Chris and Fiona's Wedding Nov 8th 2008

Chris and Fiona's wedding was held at the Grotto, Woodlands of Marburg on Saturday 8th November and was an opportunity to catch up with the Ipswich Walkers.

The marriage ceremony

We shared a table with Mark and Belinda, Jacob and Miriam Joy.

Also on our table were Jocelyn and Graham's kids - Brad and Sharon (with husband Trevor)

Cutting of the cake

JAPANESE TRIP OCTOBER 2008

Chris and Bob have just spent 9 days in Japan - with 6 days in Tokyo and 3 in Kyoto.

The first order of business was the mandatory half day tour of Tokyo

Chris being brave at the Tokyo tower and standing on the glass viewing floor.

Outside the Imperial Palace

Sunday markets at the entrance to the Asakusa Kannon Temple

Having a daydream in front of the saki barrels

Chris getting a sugar fix from sugar encrusted sweet potato chippies

Bob dolled up for his presentation - Chris in the mean time was out on Tokyo Bay enjoying the sights

On Wednesday we had a day trip to Mt Fuji

At the highest point that you can access by road on Mt Fuji

On a short cruise on Lake Hakone

On the Tursday we travelled on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto where we spent 3 nights soaking up the culture.

Chris mixing it with the monks at the Golden Pavilion - Rokuon-Ji Temple , Kyoto

At the Nijo Castle

Some cross cultural exchange at one of the Starbucks in Kyoto

Chris on the Philosophers Walk Kyoto

On the train back to Tokyo airport we saw an almost cloud free Mt Fuji

HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE

Chris and Bob have just spent just over five weeks in Europe -the itinerary included 1.5 weeks in London with Rachel, Adrian and Jamie. There was plenty of time for pub lunches and walks in the park when the weather was kindly.

walking along the Thames at Windsor

checking out the pubs at Windsor

Followed by a week in France that included - Eurostar from London to Paris, a hire car from Gare de Nord to Trepail, a week in a Gite in Trepail owned by Sylvie Gerard-Maizieres, visits to Epernay, Reims and Troyes and the champagne houses of Taitanger, Mumm and Moet & Chandon, George Maizieres and Herbert Beaufort. Sally and Graham spent a few days with us visiting the houses and sampling the brews.

A highlight of the trip was a visit to the George Maizieres champagne house and a guided tour conducted by Ms Sylvie Gerard-Maizieres , daughter of the founder, and current producer of the House (and owner of the Gite where we stayed).

The last couple of days of our stay in the champagne region were very bleak.

Followed by a week of touring in Slovenia in a small group which included one American lady born in Slovenia, a couple from Sydney and a brother/sister from Tasmania whose father was born in Slovenia, and Jon our easy going guide-driver. Highlights were the scenery from the coastal to the Alps, the food and wine and the great company.

Russian memorial to the WW2 prisioners of war that died building the road across the Vrsic Pass.

Vrsic pass through the Julian Alps at 1611m

Chris trying to communicate with a higher being.

New snow in June on the mountains to the east of Bled.