7 July 2012 HOME Saturday

What a wonderful sight to be greeted with!

With Greg meeting us at the airport, we were overjoyed to be reunited and talked 10 to the dozen all the way home, catching up on each others' news. (Matt had made prior arrangements to go to the snow which couldn't be cancelled).

Al and I are feeling both fulfilled and relieved to be settling in at home permanently without the feeling of being nomads and living in limbo.

We are forever aware of what a priviledge it was to be able to experience a holiday like we did and to do it together enjoying and sharing sights and experiences with each other that will forever enrich our lives with a lifetime of memories and happy moments from around the world.

Thank you for sharing our journey with us, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and that you are inspired to turn your own dreams into reality and perhaps even to share them with us too.

(8 July 2012 - Now that Matt is home from his snow weekend, I can express my heartfelt gratitude that my family was kept safe from all harm for the entire duration of our 9 month trip)

6 July 2012 L.A. TO SYDNEY Friday

With this being our final leg before arriving home, we were bowled over with the news that we had been upgraded to Business Elite seats on Delta Airlines. 

It was total luxury being able to fully stretch out to sleep and being treated like royalty.  Such a relaxing 14 hour flight and a truly spoilt way to end our travels.

We will relish that memory amongst many others as one of the multiple highlights of our trip.

5 July 2012 LOS ANGELES Thursday

What a treat it was today to actually enjoy a real warm summers' day, unlike the so-called summer in the UK.

With plenty of hours to spare before flying home, we ambled about the shops, familiarising ourselves with the places we knew and recognised.  Of course there was the inevitable visit to our favourite shop Macy's and, would you believe it, I came out empty-handed.  True story! 

We also visited Barnes and Noble bookshop and, no, of course I didn't come out empty-handed from there!

Now that our luggage is totally bulging with truly not a single space more in which to pack another thing, we arrived at the airport to relax in the lounge in great anticipation of our flight home.

Some happy memories of our epic adventure....

Monaco

Hong Kong

Galway

Vegas

Cotswolds

It truly has been a dream come true.

4 July 2012 LONDON TO L.A. Wednesday

With mixed emotions we packed our final bags and left our holiday lifestyle behind along with our last good byes, until next time.

Buouyed only by the fact that we will soon reunite with our sons we arrived at Heathrow nice and early, to be offered complimentary facial (for me) and massage (for Al) - a relaxing sendoff to calm the inner turmoil for sure.

With a brief layover in Minneapolis after a 9 hour flight, we were soon back in the air for a short 4 hour flight headed for L.A.  As descent was beginning, the co-pilot announced the proliferation of 4th of July fireworks in every direction in L.A.  It was like being in a movie set from above for as far as the eye could see, were firework displays all the way in to landing and even while waiting to dock.  After the flight, the co-pilot said it was something both he and the pilot had never seen in their collective 50 years of flying, with many 4th of July flights included.

With such a bright and colourful welcome, I was reminded of one of my all time favourite songs, I think I may have shared it before, but it is very appropriate for today.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

On that high note we booked into our hotel which happens to be the same one we started our trip in.  With memories flooding back of 9 months ago when Greg and Matt were with us, having a bbq and relaxing in the spa pool it was a poignant moment to end off our holiday right where it began, having gone full circle and now going home.

3 July 2012 HAMPTON COURT Tuesday

Thanks to my wonderful husband and friends, Kit and Dal who surprised me with tickets for the Hampton Court Flower Show for my birthday!  Such incredible displays which, surely I'll never see anywhere again.

As is customary on our trip, anyone who travels with us has to have a namesake photo, so here are Kit and Dal's:

Cheers my friend, it is very fitting to have your name formed as part of a meDal

Ooh such scary eyes - always fun to be around Kit

PS Kit was almost assualted with that KitKat so it had to be photographed

Out with Kit and Dal for our last dinner at The Rose Garden - a lovely evening but overshadowed by the dreadful thought of saying goodbye.

Tomorrow we fly...

2 July 2012 LONDON Monday

Wow what a day!  Starting at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guards before a visit with Liz - yes, we're on first name terms since our meeting the other day!

Now, to the untrained eye,  this may well look like a pirouette, however, it is in fact an entire message in the shape of a heart from Janine in Australia to Liz and it goes like this:  Hi Liz, Congratulations on your Jubilee and Birthday, I love you, love Janine from Australia.  So you see, my predicament, hence the heart - I hope that suffices, Janine.

Our next thrill for the day was.....

Wimbledon!!  We were there!!  While Federer and Sharapova were playing their matches.  Okay so maybe not ON actual Centre Court but we milled around the other courts and actually heard Maria Sharapova grunting throughout her game.  Of course we had to have the iconic Wimbledon strawberries and cream.

A little light shopping to finish the day off and, phew, home, exhausted and satisfied.



1 July 2012 LONDON Sunday

For those of you following the blog intently, I am disappointed to say that I did NOT get Allan first for the pinch and punch for the 1st of the month!!!

Most of the morning was pretty much spent relocating to a quieter room in the same hotel, also with a little more space to move around.

Dinner in the evening in China Town to say cheers to Raelene, then home through jubilant crowds cheering for the Spanish team winning the football against Italy - so many people and so loud.

Some random pics.....

There was a bell on my head OK!  The photographer is to blame for this one, not ME!

No imagination needed here...

Sharing a wheel laugh....

30 June 2012 LONDON Saturday

Looking forward to Kit and Dal's arrival later today to join us in London for our last (argh!) few days overseas.

The sun was out again today so we made full use of it, having a lazy long lunch outdoors at a pub up the road from the hotel, Pride of Paddington.

Dal and I wanted to continue enjoying the outdoors, so the two of us went for a leisurely stroll in Kensington Gardens, again, amongst throngs of people picnicking, cycling and just generally having a really good time.

Dinner was back at our favourite Flavours of India restaurant for a scrumptuous dinner.

29 June 2012 LONDON TO HARPENDEN Friday

A very touristy start to our day, with pre-booked tickets for Madame Tussaud's.  We've never been before on any of our trips, so it simply had to be done.
We took a lot of photo's, so here goes...

My all time favourite actress - I ADORE her.

Love him - so polished.

I'll Be Back

Coming to grips with Jonah

I have so much admiration for Princess Diana

Up close and personal with Lady Gaga

Greatly respected - Madiba

PS It was raining when we walked there, just in case you think I was having a bad hair day. 

Another rainy walk (Yay London summer - NOT) to Lord's Cricket Ground and who should we see warming up but the England cricket team getting ready to beat Australia.

We didn't get tickets as we had made prior arrangements to visit Tony and Verna in Harpenden, so onto the speed train we got and had our very last visit to Harpenden and dear Tony and Verna.

On our way back to London, we had the opportunity to catch up with Jo from Aussie land!  Had drinks at The Shakespeare and dinner at The Duke of York.  A lovely fun night out and catch up.

28 June 2012 LONDON Thursday

Bidding a sad farewell to Mum and Keith after such a lovely holiday full of laughter, fun n games and so many wonderful sights and discoveries, was really hard, however, I keep reminding myself how blessed we were to make so many memories together.

Thereafter, Al and I made our way from Heathrow Airport to our hotel in London town!  With beautiful (if intermittent) sunny weather about, we made straight for Kensington Gardens - as did every other Brit in the country!
Just before, though, we pit-stopped in Rose Garden courtyard for drinks, our table was beautifully secluded by heaps of rose plants and sheltered from the breeze in the warm sunshine.

The photo doesn't really cut it, I know, but it was a wonderful peaceful niche

As busy as Kensington Gardens was, it was such a happy atmosphere with everyone enjoying the sunshine one way or another.  Kensington Palace was fronted by an austere looking Queen Victoria, while in front of her was a sparkling blue lake with the ever-graceful swans serenely floating about.

We walked a fair bit further to Princess Diana's memorial garden which isn't as beautiful has I had hoped, but nearby was spritely Peter Pan to cheer the surroundings.

Back to our hotel and tasty spicy Indian dinner just on the corner. Yum! 

27 June 2012 LONDON Wednesday

I have the best boys on the entire planet!

What a great start to a special day. 

After a frustrating drive to our hotel near Heathrow with Samantha GPS-lady-person leading us repeatedly astray, we finally got sorted and had to promptly hand the hire car back, which we did successfully, totally unscathed - well done to our two proficient drivers Allan and Keith.

To end Mum and Keith's holiday off on a high note we had booked, with Kit and Dal too, to see a show, Dreamboats and Petticoats, at Playhouse Theatre in London's West End and what a fun show it was! 

Old songs sung by upbeat youngsters with little innuendo's now and then, hand clapping and singing along by all.

26 June 2012 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Tuesday

We started our day with a visit at Anne Hathaways cottage for a stroll in the woodland nearby and a quick chat in the conversation chair.

Halfway through the woodland walk, we came across this moss-covered mask just hanging non-chalantly on a tree hook - you can come to your own conclusions ; )

Al and Keith were having a blast....

Next was Anne Hathaways cottage and garden...

The garden was all ablaze and a-bloom in a riot of colourful spires, pom poms and blossoms.
A quick visit inside the cottage and on our way to William Shakespeare's childhood home.  Set back in time and built like a rabbits warren made us all grateful that we live in modern times, especially seeing the taut-rope sprung mattress base and washing tub facilities.

Lunch at Pen and Parchment then a little wander through what used to be the site of William Shakespeare's adult home and is now an archeological site which was a little disappointing.  The adjoining Knot gardens were interesting with the 4 symmetrical garden squares and intricate sculptures.
Mum and I finished our afternoon off with a little retail therapy, and our stay in Stratford-upon-Avon ended with the four of us having a nice dinner out.

Forgot to say my most exciting thing was to sleep in the attic!!

25 June 2012 WALES TO ENGLAND Monday

Left Llandudno, stopping for a walk along the city wall which still entirely surrounds the town of Chester, giving the area a decidedly Romanesque feel. 

We stopped our wall-top sentry at Eastgate, which remains totally intact and beautifully restored, to walk where Romans walked and horses trotted along the cobbled lanes, only to be brought thoroughly back to reality by the gnarly M6.

Enter Stratford-upon-Avon in mid-heatwave all of 21.5 degrees celsius!  Seriously everyone was in sleeveless tops and short shorts like it was 40 degrees instead.

I had a stroll (and a little shopping spree) down the High Street while the others rested, then we all went for drinks at the Riverbank, on the...well...riverbank, watching families picnic while dogs played ball and big hot air balloons floated serenely by, way above us.

Dinner across the River Avon at Pen and Parchment and so to slumber on a 'mid-summer nights dream'.

24 June 2012 SNOWDONIA Sunday

Gosh, well before breakfast we were ready to start our day up the mountain of the Great Orme giving beautiful views across the Irish Sea for 360 degree and as far as the eye could see - what better way to start the day.

Nice road too!

Back for brekky, then off for a fun jaunt up the Snowdon Mountain Railway.  The Snowdon is the highest peak in Wales at +- 3000ft, therefore, the top of the mountain had disappeared in mist when we went up, but nonetheless, it added to the wonderment as we passed hikers shrouded in mist trudging heavily up the steep rocky slope.

What better name than Yeti to take you up into the misty mountains!

After warming up with a VERY quick coffee before being threatened with being left behind, if not on time, on that freezing inhospitable mountain top, we were dismayed to find that we had to travel all 3000ft down the mountain BACKWARDS! 

The views across the valley were still beautiful though

Surviving our backward trundle, next on our itinerary was Caernofen Castle for a guided tour.  Interestingly enough, both Prince Charles and his Uncle Edward were Crowned Prince of Wales at Caernofen Castle and similarly, BOTH men married divorcees.  Unlike Edward, though, Charles will not be abdicating.

Our drive home was via Conwy Castle near to Llandudno and dinner was, unexpectedly, amongst a group of passionate locals, vociferously supporting the English football team in an exciting game ending in a penalty shootout against Italy (who won, unfortunately).

23 June 2012 IRELAND TO WALES Saturday

We left Dublin this morning across turbulent seas, making walking while onboard, a tricky experience.

From Holyhead in Anglesey, we drove through to the village with the longest name of 58 letters, beginning with Llanfair...and ending with...gogoch. 

Here's the name at the train station, with the pronunciation below the name.

This photo shows the name with the meaning below the name

As "luck" would have it, the village was having it's first ever Parade in honour of the Jubilee celebrations and we happened to be there at the time : /
It was very sweet with little Princesses and Queens in every float.

Continuing on, we crossed over to Snowdonia on the Brittania Bridge with clear views of the formidable Menai suspension bridge over the Menai Strait.

Our arrival in Llandudno was met by a triathlon underway, thereby, closing off access to our B & B.  No matter, we had lunch on the beachfront and even got to watch the running segment of the triathlon, giving encouragement to the weary ones as they trudged their way up the hill past us.

As soon as the road was open again, we checked-in and made for the closest pub, Club 147, showing the Springbok rugby game.  Dinner was delish at Pars followed by a gentle stroll home.

22 June 2012 DUBLIN Friday

Mum and I shopped up a storm in Dublin city centre, at Arnotts Shopping Centre, Jervis Shopping Centre and Pernall Mall.  To revive ourselves, we lunched at Cafe Carlo with the men joining us for their lunch too, a little later.

Keith and Al had spent the morning at the Guinness Storehouse, learning how to pour (and drink) the perfect Guinness.  Al is now even certified to do so!

The Storehouse is a 7 storey building with 5000 people passing through each day. That's a lot of certified people to pull beer.
Al, Keith and Kit decided to create their own brand and pass it through the peat bogs we drove past all over Ireland.  The name they decided on was P(h)isky.....mmm I wonder how many clients they'd have.