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.

Dad's Birthday 4th August

Although the Brisbane walkers are all recovering from the flu, we recovered in time to celebrate Dad's birthday on Saturday. We went out to lunch where Dad celebrated with a few ciders.

"I'm sure this is the new way to tell the bar staff that you are ready for the the next one"

John came round and bought a bottle of port that had been bottled in 1947, it is as old as Dad.

That night the birthday present from England was presented and the birthday cake came out.

I'm still getting the hang of the camera so Dad had to pose a few times, while we sang Happy Birthday.

"What a lovely couple"

Bec's Trip -Peter's Birthday Party

On my last weekend in England I was able to go visit Richard and Simone and help celebrate Peter's 3rd birthday. For a change the sun had come out and it was lovely day for a BBQ.

Uncle George getting ready for his photo

Enjoying the lovely sun and beautiful garden.

The newest member to the family.

Bec's Trip

It was great to travel around and see some more of the sites in the England, but the main reason I was there was to see Jamie

And of course Adrian

and Rachel
Jamie I had a great time hanging out, tried to convince him that it was fun to be in the bouncer. Wasn't too sure at the beginning

But the realised his aunt was right and it is fun to be like tigger


One for the Photo Album.

Bec's Trip - trips around england

While I was over in England I tried to do a few trips around to places I hadn't been before. Of course being England the weather wasn't the best but I had planned ahead and took my umbrella with me, just forgot to take a few more warm clothes.

Rachel and Jamie took me to Kew gardens luckily it was a day that didn't rain much.

The nice people in front us convinced the peacock to display it's feathers for me.

On one of my trips the sun did come out when I was visiting Shakespeare's birth house in Stafford-On-Avon.

It was also out when I went to Oxford.
However it didn't last and it was raining when we went to Warwick castle.

But the Sun did come out just as we were leaving to go back to London.

When I went to Bath it was nice on the trip down but started raining when we left the bus.

It was only drizzling by the time we got to Stone Henge, but it was very windy there, so I froze as I went around the barrier.

Bec's Trip - Judy's Birthday Party Bash

I recently went over to London to visit Adrian, Rachel and Jamie and timed it so that I was able to go to the big birthday bash that Judy had organised in June. I had a great time catching up with everyone as it has been a few years since I have had a chance to catch up with the big extended family in England.

Chris's Birthday Retreat

Went up to the Sunshine Coast so that Chris could have her Birthday Gliding adventure however the weather was not kind and so the glide had to be postponed.

We did however manage to book our accomodation for Chris's Birthday retreat in January and we have two rooms - check it out at www.sundeck.com.au