned by the road side.
Skyscrapers surrounded by rolling green hillsReliving my journey to work More skyscrapers with the green mountains behind and the ocean in frontSai Kung HarbourSacred tame cows on LantauLantau Island
Perth, Australia
Deciding to leave Hong Kong was an extremely hard decision, I think all ex-pats would agree. It was like stepping out of our comfort zone. From the moment I first visited Australia in 1988 I knew that I could live there though. We left because it was time for senior education for the children and Anthony had family in Perth. Also because Hong Kong is not a place to grow old unless you are Chinese!
Perth has to be one of the best environments in the world to live. Nearly always blue skies and warm weather. Endless coastlines and green parks and ovals only a short drive away or even on your doorstep. As much as I love to travel I always look forward to going home.
I’ve been extremely fortunate in all the places I’ve lived, but then again I always try to make the best of everything life has offered me.
A few photos below of what Perth has to offer, including a couple from my garden
