Well, that's pretty much it. Today we fly out for home.
This morning we looked through the State rooms of Buckingham Palace (pretty impressive), then dragged the kids back to our hotel by tube. They are pretty shattered, so I am hoping they may sleep on the plane.
We are on the Heathrow expresss out of Paddington at present - one last train ride for James.
The trip home is this train trip plus three flights (first to Frankfurt, then Singapore, then home). It's sad to think that it's all over, but we will all be glad to get off the road for a while and have our own beds.
And it will be great to be back at work ;-P
I have not bee able to post many photos of late, technology has not been ideal for that. So to round out this blog I will do a wrap up of my favourite images over the next week or so.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tick the boxes
It's Wedneday today. We arrived in London on Monday afternoon, a bit tired from the journey but determined to make the most of our few remaining days.
We are fortunate - our hotel is really well located on Sussex Gardens, near Paddington tube station and a short walk to Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens.
After we dropped our bags, we wandered out from our hotel towards Notting Hill, hoping to catch the end of the Notting Hill Festival. There were heaps of people still hanging around and very loud dance musicN but is was clear that this was the tail end of the festival - lots of inebriated people staggering around, kicking rubbish as they walked. So we moved on.
Just around the corner from the festival is Chepstow Place, which is a place of great historical significance in London - number 49 Chepstow place is the address where our friends Peter and Cherie lived in 1996, when we spent a fantastic week or 2 sleeping on the floor of their apartment and helping them clear their excess alcohol stocks...
We wandered the street, trying to remember which house was theirs (we only confirmed the address after our walk), and getting all sentimental.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a huge day. We used our 'hop on, hop off' tourist bus vouchers to assault all the obvious Tourist sights. Heading out at 9am, we saw Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminter Abbey and the houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Saint Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London all in the one day, which is quite an effort for the kids - even Lou and I were tired out. The weather was kind, we did have a little rain but not enough to slow us down or change our plans.
Unfortunately, poor Lauren has now come down with the headcold I caught in Ireland. She is in bed this morning with streaming eyes and nose. We are hoping that she will be OK to get out this afternoon to see a few more things as time is running out fast. We still want to see Buck Palace, the gardens and the natural history museum.
While I am in the hotel looking after the patient, Lou has taken James to Oxford Street for shopping. Should I be worried?
We are fortunate - our hotel is really well located on Sussex Gardens, near Paddington tube station and a short walk to Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens.
After we dropped our bags, we wandered out from our hotel towards Notting Hill, hoping to catch the end of the Notting Hill Festival. There were heaps of people still hanging around and very loud dance musicN but is was clear that this was the tail end of the festival - lots of inebriated people staggering around, kicking rubbish as they walked. So we moved on.
Just around the corner from the festival is Chepstow Place, which is a place of great historical significance in London - number 49 Chepstow place is the address where our friends Peter and Cherie lived in 1996, when we spent a fantastic week or 2 sleeping on the floor of their apartment and helping them clear their excess alcohol stocks...
We wandered the street, trying to remember which house was theirs (we only confirmed the address after our walk), and getting all sentimental.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a huge day. We used our 'hop on, hop off' tourist bus vouchers to assault all the obvious Tourist sights. Heading out at 9am, we saw Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminter Abbey and the houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Saint Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London all in the one day, which is quite an effort for the kids - even Lou and I were tired out. The weather was kind, we did have a little rain but not enough to slow us down or change our plans.
Unfortunately, poor Lauren has now come down with the headcold I caught in Ireland. She is in bed this morning with streaming eyes and nose. We are hoping that she will be OK to get out this afternoon to see a few more things as time is running out fast. We still want to see Buck Palace, the gardens and the natural history museum.
While I am in the hotel looking after the patient, Lou has taken James to Oxford Street for shopping. Should I be worried?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Back to the Jack
We are waiting in Belfast airport for our flight to London.
An early start and a head cold are making me feel a bit groggy, but we are all sad to leave. The family and friends that we have in Ireland always make us feel so very welcome. There were tears aplenty from Louise this morning as we said our goodbyes.
Time is ticking away pretty fast now. A few days in London and we will be back on the plane home 8-(
On the positive side, we caught up with all the family and friends we had hoped to, and the wedding was great. In fact, the moon and planets lined up and all 13 Horisk children were in the same place for the first time in many years. We celebrated with a group photo.
Aside from family, we did manage a trip to Antrim coast and the Giant's Causeway.
Looking forward to reacquainting ourselves with London, and hopefully some sunshine!
An early start and a head cold are making me feel a bit groggy, but we are all sad to leave. The family and friends that we have in Ireland always make us feel so very welcome. There were tears aplenty from Louise this morning as we said our goodbyes.
Time is ticking away pretty fast now. A few days in London and we will be back on the plane home 8-(
On the positive side, we caught up with all the family and friends we had hoped to, and the wedding was great. In fact, the moon and planets lined up and all 13 Horisk children were in the same place for the first time in many years. We celebrated with a group photo.
Aside from family, we did manage a trip to Antrim coast and the Giant's Causeway.
Looking forward to reacquainting ourselves with London, and hopefully some sunshine!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Ireland in the Summer....
It's been raining.
And raining. And raining. But hey, we are in Ireland - what do you expect? We've had great weather up until now, so I am not really complaining.
Our time in Ireland is really more about catching up with friends and family than sightseeing, although we wanted to show James and Lauren something of the countryside.
So far, we have spent most of our time visiting people to catch up. It's been 'great craic'. We have caught up with a fistful of the Montague, Devlin and Horisk Families, and it's like we never left hre 13 years ago. We have also shown the kids a lot of the haunts around Gervahey and Omagh that their Grandad used to frequent.
Today we took the opportunity to drive up from Omagh to the Antrim Coast. We saw the Giant's Causeway, which was a highlight with the children. Anna Horisk came along with us too, which made the trip even more pleasant. We lunched at the Causeway Hotel, then drove home the long way via Glenshesk. All up a peasat day.
Tomorrow is the event we came here for - the wedding of Kieran Horisk's daughter Kiera and her fiance' Martin. 12 of the 13 Horisk siblings are in town for the event, so it's a grea time to be here.
And raining. And raining. But hey, we are in Ireland - what do you expect? We've had great weather up until now, so I am not really complaining.
Our time in Ireland is really more about catching up with friends and family than sightseeing, although we wanted to show James and Lauren something of the countryside.
So far, we have spent most of our time visiting people to catch up. It's been 'great craic'. We have caught up with a fistful of the Montague, Devlin and Horisk Families, and it's like we never left hre 13 years ago. We have also shown the kids a lot of the haunts around Gervahey and Omagh that their Grandad used to frequent.
Today we took the opportunity to drive up from Omagh to the Antrim Coast. We saw the Giant's Causeway, which was a highlight with the children. Anna Horisk came along with us too, which made the trip even more pleasant. We lunched at the Causeway Hotel, then drove home the long way via Glenshesk. All up a peasat day.
Tomorrow is the event we came here for - the wedding of Kieran Horisk's daughter Kiera and her fiance' Martin. 12 of the 13 Horisk siblings are in town for the event, so it's a grea time to be here.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Guiness Here we Come!
We are in the airport in Newcastle right now. waiting for our flight to Belfast. The week of touring has flown by. Weather has been a bit less than ideal, but we made the best of things.
We went to the lake district for the day yesterday. The kids loved the Beatrix Potter exhibit in Bowness on Windermere - even Jmes, which quite surprised me. I expected Lauren to like it but James to be bored. But as I often need to be reminded - never understimate a child.
The rain was bucketing down when we came out, and it was soon apparent that the kids' coats were not going to deal with any serious downpour. So we headed to a camping shop and were surprised and delighted to find that here in England waterproof coats in Summer are dirt cheap. So flush with our new purchase we jumped in the car and headed for Newcastle via the northern parts of the lake district. It was pouring down and the roads were slow going, but we still managed to get a feel for the beauty of the area. If only it had been sunny or at least cool and clear!
I would love to post some photos but we have been without a PC while wee are on the road, so these are all text entries. I will try to update the photos ASAP.
We went to the lake district for the day yesterday. The kids loved the Beatrix Potter exhibit in Bowness on Windermere - even Jmes, which quite surprised me. I expected Lauren to like it but James to be bored. But as I often need to be reminded - never understimate a child.
The rain was bucketing down when we came out, and it was soon apparent that the kids' coats were not going to deal with any serious downpour. So we headed to a camping shop and were surprised and delighted to find that here in England waterproof coats in Summer are dirt cheap. So flush with our new purchase we jumped in the car and headed for Newcastle via the northern parts of the lake district. It was pouring down and the roads were slow going, but we still managed to get a feel for the beauty of the area. If only it had been sunny or at least cool and clear!
I would love to post some photos but we have been without a PC while wee are on the road, so these are all text entries. I will try to update the photos ASAP.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
I never want to see another train again...
Only joking!
Today we spent the day in York. We wandered around the town, starting with a trip along the turrets at the top of the old wall - great views looking inside and out.
After that, we dropped down to ground level and pottered the street with about a million other tourists. Boy, was it busy.
We escaped the chaos with a visit to York Minster. The size and grandeur of the cathedral can't be eplained in mere words. It's amazing and even kept the kids interested for about an hour. They are in the process of restoring its most significant stained glass window, which will cost an astounding £19m...
After that we did some more dithering around the streets, and I got my photo taken in a street named after me - 'the Shambles'....
In the afternoon, we headed to the place that James has been nagging us about since we boarded the plane - the National Rail Museum. I don't think of myself as a train-spotter, but for James' sake I try to be interested. And I have to admit - the NRM is amazing. They have so many famous trains and interesting artifacts that it's hard (and exhausting) to take it all in. After about 3 hours we were all exhausted.
Back on the road again, I was reminded that an important quality for a traveller is calm adaptability. We have been ringing ahead to orgaise accommodation as we go, but it transpires that all of England is off to the Lake District this weekend, so there was no accommodation to be found within a 30 mile radius of Windermere. Still, we managed to find a manger called 'Holiday Inn' in Lancaster, and but for that stinky waft of stale cigarette smoke, we are ensconsed for the night.
Tomorrow - Beatrix Potter and the lakes...
Today we spent the day in York. We wandered around the town, starting with a trip along the turrets at the top of the old wall - great views looking inside and out.
After that, we dropped down to ground level and pottered the street with about a million other tourists. Boy, was it busy.
We escaped the chaos with a visit to York Minster. The size and grandeur of the cathedral can't be eplained in mere words. It's amazing and even kept the kids interested for about an hour. They are in the process of restoring its most significant stained glass window, which will cost an astounding £19m...
After that we did some more dithering around the streets, and I got my photo taken in a street named after me - 'the Shambles'....
In the afternoon, we headed to the place that James has been nagging us about since we boarded the plane - the National Rail Museum. I don't think of myself as a train-spotter, but for James' sake I try to be interested. And I have to admit - the NRM is amazing. They have so many famous trains and interesting artifacts that it's hard (and exhausting) to take it all in. After about 3 hours we were all exhausted.
Back on the road again, I was reminded that an important quality for a traveller is calm adaptability. We have been ringing ahead to orgaise accommodation as we go, but it transpires that all of England is off to the Lake District this weekend, so there was no accommodation to be found within a 30 mile radius of Windermere. Still, we managed to find a manger called 'Holiday Inn' in Lancaster, and but for that stinky waft of stale cigarette smoke, we are ensconsed for the night.
Tomorrow - Beatrix Potter and the lakes...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Great coffee in Chester
A quick update:
Toiday is a transit day. We travelled from Caernarfon in Wales to York in Northand England for the next instalment of what is fast becomong 'James A: railways across Europe' - the York Rail Museum.
We stopped in Chester to stretch our legs and look around. Very nice old town, and as usual we wish we had longer to explore.
On the plus side, we found a Cafe Nero, which has the best coffee of any francise in England. No match for the good Melbourne cafe's but better than the usual dishwater we have been served. In some places.
From Chester to York was a bit tedious. A heavy rain dump and traffic accidents slowed the motorway to a crawl and our attempts to circumnavigate only led to queueing through small villages.
Anyway, 4 hours on the road and we are finally here. More English quaintness!
Toiday is a transit day. We travelled from Caernarfon in Wales to York in Northand England for the next instalment of what is fast becomong 'James A: railways across Europe' - the York Rail Museum.
We stopped in Chester to stretch our legs and look around. Very nice old town, and as usual we wish we had longer to explore.
On the plus side, we found a Cafe Nero, which has the best coffee of any francise in England. No match for the good Melbourne cafe's but better than the usual dishwater we have been served. In some places.
From Chester to York was a bit tedious. A heavy rain dump and traffic accidents slowed the motorway to a crawl and our attempts to circumnavigate only led to queueing through small villages.
Anyway, 4 hours on the road and we are finally here. More English quaintness!
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