I had only intended to go out for a walk — get something to eat, maybe. I stepped outside my gate and into the street and right smack dab into the middle of the latest Fremantle Festival.

A Freo Arts Festival on the Easter Weekend. They blocked off South Terrace a.k.a. the Cafe Strip and let artists (of all sorts) run mad.

I wandered down. The partner had gone down South-West for an Easter family weekend and had taken the only decent camera with him. So I couldn’t take any photographs. Especially not of the contortionist, Bendy Em, who managed to get her entire body into the space of a two feet by two feet by two feet cube. You do the math. It was a tiny space and she was a much bigger person than I am.

Further down was a mime and then two Americans from L.A. who had a comedy/dance act. It was their first time performing out on the street but they took to it well. They went for an hour, the folks on the Sail and Anchor’s balcony getting a bird eye’s view of the proceedings.

After them came a guy who was completely covered in tattoos so much so that he looked as if he had murky green skin. He wore a kilt and Doc Marten boots and proceeded to juggle all sorts of things including a chainsaw that was running. If he had caught it by the blade, all the children watching would have needed therapy.

Then there was an Indian magician, complete with accent and all. He made off colour jokes — we love off colour jokes in Fremantle — and was a great hit, pythons, sword swallowing, sleight of hand and so on.

By now I was really hungry. So I turned and walked past the Sail and Anchor Pub towards the Fremantle markets. In front of them were The Pitts — a family troupe of acrobatic jugglers who juggle, get this, themselves and each other. That’s right, they juggle body parts (that are thankfully not detached) and then they juggle each other. It is very much a comedy act with even a little tyke getting in on it. I didn’t stay to watch.

I walked in and found my usual cutlets in the Sri Lankan food stall. Then I got mango chutney. Then I realised that the fridge had Elephant brand drinks in it so I picked up a bottle of Necto and a bottle of Cream Soda.

I had to take the back streets to get back to my flat. The main strip was way too crowded with people and no one could walk through. I sat on my bed with my food, trying to keep the cat away from it.

This is why I love living here. Life here is often literally outside your front door. Imagine being able to control the excitement level in your life simply by opening your front door, stepping outside and then stepping back in whenever it was more than enough? A bit like Doctor Who’s TARDIS where you know if you open the door and step outside, there is a whole new world/dimension/era waiting for you.

I had only wanted something to eat and instead I got something for my mind and my heart as well. Not to mention something for this week’s column.