Hi all,
We are in Paris, but I thought I'd better write something leading up to Paris first.
Last week was the last week of school until early September (it is going to take something disastrous to wipe the smile of my face!). The highlight (and lowlight) of the last week was the School trip to go Paintballing. I went with both Declan and Billy and about 45 kids and 5 staff. It was quite enjoyable, except for the student who put a couple of marbles in with the paintballs. They would have killed someone if he wasn't caught!
On Saturday I went to Newbury races (about 2 hour drive) on a bus trip and got home about midnight - enjoyable day but paid for it the next day. The races were of a good standard and betting wise I left the track 8 pounds up. From the race track we went to Chepstow and"invaded" a club, where there were lots of drinks and singing - the highlight being "Down Under" and "Waltzing Matilda".
Sunday morning, we drove to Manchester to meet Linda and Doug, who had flown in from Melbourne on the way to Scotland. We had a lovely lunch at the hotel where they were staying - Midlands Hotel, afterwards we had a little wander around the city and then headed home. Unfortunately, it rained most of the day. On they way home we went via Old Trafford and the the new football stadium of Manchester United.
Early Monday morning we caught a plane from Cardiff to Paris and arrived at our Apartment at about 1:00 pm. After settling in we went for a walk to Sacre Coeur. It has magnificent views over Paris and the mosaic (sorry, no photos) inside the cathedral is worth the visit.
From Sacre Coeur, we walked to the Moulin Rouge and then back to our apartment. That evening Tania and Jeff Cornish come over and we had lots of fun drinking, laughing and generally being silly!
Tuesday morning was very slow but we walked into the heart of Paris, where we saw the Louvre, La Seine, Notre Dame and the Bastille, by this stage Kristin and Andy (to a small degree) were spent, so we caught the Metro home for a kip. Tuesday evening we went to the Eiffel Tower, where we met Tania and Jeff for drinks and had our dinner on the lawns (there may have been a drink or two,... Tan, Jeff, Kristin and the boys at about 10 pm climbed the first 2 levels of the tower (about 700 steps), while Andy minded the bags and gear. We also had a bit of fun buying trinkets and more beers from the Somalian touts! We arrived home about 1 am.
Wednesday, we caught the metro to the Arc de Triomphe, did the tourist things and then wandered down the Champs Elysees back to the Louvre. What a fantastic avenue and everywhere you looked you can see some of the most wonderful building and landmarks that Paris has to offer.
It is late Wednesday afternoon, and we are back in our apartment having a quiet beer watching the Tour de France (pity about Cadel not doing well! - I'll have a word to him on Sunday!) and are expecting Tania and Jeff over for a good-bye drink (they leave tomorrow morning).
Au revoir for now.
PS all the pics are going up each day.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Stratford-upon-Avon, Castles and Cricket
Hi all,
Been a very busy week (9 days). It started last Saturday, when all 5 of us went to Stratford-upon-Avon. It is a very pretty little town with lots of tourists. We first dropped in at Anne Hathaway's (Shakespeare's wife) house and then into the town itself. We wandered around and saw the sights of Stratford-upon-Avon. From here we headed to Warwick, where we had lunch in the park. From Warwick we drove through Kenilworth then off to Hereford. Hereford had a nice Cathedral and was a typical British town. From Hereford we started to head back to Cardiff via Hay-on-Wye and Brecon.
Sunday morning, Andy and Declan took Lucy to Caerphilly Castle and Castle Coch.
Lucy left for Amsterdam on Monday and then went to Brussels and Brugge and by the time you read this she will be on her way to Milan and returning to Cardiff on Thursday evening.
Andy played skittles again on Tuesday and had his best round so far: 33 (25 is considered par)
The rest of the week was cricket, cricket, cricket! The first Ashes test was in Cardiff. The boys went on Day 1 and was very enjoyable. On Day 4 we all went and had a very good day even though the last session was washed out (ultimately this cost Australia the test!). We have just arrived home from Day 5 - a fantastic day's cricket - unfortunately Monty Panesar and James Anderson somehow held us out for 11 overs. The English (& Welsh) crowd were carrying on like they had won the test, but the signs look good for the Aussies for the rest of the series.
Anyhow last week of school for the academic year and then 6 weeks off - Whoopee! All pics have been posted on the Web Albums,
Cheers,
Andy
PS Another good win for the Pies!! (Any sponsors for a return trip home, if we make the GF?)
Been a very busy week (9 days). It started last Saturday, when all 5 of us went to Stratford-upon-Avon. It is a very pretty little town with lots of tourists. We first dropped in at Anne Hathaway's (Shakespeare's wife) house and then into the town itself. We wandered around and saw the sights of Stratford-upon-Avon. From here we headed to Warwick, where we had lunch in the park. From Warwick we drove through Kenilworth then off to Hereford. Hereford had a nice Cathedral and was a typical British town. From Hereford we started to head back to Cardiff via Hay-on-Wye and Brecon.
Sunday morning, Andy and Declan took Lucy to Caerphilly Castle and Castle Coch.
Lucy left for Amsterdam on Monday and then went to Brussels and Brugge and by the time you read this she will be on her way to Milan and returning to Cardiff on Thursday evening.
Andy played skittles again on Tuesday and had his best round so far: 33 (25 is considered par)
The rest of the week was cricket, cricket, cricket! The first Ashes test was in Cardiff. The boys went on Day 1 and was very enjoyable. On Day 4 we all went and had a very good day even though the last session was washed out (ultimately this cost Australia the test!). We have just arrived home from Day 5 - a fantastic day's cricket - unfortunately Monty Panesar and James Anderson somehow held us out for 11 overs. The English (& Welsh) crowd were carrying on like they had won the test, but the signs look good for the Aussies for the rest of the series.
Anyhow last week of school for the academic year and then 6 weeks off - Whoopee! All pics have been posted on the Web Albums,
Cheers,
Andy
PS Another good win for the Pies!! (Any sponsors for a return trip home, if we make the GF?)
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wimbledon, Skittles and Cricket
Hi all,
Kristin and Lucy went to London last Sunday and the boys "batched" it for a few days. The highlight of the trip was the visit to Wimbledon - a 3 hour wait in the queue - but Kristin is still talking about it! They sat on "Henman Hill" or is that now "Murray Mound" and watched Lleyton win and then Murray play the first game under the roof.
Kristin and Lucy went to London last Sunday and the boys "batched" it for a few days. The highlight of the trip was the visit to Wimbledon - a 3 hour wait in the queue - but Kristin is still talking about it! They sat on "Henman Hill" or is that now "Murray Mound" and watched Lleyton win and then Murray play the first game under the roof.
Lucy has got her new passport and will start travelling again next week - Amsterdam is probably the first stop.
Andy played his fourth game of Skittles this week. I am playing in a team with Sarah's father
and brother. The expression, "its not all beer and skittles" is certainly not apt for skittles, because that all it is! Anyhow we have won 3 of the 4 games that I played in. Our only loss was to an all female team, who's youngest member was about 60! Personally I have scored 13 (terrible), 18 (better), 23 (even better) and 28 (respectable) - I don't think there is much more room for improvement, but certainly for more beers!
During the week the staff at Michaelston played a cricket match (20/20) against another staff of a local high school. We were a couple short, so Billy and Declan.jpg)
played also. They both did very well, Billy 40 n.o. and Declan took 3 wickets. Andy ended up with a sore knee again!! As well as hitting some big 6's.
This weekend we may go for a drive to Stratford-Upon-Avon (Will Shakespeare) and looking forward to the Ashes Test match next week in Cardiff. We are going Days 1, 4 & 5.
Cheers,
Andy
PS Great win to the Pies!! All Photos on the Web albums.
Andy played his fourth game of Skittles this week. I am playing in a team with Sarah's father
and brother. The expression, "its not all beer and skittles" is certainly not apt for skittles, because that all it is! Anyhow we have won 3 of the 4 games that I played in. Our only loss was to an all female team, who's youngest member was about 60! Personally I have scored 13 (terrible), 18 (better), 23 (even better) and 28 (respectable) - I don't think there is much more room for improvement, but certainly for more beers!During the week the staff at Michaelston played a cricket match (20/20) against another staff of a local high school. We were a couple short, so Billy and Declan
played also. They both did very well, Billy 40 n.o. and Declan took 3 wickets. Andy ended up with a sore knee again!! As well as hitting some big 6's.This weekend we may go for a drive to Stratford-Upon-Avon (Will Shakespeare) and looking forward to the Ashes Test match next week in Cardiff. We are going Days 1, 4 & 5.
Cheers,
Andy
PS Great win to the Pies!! All Photos on the Web albums.
PPS It appears Murray is now no longer British but just Scottish!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Lucy gets back from Prague - Oxford revisited
Hi all,
It has been a long week here!
Anyhow, Lucy got back Thursday pm from Prague and was in pretty good spirits - I think we did more worrying!!
Had a fun couple of days organising some money to be sent to Prague (Western Union) and then organising through the Consulate in Prague and Embassy in London to get her back to the UK. Lucy was able to get a Provisional Travel Document (a one way use document) and I arranged a flight to Bristol.
We all went to Oxford on Saturday and showed Lucy around - Lucy also bought a new camera. I'll be glad when her new Credit card arrives!!! On the way home we went to Tintern Abbey (near Chepstow). Photos have been posted on the Web Albums.
Lucy and Kristin Went to London (to organise the new passport) on Sunday and went to Wimbledon and will arrive home this evening.
Thanks to all who sent emails and contact details - all seems to be sorted.
cheers,
Andy
It has been a long week here!
Anyhow, Lucy got back Thursday pm from Prague and was in pretty good spirits - I think we did more worrying!!
Had a fun couple of days organising some money to be sent to Prague (Western Union) and then organising through the Consulate in Prague and Embassy in London to get her back to the UK. Lucy was able to get a Provisional Travel Document (a one way use document) and I arranged a flight to Bristol.
We all went to Oxford on Saturday and showed Lucy around - Lucy also bought a new camera. I'll be glad when her new Credit card arrives!!! On the way home we went to Tintern Abbey (near Chepstow). Photos have been posted on the Web Albums.
Lucy and Kristin Went to London (to organise the new passport) on Sunday and went to Wimbledon and will arrive home this evening.
Thanks to all who sent emails and contact details - all seems to be sorted.
cheers,
Andy
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Pembrokeshire:Meeting Russell Crowe...well almost!
Hi all, 
We just spent a weekend at Tenby in a 3 bedroom on-site van at Kiln Park. The van belongs to one of Kristin's workmates and it is almost as big as the house we are living in Cardiff!!! Kiln Park is like a little town, it would have about 300 vans like the one we stayed in, a small supermarket, a bar, a Burger King, Fish & Chip shop, Indoor and outdoor pool, a huge entertainment complex, next door to the Golf Course, etc... The park is located about a 15-20 minute walk along a wide sandy beach from the
Tenby town centre. We arrived Friday evening.
On Saturday, we went touring of the South West corner of Wales, Pembrokeshire. From Tenby we headed to Manorbier, which has the obligatory castle and also a nice little sandy beach. We travelled along the coast (although no sights from the road) until we arrived at a beautiful beach at Broadhaven South (actually nowhere near Broadhaven!!), being National Trust members we got free parking! The man at the gate was extremely helpful and pointed out where else we should go - including meeting Russell
Crowe!! the Broadhaven south beach was very pretty in a cove with a very big beach (tide was way out). Next stop around the corner was St.Govan's. At St.Govan's there is a chapel (built about 600 AD) on the cliff face above the water - see pics. Personally I couldn't think of a worse place to build a chapel!
Next stop was Stack Rocks and Green Bridge, which is located next to the tank firing range. From here we headed to Freshwater West, a mile long surf beach. On the beach was the film
set for Russell Crowe's next movie, Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott. The set-up here for the film was something you had to see to believe. The latest Harry Potter movie was also filmed here the week earlier. We spent about an hour and a half watching several takes of long boats landing and horses charging, camp fires, smoke bombs, helicopter camera shots,etc.. There would have been close to 300 actors and 100 horses in the scenes. On the Web Albums there are several movies and lots of pics. Rusty was a bit busy to talk to us, but I'm sure if time permitted he would have!! It 
was amazing to see the work behind the filming of a scene. Apparently the scene was about French soldiers arriving at Dover, they will use CGI to make the sand dune cliffs white.
From Freshwater we went through Pembroke (another castle - I've been reliably informed that there 365 castles in Wales - one for each day of the year!) and then headed to St. David's. St. David's is the spiritual capital of Wales and also the smallest city in the UK (Wells is the smallest in England). It has city status because of St. David's Cathedral, but it is no more than a big village.
We headed home to Tenby and walked into town for dinner. In the town centre there was few Hen's nights going on and there were plenty of pissed people (8
pm) - I'm sure they had an early start watching the British Lions lose in rugby to Sth. Africa.
On Sunday we went into Tenby again to catch a boat for a trip to Caldey Island, but the boats don't run on Sundays!! So we had lunch and packed up and headed back to Cardiff.
Cheers.
View Pembroke Peninsula in a larger map
We just spent a weekend at Tenby in a 3 bedroom on-site van at Kiln Park. The van belongs to one of Kristin's workmates and it is almost as big as the house we are living in Cardiff!!! Kiln Park is like a little town, it would have about 300 vans like the one we stayed in, a small supermarket, a bar, a Burger King, Fish & Chip shop, Indoor and outdoor pool, a huge entertainment complex, next door to the Golf Course, etc... The park is located about a 15-20 minute walk along a wide sandy beach from the
Tenby town centre. We arrived Friday evening.On Saturday, we went touring of the South West corner of Wales, Pembrokeshire. From Tenby we headed to Manorbier, which has the obligatory castle and also a nice little sandy beach. We travelled along the coast (although no sights from the road) until we arrived at a beautiful beach at Broadhaven South (actually nowhere near Broadhaven!!), being National Trust members we got free parking! The man at the gate was extremely helpful and pointed out where else we should go - including meeting Russell
Crowe!! the Broadhaven south beach was very pretty in a cove with a very big beach (tide was way out). Next stop around the corner was St.Govan's. At St.Govan's there is a chapel (built about 600 AD) on the cliff face above the water - see pics. Personally I couldn't think of a worse place to build a chapel!Next stop was Stack Rocks and Green Bridge, which is located next to the tank firing range. From here we headed to Freshwater West, a mile long surf beach. On the beach was the film
set for Russell Crowe's next movie, Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott. The set-up here for the film was something you had to see to believe. The latest Harry Potter movie was also filmed here the week earlier. We spent about an hour and a half watching several takes of long boats landing and horses charging, camp fires, smoke bombs, helicopter camera shots,etc.. There would have been close to 300 actors and 100 horses in the scenes. On the Web Albums there are several movies and lots of pics. Rusty was a bit busy to talk to us, but I'm sure if time permitted he would have!! It was amazing to see the work behind the filming of a scene. Apparently the scene was about French soldiers arriving at Dover, they will use CGI to make the sand dune cliffs white.From Freshwater we went through Pembroke (another castle - I've been reliably informed that there 365 castles in Wales - one for each day of the year!) and then headed to St. David's. St. David's is the spiritual capital of Wales and also the smallest city in the UK (Wells is the smallest in England). It has city status because of St. David's Cathedral, but it is no more than a big village.
We headed home to Tenby and walked into town for dinner. In the town centre there was few Hen's nights going on and there were plenty of pissed people (8
pm) - I'm sure they had an early start watching the British Lions lose in rugby to Sth. Africa.On Sunday we went into Tenby again to catch a boat for a trip to Caldey Island, but the boats don't run on Sundays!! So we had lunch and packed up and headed back to Cardiff.
Cheers.
View Pembroke Peninsula in a larger map
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Latest Happenings!
Hi all, 
In the last few weeks we have been doing a lot of different things, besides the mundane work and school. Last Saturday, we all (incl. Lucy) went back to Avebury, Stonehenge, Bath and Bristol (photos posted). Lucy really enjoyed this, boys were a bit 'ho-hum' and Kristin and I saw more things that we didn't see the first time. As we got close to Cardiff we were caught in a big downpour (1 to 2 inches) and the only trouble was poor vision and going through a huge puddle on the motorway at 60 mph!
In the last few weeks we have been doing a lot of different things, besides the mundane work and school. Last Saturday, we all (incl. Lucy) went back to Avebury, Stonehenge, Bath and Bristol (photos posted). Lucy really enjoyed this, boys were a bit 'ho-hum' and Kristin and I saw more things that we didn't see the first time. As we got close to Cardiff we were caught in a big downpour (1 to 2 inches) and the only trouble was poor vision and going through a huge puddle on the motorway at 60 mph!
On Sunday, Billy and Andy went to the Welsh Golf Open, a part of the European tour. It was at 
the Celtic Manor, the location for the 2010 Ryder Cup. We followed Richard Green (Aussie) for most of the afternoon, he finished 5th. Lucy, Kristin and Declan went into Cardiff and spent the afternoon at the Cardiff Castle.
the Celtic Manor, the location for the 2010 Ryder Cup. We followed Richard Green (Aussie) for most of the afternoon, he finished 5th. Lucy, Kristin and Declan went into Cardiff and spent the afternoon at the Cardiff Castle.Lucy went to Dublin on Monday evening and stayed with Tina (Jason's sister) & Shay. Lucy enjoyed the visit, which included seeing Shay(Drummer) play in a gig in Temple Bar (main nightlife area of Dublin) and a day trip to Cork. Lucy has been home for a day and this morning (3 am) caught a bus to Heathrow and has gone to Northern Germany 
(Hamburg). Lucy is staying with one of the exchange students(Doerte) who was at Rosebud last year.
(Hamburg). Lucy is staying with one of the exchange students(Doerte) who was at Rosebud last year.Declan played in a cricket match this week for Michaelston, they played a catholic school, St. John's in a 20 - 20 match. The opposition set 90 to win, Declan got a couple of wickets, then made 32 before being retired -so more kids could get a go -anyhow at this stage they needed 15 from 5 overs and still managed to lose by 5 runs!!! 
Most of our free time this week has been planning and booking our holidays for the long break. We have almost finalised our plans. Here is a summary: Week 1 - apartment in Paris (culminating with the finish of the Tour De France) - then for the next week and a half we are spending 2 days in each of the following cities: Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest. We are using planes, trains, buses and finally from Vienna to Budapest a Hydrofoil along the Danube. We return to Cardiff for a day and then on August 6th we head to London to begin a 3 week coach tour around Western Europe - Amsterdam, West Germany, Switzerland, Venice, Rome, Pisa, Southern France, Barcelona, Madrid and then up to Paris. Exact details can be found here.
We are having a quiet weekend and will be in touch soon.
cheers, Go PIES!!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Lucy Arrives
Hi all,
Just a quickie, Lucy arrived yesterday. Billy, Declan and Andy went to Heathrow to pick her up. Lucy was very tired and was in bed by 7:30 pm (and you may not believe it but there was still two and half hours of sunlight still and it was 25 C!!!!!). Today (Wed) Lucy walked!! into Cardiff with Kristin and caught the bus home all by herself! The boys and Andy took her for a look around Cardiff Bay and Penarth after school.
Cheers!
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