Castle Fun Park

When I was a kid I used to beg my parents to go to Castle Fun Park, but they always, always said "No!". It didn't matter how artfully little me posed the question, their resolve was steely, they never cracked! (they just cranked up Roger Whittaker or Demis Roussos on the car stereo to drown my whiny pleas)
So for years, the only glimpses I got of the closest thing in Perth to Disneyland, were from the back seat of our Kingswood as we drove past. Sniff. Their refusal to budge still hurts actually - because I really, really wanted to tell my friends that I'd swum in a pool shaped like Australia and sat on a (real life) throne! It's all a bit sad really...and it gets sadder. You'll see in a sec because a couple of days ago I finally got my chance to visit Castle Fun Park - or to be more precise, what's left of it!

CFP was built in 1979 and abandoned in the early 2000's. Subsequently most of it was destroyed by a bush fire. Vandals have all but finished off the rest.

The Bavarian Castle then  

image via. 

(and no, I didn't nick that swan Sue!)

and now

Lucky duck! I'm still a little bit jealous! Image via

And I was scared before I saw this!

I would've thrown my twenty cents pocket money into the wishing well if I'd had the opportunity...perhaps I wouldn't be here now if I did - I might be living in a castle instead of the wonky old shop house...

This aint Disneyland!

Things aren't what they used to be that's for sure!

Check this neat little video to compare and contrast and for a hit of 80's nostalgia. The soundtrack alone cracked me up. 

And please send me a note if you were one of the lucky ones who got to paddle in Tasmania(!) 

Knit Wit

Remember that "riveting news" I mentioned in my last post?
(I'm talking knitting here, not my fringe) 
Well, I wanted to show you the beanie I made.

Officially it's called the lumberjack beanie, but because I made it for Anthony who is no lumberjack, and because we've spent a few days at the beach I'm calling it the fisherman's beanie.

Anthony, Melros Beach, yesterday.

So Frenchy, he's chic ;)

Admittedly it's a bit wonky and my pom-pom needs work, but I'm pretty pleased with my efforts. I've discovered (for me) knitting is much less headache-inducing than sewing (which I've all but shelved), and most importantly, Anthony isn't embarrassed to wear it in public. He says "it does the job" 

he might be a man of few words, but he's no fool! He probably wanted to say "it could double as a tea cosie!" but he didn't. I bet that's what he was thinking though. I bet it was on the tip of his tongue ;)

What more can a beginner knitter hope for?!