We are in PARIS!!!!

Wow what a journey so far...and I finally have internet again...

While in the Peak District we meet Peter & Lorna, our 2nd cousins on our Paternal Grandmothers side. We loved our time with them and being showed all the sights of this area. Especially being welcomed into their home for dinner and walking up the road to meet Jen, Matt and the kids.

The cottage we stayed in was built in 1598, mind blowing!! Our journey north took us slighly into wales, the country side changed quiet dramaticly and was stunning.

On Monday we headed north up into Scotland, we went through York to visit the Minster. If any one is ever going to go to York ensure you use the Park & Ride option that the majority of large towns use. I couldn't get out of there, I was getting a little grumpy trying too.... but worth the stress.

The weather has been warm.. wish I packed something with short sleeves!! "Oh Scotland will be freezing!" is what everyone told us... CRAP!!! Bloomin 16-17* The coast line of East Scotland was amazing with the calm sae and the scatters of old ruins of castles. Hard to imaging what it would have been like back in their day.

On Tuesday we drove up to see Pitlochry up above Perth, and yes Beth saw snow! from a distance. I tried to get as close as we could but the lane was getting too narrow. We had it all this day, started with a coastal walk past beach houses, then Beth a swim in the ocean.. Yes!! well a dip... then a few drops of rain and snow. Scotland is beautiful from the snippit we saw.

The sun shone brightly for 95% of our time in the UK, and our only rain was in London and for 5 minutes in Pitlochry Scotland.

Wednesday was our last day in the UK and we went for a sightsee around Edinburgh... before tackling the airport... once at the airport we had to organise help for mum and it made this part of the trip to Paris more managable. Just have to do the same for return to Sydney leg too. 

So we are in Paris.... it is Thursday morning I haven't see the Tower yet but will be shortly!!! after checking in and mum going to bed us 3 went across the road to Harry's New York bar.... Well that was an expensive couple of scotches with a hot dog.... the atmosphere was well worth it though... not sure AB is thinking the same this morning.... It is warm here too....

 So that is a short update... photos will come shortly as I havent even had time to upload the past 3 days onto computer yet...

Hope all is groovy with you all...

Jo & the Girls....

 PS excuse spelling mistakes... it is trying to correct it in french... and remember I did have a few scotches last night....

Photos :)

Port Isaac, Cornwall



where do I start??? and i am only half way through the holiday....



Anne Hathaway Cottage

Port Gaverne, Cornwall

Port Isaac

Country Drive

The Plough Inn, Shutlanger, yes St Patricks Day

So Far...

Howdy,

We are having a blast.....

Today we having an easy day, back into Swanbourne then onto Milton Keynes and then to potter around and try and pack for tomorrow. Tomorrow we move up to the Peak District for 3 nights, and not sure if we will have Internet so thought we better bring you all up to date of what we have been up too.

Monday: This was our last day with Ron & Shirley, we visited Charlton-on-Otmoor then bid farewell to our new family. From here we drove  into Windsor and enjoyed a trip on the Hop on Hop off bus, we were lucky to have had such a glorious day. Dinner was at The Red Lion, Stratton Audley.

Tuesday: An extremely foggy start to the day so I was little scared to drive on the motor ways as the drivers over here are a little bit CRAZY!!! so we visited little villages all through the Cotswolds. We had morning tea at Doddington after finding a fabulous antique store. I was able to find the village our Pommie friends are from, and Pauline was very impressed with my find :) .

Wednesday: With fog and all I was confident enough to tackle the main roads... We headed down to Stonehenge, Woodhenge, Exeter, and the main attraction of the and the reason for such a long drive, Port Isaac. The Doc wasn't in he will be back next month. We enjoyed a Cornish pasty and an ice cream, we worth the drive for them. We headed back up through the hustle and bustle of Bristol then onto Bath (yes it was dark by now). It was a huge day in the car to cover such an amount of miles but we knew that was going to be the case for this day.

I will upload a photo post this afternoon, as you could imagine there are so many too choose from.

Hope all are groovy

The Girls

AJ & AB with their ice creams

Granny watching the duckies at Bourton On-The-Water

The 3 kids at Stonehenge

AL waiting for a boat at Aynho

The girls at Aynho Wharf

Charlton-on-Otmoor & Windsor

Just a photo post today...

Sunrise 14th March

Make shift ear muffs

Charlton-on-Otmoor

A Beth size door

Windsor Castle

Eton College, with Tail wearing student

Windsor Castle

London

Guess what I am in England!!!!!

Yeh I know you know, but I still can not believe it!!!! But seeing the sights of London helped...

Well we planned to go to London on the Sunday as it would be the quietest of all days... but NO..St Patricks day march was on so a few million people decided to join us....

One thing about this trip is I don't think I have ever laughed so much in my life... We are having a ball, and creating many wonderful memories....

After leading the troops through the Underground I am ready to tackle the world....

On the Tube

3 excited little kids on the Hop on Hop off Bus...

Shocking photo, but who cares we are in London....

Big Ben

Swanbourne 12th March 2011

I still can not believe I have been to Swanbourne, where our Grandfather was born and raised until he came to Australia in 1873.. To see the country side in which they lived and worked on the local farms.
Today we meet more family and spent getting to know each other over lunch at the Swanbourne Tea Rooms.

A beautiful Cottage in Little Horwood

Waiting for the train at Swanbourne, will be a long wait...

Enjoying lunch at the Swanbourne Tea Rooms

Walking around Swanbourne with newly met family

Seeing the sights by foot, with Ron

WE Arrived..

Howdy,

We arrived safe and sound just very tired.... gee its a long way....without sleep... flight was good bit rough over the Middle East.... left Sydney and hour late but arrived at Heathrow on time... London supplied us with a nice sunny day...

After collect car, I took the liberty of getting very LOST!!!! but we saw heaps of the country side.... and it is beautiful....

After finally meeting up with Ron & Shirley Currell in Bicester, we had a well deserved coffee.. Ron then took Beth, Linda and I for a walk to see the local graveyard and church..

The Grange Cottages are to die for, the country side is yet again beautiful... the animals make us feel right at home with Harry the black Lab, Tilly the cat that laid on your foot with every step, Alpacas, and an Irish Horse and 3 ponies...

We had our first English Pub experience and it was everything we thought it would be...Yes a fire and great personalities.... not to mention a yummy curry... On leaving the publican gave us a memento to take home, a house shoe plaque, very fitting as dad loved his horseshoes....

We all enjoyed a good night sleep, just want to find our land legs... still get the odd sway happening..

Today we are off to Swanbourne to meet some of Ron's family and walk the grounds of our ancestors....

Stay safe

Lots of love the Girls....

Bangkok

Happy Traveller's

St Edburg, Bicester

The Daffodils Pauline promised we would see

Dinner at the Pub in Fringford

See could have brought the dogs....

The Butchers Arms....