We have been here in Australia for a week and still awake at 4am.
Your Ma makes a cup of tea and then either sits knitting a cardigan (another) for Hugh or doing codewords. We have identical code books and ma is on page 21 and i am on page 9. The answers are in back but ma denies cheating.!
Sydney is home from home for us staying at Junes place - the cockroaches are even larger this year and the noise from markets - the bands kept us awake.
We mention Chris on first day as we walked up George Street to the Coles supermarket past Bank where he worked and we met for a drink. The city area is still full of young execs and very similar to London in suits or white shirts. Judging by paper the country is booming.
June leaves us some pensioners travel passes and we sailed to Manly on one day in brilliant sunshine . We mentioned what a great life for all mums here - there were loads of babies in prams as they promenaded on the front of picnicked on beach. It would have been lovely for Mairead now.
The cost of housing is more than Cotswold's and there is predicted a collapse in prices not quite like Ireland but unsustainable.
Philippa wants a pinafore but they wee over £40 hand pained on the market so your Ma thought too dear for dog to chew! so we will wait until later.
We collected our car in Kings X - said to be sleazy in tour book but it say something as our favourite slot to visit as full of life.
We drove up route 1 to Avoca Beach on Sunday and are now sitting on veranda with Tropicana backdrop - living in a converted boathouse and can see lake - surrounded by palm trees and bananas etc but birds are incredible they are so colourful but noisy and keep you awake . They are tropicaland we have not seen before -Kookaburras etc - they feed from your hand although one bit me yesterday. We have not to feed grey parrots as they are aggressive if you have no food.
Chris - the people in the house . Their son in early 30's worked with Accenture in Sydney and is IT Consultant in systems analysis at HKSB in London near you and QQ. He has 2 year contract and bought house in Wimbledon - he has 2 kids but they are going to return to Sydney at end of year although he says there are only a few jobs over here as small market. He might we interesting to meet for a beer - his folk says the company do not know he intends to leave at end year.
The other son is Dr in Canberra. The owners have been very nice and i am using their wifi and they will be staying at QQ in june with exchanges in Croatis and Sweden.
We received an email from Cecilia to say how much they liked QQ and enjoyed stay - she has perfect manners.
Angela - if you want to use 4x4 then let me know. Philippa is on insurance.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Finland - Reindeer-- and trip to Sydney
we had great journey on Finnair from Manchester leaving in light weight clothes and arrived at -17 degrees in Helsinki - we had to use a bus from the plane and were frozen and had to walk thru thick packed snow to terminal. It was like landing at north pole as runway was thru a passage of 4 feet snowbanks. Apparently this is one airport that never closes whatever weather.
I thought of how many times i had sung " Rudolph the red nose Reindeer " for you all plus grandkids at Christmas - i am not sure they would have enjoyed the reindeer tartare on first flight from Manchester - reindeer steaks in business lounge at Helsinki and delicious reindeer soup in business class to Bangkok. 3 reindeer dishes for our culinary delight -Poor Rudolph , it is wonder there are any left as it appears staple diet in Finland - wait for kangaroo steaks later .... in Sydney!
Philippa with Molly came over to see us goodbye -there had been snow in Hfd but none in Bolton. We had lunch of salad -she is taking over from James at Kilham who was down en famille at weekend. You have to admire resilience as they were regulars on beach with maggie and kids and introduced to amusement arcades - the fourth generation from my side of family to go to Brid and enjoy slot machines. What a family heritage to cherish on ones cv - Bridlington and slot machines.
Your Ma has been zizzing as we are jet lagged and now is joining in. She says we were very impressed with Finnair as the hostess were very pleasant and healthy Scandinavian food ,which she enjoys. It was a new airbus 340 and beds were like a tunnel under seat infront.
It was a master stroke to book 5* airport hotel in Bangkok- as so convenient . We only paid £140 for executive suite and had early evening free drinks plus a buffet - Chris would have loved as full of sushi plus section of seafood and usual sweets ,cheese and fruit. We didn't need an evening meal. Breakfast plus afternoon tea before we left so an absolute bargain and Thais were lovely helpful people. I thought of the A's out here for a year and appreciate why they enjoyed .
We spent morning around swimming pool doing codewords before evening BA flight to Sydney ,which was packed with 400 packed in . However many times we travel it is difficult to grasp the sudden transition from snow to humid tropics 80 degrees and wild orchids plus Palm trees.
We are in Junes cottage in Sydney and listening to hooting of the huge liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary2 visiting and in harbour towering as they are so huge . There are traffic jams as people came to see. They are sailing tonight to NZ on round world trip from Southampton. This was a reunion as the ship came together in 1941 to pick up Aussie soldiers to fight in WW2.
There was a memorial service and TV showed some survivors who went to war on QE1.
There was a very poignant moment in Bangkok airport with Sydney passengers - the BBC TV news broadcast details of earthquake in Christchurch. The whole lounge went quiet as people were transfixed to news - there was total silence - quite surreal and spontaneous . This morning they think 300 may be killed and dominating the news.
June is visiting tomorrow to say hello as she is playing bridge locally.
It is 7 pm on first day in Sydney (UK time 6am) so we are waking up and going for a walk around harbour.
I thought of how many times i had sung " Rudolph the red nose Reindeer " for you all plus grandkids at Christmas - i am not sure they would have enjoyed the reindeer tartare on first flight from Manchester - reindeer steaks in business lounge at Helsinki and delicious reindeer soup in business class to Bangkok. 3 reindeer dishes for our culinary delight -Poor Rudolph , it is wonder there are any left as it appears staple diet in Finland - wait for kangaroo steaks later .... in Sydney!
Philippa with Molly came over to see us goodbye -there had been snow in Hfd but none in Bolton. We had lunch of salad -she is taking over from James at Kilham who was down en famille at weekend. You have to admire resilience as they were regulars on beach with maggie and kids and introduced to amusement arcades - the fourth generation from my side of family to go to Brid and enjoy slot machines. What a family heritage to cherish on ones cv - Bridlington and slot machines.
Your Ma has been zizzing as we are jet lagged and now is joining in. She says we were very impressed with Finnair as the hostess were very pleasant and healthy Scandinavian food ,which she enjoys. It was a new airbus 340 and beds were like a tunnel under seat infront.
It was a master stroke to book 5* airport hotel in Bangkok- as so convenient . We only paid £140 for executive suite and had early evening free drinks plus a buffet - Chris would have loved as full of sushi plus section of seafood and usual sweets ,cheese and fruit. We didn't need an evening meal. Breakfast plus afternoon tea before we left so an absolute bargain and Thais were lovely helpful people. I thought of the A's out here for a year and appreciate why they enjoyed .
We spent morning around swimming pool doing codewords before evening BA flight to Sydney ,which was packed with 400 packed in . However many times we travel it is difficult to grasp the sudden transition from snow to humid tropics 80 degrees and wild orchids plus Palm trees.
We are in Junes cottage in Sydney and listening to hooting of the huge liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary2 visiting and in harbour towering as they are so huge . There are traffic jams as people came to see. They are sailing tonight to NZ on round world trip from Southampton. This was a reunion as the ship came together in 1941 to pick up Aussie soldiers to fight in WW2.
There was a memorial service and TV showed some survivors who went to war on QE1.
There was a very poignant moment in Bangkok airport with Sydney passengers - the BBC TV news broadcast details of earthquake in Christchurch. The whole lounge went quiet as people were transfixed to news - there was total silence - quite surreal and spontaneous . This morning they think 300 may be killed and dominating the news.
June is visiting tomorrow to say hello as she is playing bridge locally.
It is 7 pm on first day in Sydney (UK time 6am) so we are waking up and going for a walk around harbour.
Friday, February 18, 2011
We are off folks
Just testing the blog to ensure that it works okay we have packed very little as was staying in places that have a washing machines but the main problem is that we have to change terminals in Helsinki and it's as cold as Ottawa. So we have to go with reasonably warm clothes but the temperature in Sydney has been up to 40°C - they have been having a heat wave. I we don't want to have too many winter clothes to travel around in suitcases.
Over the four years we've gone to Australia, the exchange rate is dropped by 40% all possible and more from $2.4 to the pound to 1.6 today so it should be fairly expensive.
Philippa is coming around to say goodbye and have a farewell lunch as our flight to Helsinki is not until six o'clock in the evening. For the long flight to Bangkok which takes 14 hours - it's much better during the overnight with a little brandy& temazepam. We have taken to small pillows in the suitcase as the bed is too flat.
There is just been a scream in delight from next door as Dawn - our domestic - her daughter has just had a baby at HR I- her first grandchild called Lorraine. Husband Robert has an immense number of work to do on the house when we are away including cleaning the gutter I'm putting some new security lights up.
James is down to kilham with the family - and the weather forecast suggests a little snow but it is quite cozy if you light the coal fire.
Your mother spoke Mairead on the telephone and Aoefe is going to Kerry a week or so to stay with Maureen. She's coming over to pick her up.
I have to go to the bank to collect my Australian money but I am taking a risk in Bangkok as we only staying overnight I haven't changed any money in the bahts - the only time I would need would be for a trolley in the airport so I hope they are free. Plus I have to order the taxi and we have to collect some drugs from the pharmacy.
Over the four years we've gone to Australia, the exchange rate is dropped by 40% all possible and more from $2.4 to the pound to 1.6 today so it should be fairly expensive.
Philippa is coming around to say goodbye and have a farewell lunch as our flight to Helsinki is not until six o'clock in the evening. For the long flight to Bangkok which takes 14 hours - it's much better during the overnight with a little brandy& temazepam. We have taken to small pillows in the suitcase as the bed is too flat.
There is just been a scream in delight from next door as Dawn - our domestic - her daughter has just had a baby at HR I- her first grandchild called Lorraine. Husband Robert has an immense number of work to do on the house when we are away including cleaning the gutter I'm putting some new security lights up.
James is down to kilham with the family - and the weather forecast suggests a little snow but it is quite cozy if you light the coal fire.
Your mother spoke Mairead on the telephone and Aoefe is going to Kerry a week or so to stay with Maureen. She's coming over to pick her up.
I have to go to the bank to collect my Australian money but I am taking a risk in Bangkok as we only staying overnight I haven't changed any money in the bahts - the only time I would need would be for a trolley in the airport so I hope they are free. Plus I have to order the taxi and we have to collect some drugs from the pharmacy.
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