Mum's holiday

Counting Down..........

That sure was a blast from the past! We so enjoyed viewing Tony's video again of Arles and surrounding areas. Felt like it was yesterday! Thanks Anna. Roll on 2010 - not sure how we're going to last........................the count down is almost painful!
Our weekend with Anna & Phil was so wonderful, Rex & I loved every minute! The weather gods were kind, although there was still a crisp spring nip in the air, it didn't prevent us from doing what we had planned. A highlight for Anna & Phil was fresh fish and chips at Lake Ferry. What an awesome trip back in time that was; pub and environs circa 60's, but the view and atmosphere were timeless. Anna's birthday dinner at Alana Estate was wonderful, and some pinot noir and chardonnay have been stored for another day! Spring-time in the daffodils at Gladstone the following morning was also magic, and it was 4 weary travellers who made their way back over the hill that afternoon. However, it was a very 'productive' weekend, and plans for 2010 are definitely starting to consolidate!! We might just have to meet again to firm those up, and sample a bit more Alana Estate offerings to help the decision-making process!

Blast from the Past ...

In the mood ...

Yay Tony, way to go!!

Hey Tony,

Fantastic to see you up and running on the Blog. Trish brought over a bunch of DVDs of our travels in 2000, and we've had a fantastic time going over them all and reminiscing about all the amazing places we saw and things we did.

Mum has loved watching them too, and was especially interested in our toasts to her in Paris. When I get a minute I'll have a go at putting some snippets on the Blog.

Keep writing, and feel free to add some destinations or websites of places you want to go.

xxx

Test entry

I don't know what the hell's going on, but I think that I'm typing an entry onto the blog.
Please confirm that I have cracked the "open Sesame" to the inner circle!
I can view some correspondence, but am not sure how to navigate.
(What a surprise!).
Love, Fatty

What a wonderful day Abby & I had in Nelson yesterday. It was so good to see everyone again, and for Abby to have some special time with Mum, before she heads into the wide blue yonder with Jason. We took some awesome pics and will attach one here. It was a great opportunity to meet Billie-Jean too; what a stunning wee girl she is. And of course to catch up with Jimmy again too. We can't wait for him and Ben to come over and stay at the end of the month.

Anna, thank goodness you didn't come into the airport and wait with us; our plane was delayed for what seemed like hours! When we couldn't see it on the departures TV, and went and asked what the story was and we were told it was delayed (the incoming aircraft) indefinitely due to bad weather across the country! About half an hr later we heard repeated boarding calls for the flight scheduled prior to ours, so I said to Abby to find out if there were any spare seats. Voila!! Two with our names on them - well sort of! So we grabbed the boarding passess and were out of there! However we ended up sitting on the tarmack for another 15mins while the pilots waited for clearance to take off, but eventually lifted off about quarter to eight! Fortunately the weather wasn't too bad back in the big smoke and we didn't get wet walking back to the car, which we'd parked miles away in a residentail area. So all in all an eventful day! I think Rex was quite pleased to see us when we walked through the door!

I've been thinking of you today Anna and hoped the PA meeting went well. I'm sure it went fantastically. Hope Phil is feeling better.

Better go and organise Abby's roast lamb birthday dinner! Thanks again for everything yesterday - we had an awesome day!

hugs & kisses,

Trish

This week's catch-up

Had a fantastic week. Looked after Billie-jean and Jimmy last Tuesday night. Ended up going to their house, because Jimmy fell asleep on the couch, Billie-jean woke up wanting a feed, Abi was trying to cook tea and Ben arrived home late. They got off okay in the end though and went to see Shrek 3. Said it wasn't as good as 1 or 2, but was all right. Had a lovely time with the babies.

Then we got to see them again on Saturday night. Ended up having Neil & Shirley, John & Sharon, Jane & Ian, Ben & Abi, Jimmy & Billie-jean, Sarah & Ben, Cate, Tom, Jack and us there! I had to re-arrange the lounge and set seats out like the movies. We ate heaps of Indian takeaways and nibbles, drank lots of red wine and sang along to the songs on the DVD. Was a great night, Jimmy stayed up (so did Billie-jean) and the last lot left at about 11.30pm.

Jimmy started kindergarten today, and Billie-jean gave Abi her first smile and a few goos. So it was a very momentus day.

Oh, by the way, we may have to take a different bottle of wine away with us. A few weeks ago we opened a 1997 Te Mata Coleraine when we had some special friends around, and it was horrible. Couldn't drink it. Philip took it to his friend the wine writer the next day, and he said he'd heard that for a couple of years in the mid ninties the wines were not up to scratch. They had a different wine-maker who wasn't anywhere near at the same level as the earlier one. Says they're excellent again now. But it was very disappointing, and a bit embarassing. Our friends had brought the most delicious bottle of Tom which was like nectar ... and then we served them the vinegar :-( Did not go well with the Beef Wellington!

Took mum to Becoming Jane yesterday which she loved (and so did I). We are both (all) so looking forward to catching up with you and Abby on Sunday. CAN'T WAIT!!

Welcome to the world Billie-Jean

Not the most flattering photo - she's much prettier in the flesh, but you can get an idea. Looks very like Jimmy did when he was brand new. Born 3.13pm on the 1st she weighs 7lb 7 oz and is very contented and relaxed so far.

My favourite Place (after Paris)

I LOVE Greece. The Acropolis in Athens is amazing, the people are lovely, it's sooo warm - if not hot! - and the food is quite delicious too. Tzatziki, Greek salads, calamari, spanakopita and then there's ouzo ... ummmmm. Adored both Santorini and Paros. Whole different pace of life there and lots of places to explore, preferrably on four wheel motorbikes.

And on the way home ...

OMG Anna Gully!!! You are amazing! We've just been onto our blog site and found the latest additions! When Rex & I checked out each one we couldn't stop shrieking and laughing with delight! What beautiful websites, and I love the music at L'Entrevue; also picked out where we sat that night for dinner (remember our French friends toasting us every 5mins!). Hotel D'arlatan looked just stunning as did Hotel Royal Saint Michel and I swear it was our chambre in the virtual tour! Thank you so much for that awesome trip down memory lane! Haven't we got some fantastic memories and hopefully we're going to make a heap more!
Welcome on board Tony - it's fantastic to hear from you! Rex & I have just returned from dinner with Roger & Mavis and they have given us some AMAZING ideas for the UK leg of our trip. All sorts of things to talk about when you come over, from Jorvik (pronounced Yorkvik) to Hoarwirthy to Ambleside to Beddgelert to Portmadog (where Portmerion is made) to Ross-on-Wye................!! It all looks so wonderful. They showed us some of their photos, including Rosslyn Chapel, which were just beautiful.
Keep taking those lotto tickets guys!

Welcome Tony

Hey bro, great to hear from you. How does the planning sound to you so far?? Trish and I were thinking you probably won't be able to get away for more than a coupla weeks or so - thought you'd probably be most interested in the cruise with maybe a Spanish or Greek stopover to begin or end the experience. Does that sound right?

Thanks for setting up the link to Rosslyn Chapel Anna - it's awesome! And don't worry, I don't think there will be a lot of time for ABC's; however, I do very much like your idea of ABD'S!!!!!!! I think it goes without saying that Distillerys will be a major part of our travels - or wineries if the climate's warm enough for grapes up there! And I think we'll have to give that brother of ours a jog along eh! Tony if you're reading this, it's time to put your spoke in!
Great news about the latest house sale Philip; just wish my last lotto ticket had been as successful! Have a great weekend, and an awesome Mother's Day Anna!
Love Trish & Rex

Sold another house

Phil sold Lola's house yesterday, so we're getting closer to the cruise! Has another couple in the pipeline that are looking halfway there, so fingers crossed ;-) Haven't had a chance to do any more surfing and check out places ... made ANOTHER blog last night for our Rotary Club. Will see how that goes.

Still haven't heard from Tony - think I'll send him a re-invite, just in case he lost the last one.

Catch ya
xx

Hi Guys

Thanks again Anna & Philip for a fantastic weekend, and also for setting up this great blog! It certainly has us fired up here! I bought a double whammy lotto ticket today, so fingers crossed it's not another contribution to charity!
I was thinking while we're in Edinburgh we should go and visit Rosslyn Chapel - anyone else interested??
Also, I saw on the news this morning that just outside of Seville, a new environmentally friendly power station has been constructed entirely from sheets of mirror! it looked amazing. Predictions are that this will be the way of the future.
Roll on 2010......................
Trish

Great Stuff

Well done Anna on setting up this Blog site - I 've never used them before!!
As you know we are keen!! am looking forward to the cruise and exploring again. Already have several bottles of Temata Coleraine for the occassion!!

Invitation to the siblings ...

Hey Guys, wouldn't it be cool if we could all meet up in some exotic place in 2010?? Even better if we all go cruising!! I know Tony and Trish are keen - Trish has been down this weekend and we've been nutting out itineraries so that's why we're all fired up.

At this early stage we're thinking England, Scotland and Wales for a couple of weeks, followed by a day or two in Spain, followed by a 2 week cruise round the Med, followed up with a few days R & R on a Greek Island and a wee breather in Singapore on the way home. We're talking about 6 weeks away.

So start taking your Lotto tickets and booking your leave and let's all meet in Barcelona in mid September 2010 :-)

Lunch in the Cinque Terre

Thought I'd share a wee taste of cruising life from our last trip. I ordered a shrimp cocktail in this little fishing village in Italy that can only be accessed by boat. The shrimps were the size of little lobsters and were still warm!!

Mouth watering :-)