Hello & Goodbye

*sniff* last post. Im getting a bit sick of it anyway. Singapore. All fine and dandy. slept most of the way from London so am feeling kinda perky.

A few mishaps though with excess baggage and the whole one of theengines doesnt work so lets all sit on the plane for two hours before even leaving london. Its amazing how it takes 5 min to say ' engine wont start because of a spark plug' and then it takes 2 hours to change it by a team of engineers.

Plan was to try and stay awake from london to singapore then sleep from singapore to melbourne to adapt to time change. new plan is to sleep whole trip. i like that idea much better. i think now is the time to acknowledge the power of the eye mask. 3 cheers! (perhaps i am slightly delirious)

Anyway, farewell blog, hello people. Lots more stories to tell about the trip but they are unfit for publication so will have to finish up there. Ciao, the big V.

The Trip in Review (Two Thumbs Up)

And the winners are.......

Best place visited in England:

York. Loved it. Had a whole week there and it wasnt enough. Quieter and less polluted than the midlands and further south. Nice accents too.

Best place visited in Scotland:

I don't think i can single out a place so Ill choose (hey, its my competetition I can do what I want) an area. Inverness - Oban via the southern side side of Loch Ness. The most breathtaking scenery I have seen the whole trip. Lots of animals and the highlands in spring, cant beat it.

Best Place visited in France:

This is a tough one, but I think Ill have to go with the little market street in Les Halles, Paris that I visited each day. The most wonderful pastries, ham, cheese and wine. Really friendly people and beautiful to top it off.

Best place visited in Ireland:

Kilkenny. Heaps of fun, actually got to see the place a bit and got a tattoo to top the night off.

And the winner of best place visited overall (comedy or musical) is....

Scotland. Sorry, cant narrow it down further than that. It was fantastic, had the car, spring time, really friendly people. So much more pristine and less crowded than England.

Worst place visited:

Montebaun. See previos post about train trip from Bordeaux - Cahors. I still dont want to think about it.

The Final Countdown

It was a big farewell on Wednesday night. Got to bed some time after 5 am and up for breakfast at 8 am to say goodbye to most of the group who headed back to London on the coach. It was heaps of fun and got to see a few really interesting places but it was also really quite crap with an incompetent tour manager. We didnt see any Cork at all even though we stayed there. The only way you got to see any of the cities was if you caught a cab in to town at 9pm to go to a bar.

Having fun in Dublin, went on a sightseeing bus around the place yesty (we had about 5 things pointed out to us as part of the tour so I figured there may of been just a little more about Dublin than that). There's still a few people here from the tour and we are all hanging out together wich makes it better than going off to dinner by yourself each night.

Im going to hike around the city today, ive been sitting on a coach everyday for the past week and eating full breakfasts and 3 course dinners so I need to get out and about.

Everyones had a rest from me for two months but im back in the country on Tuesday, so the fun is over im afraid. I have six hours at melbourne airport before I get a connecting flight to Wagga and Im considering stealing a car. I could get back in 5 hrs or if I have 'the heat' on my tail I could do it maybe 3 and a half.

Going to explore the river and phoenix park toiday along with Oconnell st and grafton st. The hotel is in temple bar and a couple of hundred metres from Trinity College (I went and had a look in the long gallery anbd at the book of kells on wednesday) Wednesday was also the guiness storehouse and a pint in the gravity bar. Tuesday night was in Kilkenny, my favourite place so far in Ireland. Would of liked an opportunity to explore it a bit more.

Im sure this isnt the last from me with the blog as the airports will be driving me insane and Ill jump on the net there.

Seeing as Im part of a group of cattle being herded around ireland, i have to keep this quick as we are being pushed onto the bus again soon. All is going well, have visited Galway, cliffs of Moher, Dingle, Killarney, Ring of Kerry and am now in Blarney. We are staying in Cork tonight, then Kilkenny, and back to Dublin where (thank god) I have a few days by myself before heading back home. Some of the others in the group are hanging around for a couple of days too, so will have people to play with. went for a ride on the back of a horse and cart this morning through Killarney National Park to start the day off which was fantastic.

Its all gone really well so far, made lots of friends my age who enjoy a few drinks down in the bar but not go out clubbing all night. All the pubs shut around 12:30 which helps to stop the over indulgence. Its quite entertaining on the bus with a lot of rifts. ie whole tour group vs tour manager, Australians vs Americans etc. It can be quite comical at times.

Nearly over my cold now which is good and dont fall in a heap at 8pm any more. Ireland is fantastic - of course but I really need to come back not on a tour. I am enjoying it, but it can be really frustrated not being in control of what I eat, where I stop and for how long, when you are allowed to go to the toilet etc, but I digress. It is a great experience but next time I want to do it my way.

Will have to spent a day in Dublin posting half my crap home, but I think I am actually over shopping now and have only bought stuff on one day since being in Ireland. The only thing I need to buy now is something to bribe Tim with to bring my car to Wagga for me. Well, im off to have one more Kilkenny before I leave Blarney...

Potato, Potarto

It is fucking freezing. May have something to do with west coast of Ireland and the arctic etc. In Galway, day 2.5. Tour is going really well, still sick and am now losing my voice. May have something to do with going out last night and half a packet of cigarettes and I cant remember how many beers. I may be abusing my system to a degree but feel I should get brownie points for declining the Jet boat ride at 7:15 this morning in favour of sleeping in and not catching pneumonia.

We havent seen or done much yet, a bit of an issue for some but we have the day off today and then off to Killarney tomorrow. Arrived at hotel in Dublin on Thursday night looking like a crack addict with bloodshot eyes, red nose and both ears blocked so I couldnt hear a thing. After much yelling, found my room and past out. So didnt meet the group until yesterday morning on the bus. Had a bit of a big one last night though and have made friends with lots of people.

Only slightly seedy today which is good, dont want Ireland to be a big blur so am not going to the scheduled drinking session tonight but down to the pub for dinner and a few quiet ales with some of the group.

We are staying in B&Bs in Galway (last night and tonight) which has pissed everyone off because we are all broken into small groups and are scattered throughout town, we have to catch a cab into town and its ten euro a pop but it will be hotels from tomorrow on.

Had an interesting tour of Dublin in the cab on the way in from the airport, driver pointing out things after we went passed. (Insert Irish accent) " Dat wood be the train station we passed just now, Dat wood be Trinity College we just passed" Very amusing, but not overly helpful.

Am going to spend rest of today just wandering around Galway and taking it easy> It seems everyone gets on the grog every night, which I definitly am not up to and am not going to spend the last of my money on. But will try to go out a fair bit though, you know, fit in and everything.

I dont think Ill have much to write about in terms of food though Tim, its pretty much the typical Irish stuff, which is quite enjoyable though and I wont be sad if I never see duck on a menu again.

Not long till home time now, I leave here a week from tomorrow (Sunday) but for some black hole, cosmic time difference I dont get to Aus until Tuesday. Cant wait to bounce back into action 18 hrs later.

Im not home sick at all and could stick around for another month easy except for the whole gotta earn money thing and the little tacker has probably grown so much in the past two months she'll be reading Jane Austen by the time I get home. (Maybe this is the time I should comment on how when in York, it took a great deal of self control to not buy a set of flash cards to teach babies and toddlers French. I wanted to post them back Air Mail and have Bronte say "Bonjour Ness, Comment Cava?"

Well Galway beckons and I have been instructed to buy claddagh rings so must depart. I dont think Ill get a chance to post again until I get back to Dublin on Wednesday.

In Transit

So far so good. Id like to stop now though if thats possible. Had enough flying for one day thank you. Two down, one to go. Currently at Heathrow awaiting the last plane of the day. Havent come close to missing any trains or planes today which is good but did wonder about my bags and sanity too.

Note to self: Self, dont travel with a head cold. It makes you wonder whether to call the flight attendant if you think your ears are about to burst and start bleeding or wait for visual confirmation.

With so much travel in the one day there are sure to be many anicdotes and Ill share just one with you today.

Toulouse - Taxi Driver
Bares some resemblance to Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. All was fine until I left the train station and as soon as the cab started moving, so did he. Literally, in a kind of rocking back and forth kinda way.

No problem, of course he is not impeded in his driving or he wouldnt have been driving a cab. Check for visual identification to verify taxi driver status. Cant see any. Its not just me, all the other people in cars during the peek hour traffic are looking too. Pull up at the lights, rocking stops. Lights go green (I go a littler paler) and off he goes again.

It was around this point I made a kind of muffled guffaw which was part laugh, part cry. Turned head to look outside window for the rest of the trip.

With internet time running low and anecdote complete, plane departing and all that Ill be off. May or may not post in next couple of days. Typing may soon be my only means of communication if my head explodes on the next flight.

No room at the Inn

After 24 hours of searching it seems I am left with nowhere to stay in Toulouse tonight, I did consider googling for "toulouse - manger" but dont much like sharing with donkeys. So therefore it is another night in Cahors for me and a much earlier start to the day tomorrow. Instead of just catching one internal french flight and two international flights Im going to add a trip on the ever so realiable french train system in the wee hours of the morning just for fun.

I should hopefully arrive in Dublin by around 9 pm where i will either fall into a foetal position in the corner of my room or head straight to the bar and down the largest amount of alcohol I have had since last visiting lucky 13 Best St and then asume the foetal position.

To top it off Im sick, great news for all the people ill be sitting next to on the train and 3 flights not to mention the next 8 days on the bus.

My way of coping with the situation has been to down numerous coffees this morning and half a packet of cigarettes. My hands are shaking wildly as I type - quite entertaining really. (the last coffee I just had involved me pouring my sugar into the ashtray and attempting to stir.

Disaster preparedness though is my forte and aside from the physical evidence of the DT's Im actually not that stressed - honestly.

Anyway, a few little things I forgot to mention yesterday in my haze of a hangover was my meal. I decided on Beef Carpaccio for the uninitiated is very thin slices of raw beef. The oly problem with the meal was the slices werent overly that thin, but with the slices sitting in 2 litres of lubbly olive oil and fresh herbs with some diced onion sitting in another litre of olive oil (I presume this has some kind of name like confit or something) it was rather delicious, just a little psychologically challenging, thats all.

The other was the dinner that Tim is putting on at ASE. I will be there with bells on in the hope that the entree is Squirrel soup, perfect on a cold winters evening.

Speaking of disgusting food, there is a lot of it here. Ducks gizzards are highly popular, followed by Foie Gras. It is everywhere. Jars and jars of the stuff and on every menu. It really is the foulest (fowlest) looking thing ever. Im still getting over the cassoulet in Paris though. I think the foie gras is most off putting when it is sitting on the shelf of a shop that is cold and all the fat is solidified. Mmmmmm tasty.

J'adore Cahors!

Cahors, Cahors, what a wonderful town...

Apologies, Im slightly seedy today and my humour has descended slightly. Had a couple of wines with lunch yesty then a couple of beers in the afternoon then a few more wines with dinner, then cracked open a couple of bottles of Sauternes back at the hotel with the gma for an impromptu farewell party for me. Woke up feeling a litle under the weather and with a big cut on my thumb from the metal capsule on the wine. Realised I had enough to drink last night when the second bottle of Sauternes was corked and I just held my breath when I had a sip.

Read my French stars this morning in the paper and they said I would have skin problems today (insert twilight zone music because of my cut thumb)

Was going to do the tourist thing today and take a tour around the town but think I might be lazy and partake in my regular routine of grazing all day. Just spoke to Simon on the phone and explained that I dont have 3 meals a day but rather 1st breakfast, 2nd breakfast, little lunch, big lunch etc etc. Today is my last day in Cahors, Im off to Toulouse on the train (thats if I dont miss it) for the night then on Thursday is the really big day where i fly from Toulouse to Paris, Paris to London, London to Dublin then start the final leg of the trip, the Contiki tour.

There is heaps of beautiful 14th century buildings around town and I realised I am definitely in the south of France when I read all about the bullfighting on the weekend in the sports section of the local paper. The hotel we are staying in is a refurbished old bell tower, I have no idea how old, I think around 17th century and my room has thses wonderful old shutters, I wake up in the morning and have no idea as to wether it is 2 am or 10 am because its so dark with the shutters, ummm shut.

Well, 2nd breakfast is beckoning. Ill probably post from Toulouse if I make it there.

The day that had to come

It really was inevitable. All had gone so smoothly that to even mention that it had gone smoothly may have jinxed the trip in some way. The day that anything and everything that could go wrong happened on Saturday. For the purposes of not making anyone bored and the fact that I am on the most archaic computer I have come across yet and its going to cost me around six dollars an hour for the privelidge I shall relay the story in point form.

* Booked a taxi for the trip from the apartment to the train station one hour before departure of train (the platform the TGV departs from isnt displayed until twenty minutes before hand so it was a rather early arrival we had planned

* Above mentioned taxi never arrived

* Next taxi took another ten minutes and we arrived at the station fifteen minutes before departure (thats fine normally but remember the travelling companions

* We go to the lift as the gma cant do stairs or escalators but thats fine as we discovered the lift when we arrived at bordeaux a week earlier.

* Lift only goes up from the platform, not down to the platform (the idea of installing a usable lift at the station happened to cross my mind a few times although this was the first occassion)

* The TGV waits for no man. We miss the train

* Everyone is not really happy about the situation

* All is not lost, we have first class Rail Passes so we book ourselves on the next TGV two hours later. We also arrange for assistance like weve had at the airport so we can get the gma and luggage to the platform.

* No problem, we arrive at designated area half an hour before departure as requested. I turn on the iPod and dissapear into my book. Twenty minutes later I look up at the clock (ten minutes until departure) and then make darting eye movements between the mother and the clock trying not to arouse the attention of the gma who may perhaps go into a panic; (she was still recovering from the previous incident)

* Go back to counter and say we are supposed to be meet by "the man in the red shirt" and be on the platform by now. The guy goes off at us saying what the hezck are we doing there and we should be over on platform four. After some stern words between us (I think at this stage I should point out that all conversations for the whole day were in french) he quickly ran off to adjust our tickets and get the "man in the red shirt".

* Second train for the day missed

* The red shirt man rushed over rather apologetically if you can rush in that way and picked up all the luggage except for one backpack and ushered the mother and I across to the platform (via a whole lot of stairs). He then ran back and put the gma into a wheelchair and brought her over using what one could only loosely define as a lift (pretty much just a one metre square hydraulic platform).

*Alot of other dodgy stuff happened around this time also but Ill leave Bordeaux at that for know, I think Ive set the scene enough.

* Maunteban - I hate this place now. Bastards. The very helpful but sometimes late red shirt man in Bordeaux rang Maunteban (where we had to change trains for Cahors) to get them to help us at the other end. We got off the train and I threw all the bags (full of lubbly Bordelais wine) onto the platform - remember the TGVwaits for noone if I wasnt quick enough, me and a bottle of cab franc could of quite easily ended up at Toulouse railway station for the night. The SNCF guy, lets call him "useless prick" grabbed the backpacks and dissapeared for 5 minutes. "Useless prick" then came back threw the gma into a wheel chair and pointed at the platform we had to get to and darted off in the opposite direction with her. I had no idea how much time we had until the connecting train came along, or were our other bags were so I grabbed the suitcases and dragged them down the stairs and then back up another flight again to discover the backpacks sitting against a wall on the platform. I was a little pissed off about this but even more so when a minute or so later he belted up the platform with a visibly shaken gma who was pretty traumatised by the day so far and really we were only half way through the trip. (we had left the apartment in Bordeaux at lunch time and it was now 8pm.

* Useless prick assured us he would help to get gma and the bags onto the train. He didnt. The train rushed in, the conductor pointed us to the opposite end of the platform and then darted up there himself and blew his whistle to hurry us up. Not happy, Jan.

* We ran, well the mother scuttled along with the wheelchair and I grabbed all the backpacks and suitcases and kinda lurched up the end of the platform and they shoved the gma on and stood around watching me drag all the bags up.

* It was a silent trip from Maunteban to Cahors

* I was at this stage dreading the exit off the train and the impending ascent of the staircase, always a difficult situation for the gma at each new hotel. (Paris and Bordeaux were fine though as they had lifts. )

* Its amazing how a little kindness from someone can salvage a complete disaster of a day. The conductor at Cahors was really lovely. Kind of like how youd expect a french conductor to look, rotund with receeding dark hair and the little round hat like the stereotype gendarme hat. We were slowly (very appreciated by all) down the end of the platform and across the tracks, same as before with the gma in the chair and me acting the packhorse. But it was disaster free. The taxi driver was equally helpful and took us to the hotel in two trips as he only had a little puegot (same as Troop but silver, KY) and carried the suit cases up the stairs to my relief.

* The other thing that helped salvage the day was the opportunity to watch Eurovision and vote. I was very excited at the prospect but found it unfair that I couldnt vote for France as I was in the country but then again I didnt much like the french on Saturday.

Anyway, Cahors is rather lovely with a beatiful river ( Lot) and equally lovely wine which I am sampling rather frequently. It seems that as much as a coffee gets me up and going in the morning so does a little Verre de Rouge. Ill try and break out of it in Ireland or go cold turkey on the plane. If I get the shakes when I get back it may not be jetlag.

Ill post some more about Cahors from Ireland - Ill be there on Wednesday, as you do, for two weeks and then Im back home. Its really quite strange that the idea of going home in two weeks is just as surreal as the idea of being here was two weeks before I left.

Before I mosey though, I have very exciting news from home that I feel the need to publicise. Positive thoughts go out to Alison who this Friday will be part of the filming of a new national tv cooking show with Paul Mercurio hosting which will go to air in a couple of weeks hopefully not until I return. Its very exciting and shell do fine. I think I should point out that Ive tried alot (and I really do mean alot) of pastries and chocaltes etc since being over here with the intention of comparing to Alisons and she really is right up there with the best in France let alone Australia. Weve tasted some of the most world renowned chocolates and pastries and some of Alisons are better, the rest of hers are equal. Bon chance Alison!!!

Timothy is also not to be forgotten, he is representing the region in a competition in Adelaide and there is a fundraising dinner at All Saints to send him over some time after I get back so you are all dutifully invited to come along and sample some of the food he'll be cooking in Adelaide. Ill send through details to anyone who wants to come along. He is part of a team so you can eat the food of the best chefs around at the moment and have some lubbly ASE wines to boot.

Alright I think all this just cost the cost of around 2 pastries so Im off. Word to your Mama. V.

St Emilion

This is moi (sans arm) at the winery where we had the picnic style lunch

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And the final pic in today's session is at the top of the village St Emilion.

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Merci et Au Revoir.

Oui Oui, Cest Paris

The mother and I at a cafe opposite the seine. Worst wine Ive had over here and a tres reluctant waiter taking the photo.

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If anyone wants to visualise my time in France, here it is. Just chuck a glass of wine in my hand though.

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Dinner most nights.

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Och aye its a Scottish Picture

Fingers crossed. French computers are really difficult being in another language and all.

Hopefully attached is a pic from around Fort William area on the west coast of Scotland when we had driven around Loch Ness and were then heading south along the coast to Oban. Gorgeous place, would of liked to spend some more time over that way.

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Well its the last full day in Bordeaux, tomorrow is a tour around Graves and Sauterne and Saturday we head to Cahors on the train. My plan today is to have some lunch and a wine or two then do the museums here. There is one that after much deliberation I have chosen not to visit, Vinorama which boasts 75 wax figures that tell the story of the history of wine in Bordeaux. Thats a pretty comprehensive interpretation with 75 figures.

Im now at a point where I am trying to work out how to incorporate my afternoon consumption of wine into the working day when I return. Would it really be so bad to pull a bottle out from under the desk at around half past one? And then again around three pm? I think my friendly greetings to visitors would make up for the glazed over eyes.

Yesterdays task was to buy a cd of a good French band. Had a big chat with the guy at the music store who told me French music is crap, its either pop or accordians. He recommended a few cds and I bought one which by his description seemed like it would be good. Took it back to the apartment and I now agree with him. French music is crap.

The first person I asked at the counter was trying to make me stick around as a famous French band was coming that afternoon and apparently they are a French version of No Doubt. No doubt they were, but not my cup of tea. (boom boom tish)

Meals always seem to be an adventure, no matter how much you pay. You have no idea what the food will be like or the wine. Ive had some fantastic expensive and cheap meals and also some disastrous expensive and cheap meals. But no matter how bad the service or the wine you can always have a laugh about how bad it is. Last night was one of those. The mother and I went out for dinner and she ordered the Red Mullet w Green sauce (the sauce never was green by the way) and I ordered it as well.

She came out later and put the dish in front of me and an empty plate in front of the mother so it was a bit of a light meal last night. We ordered a dry white and got riesling. The creme brulee though (so I was told, trying to go easy on the desserts) was the best ever according to the mother and she would know. It has been the dessert of choice since being in France, actually since being overseas. Oh, and at home too. It seems (now listen closely Tim and Alison) the secret is a shallow and wide terracotta dish, not the stout little white ones we have at home. More brulee, less creme. "But how was the mullet Vanessa?" I hear you say. Not too shabby, over cooked but still quite nice, it was the vegetables, julienne style that stole the show for me. Lots of oil and garlic. Tres nice.

Alrighty, Im feeling adventurous and Ill have a crack at putting some pics up now. Im not sure if I can navigate through french computers so Bon Chance to me.

Have iPod and BBC World - will travel

My iPod has become my savior. I treat it like a sensory deprivation tank. I think i have had a complete visual overload, not to mention my stomach with all the food. Although it could also be all the coffee and sugar but i prefer C.V.S or cultural visual stimulation. Sounds much more interesting.

Im taking the day off today from people and places and am pretty much going to wander around with my book and drink more coffee and eat more pastries. Im not sure if this will help my acute case of C.V.S but considering I am self diagnosed and I have only just discovered the disease myself this morning its a trial and error treatment process. ( i might add that mindless rambling is the first tell tale sympton of C.V.S)

My ideal world of BBC World News being an impartial news service has been shattered with interviews with Molly Meldrum and Jonno Coleman dominating the headlines all day about our pooor ol Kyles. Being a news junkie Ive been loving the 24 hr coverage but I am now making a political statement and boycotting BBC World and watching German MTV (Pimp My Ride - a car 'makeover' show being a highlight)

After much deliberation I now see that Pimp My Ride caused the initial outbreak of C.V.S.

Ill leave now to leave you pondering the state of my sanity

BORDEAUX. WINE CITY.

AHHH BORDEAUX. TRES NICE PLACE. APOLOGIES FOR THE CAPS BUT IT WILL GO BACK AND FORTH. I THINK MY KEYBOARD HAS BEEN DRINKING. WEVE BEEN IN BORDEAUX SINCE SATURDAY AND ITS BEEN BRILLIANT. YESTERDAY TOOK A FULL DAY TOUR OF ST EMILION A WINE MAKING VILLAGE I VISITED MANY YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN DYING TO GET BACK TO EVER SINCE. VISITED A FEW CHATEAUX AND DID SOME TASTINGS. HAD LUNCH AT ONE OF THE WINERIES WHICH WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS A PICNIC STYLE AND WE HAD THIS HUGE VARIETY OF SMALLGOODS THAT IT WOULD TAKE AGES TO GET THROUGH IF YOU BOUGHT THEM ALL YOUR SELF FROM A DELI BUT I THINK THE HIGHLIGHT WAS THE SAUSAGES COOKED OVER DRIED VINE TWIGS. TRES NICE.

HAD A SQUIZZ THROUGH SOME CATACOMBS AND AN UNDERGOUND CHURCH WHOSE NAME FOR SOME REASON I CANT REMMBER BUT I CAN REMEBER VERY IMPORTANT FACTS SUCH AS IT IS 32 METRES LONG AND 20 METRES WIDE. VITAL IM SURE. THATS THE KIND OF DETAILS YOU LIKE TO REMEMBER.

AT LEAST IM NOT A JOURNO WHO CANT REMEMBER TO CHECK MY SOURCES FOR MY NEWSWEEK ARTICLE IM WRITING ABOUT GUANTANAMO BAY.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE FRENCH WAY OF LIFE WITH NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING UNTIL AROUND 11AM. IM TRYING TO ASSIMILATE INTO THE CULTURE WITH LOTS OF COFFEE CIGGARETTES AND WINE. I THINK IM DOING OK SO FAR.

IM OFF TO SOME MORE WINE REGIONS ON FRIDAY. GRAVES AND SAUTERNES WHICH WILL BE REALLY GOOD AS ST EMILION ONLY MAKE RED(merlot, cab franc blend) GRAVES AND SAUTERNES MAKE REDS DRY WHITES AND SWEET DESSERT STYLE LIKE THE ASE LATE HARVEST.

CHATTED WITH THE CELLAR MASTER AT ANJELUS IN ST EMILION WHICH IS ONE OF THE PREMIER GRAND CRU WINERIES AND THE TECHNIQUES USED ARE REALLY DIFFERENT TO HOME. MUCH MORE LABOUR INTENSIVE. ANYWAY BLAH BLAH MOST OF YOU LOT JUST SCOFF IT DOWN SO ILL STOP NOW

IM OFF BY MYSELF NEXT WEEK WHICH IS VERY EXCITING ITS A GREAT WAY TO END THE TRIP. IM NOT GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY EITHER WHICH IS ALSO GREAT AND I THINK IM GOING TO GO SHOPPING NOW TO CELEBRATE

This is What it Sounds Like When Ducks Cry

Bonsoir mon amies.

Where do I begin to describe the most quintessential french meal I have ever had. Im not sure if the chefs should read on (my description wont be that good but it may initiate some yearning for Paris.) After eating and drinking our way through nearly every patissiere, cafe and brasserie in Paris, we decided to go to an actual restaraunt.

Some folks may have caught the show on the ABC called French Leave about a top english Chef packing up his family and moving to the south of France for a year, well, I decided to be adventourous in my choosing from the menu. None of this plat du jour we,d been having but a la carte. I recall a very mouth watering episode involving Cassoulet so I bit the bullet and ordered it. For Gastronomique novices it is essentially duck, sausage and beans.

Now I have the misfortune of loving the taste of butter, cream and fat and all that horribly bad for you but delicuos things but have a low tolerance for it and cant really eat it. My dilemna started when I had my first bite involing only 3 beans, yes 3 humble little haricots. You see I think they may perhaps have been marinating in the duck fat for 4-5 days, at least.

It took around an hour and half a bottle of the best white wine Ive had in at least a year but I did get there, nearly (enough for madame not to be offended). I think it was one of the best meals Ive had but also one of the most difficult.

Today involved seeing the sights (you know the ones, big arch, tower etc) and tomorrow we are off to Bordeaux and some wine tasting at the vineyards of St Emilion (Im very excited about this) so if my posts next week seem even worse in regards to spelling and indeed even having some kind of point youll know why.

I think I want to move to Paris. Mind you, I also thought that about London, York and pretty much anywhere in the highlands of Scotland and Im sure it will be the same for Bordeax, Cahors and Ireland. My experiences this trip are so different to last time and so much better. I spent - weeks travelling the whole of France last time and I have experienced more of the culture in the last 4 days than the whole of the last trip.

My French is getting better although thanks to Tims stint at Florentinos I occassionaly throw in the odd Italian word accidently which is rather embarrassing. Had a fantastic lunch yesty at a brasserie and got rather sloshed but managed to avoid spilling any more wine. We are fast running out of time and could spend at least another week here. Today and tomorrow we have to squeeze in trips to the Louvre, Musee Dorsay and many others. No, dont feel sorry for me. Ill cope somehow.

I think I am slowly recovering from all the travelling. I drove over three thousand miles in a little over two weeks and I think I have adapted to the slower French way of life. We have now been away for over a month and over half way through the trip and it in about 2 weeks time when I venture off on my own to Ireland. Im really looking forward to it especially as Im not running out of money as much as I thought. Always a good thing.

Some folks have been curious as to what its like travelling with an 82 yr old. Quite good, she doesnt want to go out much and is happy just to be in the different cities so Im usually galavanting around by myself or dragging the mother along.

The camera is full of pics so Tim, expect a cd in the mail next week full of photos. Ill post some new ones here tomorrow from Scotland and Paris. I havnt taken many in Paris, been too busy eating and drinking.

We are taking the TGV (first class of course) down to Bordeaux on Saturday and are staying in an apartment for one week. They are so much better than hotels as you get really sick of eating take away all the time. I have stopped buying presents now as it has been rediculous. Weve mailed back at least ten large boxes and the mother is sending back a suitcase as cargo this morning as she wont be able to manage the gma and all the luggage when Im gone. Fine by me as it makes it easier when we go on the TGV as Im the porter.

Well Im off to the street market again to stock up on nougat, vin, cheese, patisserie and ham. Its tough but Im getting through it.

I think Im greiving the loss of Jock the Jaguar. It was a tearful farewell and as I wander the cold streets of Paris in the morning I think of the good times with the warm bum on demand from Jock. The Metro for some strange reason doesnt have bum warmers, unless you choose a seat recently vacated. I think Ill have to get Marina Barina kitted out like Jock.

Yesterday was great, spent the afternoon drinking wine in a cafe on a street market, patting petit chiens. It was all going well that is until I threw my third glass of wine all over the mother. Im not kidding, everywhere. Didnt get a drop on me though which was lucky. Had a long conversation with a french (funny that) lady at the table next to us. I think the highlight of the (french) conversation was explaining that I spilled the wine all over the mother and she said "pour qoi?" We didnt know the french for accident so I said I was sorry I did it and she looked rather puzzled and said something along the lines of "well, if you are sorry I suppose its ok". Now I have said the highlight of the convo, the low I think may have been her showing us photos of her dog that died in her house fire. Not by the flames but suffocated and she used the hand actions to emphasise the word suffocate.

Got my mobile today which I left in the motel at cambridge, only the second stupid thing I have done - the pouring of the wine was the other, hang on a sec I also deleted a video accidently from the camera and, hmm that will do.

Greetings from

Bonjour! Bonjour! I am finally here struggling with a dodgy french keyboard and letters all over the shop so please excuse the spelling and grammer. Last Friday, instead of taking a tour on Mull I took the car over on a ferry instead, more of those lovely windy roads Ive grown to love but fantastic scenery and it really is worth just stopping when and where you like.

Saturday was the big day I wasnt looking forward to at all. I had to drive from Oban as far south as I could, stay the night somewhere and be in Cambridge by 9am the next morning. We didnt even get out of Oban until &à am so I wasnt looking forward to the drive at all.

It all went well though and I used a few tips Id picked up in York and drove the whole way to Cambridge including a quick little visit through the heart of Glasgow as I hadnt been there before. Sunday sucked though and we spent the whole day at Heathrow and Chqrles de Gaulle for a forty minute flight. First night in Paris and I flaked.

Took it easy yesty and strolled around the neighbourhood. We are in a fanastic location with the louvre 2 blocks on the right, the Pompidou two blocks on the left? the seine two blocks straight ahead and the sex shops two blocks behind. Location, location.

Heading to the louvre today, Giverny (monèts garden) probably tomorro; and Museè Dorsày and some general exploring on Thursday and friday. I dot want to do too many touristy things but just wander around find things by chance, much more fun. It has been quite interesting already with alot of poverty, lots of homeless under the ponts along the seine and I saw seven gypsy girls, one of whom was heavily pregnant) get arrested on my xay into the internet cafe.

On the postive side though we have heaps of amazing stores around, chacouteries, chocolatiers etc tres yummy.

The French has been ok. My vocabulary is a bit more limited than last time but Im getting by.

Pastries to eat, wine to drink, people to watch, Au Revoir

Oban

Alrighty - where to begin. It was an amazing day yesterday. We drove from Inverness down Loch Ness and across to the other side to Oban. It was the most amazing drive ever. We decided to drive the south side of the Loch, less popular because of the road conditions (mainly one lane only with passing spots) but alot more picturesque and not a winnebago in sight.

I've found the nature the most impressive part of the trip rather than the heritage or the shopping etc. Loch Ness is a truly amazing part of the world. It would be nice if they buggered off all the crap about the monster though. Got some fantastic photos and the whole trip yesterday was amazing, not just the Loch.

We arrived in Oban last night and the mother and I went down to the bay and got some scallops for dinner. Never actually had them before but seeing as they were around an hour out of the ocean I thought there was no time like the present. The guy selling them offered to marry me and let me work with him for the season coming up and I said it depended how good the scallops were.

I have to be quick as we are about to take the car over on the ferry to Mull for the day. Good chocolate shop in Tobermoray I'm told by both foks at home and the locals here so its a must.

We are staying on a gorgeous farm a few miles out of town full of lots of fluffy sheep. Lots more to tell but no time. Will write again from Paris.

Quando, quando, quando

Well, we've made it to Inverness after some adventures. Yesterday saw a 'quick' trip across town in Edinburgh in the car. A little scary, but quite good for a big city. We went over to see Brittania and after 2 hours shopping at the ocean terminal we finally ventured out onto the deck to have a squizz. We then raced across town to the outskirts of Edinburgh to visit Roslyn Chapel. I was hesitant to go in as it has links with the Da Vinci Code and I refuse to read the books or be associated with anything to do with it, but the chapel also has links with the Knights Templar and was definitly worth going to see. Everything was fine and dandy till I was walking across the scaffolding at ceiling height and it started swinging around. I hastily made my retreat and didn't get to see what the excavator was doing next to one of the graves outside the chapel. I guess I'll never know although I'm kinda glad.

From Roslyn Chapel we drove up through the highlands to Inverness. I have to say the others went quiet a few times whilst passing trucks in the heavy rain and mist but it was a lovely scenic drive. Not too much snow around now which is good.

We got in last night and went to dinner straight away. Found a restaraunt on the banks of the Ness a few doors down from the guest house and wandered in thinking it was a pub type place. Turned out to be a top restaraunt and had a set menu at around $70 per head.

The evening turned into a comedy of errors and I should of realised when the waitress forgot to write down my main meal order. The others ordered dry sherry and she came back with 2 shots of cream sherry. I had no spoon for my entree (sweet potato and honey soup). It was around the time they cleared my entree that we noticed they were playing the same song (Quando) all night. The waitress had a persistent sniff. The dessert menu was written on a scrap of paper. When the desserts finally came there was the outline of the spoon in the cocoa powder but no spoon. There were alot more issues but I think you get the idea. I was rather puzzled all night as to how the restaraunt has won - not just once but consistantly over the past few years - rosettes (like chefs hats in Oz) and Best Dining Out Experience (alright, it was entertaining). I have to admit though the food was fantastic and the waitress was so happy and oblivious to the complete cock ups it became quite a floor show. If she was narky and making mistakes I would of just left.

Anyway, best be off. No idea what I'm doing today, but I like the idea of that. Tomorrow we are off to Colloden then across Loch Ness to Fort William and down to Oban for 2 nights. Probably won't get to a computer until Paris where we'll arrive on Sunday.

Edinburgh Pics

Alrighty, first if you've just gotten here, scroll past these last few posts with pics then work up. These are the last pics so far and it is cronological order but backwards - that makes complete sense to me.

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VK & View of Edinburgh at the top of Edinburgh Castle (no pay outs about my dishevelled state, this was the morning after my 12 hr sojourn through England and Scotland)

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City view

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This was this arvo after going through Holyrood Palace out the back with the Salisbury Craggs and Arthur's Seat in the background. It became a beautiful afternoon today and I had the jumper off. Yay!!!

York, Scarborough & The Dales Pics

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The Shambles in York. Lovely chocolates in the shop on the left Tim. Sorry, didn't save any.

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VK in the ruins of the Abbey next to the Yorkshire Museum and library (not the hospital part, that's to my left and not lovely green grass, but muddy and a tad spooky. Not good for pics)

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The lovely enticing streetfront of Scarborough

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Umm... boats

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In front of the River Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales (Cold, windy, hilly and lots of dry stone walls if you're not familiar with the Dales, not a couple of blokes with Northern accents called Dale)

Lyme Park & Peak District Pics

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VK outside Lyme Park

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VK and the beast just towards the end of the Peak District

Cambridge Pics

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Yours truly on the banks of the Cam

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Punts on the Cam

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Treddly outside the Uni

Kew Gardens pics

Alright, here are a few pics from Kew Gardens

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The mother in Kew Gardens ( I realised I didn't have any pics of her posted and some may of wondered if she was still in fact alive)


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This is the Palm Glasshouse

Edinbrrrrrrr it's cold

Before I begin my ramblings i think it most important to point out Tim has fulfilled my request for a squirrel recipe. It's a comment under the post titled squirrels. For non computer people (Bitty & Bobby K - whom I am surprised have worked out how to post a comment - I'll copy and paste it here for all to enjoy. Bon Appetite


As requested. I thought that this was the worst recipe I could find.TK.

Squirrels in Cream Sauce
~ 2 squirrels, cleaned and cut into serving pieces
~ 1 medium onion -- finely chopped
~ 1/2 tsp leaf thyme
~ 1 - 4 oz can sliced mushrooms -- drained
~ 1 cup beef bouillon
~ 1 cup sour cream
~ 2 tbsp lemon juice
~ 3 tbsp flour
~ minced parsley

Soak squirrel in salted water overnight in refrigerator. Remove squirrel pieces and rinse. Discard salted water.Place squirrel, onion, thyme and mushrooms in a crock pot. Pour in bouillon.Cover and cook on "low" for 8 to 10 hours.Remove squirrel to a warm platter.Combine sour cream, lemon juice and flour. Stir sour cream mixture into crock pot. Turn on high and cook until thickened.Spoon sauce over squirrel and sprinkle with parsley. Serve and Enjoy!


mmmmmm, I wouldn't mind that on a bed of polenta. Well, Edinburgh Day 2 but I should pick up from Friday arvo. We drove from York over to Scarborough on the coast for dinner. I wrapped myself in every bit of warm clothing I had expecting the worst but it was surprisingly mild and still.

The coastline is quite beautiful for an english coast, but the promenade area was pretty tacky, like Blackpool on the west coast, full of amusement arcades and the like. We had a fanastic dinner of Cod and Haddock, I had Scampi which was beautiful but like all things English fried - maybe that made it nicer. Speaking of fried, I'm a bit dissapointed that even though I am walking all day, every day I actually seem to be putting weight on and I am quite worried because I haven't even gotten to France yet and that's where I expect to do the most damage.

From Scarborough we headed back to our last night in Newton on Ouse. Next morning we headed off for a big day, drive to Edinburgh via Haworth. Haworth is the town that was home to the Bronte sisters. The parsonage they lived in is now a museum and we had a great look around there. It was really fascinating and provided a great insight into their world but the sadness of their lives really came through. The sofa which Emily died, Charlotte's room where she died etc I won't go on I think you get the picture.

From Haworth, we took the scenic way through the Yorkshire Dales, a real highlight and much more picturesque than the Peak District. You can see why so many people visit for walking holidays. We were supposed to be in Edinburgh by 4pm but it was already 1:30 by the time we left Haworth so we rang the guesthouse in Edinburgh and put the time right back.

this gave us time to stop in at Lindasfarn although we couldn't get out of the car for too long as the tide was coming in rather rapidly and the road is on a causeway, much like Mont St Michel in frogland. We finally got into Edinburgh around 12 hours after setting off and collapsed for the night.

Yesterday was alot of shopping and also a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The mother and I finished off the day in the pub. We've done some more sightseeing today with a visit to Holyrood Palace and some general wandering of the city which is where you come across some of the more interesting things.

Tomorrow morning we are off to Rosslyn Chapel then up to Inverness for 2 nights. After Inverness we drive alongside Loch Ness down to Oban on the otherside of the country for another 2 nights but on a farm, just for something different. From Oban we've got a mad dash down to Cambridge to return the car (sniff sniff) then 'our driver' will take us across to Heathrow then Paris for the week. The reason I'm rambling on about this now is so I don't get any narky emails as to why I haven't updated. Although I will try to in Inverness.

Edinburgh has been really great, the weather has been on and off. It has a great atmosphere, the people are all fantastic, the architecture and histry amazing. Two thumbs up. (I may get back here this afternoon and try and put a few pics up)

Heritage Day

Last day in York today, we ship out tomorrow. The mother and I started with the Yorkshire museum which focuses on roman - 1500's (as you do). Beautiful location and they did it fairly well, but you can tell they are a poorer cousin of the castle museum. Played with some squirrels in the gardens (I really think we have come here at the best time of year. It's like Floriade everyday.

Went to the Castle Museum this arvo which is a definite highlight of the trip so far. It looks at the social history mainly since 1500's. (I'd have to consult the illustrated guide to be more descriptive).

They must have a huge budget in comparison and I could have spent quite a few more hours in there but we have to go back to the cottage now and get the gma and head over to Scarborough for some fish and chips. We'll do the Bronte parsonage in the moring on the way up to Edinburgh. It's a long weekend here this weekend and I'm hoping most of the traffic will be gone from Edinburgh by the time we get there.

I am starting to get very used to the Jag, especially the heated seats. It's like driving with an electric blanket on your seat - hard to stay awake at the end of a day driving.

I'm getting a little savvy with the links now, so here is Beninborough Hall just outside our village which we went to the other day.

My stomach is grumbling and the fish and chips await. I won't post again till Edinburgh, maybe Sunday but probably Monday and I'll try and load some pictures up. Ciao for now.

I seem to be having a slight shopping problem here in York. I've spent more money here than in London or anywhere else, but gee it's been good. I'm off to the York Minster this afternoon though which will even out the culture vs shopping.

I've accessed the net mainly from the library here and always have a squizz at the ruins out the front. I managed to find out about them this morning and it seems they are a 13th century hospital which made me shudder. Somehow I don't think 13th century hospitals were quite a happy place and can't imagine some of the painful stuff that went on there.

Everything (obviously) is old here and really beautiful. You'd presume that Brits would come over to Oz and think 'wow, this is so beautiful. It's so modern' while looking at a 1970's yellow brick home. The cottage we are staying in is brand new. Very rare, especially for the village we are staying in. It turns out the old lady who owned the old cottage in front, where our landlords live, sold it to them with a DA for our place. This is really difficult to achieve but she happened to have a place on the parish council and hence got the DA approved.

Speaking of old, we had a lovely conversation with an old lady in easingwold, a market town about 7 miles out of Newton on Ouse - the village we are staying in. We wandered into 'an antique shop' which actually turned out to be the front room in her home. the oldies bought all this Irish linen from her and spent around $100. you could tell she didn't sell much and this was a really big deal to her and she kissed and hugged everyone goodbye with tears in her eyes. turns out she's 89. As the mother said, it is the people you meet that make it memorable.

Tomorrow is our last full day here. Yesterday we went to Thirsk, the action packed town that is the home of Herriot country. unfortunately it was after 5 pm by the time we went to go there, but I think I had already had enough of an adrenalin packed day with all the cups of tea.

Unfortunately Moyra, I won't have time to visit Scunthorpe, I did really want to go. Saturday morning we'll leave earl burl and go to Haworth, where the Bronte parsonage is and hopefully have time to pop into castle howard, scarborough and on to Edinburgh by 4pm.

I have been completely freaking out about driving in Edinburgh but everyone says its really easy and I'm getting used to the car now so i'll give it a bash. It's great to hear from everyone so much, I have alot of postcards to send. Big Kev, I don't have your address though so if you want something you'll have to let me know.

I think i'll have to get a shipping container for all the stuff for Bronte. I keep seeing heaps of fantastic things. I have actually now made a vow to avoid any shop that sells child related products. It's also a full time job stopping the mother from buying out the Peter Rabbit store. Speaking of the little b, I think the best way to sum up the 'aroma' of North Yorkshire (outside the city' is that it smells like Bronte. Everywhere you go, you get out of the car and are overwhelmed by it. That is about the only thing I won't miss about Yorkshire. It truly is fantastic. A great mix of city/country, great access, heaps of heritage, heaps of fantastic shopping etc etc. Anyway, I'm rambling. big hello to all.

Chapter Two - Cambridge et al

Ok, I have a bit more time now. Although I can't remember exactly where I left off. Oh well. Wandered through Cambridge around 120,000 people plus 18,000 students. It was exam time so I presume a little quiet mind you there seemed to be one bloke down by the river shouting out your favourite word Shields, repeatedly.

It's a lovely city, but not fun to drive in with all the push bikes everywhere. Had the best ever Indian food. It was at least 200% better than any Indian I've ever had and there is a sample of it on the postcard on route to 13 Best St - if Customs don't pull it up.

King's Chapel was closed as they were recording a cd in there - bastards. Had a chat with a cab driver who recommended a town called Ely on the outskirts of Cambridge, decided to go there as a first little wander in the car. I think now is a good time to point out I have only done the wipers/indicators thig about 3 times.

Beautiful cathedral at Ely but I won't bore with cathedral descriptions or I could be writing about them all day long. (Maybe I should create a seperate cathedral blog? No Simon's right, there are other more important websites to work on)

Left Ely for Kegworth on the outskirts of Derby and Nottigham for the night. It was an insane drive on the motorway (I've only just discovered the speed limit yesterday) I liken it to Boxing Day on the Pacific Highway but you are driving hungover. It seems it was just a friday arvo thig though and the motorways thin out north of Leeds.

Kegworth was ugly but a flash hotel and I had my own room so enjoyed it immensly. Next morig we set off for Lyme Park aka Pemberly from Pride and Predjudice. It really is a beautiful home. I've seen a few over the past coule of weeks and it is right up there even without the p&p link. Did I go up to the lake that darcy dives into? I don't want to talk about it. I'll just say it invlolved a bad map, 45 minutes wandering aimlessly in the woods and 3 hours past lunch. No, I didn't find it. We had to be on the other side of the country by dark.

Going up to and coming away from Lyme Park we went through the Peak District which was lovely. Very cold and barren though and not as big as I thought. I unfortunately didn't see much. It was a bit ike driving on the Great Ocean Road - if you are the driver and look at the view you'll end up down a cliff face.

Which brings me to York.. we are here for one week staying in a cottage in a village outside the city called Newton on Ouse. There is a lovely estate house called Beningbrough Hall which we checked out yesty. Nice but nothing on Lyme Park. After paying £7 entry everywhere I joined the National trust so I can get in for free to most properties across the country.

Wnet for a stroll through the pub on Sunday and popped into the local. I'd gone in the day before to ask directions to the cottage. Ran into the couple who own the cottage and proceeded to get a bit pissy with them and stumbled home and went to bed.

I'll be coming into York everyday this week for some down time and there are heaps of really good museums around too. Must be off now, have a luncheon appointment.

I'm baaack....

Apologies to one and all for the delay - I#ve been copping it for not posting for a few days. Heaps has happened and I only have twenty minutes at the moment so no dilly dallying around.

Last Wednesday was huuuuge. It was my last ful day in London so went down Regent St and Piccadilly for a 'quick stroll' in the morning, ended up walking through Green Park and saw a commotion on the other side which turned out to be Bucks Palace and the changing of the guard. Stood there like a fool with the camera and took pics wondering what the big deal with Libby is and also why I was taking part in it. Got over that and walked back to the apartment, then went to the Nat Archives/Public Records Office which was very impressive, ugly building but they have a couple of documents stored there in relation to the short history of Britain.

After Nat Arch the mother and I went to Kew Gardens which ws fantastic, we only had two hours before it shut so we power walked through the huge conservatories, past the (sorry Chris) many squirrels and through the millions of bulbs other meadowy british looking plant things.

I was a complete wreck and decided to prioritise my sanity and general well being over going down the road to post to the blog. Thursday morning went for a final wander through the city before heading up to Cambridge for the night. Some may know my distinct lack of ability to drive a manual car and I was a bit limited in types of cars available so it was either going to be a mercedes kompressor or some kind of family wagon thing. We rocked up to the hire place and the guy was showing me the ins and outs of some non descript medium size family car when (I am a very alert person) I pointed out that the car seemed to have a gear stick. He shitted hinmself for around 2 minutes - no other car available, then he turned a paler colour and said, 'we'll have to give you the Daimler' which turns out to be some $100,000 plus Jaguar that's as big and long as a road train. It was then my turn to go a little paler. One tiny scratch and around 450 miles later we have made it to York.

I'm out of time so will pick up from Cambridge tomorrow (you're all on holiday today anyway so it doesn't matter. Byeeeee!!!!

Trafalger Square today

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Last image for this session. This is Grandma and I out the front of the National Gallery with Trafalger Square in the background. After mum and I went to the V and A today, we all went to the Mouse Trap another must do that was on the gma's list. It's about $75 a ticket and to be honest came across as old as it's 53 years (I'm starting to sound like a particular Riverina arts critic) I kept looking at the theatre and set thinking 'there's about 600 people a day coming through paying $75 a ticket and this is the best you can do?'

Horrible I know but my back was aching from the 53 year old seats. The big up on the whole thing though was that with the miracle walking stick attached to the gma we were moved from the stalls to box seats - gma blushed, the mother burst into tears.

It was good to see it though, but recommend to others to go and see one of the flash plays. Coming up to the theatre in the cab there looked like some fantastic plays were going on all around.

Update on the Mrs O'Keefe's Famous Sausages. I went in to get some early this morning, very excited about talking sausages with the butcher. He was a right royal bastard, I was really dissapointed with him and thought that maybe the sausages were famous because he is such a prick (apologies for the language, but I feel its necessary). His sausages and bacon though were beautiful. I got some Prince of Wales sausages with leek and black pepper- no jokes about prince albert sausages please. The bacon was like nothing I've ever tasted, it looked more like thick pancetta.

Tomorrow is our last full day in London and I've got heaps to try and fit in. Top priority is to go back to Godiva chocolates for Tim and Alison, British Museum and finish up at the Public Records office (Gma with the family history thing) and hopefully Kew Gardens.

We leave London on Thursday morning - picked up by 'our driver' ( I have a whole series of jokes that include the phrase 'our driver' which I'm sure I'll inflict on everyone) and off to Cambridge where we'll stay the night and then pick up the hire car and drive to Kegsworth (visit Pemberley) then on to York for a week.

Last note about yesterday, after the quintessential English afternoon tea at the Ritz I had a curry and lager for dinner, I think I'm absorbing the culture on all levels.

Hyde Park

Here's a few pics from our trip to Hyde Park on Saturday with Leah and Mali (Albury folks for those who don't know)

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Mali and I in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park checking out the swans

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Outside Kensington Palace - Princess Michael of Kent (Wimbeldon chick) hangs out here when she is 'in town'. I think we all know the previous occupant

The Ritz

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Alright, the first pic above is me and the elder in our party who has always wanted to go to the Ritz. she had a great time and I got a great little q and a with her on the camera but don't think I can upload it. I wrote briefly about it before but perhaps one of the highlights was the pianist playing Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.

I think it was definitly worth the $80 odd unlike another classic London to do which we did today. I'll write about that later.

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Squirrels

I know I harp on about the squirrels but I'm a girl and they are so cute and Chris didn't see any in Hyde Park so that therefore proves that I am a better person than him (hi Chris).

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1st pic and the V and A today

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ok hopefully this will work. I can't post images directly to the page, but in theory if you click the link you'll be able to see it.

We went to the V and A today, obviously fantastic. The downside was spending over $500 in the shop. Unfortunately didn't have time to see the special exhibition on the Arts and Crafts movement but saw the permanent collection which didn't let me down at all. There were heaps of things I'd always wanted to see and I won't bore with the details or post pics (except for the cheap laughs pic of me in front of a plaster sat of David (Not Daffyd, the only gay in the village - it's madness over the whole Little Britain thing over here, there is a reference to Vicky or Daffyd everywhere. I can't believe I've just put Daffyd and the V and A in the same post)

Bloody photos

Sorry - I tried. Can't get the photos to work. I'll try again another day. We've been to the Ritz this afternoon - very noice, different, unusual. Rather than saying I'm stuffed from all the cakes and tea, I thinnk it's more appropriate to say I feel slightly ill.

Internet time is running out - I'll give a better description and images (hopefully) tomorrow. Perhaps I should say "Images are available upon request.

Good day to you all

Ness

pics on the way

Alright - I'm bright, refreshed, recaffeinated and ready to post images. I just forgot the umbilical cord thing to download off the camera. I will start putting them up this arvo though - maybe afternoon tea at the Ritz pics. I'm having to censor them though - it seems the jet lag has left me looking like an 80 yr old for 4 days now - it's just fantastic.

The mother is next to me emailing away, we are about to go to Selfridges and do some more shopping. Anyways, I'll post something of note later on with some pics. I want to talk to the guys in the store around the corner from where we are staying, it's called Mrs O'Keefes Famous Sausages and I'm curious to know why they are so famous. Are they that bad? I'll buy two and have them for dinner and post my critique.

Ciao Ciao

V

Well I would walk 500 miles...

Things never seem to go to plan... Didn't make it to the Eye yesterday, spent most of the afternoon walking through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. With the jet lag still in effect I wasn't up for all the crowds. The day was great though, so soooo many squirrels and had a great time. Mali is oblivious to the fact that she is OS. When asked where she was she matter of factly replied 'Albury' as though I was stupid. It probably just seems like she's in East Albury to her. We explored the Diana Memorial Playground, seems she's still doing good for the kiddies since 'passing on'.

Got up earl burl this morning and went for a walk down to picadilly circus. Mum and Grandma came out with me for the rest of today and we went shopping down Regent Street. After a trip to Baby GAP the credit card is now back at the hotel room having a nap. Grandma did really well and her and mum walked the mile back to the hotel.

I'm hoping to get out to the V and A and Harrods (as you do) tomorrow before we have afternoon tea at the Ritz (also, as you do). Had to pass on the London Eye today as well because of the London marathon and 30,000 insane people going for a jog in the freezing cold - although today was the warmest day so far ( I took off the scarf and polartec for ten whole minutes).

We went to a few fantastic stores today, Godivar - one of the best chocaltiers in the world and bought some treats. There is a granite bench in the window with a bowl rotating in the middle and they dip strawberries and other fruit in the chocolate - Alison, I think this idea would work well for your shop in Wagga please. ( I can lick - I mean clean the bowls for you)

The staff there where really friendly so I might go back tomorrow and take some pics. I have had 'requests' (I have many fans) to post some pics but have always been bleary eyed when posting but I'll endevour to get some up in the next few days. I've gotten a couple of good ones so far.

I had another bloke try and accost me this morning, something I must be doing during early morning walks. Upon reflection, I think that both of them thought I was a dealer. Not sure which is worse - hooker or dealer? Maybe I should conduct a poll. Anyways, till next time...

sleep, solicitations and squirrels

I managed to achieve one of my goals yesterday. Went for a walk in Hyde Park which was great. It is bloody cold here though and suffocatingly (is that a word?) hot when inside. A walk through Hyde Park is on the daily list though. It seems that the only way I can attempt to stay awake is to go for a walk outside. Went off to the supermarket for some water this morning - as you do and saw a squirrel, not overly exciting I know but it was the second of two vaguely interesting occurances before 6:30 am.

Before I explain the first I think I should describe what I am wearing today. Jeans, sneakers, black jumper and blue polartec vest. Alluring and overtly sexual? I didn't think so either. It seems that I have had my first approach (in London at least, there were a few looks when last in St Kilda). Some guy pulled up in his BMW Roadster and said something along the lines of 'how much?' I think the bewildered gaze, bloodshot eyes and nose as red as my eyes was enough for him to realise I wasn't of that profession (not that there's anything wrong with that.)

Anyways, I'm off to the London Eye today with Leah and Mali which should be interesting given my fear of heights but I find denial is a wonderful thing.

In a postscript to an earlier reference about travelling with the elderly and immigration I think I should point out that it may have been the fact that I was wearing sandals with British Airways bed socks and had kicked the luggage trolley about 6 times which caused a slight limp for the morning that may have got us into the disabled entrance for Immigration rather than the old lady. I'm hoping it was her though and no one noticed the socks and limp (denial again - gotta love it.)

London

Well, well, well. Made it. Buggered. Not sure if thecomputer screen is flickering or is it my eyes.First hour in town consisted of visiting stores andbuying some bread, ham, cheese and pain du chocolatewhich will be my staple diet although I am a little worried about fitting through the doors in theapartment by the end of the week, they are a little onthe narrow side and I'm predicting I'll be a little onthe not quite so narrow side.

We are just off HydePark though which is brilliant, we drove past in ourcheaffeur driven Mercedes from the airport (had tofind a way to drop it in) and it does look georgeoushere at the moment. The bright daffodils have all beenand gone and it's now time for the pale yellow onesand tulips. The cherry and magnolia trees are in totalbloom and the chestnuts should be out by the end ofthe week.

My main task today is to stay awake until 8:30 tonightwhich is only a short 8 hours away - no problem. I think email and a walk in the park is about all I can handle.

A few short words on upgrading from cattle class - youwill NEVER want to go back. Be careful, once you get ataste.

A few short words on travelling with the aged andinfirmed - brilliant! Straight onto the plane first,straight through immigration, straight throughcustoms. Highly recommend taking an old person along.

Will revisit when I actually have something ofsubstance to say in the next day or two.

Inaugural Post

Welcome.. enjoy... don't mind the mess...

the plan is to post tales & pics of the journey. Hopefully I will, maybe I won't. If no one visits, so be it. The point is for me to write a few notes to remember for myself and not inundate people with novella style emails so I thought I'd kill 2 birds with the one stone.

I would however appreciate any emails and those who can be bothered may be rewarded with a shiny new postcard.*#


* subject to availability
# the author reserves the right to forget or mail to an incorrect address or in extreme circumstances, mail from Wagga Wagga