Spent a fantastic weekend with Cheryl in Perth. Thanks again Cheryl for taking the trouble to make the long (and expensive) trip all the way from Adelaide to see me.
We had a lovely day out at Freo, where Cheryl shopped 'til she dropped, and then a fascinating tour round Fremantle Prison. Didn't realise that it was used as recently as 1991, and the conditions even then were pretty squalid.
Our guide, John, was an ex prison guard and a Pom, but nevertheless a good bloke and funny as well as informative.
There is some excellent artwork in the Prison, done by the prisoners, and both of us fell various chills and thrills as we strolled around (Cheryl is very psychic). The gallows room was particularly spooky, and my legs turned to jelly as I entered, imagining how the poor bloke on the end of the rope must have felt.
In the prison's Anglican church it was interesting to note that the Commandments, inscribed behind the altar, had been amended to read "Thou shalt not do murder" rather than the usual "Thou shalt not kill", presumably to reconcile them with the Prison's policy of capital punishment!
Time went by far too quickly and I was sad to wave goodbye to Cheryl, not knowing if or when we might get together again, but I am grateful we have had this opportunity to meet 'face to face', after a four year "cyber-friendship".
picta
Working in a prison in England that goes back to 1853 I concur that prisons are facinating places to visit. We still have the shadow on the wall where the gallows stood and the now bricked up portions of the outer wall where the private viewing stage was errected.
We have several ghosts, including a grey lady.