We headed off for Cardiff around 9am. It was not very far and of course we used the motorway. We had arrived there by 10am too early for our hotel.
We headed into the city and found a car park and Cardiff castle. We went onto the hop on hop off bus first and that gave us a good feel for the city and then on it's return went into the castle which had had many repairs and styles.
We came out and had a quick look at a music shop but by then had to go back to our car as the time was up. We went for a drive to try to find an area I wanted to look at but ended up just driving along and found a nice coastal town and stopped for a short time and then headed back to our hotel.
Oh what a change from the one before. Lovely room, roomy, tasteful and just very nice all around. Dinner was nice too.
Friday we left again around 9am to take a leisurely drive to Chester where we are staying for 3 nights.
It was lovely just driving through the Welsh countryside and towns. Nothing stands out but it was just nice. At one stage we were up quite high and it was 9degrees but by the time we got to Chester it was 18deg.
Arrived around 3pm and came into our hotel. Interesting. Floor level in the bathroom differs by nearly 4inches. It's quite funny as they said they had upgraded us to a Superior room. Stew arrived by train around 5.20. We came up to the room and chatted and then the fire alarm went off. By this stage we had decided to go out for dinner anyway so we left.
We found a restaurant that had Thai and Japanese food. We opted to go with the Teppanyaki menu. That was a bit of fun. So now I am catching up with the blog. I might even get some pics up in the next day or so.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday 24th to Wed 27th
Sunday we spent the day with our friends from Mill Park. We rode the buses most of the day. Twenty six pounds and it gave us 6 different bus routes to do. Just hop on and off where you want.
We did the blue one first, stopped had something to drink, onto the red route and that took ages then off again at Trafalgar Square to have another drink and thent he yellow route but we got on the wrong side of the road and ended up doing the whole thing and we didn't get off the bus until after 6pm. The weather had been great for the open top bus. It was also very busy being Easter and the coming royal wedding. We went out for dinner and finally got home at 9.10
Monday we looked after Mackenzie so that Katherine and Dave could do some shopping and mum and John also had an easy morning planned. We all went down to Wimbledon park with Mackenzie and it was very busy. She of course loved it.
Mum and John left at 2pm to go to their hotel for the night as their tour of England, Scotland and Ireland left on the Tues morning.
Matt and Jana and Stew came for dinner that night.
Tuesday saw us packing up and leaving the house. We left at 10am to go to Kingston to pick up our rental car and Katherine and co left around 10.30 to go to Stew's new house (which was Matt's old house). They stayed there for the next 2 nights until they flew out on Thursday. (they have arrived home and are now having to adjust.)
Tuesday we headed out without Jane's help and found Brookland race track and the Mercede Benz museum. We only went into the Brooklands museum which had old cars, racing cars and some of the old track. Also planes. It was quite good.
We then got out Jane (our gps) and found out we hadn't even got past Heathrow.
We travelled to Bath and found our accommodation. We had been last time but we felt we hadn't done it justice. We had two nights here. We were a bit disappointed with our accomodation. The size of the ensuite was no bigger than a wardrobe and adjusting the water was interesting.
On Wednesday we went to the American museum. It is the only wholly American museum outside of the US.
I was mainly there to see the quilts. They were great but of course we weren't allowed to take pictures and the book was very heavy so didn't buy it.
We found a Chinese buffet for dinner which was nice and when we got back someone had turned on the heater and our room was like a furnace. Glad to leave to the next morning.
We did the blue one first, stopped had something to drink, onto the red route and that took ages then off again at Trafalgar Square to have another drink and thent he yellow route but we got on the wrong side of the road and ended up doing the whole thing and we didn't get off the bus until after 6pm. The weather had been great for the open top bus. It was also very busy being Easter and the coming royal wedding. We went out for dinner and finally got home at 9.10
Monday we looked after Mackenzie so that Katherine and Dave could do some shopping and mum and John also had an easy morning planned. We all went down to Wimbledon park with Mackenzie and it was very busy. She of course loved it.
Mum and John left at 2pm to go to their hotel for the night as their tour of England, Scotland and Ireland left on the Tues morning.
Matt and Jana and Stew came for dinner that night.
Tuesday saw us packing up and leaving the house. We left at 10am to go to Kingston to pick up our rental car and Katherine and co left around 10.30 to go to Stew's new house (which was Matt's old house). They stayed there for the next 2 nights until they flew out on Thursday. (they have arrived home and are now having to adjust.)
Tuesday we headed out without Jane's help and found Brookland race track and the Mercede Benz museum. We only went into the Brooklands museum which had old cars, racing cars and some of the old track. Also planes. It was quite good.
We then got out Jane (our gps) and found out we hadn't even got past Heathrow.
We travelled to Bath and found our accommodation. We had been last time but we felt we hadn't done it justice. We had two nights here. We were a bit disappointed with our accomodation. The size of the ensuite was no bigger than a wardrobe and adjusting the water was interesting.
On Wednesday we went to the American museum. It is the only wholly American museum outside of the US.
I was mainly there to see the quilts. They were great but of course we weren't allowed to take pictures and the book was very heavy so didn't buy it.
We found a Chinese buffet for dinner which was nice and when we got back someone had turned on the heater and our room was like a furnace. Glad to leave to the next morning.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Church Wedding 23rd April 2011
Well apologies for not keeping up with my writing but it has been busy.
Saturday the sun was up early and it was going to be 25deg for the day, possibility of rain late afternoon.
Up early so as to be able to all get a shower in. Katherine not feeling well, Taxi arrived at 10.50 and we were in Kingston by11.20.
The church was decorated with lots of vases of flowers and white petals down either side of the aisle. It looked very pretty. The girl in charge had done a lovely job. She had been there since 6am that morning.
There was a bit of an upset with the bridesmaids dresses. A mix up with the sizes saw one girl trying to wear a 10 when she was a 12 and after alot of tooing and froing one of the girls gave up her dress and squashed herself into the 10.
Mackenzie got into her dress and thought it was great and of course she looked so pretty.(unfortunately Owen didn't manage to get a pic of her.)
The boys were there in their suits looking very spiffy or should I say "dapper"
Our friends had arrived by train before us and Owen,s cousins from Topsham also arrived. Mackenzie had on her dress and was running around. Then we found out Jana was running late. Very late.
She had said she would be there by 12.10pm but unfortunately didn't leave home till 12 and then got caught in a huge traffic jam and at least one and a half hours later finally arrived.
Anyway the wedding went off well and it was very relaxed and had light moments too.Both sets of parents were asked if they would release their son/daughter which I thought was nice.
Matt was a bit emotional and he made us all cry too.
They had written their vows to say at the church service,(and as they had had their official ceremony and signed the register on the Wednesday), they signed them instead and then had all the family members sign them also.
We then went out to the foyer area where the high tea was set up and we had the cutting of the cake and also the speeches and of course food and drink.
I think I forgot to mention there were 7, yes seven, bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen.
Also a junior bridesmaid and a flowergirl and a pageboy who got carried down the aisle.
After that we went to Richmond park for more photos. Unfortunately our taxi driver got lost and dropped us off a long way from where we had to go and by the time we got there we were very tired and the feet weren't too impressed either.
We left them in the park having even more pics taken and we got a lift to our bus stop and we headed for home. By the time the bus got to where we had to change buses, it was raining and we all got rather wet. There had been lots of thunder and dark clouds whilst we were at the park but the bridal party did not get wet.
We were all quite tired by the time we got home.
Saturday the sun was up early and it was going to be 25deg for the day, possibility of rain late afternoon.
Up early so as to be able to all get a shower in. Katherine not feeling well, Taxi arrived at 10.50 and we were in Kingston by11.20.
The church was decorated with lots of vases of flowers and white petals down either side of the aisle. It looked very pretty. The girl in charge had done a lovely job. She had been there since 6am that morning.
There was a bit of an upset with the bridesmaids dresses. A mix up with the sizes saw one girl trying to wear a 10 when she was a 12 and after alot of tooing and froing one of the girls gave up her dress and squashed herself into the 10.
Mackenzie got into her dress and thought it was great and of course she looked so pretty.(unfortunately Owen didn't manage to get a pic of her.)
The boys were there in their suits looking very spiffy or should I say "dapper"
Our friends had arrived by train before us and Owen,s cousins from Topsham also arrived. Mackenzie had on her dress and was running around. Then we found out Jana was running late. Very late.
She had said she would be there by 12.10pm but unfortunately didn't leave home till 12 and then got caught in a huge traffic jam and at least one and a half hours later finally arrived.
Anyway the wedding went off well and it was very relaxed and had light moments too.Both sets of parents were asked if they would release their son/daughter which I thought was nice.
Matt was a bit emotional and he made us all cry too.
They had written their vows to say at the church service,(and as they had had their official ceremony and signed the register on the Wednesday), they signed them instead and then had all the family members sign them also.
We then went out to the foyer area where the high tea was set up and we had the cutting of the cake and also the speeches and of course food and drink.
I think I forgot to mention there were 7, yes seven, bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen.
Also a junior bridesmaid and a flowergirl and a pageboy who got carried down the aisle.
After that we went to Richmond park for more photos. Unfortunately our taxi driver got lost and dropped us off a long way from where we had to go and by the time we got there we were very tired and the feet weren't too impressed either.
We left them in the park having even more pics taken and we got a lift to our bus stop and we headed for home. By the time the bus got to where we had to change buses, it was raining and we all got rather wet. There had been lots of thunder and dark clouds whilst we were at the park but the bridal party did not get wet.
We were all quite tired by the time we got home.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thurs 21st and Friday 22nd
Well I am getting behind with posts. Thursday we all went in separate directions. I have a sore groin and hip from too much walking in one hit so I decided to mostly stay home and rest it. I did go by bus to a shopping centre to do some shopping but was able to go at my own pace and just wander. I bought a pair of slip on, tone up shoes and did the shopping required, then came home to relax.Katherine and Dave went to see Wicked that night in London and we baby sat. They said it was brilliant.
Mum and John went into Kingston and Owen went into London on his own and walked a lot and visited the Imperial Musuem and other areas.
Friday we went into Kingston had a wander into some shops then off to the church to help set up for the wedding. Lots of sitting around and a long day of not doing a lot. My feet blew up a bit so I sat like "lady muck" on the chesterfield couch with my feet up.
Katherine and co arrived in the afternoon for the rehearsal and Mum and John went into Kingston to do some shopping then home.Owen and I ended up going out with the boys for dinner at a Jamie Oliver restaurant in Kingston and back to Stew's house for a while then home. Long day.
Mum and John went into Kingston and Owen went into London on his own and walked a lot and visited the Imperial Musuem and other areas.
Friday we went into Kingston had a wander into some shops then off to the church to help set up for the wedding. Lots of sitting around and a long day of not doing a lot. My feet blew up a bit so I sat like "lady muck" on the chesterfield couch with my feet up.
Katherine and co arrived in the afternoon for the rehearsal and Mum and John went into Kingston to do some shopping then home.Owen and I ended up going out with the boys for dinner at a Jamie Oliver restaurant in Kingston and back to Stew's house for a while then home. Long day.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday 20th
Number one wedding.
Matt and Jana were doing the legal wedding today.
Mackenzie was running a temperature the night before and was still not well today so Dave stayed home with her.
We caught a taxi to Wandsworth Town Hall.
Every one finally arrived by 10.10am. The ceremony began around 10.30 after Matt and Jana had answered questions and filled in paperwork.
It was in a lovely room and was a lovely ceremony for a registry office.
We then hopped a bus for Putney and The Boathouse for lunch. By the time we had lunch it was extremely late but it was nice and we played musical chairs so we had chats to everyone. We finally left there well after 3. We were all pretty tired again as it had been a long day and quite warm again.
We had prepared for 15 to 20deg whilst here but the past two days had been 25-26deg and quite warm. We even got sunburnt on Tuesday.
Matt and Jana were doing the legal wedding today.
Mackenzie was running a temperature the night before and was still not well today so Dave stayed home with her.
We caught a taxi to Wandsworth Town Hall.
Every one finally arrived by 10.10am. The ceremony began around 10.30 after Matt and Jana had answered questions and filled in paperwork.
It was in a lovely room and was a lovely ceremony for a registry office.
We then hopped a bus for Putney and The Boathouse for lunch. By the time we had lunch it was extremely late but it was nice and we played musical chairs so we had chats to everyone. We finally left there well after 3. We were all pretty tired again as it had been a long day and quite warm again.
We had prepared for 15 to 20deg whilst here but the past two days had been 25-26deg and quite warm. We even got sunburnt on Tuesday.
Tuesday 19th
Today mum, John, Owen and I went into London to catch the river cruise down the Thames to the flood barriers. It was very busy and people can be quite rude.
It was a beautiful morning and not cold at all on the boat. We came back from the barriers and Mum and John got off at Greenwich. We contined back to St Katherine's dock at Tower Bridge and wandered around the quay area where there were lots of power boats, yachts and dutch clippers. We had lunch at a place called The Dickens Inn and then walked over Tower Bridge to the south side of the Thames and met up with Stew for about 1hr. We walked on to see the replica of the Golden Hind which was Frances Drake's ship he circumnavigated the world in. We then walked along all kinds of streets, some narrow and cobbled and ended up missing where we could catch the bus and walked over the Black Friars bridge to the north side of the Thames to catch the underground. My hips and groin had completely had it by this time and we headed for home. It was a long day. Out at 9am and home at 5pm.
Dinner in, cooked pasta
It was a beautiful morning and not cold at all on the boat. We came back from the barriers and Mum and John got off at Greenwich. We contined back to St Katherine's dock at Tower Bridge and wandered around the quay area where there were lots of power boats, yachts and dutch clippers. We had lunch at a place called The Dickens Inn and then walked over Tower Bridge to the south side of the Thames and met up with Stew for about 1hr. We walked on to see the replica of the Golden Hind which was Frances Drake's ship he circumnavigated the world in. We then walked along all kinds of streets, some narrow and cobbled and ended up missing where we could catch the bus and walked over the Black Friars bridge to the north side of the Thames to catch the underground. My hips and groin had completely had it by this time and we headed for home. It was a long day. Out at 9am and home at 5pm.
Dinner in, cooked pasta
Sunday 17th, Monday 18th
Sunday morning saw us going to church in Kingston with Stew. Had to catch a couple of buses. We were all still pretty tired so went home from there. It was Katherine's 30th birthday and we were going out for dinner.
We all rested for the afternoon and we went in to Picadilly Circus to a place called Adam's Rib for dinner. Jana's family also came and I met Koot (pronounced kwet) for the first time.
Jana's family are very friendly and we have all felt at home together very quickly.
Monday Owen and I ended up at Canary Wharf at a Museum. Problem is we did a lot of walking to find it. Finally rocked up home about 4.30 after doing shopping for dinner.
Katherine and David took Mackenzie to Wimbledon Park and Mum and John went up to the local shops but generally had a rest day.
Today was mum's 81st birthday.
We all rested for the afternoon and we went in to Picadilly Circus to a place called Adam's Rib for dinner. Jana's family also came and I met Koot (pronounced kwet) for the first time.
Jana's family are very friendly and we have all felt at home together very quickly.
Monday Owen and I ended up at Canary Wharf at a Museum. Problem is we did a lot of walking to find it. Finally rocked up home about 4.30 after doing shopping for dinner.
Katherine and David took Mackenzie to Wimbledon Park and Mum and John went up to the local shops but generally had a rest day.
Today was mum's 81st birthday.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, Sat 15th and 16th
We left Folkestone and travelled to Royal Tunbridge Wells. Had no idea exactly where we were going once we arrived so parked and went on foot. We did lots of walking and saw the Pantiles and decided after a while that we would cancel our B & B and tell Stew we were coming to stay the night if that was ok.
In the end we picked Matt up from work, went to his and Jana's new flat for dinner with them and Maxi and then home to Stew's for the night.
Sat morning we went into Kingston for Stew to buy some fun stuff for Matt to wear for his buck's night and then back to get our car and head on over to Wimbledon to the house we were staying in.
Short catch up with Kath, Dave and Mackenzie and checking out the place then we all went our separate ways to take both cars back.
2& 1/2 hrs for us and 3hr for Kath and co. We were all glad to have arrived back. But 1/2 an hour later we were back on the road. Kath, Mackenzie and I to Jana's hen's night and one of the girls picked us up which was lovely and the guys to meet up with the boys at a pub for dinner.
Jana's friends had done a lovely job of decorating for the hen's night and we had a lovely time and the boys seem to have had a fun time also. Matt had been dressed in a kids tutu, bunny ears and had to wear a sign and beg for money for his honeymoon. Believe it or not he actually made 30pound!!
I am sure I will be able to get some pics soon.
Jana's was a little bit more sedate but fun. A lovely bunch of girls. Another one of which gave us all a lift home.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thurs 14th
The main reason for being in Folkestone was a railway not far away which is a one-third scale steam railway. It operates from Hythe through Dymchurch, St Mary's, New Romney and on to Dungeness. We were the first in the carpark which is unusual for us and had to wait an hour till it ran and by that time the Kids starting arriving. The first group were so excited. It was an hour ride to Dungeness which is also where there is a nuclear power station now but it is on an area that used to be underwater eons ago and it is very flat and nothing but pebbles but never the less people have homes out there a bit more sparse closer to the end of the peninsula. There wasn't a lot to see there so we caught the same train back. It was there for 20mins. We then got off at New Romney to see a model train exhibition and arrived back at Hythe around 2.30. Again by this time it was time for a siesta, but of course I am writing this instead. Not sure where dinner is tonight.
Wed 13th
Today we headed north from Canterbury to Whitstable on the coast and followed the coast through Herne Bay, Reculver, Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Deal, Cover to our 2night stopover in Folkestone at the Clifton Hotel. Stopped in a few spots along the way. Went to a cliff top cafe at Capel Le Ferne for a cuppa and bite and then arrived at Folkestone around 2ish. Owen had booked this place from Aus and asked for a sea view room. It is a lovely big room with a couple of lounge chairs and bay window. The room has floors that are up and down and creak like crazy so you can't creep around the place. It is a little tired in some ways, especially the bathroom and could do with the tv being upgraded to a digital but over all it is ok. We went out for a walk along the Leas along the promenade. It was cool but was a good walk. Owen had wanted to stay at the Grand but it was just a bit pricey but it is a lovely building. Lots of nice old architecture around the area. We had dinner in the hotel restaurant which was nice and coffee in the lounge.
Tuesday 12th April
Decided to leave Stew's when he left for work. So we were out the door by 7.45am. Needed to get fuel and also get Jane to work. JANE is the lady who speaks on our GPS so when you read about Jane that is who we are referring to. Took a while for Jane to fire up and find the satellites as she was last used in Aus, but we also had to remember how to put her on to the UK maps. We hadn't had breakfast and decided to find somewhere along the way. Why can you never find something when you need it, or find it when you are in the wrong lane. We ended up eventually at a Sainsbury's superstore, which is a very large supermarket which also had a cafe attached. Bye this stage it was 10am and we needed a drink badly. Eventually sated we headed on towards Leeds Castle. Over here it is school holidays also and by the time we got there, I counted at least 10buses and oodles of cars with families, or grandparents and kids. Not so bad once inside the castle as a lot of them went for the maze and other areas. Beautiful castle which we missed last time so glad we found it this time. It has a large moat and beautiful grounds. They are going to put up a large screen in the grounds so people can watch the Royal Wedding on Friday 29th. From there we went to Canterbury but by this stage we were starting to feel very tired again. We parked outside the Cathedral walls and finally got a connection to book a B&B in Canterbury. We had planned to go further on but we decided to plonk there. The Canterbury Cathedral is massive. Lots of tourist too. Remember it is school hols but also lots of European bus travellers. Lovely cobbled streets in the surrounding area and we would have liked to spend more time be we had had enough. B&B was nice, walked to a pub call "Ye Old Beverley" and had a lovely meal. Crashed early and had a nice full english brekky. I have to stop having them. I already feel fatter.!!!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
UK Trip 2011 for Matt and Jana's wedding
Hi folks, we made it to London ok. On time, but we missed our "looked forward to welcome from the boys" as they were late, and we were unable to phone them as Owen's phone had died for some reason. We had to get picked up from Heathrow to where we had booked our car from as we had found somewhere much cheaper than the usual car hire places. Whilst there we plugged in the phone to ring the boys and made arrangements to meet at Stew's house. We arrived about 10mins before them. Luckily we had looked at his place on google earth when he moved or we would never have found it. It was great to see the boys and finally meet Jana face to face and also Jana's mum, Maxie. It was Owen's birthday so we went out for dinner beside the Thames and it was nice. Got to bed around 9.30-10pm and by that time we we were struggling to keep the eyes open. Conked out immediately. Plugged in our phone
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