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We welcomed Elizabeth to her first excursion, and she came loaded with a large hatbox-like bag which took up a seat on the bus. Our first port of call was TimEva’s Nursery at 1448 Toodyay Road, Gidgegannup. Though not large, it was stocked with hardy advanced plants; trees – evergreen and deciduous, exotic and native, specialties and fruit, including Ornamental Pears, Jacaranda, various Eucalypts and Melaleucas, Big Dragon Tree, apples, figs, as well as shrubs and tube stock – exotic and native. We didn’t have the trailer, so purchases were of the small variety, folk vowing to be back again, especially to the “Massive Plant Auction” to be held on Saturday, 8 June. There were some particularly attractive grevilleas and bougainvillea that folk have their eyes on. Then, onwards to 1225 Morangup Road, Morangup, where Dave and Georgie live off the grid on a magnificent forest block of 100 acres and Dave indulges in his passion for Rustic Metalwork. The property is off the bitumen and it was a bumpy, corrugated, dusty ride – are we there yet – even back tracking several hundred metres, before checking again that we were headed in the right direction. Onward, down a steep hill, a gate, then up another hill, winding through the trees to a smallish gallery which was stocked with whimsical art from found objects, laser cut house signs, gates, weathervanes, animals, collages, fire pits, even a very comfortable cast iron rocking chair. Want something custom-made, talk to them and Georgie will produce artwork for your approval before Dave wields the laser. Again, quite a few small pieces changed hands before 5 we left this tranquil spot. The road out didn’t seem quite so bumpy, and it wasn’t too long before we were settled at a table in the Noble Falls Tavern for an enjoyable lunch and the contents of that ‘hatbox’ – a three tier carrot cake to celebrate Sandra’s birthday. Thank you, Elizabeth! Rather than wait for a tanker to fill with its evil liquid, Sally aligned the bus perfectly for a heart stopping reverse between the tanker and the Tavern wall with millimetres to spare, then we headed home after visiting two quite different ventures, unique and interesting.