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!