November Wrap-up & Signs

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On Friday 4th, together with the other ladies from the "Community Harvest" we set up our tables at the Canning Show, which would open to the public from 5 to 9pm and then on Saturday 5th from 9am to 9pm.

Our tables at the Canning show, and Community harvest sign

                                   Our sign to try and get people to join our group with things we have made

The Canning show which has been hosted for over 100 years by a not-for-profit organization - Canning Agricultural, Horticultural & Recreational Society (CAHRS), attracted about 15 thousand people this year, lots of small businesses with stands, entertainment, ending with fireworks show at 9pm.

Art and crafts exhibition

Cakes and jams exhibition

Farm animals, petting Zoo

Plant and flower hall

Fire show with music

The first night ended with a fantastic show of fireworks.

We Saturday we also had a 59th birthday party, so I just helped at the Canning Show until 1pm, and with another lady we presented a cooking demonstration, serving two pasta salads, which proved very popular with passers-by (free food is always enticing). The demonstration was sponsored by "Live Lighter".

At 1pm Jose picked me up and we then drove about 45min to Mandurah, where our friends have a house by the man-made canals.

Plenty of desserts for the birthday boy

Mandurah canals and a wonderful sunset

Sunday 13th, Jose and I joined about 50 other members of the Codfish Academy (whose aim is to raise funds to help various causes) at an Italian Restaurant - Portorosa Pizzeria in the suburb of Spearwood.

Thursday 17th November, Perth was blasted by a cold front, and we had the coldest day in November in the last 20 years, with a maximum of 12C!! (53,6F). Just the day before we had 31C  (87.8F).  Talk about climate change!

Friday 25th the 7 main ladies from the "Community Harvest" group, got together for lunch at an Italian restaurant - La Fattoria- in the Perth hills to celebrate our friendship and our group. 

Before lunch was served, we had a wine tasting of up to 6 wines which they sell to the public. The 3 course Lunch was served in the open veranda with wonderful views.

We attended a wedding of the youngest daughter of our long-time friends, on Saturday 26th, held at Fremantle Prison.

Entry to the prison

The wedding ceremony was held in the small prison church, then after group photos we all came down to the gardens where we were served snacks and alcohol-free drinks. 

Prison church

The guests were then divided into 2 groups, for a tour a tour of the prison.

I've done a couple of tours of this prison with past overseas visitors, and I'm always reminded how cruel prison life was in that prison.

Opened in 1850, this World Heritage site, represents the last and most authentic British convict-built establishment in Australia.

It was finally decommissioned as a maximum-security prison in 1991, after prisoner riots when guards were taken hostage and burned with boiling water, and a fire causing 1,8 million dollars damage in 1988. Over the year the prisoners were harshly punished with flogging, long prison sentences, deprivation of visitors, entertainment, solitary confinements and circa 40 hangings, as it was Western Australia's only lawful place of execution between 1888 and 1894.

Sign in the former prison office

After the tour, the party of about 50 people was led to the event hall where shortly after, the bride and groom made their entrance.

Food was served then and after the main dish we were entertained with music from a local band - Chantal Basilio and the Carbon Taxi band - whose main singer Chantal is Portuguese, and they frequently play at the Portuguese club, as well as 4 songs played by the groom's cousin and a friend who had an angelic voice.

Potato gnocchi for starters, Salmon (my dinner), Meat (for Jose) Chocolate dessert

The band (top) and groom's cousin and friend

The long table in black and white

Wishing well, bridal bouquet and teddy bear where guests wrote their wishes

table setting in black and white with the "prison gate" menu

Sentenced to a lifetime of love - cake made by the bride's sister

Sunday 27th we had lunch at the house of the President of the Codfish Academy (Jose is the treasurer, I'm the secretary) to discuss the event of the previous week, do the accounting, decide on a charity to support with the funds.

And the month ended with our 42nd Wedding anniversary on Wednesday 30th. Jose took me to dinner to an Italian restaurant - Bravo's (it seems we were on an Italian themed month 😏) in the suburb of Victoria Park. We both had a lovely cocktail, before our delicious meal.        

Our anniversary dinner at Bravo's - cocktails with Arancini balls, prawns for Jose and calamari for me

        

Photo taken at the wedding by the 10-year-old niece of the bride :)

Poppies in my garden