Australia Day

Its not Australia Day yet but Merv has gone off to his day centre in full Aussie outfit.  The T shirt (of course), a silly hat and a flag.  Around Australia families and groups who don't meet on Tuesday 26th January have been celebrating.  The sausages sizzle on the barbie, damper is cooked and the beer (or wine) is flowing.  A bit of slip, slop, slap to prevent sunburn and a dab of insect repellant to ward off the 20,000 flies ready to attack!
Today the nice bloke from the day centre who brings their wheelchair to our front door (which now sports a very un-sporty ramp) said he is cooking the barbie today. He asked if Merv could dine on a snag.  No, was the answer, no snags.  Hmm he said and offered to cook Merv a bit of fish on the barbie.  Thumbs up.
Perth has the most wonderful skyworks on Australia Day.  It is amazing. It only lasts for thirty minutes but viewed from either Kings Park or the foreshore it is always spectacular.  Not so many years ago we would catch the train and make our way to a vantage point.  With a rug on the grass and a picnic tea we were set to enjoy the spectacle.  One year I even clinched well paid work for a private event on the foreshore.  I was an overnight waitress and bartender.  All the guests stopped as the firework display erupted and we also enjoyed it from our waterfront vantage point.
When the kids were just teenagers we parked our car right outside Kings Park early in the morning and spent the day in Fremantle before returning to Kings Park.  It was a great idea not having to walk too far to the car but the downside was we had a terrible time pulling out into a steady stream of bumper to bumper traffic.  Sometimes ideas sound better than they actually are!
Perth skyworks have become a Perth party with families and friends capturing early vantage spots and entertaining themselves until 3pm when air displays and other entertainment kicks in.
Merv asked me this morning if we were going.  I would like to but I don't suppose we will.  Now that Merv is in a wheelchair for all outdoor activities it is just a little harder and requires more planning and energy!
I have thought during the year of booking a hotel in Perth for the night, taking a boat or finding a not so good vantage spot closer to home.  The hotel is definitely out as well as the boat;  not that I looked!  The third option is better than none. The last two years we stayed home and watched the Australian Open!  Of course I can tape it if we want. 
Well time to check out possibilities to spend an evening enjoying what Perth does best.  Happy Australia Day....