SORRY, but due to hotels internet not being available, I can't post. Be back tomorrow!
------07 April, 2010
06 April, 2010
Day 4: - Wales, Castles and Bath!
Today, we headed down south, originally via Manchester and Birmingham, however (thanks to a couple of chaps in the bar last night) suggested we drve via Sth Wales! So I quickly got the laptop and planned my route... However, 'Myrtle' (our TomTom) thought otherwise, so I had to program her to fit into OUR plans! Doesn't she know that I want to go in another direction yet!??!??
So we head off early, and soon we were in the country side. Rapidly approaching a bridge very similar to that of our very own Sydney Harbour Bridge!
In no time at all we were nearing Chester, and I asked if there was anyone who wanted to stop. I have a car full of, "it doesn't worry me' so I made a somewhat executive decision (assisted by Julie) that we will stop! We were so glad we did!
After looking through the bare streets as nothing was open yet, we headed for the Cathedral. Again, this is a stunning place, but have a look what mum found!
My father's name is very similar to this, so I will be sending a copy of it to mu aunt to see what she may or may not know about it...
Soon, as we only had 90 mins here, we were off on the road again, stopped briefly for lunch at a roadside diner thingie. We stumbled across an old castle, and whn I can remember the name, I will post it then.
We stopped once more for a refreshment before the final leg into Bath, found the Hotel and having dinner...
I am very tired after having driven all day, so I am signing off for now!
------05 April, 2010
Day 3: - Happy Easter and a day of Cathedrals
Our day started with a crispness we are not becoming used to, and we were off to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Liverpool! This is a very modern building, and WOW, is it impressive!
Then it was off to meet up with Aunt Pat for Easter Sunday Mass followed by lunch with her friend Maree. This was a most excellent lunch, company and atmosphere!
Then it was off to Sefton Park to see the Daffodils which was simply AMAZING! The sheer amount of Daffs throughout the park is simply stunning and something we will never see in Sydney! We were told that the Daffs were planted for a pound donation!
As it was another particularly cold day we thought we would head onto the Anglican Cathedral to warm up...
So all up, another busy day, and some well earned rest is to be had! We are heading South tomorrow towards Bath. However, a slight change in plans is going to see us now venture into Wales and then back into the UK via Bristol!
Hope you all had a great Easter!
------04 April, 2010
Day 2: - York
After an early wake-up to get the car OUT of the carpark (4GBP if out by 6am, otherwise 12GBP)we had breakfast and hit the road in our ride; a Vauxhall Insignia.
We headed across to York in a cold, misty rainy day... It took us about 2 hours to find it and the 'Park and Ride' to get the bus into the city centre itself! What a great thing we did this, as traffic inside the centre of town was horrid! So we walked around a bit, got the 'Hop on Hop off' bus which took us around town for about an hour... Just before we hopped on, we got some Pasties, nice and hot (I had the Beef and pepper so EXTRA hot!) to warm our cockles as it was an open top Double Decker bus! After the trip, we then headed to the Cathedral or as it is also know, the York Ministry. There was WAY TO MANY photos taken, so I will do a mosaic below (sorry) but it would take me hours to put them all up!
After the Cathedral, we then went to (after a suggestion from my neighbours Lynette and Denis) to make sure you go and visit 'Bettys' and so we did... I, on behalf of the Grey Brigade, wish to thank you Lynette and Denis for those extra kilograms we all put on...
We then headed back to Liverpool, got in around 10pm, with 3 very tired Grey Brigades and one very tired driver...
Happy Easter Everyone!
------
03 April, 2010
Day 1: - Liverpool
Today, after a GREAT sleep, we headed off on foot towards both the Liver Building, Royal Liverpool Hall and Albert Docks. However, Albert Dock will have to wait as we ended up walking around quite a bit and time ran short! We stopped in a Starbucks for a coffee and some lunch, but I had a Hot Chocolate which was divine! Mum and Julie both had Lattes and Michael a cupachino. Whilst mum and I had Mozzarella and Slow Roasted tomato panini rolls, Michael and Julie had Salmon and something! Towards the end of lunch, and we were meeting aunt Pat for a 3pm Mass, I thought it best to call the car rental place to see what time was the latest I could pick up the car... Now at this stage it is 1pm, and the chap said 1.30pm at the latest, YIKES!
So off we went (in a cab) to pick up the car, head to aunt Pat's and then back into Liverpool for dinner. The 'Grey Brigade' are now, no doubt, either preparing for, or already IN bed as everyone (incl myself) are beat! So without any further waffling, is are some pics of the day!
02 April, 2010
Flights and Chilly Liverpool
Well, after 3 flights, 23.5 hours flights numerous security checks we are here in Liverpool! So here is a bit of a wrap up!
After saying our farewells, immigration clearance was quick and easy, for some of us! Both Mum and Michael got a secondary security clearance in Sydney! We boarded the flight, Emirates 777, for the flight to Manchester via Bangkok and Dubai. BUT, when waiting at the hold point to enter the 16R runway, a Qantas A380 (QF32) landed and in doing so, had break issues and there was flames, sparks and two tyres blew up in spectacular fashion! Just what we want to see when holding? Anyways, after an hour, we were transferred over to 16L and were off like a bullet!
All the flights were good, looks of food/drinks and entertainment on ICE was great! I got a fair bit of sleep, unlike the 'Grey Brigade' I was travelling with! But transited quickly in Bangkok without issue! But, whilst transiting through Dubai, mum got an additional 'pat down' as the metal detector kept going off on her! Ended up being a padlock and keys! And due to delay in Sydney, we only had a 20min transfer and were rushing!
We eventually made it to Manchester and upon approach, noticed all of the snow on the fields... brrrr... Deplaned and joined the lines for immigration. I got through, got some luggage trolleys (thanks sis for suggesting I take the Pounds I had at home, I used them for the trolleys) and collected two of the four bags before the 'Grey Brigade' came through! Oh the joys of being a 'Dual Citizen'!!!
And so, we got through with barely a look, across to the train and into Liverpool.
After a brief shower, nap and freshen up, we headed out to dinner. Good food, great company and we were warm, not the same for some people outside!
After dinner, and walking back to the hotel, a group of (very) drunk young lass's were about, and one of them (wearing something about the size of a napkin) started to 'chat-up' Michael! Pat repositioned herself, and Mum Julie and myself were some steps behind watching and laughing! She had a very thick scouser accent, and was TOTALLY harmless, but was so funny! I wanted to get a pic, but made the mistake of asking, DOH!!!
Anyways, 6.30am here and everyone is asleep... What will the day bring?
------24 March, 2010
OUCH!
Well, after my 'day in the bush' this week, I am now paying for it BIG TIME!
I really didn't give it much thought at the time, but when I ended up on my butt after slipping into the boghole, by the time I got home that night, bathed, clothes soaking etc, I could barely open the bottle of milk. So, yesterday, I took myself off to the doctor, and was promptly sent for an X-RAY. Initial results were all ok, but (in the words of the doctor) "what would I know, I am JUST a doctor after all"... But I think it was a bit of a protest of the system than inadequacies! A follow up today show it to be deep soft tissue damage and to rest and pain killers! So rest I have done, sort of!
This morning, after baking for what seemed like minutes (thanks to Woolworth's Baking Dept) I had morning tea with my neighbours and one of the grandchildren! It was such a lovely morning chatting over coffee and cake/bikkies! They are looking after Macc and Jasmine whilst I am away. So instructions were outlined for them!
It is now just on a week until we leave... It can not come soon enough for me! I am so over being here at the moment. Maybe just with dates that are coming up, I don't know, but to be somewhere as far removed the better. I will, of course, miss being here on that day and to be with L at her grave, but we will be celebrating her life in Paris, and after all, I will be with family on the day! I am also planning my next trip, which could be within a couple of weeks of returning, and then at the end of the year! The 'devil is in the detail' at this stage, but if it all works out, I will be back in Europe in Late May/early June (dates being worked out by another party)! These FF points are being racked up at a rapid rate at the moment!
The car is still a filthy thing, but I am hoping it may rain... Maybe I should gaurantee it by actually washing it!? Maybe Friday...
------22 March, 2010
Dust, Mud & 'Red Faced'!
LOTS of photos sorry!
I got up SUPER early this morning, for no apparent reason as well... Maybe something to do with the heat from yesterday and the Southerly that hit last night maybe? So I thought of going for a drive... Had breakfast, cereal, and eggs on toast, and it was still dark and not yet even 6am (told you it was early!). So I thought that both Mount Wilson and the Newnes State Forest (Glow Worm Tunnel & the Lost City) would be good.
So I was on the road by 6am, and headed west for the Bells Line Of Roads to make my way up the Blue Mountains. It was misty, and even the odd light shower, and I thought that it might make for some interesting photography. By the time I got to Mount Wilson (c. 1000m above sea level) it had pretty much lifted, but still overcast with some even higher clouds! Here are some of the better shots from Mount Wilson:
I then headed further west to the top of the Zig Zag Railway at Clarance, turned into the Newnes State Forest and put my Grand Vitara into High 4WD for the dirt roads. The roads through here have become increasingly better since I was last here (thankfully) and I was well into the forest along the Glow Worm Tunnel Road. I soon got onto the section that was once, an old railway line into the Newnes Valley. Through cuttings, over culverts and finally, through a disused tunnel that takes you all the way through to the carpark about 1-2klm from the Glow Worms!
After a short time here, I then headed back towards Black Fella Hands Road (NOT my wording, but a locals! I later found out that it leads to some Aboriginal drawings on a sandstone rock wall: - I think another trip when I get back from overseas...) towards The Lost City. Trouble is, I never made it thanks to a 'bog hole' that a) was much deeper than thought and b) I slid into (even though I had STOPPED) and got hung up on my diffs! It really was quite deep, up to my knees in it, and the inside of the car although dry from rising water, is wet from me getting in and out with wet and muddy feet! I also, slipped which landed me on my backside (yes, OUCH) and to make that a lot worse, I slid INTO the bog hole! I now have my white shirt soaking in Nappy San, and will hopefully get clean again!
All I have to do now, is WASH my clothes that are soaking!