Birthday in Perth

Wahoooo. My birthday downunder. Ah what a blast - 24c, blue skies and a slight southwesterly.

Up early to enjoy the sunrise to start my 37th year celebrations.  Caught the train to Fremantle, the journey hugs the Indian ocean which looked pretty inviting for spring. Friday at Freo is market day, on walking through the market 'by the rivers of babylon' plays out in the background. Ahhhhh the vinyl memories come flooding back. The market sold everything from local food to aboriginal art. As they say in Freo all you need are two feet and a heart beat and you will easily get round this town.  We stopped off for a cuppa and to celebrate the epic day I duly ordered a chocolate avalanche tartlet, which was tough on the Daniel Craigs. Also did I mention my lovely card and pressie from Fe that I got this morning ? Pretty special seeing we've been on road a fair bit.


We visited Fremantle Prison after our caffeine and cake stop.  The prison was built by it's actual convicts. The early convicts were shipped from Britain mainly to ease Britain's overcrowding but also to plug Austraila's skill shortages. The prison is built of limestone. This raw poor quality material once formed a hill which overlooked
Frementle bay. Consequently the prison was a little crumbly which aided the odd escape! Prisoners were encouraged to stay on in Oz once reformed & released and to persuade them their families where shipped over with a view of them all starting new life downunder.

If a prisoner stepped out of line they would be tied up and whipped using a tool with leather strips, this was called a cat and hence the sayings....



Not enough room to swing a cat
Let the cat out of the bag
Cat got your tongue (due to the fact the lashing hurt so much)
Rub salt into the wounds (salt was used to reduce infection of open lashing wounds)

The hanging pit was full of superstitions....
13 steps
13 ft to drop
13 spaces between rafters
12 guards plus the hangee making 13 present at every hanging

1964 was the last and 44th execution, that of  Eric Cooke.   Martha Rendell was the only women to be hanged in 1909 both were sentanced for murder.  Corporal punishment was abolished in 1993

For my birthday supper, a fish supper, Freo style, fish and chips overlooking the West Coast.  In the hawker markets of Asia it feels like you're sat within the melting pot of spice and flavours, you choose your dish and your beer and then take a seat in the communal dinning area. At Freo harbour they seem to have also pulled off the same approach to dinning though with fish and chips. You pick your fish then your Aussie wine and then head for a seat. Simple but it seems to work as the place was rammed.