Rugby, Rubgy, Rugby! And a few other sports..

The month of October was filled with rugby madness. Todd had a boy’s weekend to Paris while I skilled up on a Pilates course. Then it was an influx of kiwis, with Mum and Dad arriving on the 2^nd, I found them sitting in my lounge drinking tea! (Little bit confused about my times obviously!) Then Ange arrived later that week, as mum and dad headed north in their camper.  Then it was up early for rugby on the weekend, followed by a trip to the Ascot races. A great day with more sunshine than our June trip! Enjoyed a lovely picnic, relaxing wine and some fabulous company. The following weekend went to a pub in London for the Rugby World Cup final - bit of a nail bitter! But great to see the boys pull though in the end. Todd and I headed north with some friends for another rugby event the weekend after – this time the four nations for the league in Warrington. We also nipped over to Liverpool for a day,which was good fun freezing as it was! 

Pretty Horses

Picnic time

Ange and I

Go horsies!

Ouch! Liverpool dragon?

a dejected team after an afternoon of walking

Smile! its freezing!

Home Sweet Home

After our Welsh trip had a brief respite before repacking and Todd and I headed down under at the beginning of Sept. Had a chilled birthday the day before we left, and got utterly spoilt with a new toy for our travels! Was well knackered by the time we got onto our flight after a day of work. But it was smooth sailing via Singapore – awesome airport: koi pond, butterfly garden, and a much needed hot shower – then into Brisbane. Chilled out there for a few days, getting over jet lag, cruising the city, enjoying the sunshine, and a dip in the pool. Then caught the train to Gold Coast to meet up with all Todd’s family for the wedding. Lovely to meet all the family, very chilled ceremony on the canal side, then back to uncles for a reception feast and some awesome tunes. After a fun family filled weekend, jumped the ditch to Wellington. Coming in was like you never left! Great to catch up and see all my family again. Spent the week catching up with friends, ice cream on the waterfront, hail storms, and chilling out with the fam. Just your typical Wellington! Then it was off again back home to London! A whirlwind trip, but well worth it to see all the new faces, and catch up with the old ones. 

Brisbane

Hotel view in Goldy - amazing golf resort!

Todd's mum, me and Todd at the Wedding

Hail in Wellies, as you do

Cafe ice.. need i say more :)

Massive fish in Singapore

Gorgeous butterfly's

Mighty Wales

For the August bank holiday weekend Fi, Todd and I set off on a roady to the mighty Wales! Drove up north and stopped in Shrewsbury for lunch. A gorgeous old medieval walled city. Enjoyed a scrummy classic pub lunch, and then continued north to our first destination – Llandudno. Pronounced clun-dud-no! Crazy welsh. A Victorian seaside town, checked out the pier in the evening set up in true English style with little stalls and arcade games. Saturday was a miserable rainy day, took the cable car up the peninsula. A cute old railway, but not the best view! It was hot chocolate weather to warm up at the top. Drove down the coast to Colwyn - a walled castle town, still standing! Wandered the shamble streets in the drizzle. Sunday took us further across Wales to Holyhead across the isle of Anglesey. Very rural county, but beautiful and green. Down to channel for dinner near another ruined castle. Then headed inland across a beautiful mountain pass covered with purple heather made it two our second town in Llangollen. A sweet river side town, found a lovely old mill for a delicious Sunday roast for dinner. Monday we checked out the village found some canal boats pulled by horses, and an impressive viaduct further up the valley for the canal boats. Further still was another impressive viaduct – this one for the train! Then it was back home, and sending Fi home to NZ after her adventuring. 

King of the Castle

LLundudno

Tram times!

Clouds over the channel

Todd and I at Holyhead

Colwyn Castle

Fi and I at the Castle

Bubbling brook 

Choo Choo!

Long way down!

over we go!

Fe Fi Fo Fun

In the last weekend of July had an awesome night in Cheltenham tasting the local brew. The local beer and cider festival is held in a very old barn in the country. Enjoyed some very tasty, if not rather strong cider!

Last weekend Fi was here, squeezed in a weekend of London tourism. Went to the Globe Theatre to see Anne Boleyn on Saturday. A more modern production, brilliantly done, amazing acting and set. Bit tiring after standing in the pit for 2 ½ hrs, but well worth it!

Showed Fi some of the London sights and then enjoyed the local Windsor Castle. Gorgeous grounds and ornate inner state rooms. With a very impressive Knights of the Garter Hall. Went to the evensong service, and the organ and singing of the choir was beautiful! Amazing church inside too, with some rather famous people under the floor boards. Wednesday night continued our cultural education and saw ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Amazing production – singing and stage were incredible!

So next weekend it’s off to Wales for a road trip with Fi and Todd, before Fi’s off home. And then Todd and I are off south ourselves – home sweet home, here I come! x 

Stage of Globe

From the cheep seats/stands

Fi and I 

Inner Castle

Castle tower and Gardens

Fi and I

hehe look we found the Queen!

Outside St George's Chapel

Sunny Spain

So managed to get things sorted and catch up with Phill and cousin Fi in the north of Spain end of July. At a place called Bilbao, situated slightly west of San Sebastian. Flying in was full of green peaked hills that stretched forever. The town is nestled in a valley across a river. Meet up with the team at the airport (each of us coming from different spots around Europe) and spent Friday checking out the city. Found some amazing pastries and gelato, in amongst some interesting architecture mixed between old and new, and a smattering of art pieces. Cooked up a mean feed at the hostel for dinner and caught our breath from the early start.

Saturday we hired a car and drove out to the coast, and along the coastal road towards San Sebastian. Along the way are lovely ‘towns’ which were rather large! Beautiful golden beaches and blue blue sea. We stopped at a point where the coast forms a natural bridge out to a church on a precipice. Down a steep hill and then up another 250stairs! It was worth the hike to see the cute wee church and amazing views down the coastline.

We reached San Sebastian in the evening, and Phill’s phone with our only navigation decided to die just as we entered the city! After some driving in circles we managed to locate a free car park and headed into the centre. There was a much different feel here, very vibrant and alive, filled with busy bars and restaurants. We headed to a local bar in the old town for some ‘pintoux’ the Basque equivalent of Tapas, which were amazing! Also tried the local Sidre (cider) which was tangy and quite sour, got a bit of a shock taking my first sip! It’s poured at arm’s length to aerate the cider so I’m told.  

Sunday took us west along the coast; stopping at a local village we found a local market. Enjoyed some more pintoux for lunch and sampled the beautiful local fresh fruit. Then weather packed it in, so we headed back to Bilbao to the famous Guggenheim (or googleyheim according to Phill) museum to get our art on. The museum is an incredible building made of titanium tiles in all sorts of curves, interspersed with glass panels. Some very interesting and thought provoking displays, but some a little too farfetched for me..

Sunday night was fairly quiet in the town but found a great place for pizza and paella. Soo good. Fi and Phill caught early flights out on Monday, while I planned to wander the shops before my afternoon flight. The city however had other ideas! As I didn’t realize it was a public holiday and everything was closed! It was steadily raining, so didn’t quite work out to plan. Ah well!

Arrived home to some beautiful weather (Murphy’s Law!), and saw an amazing view of London City as we flew in. Brilliant weekend. Next up local cider festival in Cheltenham, and Fi visiting the Uk in August – fun times! 

pew pew (post electrocution posing in fountain, dummy) 

Pretty Fountains

enormous treat? Yes please

Guggenheim Surfing

Flashy Guggenheim  

Flower Dog!

Go team!

Church we hiked to

Many many stairs

Coastal View (just to clarify we are actually wearing clothes!) 

San Sebastian Cathedral 

Amazing Pintoux!

Summer, sun and races

The beginning of June was gorgeous. Went to a party on a boat down the Thames. Was a stunner day, meet up with some friends before hand, and almost boiled on a roof top bar! Who would have thought in London?! Was a lovely night cruising down the river, nice to have a different perspective than from the street.

The following weekend got to catch up with Nan and Papa who were in town. Was lovely to see them after a year and a half. We checked out the Seville gardens in the great park, and headed out to Hampton Court Palace the following day in the pouring rain. Not a very good demonstration of the English summer! The Place was an amazing sprawling place, made famous by Henry the eighth. Full of flash suites of rooms for only one royal and masses of history. Said goodbye to Nan and Papa as they set of on the rest of their English road trip.

Had a fun build up to the Ascot races. Living in the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, as I was out for a ‘jog’ in the great park came across a train of horse drawn carriages with tails and hats driving past me! Haha needless to say I was not looking my best sweating along! It had been a wet week, but managed to start out fine on Saturday. We braved the weather and set up our picnic outside. Was a fun day of food, wine, friends, and a little punting. Managed to ‘virtual’ pick a few winners (much to Todd’s annoyance, that I didn’t actually put any money on them!). Was amusing see the brits tottering round in their giant satin heels, while trying to navigate the less muddy patches of grass. The Queen was in attendance and saw her as she entered in her carriage with Prince Philip – very cute! A great day out J

Looking forward to catching up with Phil and Fi in Spain at the end of the month, and then hanging out with Fi here in the UK in August, and then very shortly will be speeding down to NZ for a quick hello! Can’t wait! x

Hampton Palace Courtyard

One of the many great staircases

Snooze anyone? 

The man room -its decorated with wepons

Rainy gardens

Chapel windows

Ascot Racecourse

Lovely Ladies

Happy the sun is out!