Day 15 Family visit

My dad is 4th generation kiwi but my mum was born in England and moved to NZ when she was 6 with her parents. Today I went to see where she grew up and meet some of her relations. Thanks to Ancestry.com  I have been able to make contact with members of both sides of my grandparents family , the Backs and the Goodwins. Today I went to see Josie, who her and my grandfathers were brothers. She had also invited along members from other sides of the family so there were four of us there whose grandparents were brothers and sisters. Amazing. There were 13 of them back then of course but still 4 of the 13 was pretty amazing. Another lady who was related to a 5th brother sent along photos but couldnt come. It was wonderful to hear the stories even though I didnt now where half of the places were they talked about!! I did have a short walk around the village first and to the church where my grandparents got married. It dated 1459, crazy. We had a lovely lunch together and a great chin wag. Jane had brought a couple of photos she knew were of my Mum and Grandfather, which she gave to me.Such a funny feeling being on the other side of the world and someone giving you a picture of your mother.
Then my chauffeurs, Jo and Nigel kindly picked me up and took me to Eric, my relation on my grandmothers side. i had only just spoken to him although I have been emailing his son, Adrian thanks to Ancestry.com. He lives in Scotland so its was a bit far for him to come down to see me. Him and his wife Yvonne, were a lovely couple and I spent a lovely hour with them. I left the books I had made up about my grandparents and my Mum for them to look at. Here are my new found relations.....

1. Inside the All Saints parish church Woodchurch

2. The photo of Mum and my brother Allan when he was born that was given to me

3. Clive, Jane, Josie, Cheryl and myself whose grandparents were sisters and brothers

4. Eric and Yvonne Goodwin, my grandmothers relations.

Day 14 Littlestone to White Cliffs of Dover

Im here now with Jo and Nigel. I worked with Jo when I was here in 1989 with Darryl at the Victoria pub all those years ago. She is such a neat lady and Nigel is lovely and very funny. They live right by the sea , just like at home but instead of sand the beach is pebbles. There are a couple of other differences.... the bay is enormous, it goes right up to Dover and to Dungeress  on the other side.Dungeress is a nuclear power plant which we dont see at home, of course. Also straight out to sea is a a concrete platform stuck in the mud from WW2. It was built to help with the landings of troops and arms at Normandy. They have blown some of them up but this one has been left and is now protected as a Ancient Scheduled monument.
Jo and I took the the bus ride up the coast to Folkestone. It was where the men left to go onto the troop ships before heading to France. they have done a lot of work for the 100 years commemeration and have knitted poppies right down the walkway the soldiers "short stepped" 100 years ago. It was a very eerie feeling. You certainly felt it when walking it. The poppies looked beautiful. Then onto Dover and up the white cliffs and the castle. Fantastic view. Then Jo (and Nigel who had joined us) took me to Stamphire Hoe. It was the place that all the tailings went when building the channel tunnel. The cliffs originally went down to the sea then suddenly you are way up in the air where the ground has been reclaimed. Amazing. Then a lovely walk along the pebble beach back to Jo and nigels place to end a great day.

Day 13 travel day

Travel day.
Walk to train station
Take train to birmingham  new street station
Walk to bus stop
Take Mega bus to London Victoria Coach station
Walk to new platform
Take national express bus to London Heathrow terminal 1,2,3
Walk to bus stop
Take national express bus to London Heathrow terminal 4

We left at 9.30 am, at Heathrow 4 terminal at 5pm. A long day.

Jo and Nigel have come up to see Charlotte  off and to take me down to Littlestone in Kent  with them for a few days so another new adventure. Yah!

Day 12 Nottingham and Robin Hood country

Today was a surprise trip to Nottingham. Vo had a course for the day there so I came along for  the ride. I had a lovely day just wandering around by myself. Nottingham  has a  castle so I went off to explore it and the grounds. The grounds were lovely with lots of mature trees and birds singing and the first crocuses coming out.  Two memorials for WW1 in the grounds,a obelisk and a beautiful statue for a young man who was in the airforce and killed. He received the Victoria cross. In fact there was another monument naming the 20 men from Nottingham who over the years have been awarded the Victoria  cross. Amazing.  They breed them tough here. The castle has a museum and art gallery in it so I spent some time wandering around . they had a military part for the Sherwood Forresters their local army who have fought since the civil war. They also had a division  for volunteers called the Robin Hood Rifles,who wore green. I AM IN robin Hood territory after all. Itwas the most complete set of uniforms, weapons , medals and war artifacts I had ever seen.  It had the story of the young man Captain Albert Ball,who was in the statue outside, including his medals and the windscreen of one of his planes with a bullet hole right through it. Then i decided to have lunch in Englands oldest pub, which was very quaint and had sandstone walls and ceilings as it was dug into the outside walls of the castle. Had a bit more of a wander and vo picked me up and back to birmingham.   We went to dinner at Frankie and bennies  as it was Sharlees last night in England.  Shes off home tomorrow

Day 11 Wash day and the ballet

Finally a sleep in....heaven. Its been all go , but very exciting. Have fixed Veronicas sink, changed some light bulbs, walked Milo the dog and help Sharlee sort her stuff as she is packing to go home on thursday. Cooked tea and Veronica was so appreciative when she got home... you would have thought I had given her the moon, dont we all know how that feels?!!! The off to the ballet Coppelia. I had wanted to surprise Sharlee as she hadnt been to the ballet and has always wanted to. It was fantastic. How those women dance on their toes like that. It was a great story and quite funny too. The live music was lovely as always and so good for your soul. A great night out.

Day 10 Goodbye Ireland. Its been Grand

We woke up to snow this morning. It was too wet to settle but were walking around the streets in the snow and it was freezing!!! This morning was catching up on missed things, so that meant more photos of monuments. Im sure Sharlee thinks Ive turned into one of those boring old farts that just takes photos of random statues but there is sure alot of history here in Ireland, going back to the Vikings. We did go to the famine memorial. Where 1,000,000 people died and alot of the others had to leave the country to survive. Alot of Irish immigrated to Canada and it was the Canadian government that helped with the memorial. Very haunting but a very real piece of the Irish history.
Then onto Dublin Castle which was more of a palace than a castle but in the city. Some pretty impressive chandaleirs and banquet rooms which are still used today. On the way to the airport we visited the memorial gardens that I wanted to see as that's where a special celtic cross was for the 16 Irish division, that my grandfather fought for in WW1. Unfortunately it was locked away and I thought the place was manned but it wasnt. Then time to return the rental car and off to the airport. It had been such a cold windy day I expected a rough ride but it was really good. Jess said the two after we came in had severe delays so we were lucky. Ireland was a fantastic place to visit. We only saw a very little of it but loved it.

interesting facts about Ireland

1. McDonalds does not sell Hot Chocolates in Ireland
2. There is a lot of non irish in Ireland. The man at the Irish information centre was Polish
3. The english coming over for Hen parties is common. Two big groups on our plane.
4.You end up with a heap of coins at they still have 1,2, 5 euros.
5. Everything you hear about their friendliness and hospitalilty is true, you just need to find someone from Ireland in Dublin (-:
6. Their post boxes are green
7. Leprachauns  really wear brown clothes with a red hat
8. Dublin is an amazing compact city so easy to get around and so much to see
9. Their sacks of potatoes say Irish potatoes on them
10. And they do say Feck and holy shite!!!

Thank you Ireland. We have had a grand time. Could have spent a fortune in the tourist shops. We both threw money into a well to make a wish and I think I know what we both wished for.....

Day 9 still in Ireland

The hostel we are staying is right in town above a bar that plays live music from 2.30 pm to 2.30am. It's very nice and you cant hear the music from the bar but u can from the street and also the noise from the horse and carriages. Yes, they park outside our place waiting to get some business. Old fashioned carriages too. Jess and Vo were very worried about the horses but they saw a policeman or garda  walking around checking for licences so they were happy. sightseeing today was the leprachaun meuseum, a lovely place of story telling and faeries and you got to walk through a rainbow. It was lovely. Then off to what was the highlight for me, Trinity College, the book of Kells (one of the oldest books in the world. The first four gospels and it was illustrated as well). Amazing, then you stepped into the library

Talk about the Wow!! factor. We all just stood there gobsmacked. What hit you first before you even went in was the smell of the books. Then you stood in that amazing two story library . It has enough books in it if you read one a day it would take you 448 years to read them all and you would need to  know 22 languages. Even though you were seeing it with your own eyes it looked like something out of Harry Potter.....

Then it was time for Jess, Tim and Vo to go back to the airport so we took them back. We are such experts now!!! Went for a bit of a drive around then back into town and after tea including nestle aero mint mouse for dessert (Yum)we went down the road to listen to some live irish music. It was just as you imagined. Place was packed, a guitar and a violin and everyone singing along

Day 8 Galway in Ireland

Took the Renault to Galway today. A 20 km trip over there but well worth it.A good motorway but with tolls on the way. We went off the motorway and drove through the country which was exactly how u imagine it would b. Little stone walls, lots of churches, animals, lots of donkeys, small lanes. Galway is a beautiful city on the Westcoast.  Picture perfect with an amazing market with fresh, meat, cheese, bread, veges and bags and bags of Irish potato's!  Lots of fantastic crafts as well. Spent far too much time in the gift shop of course. Then we went for a short drive further down the coast before heading back to Dublin. Time for a meal and drink in a real Irish pub. We chose O'Neills  the pub to go to and had a lovely meal from the carvery and Sharlee had her long awaited glass of guiness. We are now playing harry potter trivial pursuit  in the hostel lounge listening to the live Irish music downstairs. Chow for now

Day 7. It's Ireland time

An early start this morning g. Up at 5 am and off to Birmingham airport. Two large groups of ladies having hens weekends in Dublin. How great would that be to just hop across the water. This group totalled 22, all with t shirts with a photo of the bride to be on  them and she had the Irish hat, beard and her own green tee shirt. The weddingwas going to be in May in Cyprus.crazy! The Ryan air flight to Dublin is 45 min from Birmingham. I do miss our Air NZ I flight videos. So clever. Now we are in Dublin. Picked up our rental car, a nice Renault,  and found our way into town and our hostel. Great navigating sharlee. Had a quick look around then went down the coast to Bray for the afternoon. Just about to head out to pick up Jesus,  Vo and Tim.

Day 6 A day in York with Vo

We left at 7am for the drive to York which took 3 hours. I remember going there before but not to the York Minster, the huge cathedral that dominates the landscape.We waited in the line in the rain for the Jorvick Viking centre and this street performer came up and spoke to us. Then he went away and came back with a staff member. Our friend Veronica has MS and cant walk long distances so we push her around in a wheelchair. Anyway this kind man didnt want us out in the rain and got a staff member out to see us. Its turns out the ride you go on can only take one wheelchair a trip so we had to book a space.... note to self, check this out next time. So we did and went to see the York Castle museum instead. It had a fabulous victorian street and a great WW1 display, showing trenches from the English and German sides. In WW1 a german zepplin flew into York to try and bomb it. Amazing. Interesting see no mention of Galliopli. We then went into the York minster and what a magnificent cathedral it is. You can also go underneath it to the catacombs to see the roman ruins and people buried there. Incredible history. Then back to the Jorvik Viking center. Well worth the visit. All our dealing with staff was brilliant with Vo and the wheelchair. we were very grateful for it. Back home at 9.30pm , had tea then time to sort our bags out as up at 5am wake up call and off to Dublin Ireland tomorrow!!!

Day 5 in London

Well, my last day in London for now. Sharlee and I got up early again and off into London City. Got off the train at Big Ben.... how cool is that and saw Westminister Abbey from the outside. Its huge! Walked past Downing street and got my photo with a bobby, the WW1 cenotaph then back up to Trafalgar square. Where there was a weird thing... the giant blue rooster that was there two nights ago had gone. Weird! Anyway we spent a lovely hour in the British Art museum looking at Monet, Turner, Cezane, Renoir to name but a few. Beautiful. Then  back on the tube and an interesting walk with suitcases to the Victoria Coach station and off to Brimingham. A lovely trip up and our friend who we have come to see, Veronica or Vo we call her was there to meet us. Back to the house to see Jess again and then a real shower!!! Thank goodness. Simple pleasures....

Outside the British Art Museum

No 1 Barkstone Gardens Earls Court London

I just thought you might be interested in where Charlotte, Jess and I have spent the last four nights. It was a hostel in Earls court called the Londonaires. Picture perfect right out of 'Nottinghill'.Even with the walled garden.  Five stories of dorms with shared facilities, bathroom and shower. Our room had 8 beds, four sets of bunks. I had to sleep on the top bunk a couple of times!!! A bit dodgy getting down in the middle of the night though and if you forgot your room key you couldnt get back in!! As you can see in the shower, not enough room to swing a cat!! and you step straight into the dorm room. Weird. So guess what... no one used that shower. But hey, for $40 a night central London it was fine

Day 4 London

Just waiting in a "Eat" cafe/restuarant before we go to Palace theatre to see "The Commitments" musical. Cant wait.
Had another fab day today. Jo came up to meet Charlotte and I and we went to Hampton Court Palace for the day. It was lovely. Very fascinating and Ioved all the art and furnishings. The chapel and the great  hall were incredible. The ceilings were unbelieivable. Then off to a nostagic visit to the Victoria pub where Darryl and I worked in in 1989 in Surbiton. It had changed a bit but the bar was the same. Very funny being there with Jo as that was where we met her all those years ago. The staff let me go behind the bar one last time..

Day 3 London

Well its no where as cold as we thought it was going to be. Everyone is rugged up but I think they are a bit woosy actually. My rugby world cup volunteers jacket is keeping me toasty!!!
We were up early at 6.30 and onto the train, train, bus to get to Harry Potter Studios. Charlotte had given me the ticket for my christmas present along with a commentary and souvineer book. Jess had come with us too and we had such a lovely time. We were inside for over 4 hours. so much to see and so much of interest to me with it being the making of.... so all the original concept drawings, models, costumes, props and stage sets. and all the stories. And the butterbeer of course...
A fantastic day.
Then we meet at t local pub my friend from the census in christchurch 2001 Becs, and sharlee meet her friend Kate from NZ as well. Becs has lived here in London for years now and Sharlees friend is here being an au pair. So nice to catchup. It was pub quizz night so we decided to play, It was alot of fun. Your answers went into a bingo grid at the bottom and so when the answers were called out it was like playing bingo and we won!!! what a hoot , 15 pounds for our troubles. Funny as one of the answers was sheep but it was not a NZquestion!! there was a prize for the highest score 37/38 a bottle of wine but we were awesome as we got 26/38 and got a much better prize

Day 2 in London

Day 2. Off to Tower of London today. What a fascinating place. Had a wonderful Yeoman show us around and tell a few good stories. We then looked at the white tower and went to look at the crown jewels but there was a really long queue. I went and asked a man about how long the queue was as we only had an hour left before we went off for the show. He said we could go and do something else but meet him near the exit in 30 minutes and he would take us into the crown jewels so we didnt have to queue!! How amazing . I just wanted to know if we had time to wait. Anyway we wandered off then meet him and he walked us through the exhibition to the front and left us there. What a kind young man Craig was. He had a great Aunt from New Zealand. What a magnificent outcome!!
Then we caught the tube to the Lyceum Theatre to go and see The Lion King. What an awesome show. Jess was so excited for us to see it. The costumes and staging were amazing. Now we have just come back from 3 hours walking around central London. Regent Street, Oxford Street, bagpipers playing waltzing matilda but didnt know a kiwi song to play!!! Then Piccadilly circus, Trafalgar square and to the embankment and the London eye and of course my favourite... Big Ben. A great day. Got back to the hostel at 9pm

Day 1 in London

Hiya. Not many opportunities for wi fi so am sitting down tonight to catch u all up. Meet up with Charlotte and Jess fine. The hostel is picture perfect London. Think of Nottinghill with the garden and everything and thats us!! inside a bit of a different story. 8 bed dorm and Ive been on the top bunk so thats been interesting.
Yesterday, the people kindly let me come in early so I could have a little sleep as I was feeling pretty tired. The flights were all fine but I only slept a couple of hours on each flight. I had a power nap and was ready to go.
First off and a pub lunch to start the holiday. There is a beautiful pub called the Blackbird at the corner of our road. Very nice.
We are very central here in Earls court so we walked to the Natural museum  and had a look around. Its school holiday break so big queues but it didnt take to long to get in. All very efficient as you would expect. A very grand and beautiful building.
We then walked to Hyde Park to look at the Princess Diana memorial but it was after 4pm and closed so we will need to go back there. Amazing park with lots of deciduous trees.
We then walked back to the hostel as it was about 6pm. Had some tea and I went to bed to catch up on some sleep.It s not that cold , I dont think at all

I am now in London

Well, I am here now in London. Another good flight.  A bit of a delay at first but all sorted and the time was made up,. What a crazy airport Ahi Dhabi was. 10 flights leaving in 40 min all around the world at 2am so people everywhere, like Christmas eve! The two men beside me were someone special as the hostess came up and introduced herself to them, then offered them other seats so I had the 3 seats to myself. A magnificent outcome for us both! Well, I'm off to negotiate the tube now to meet up with Charlotte, Jess and Sarah

. Should be fun with all my luggage (-:

In Abu Dhabi

Hiya. Well I am now sitting in the airport at Abu Dhabi, midnight their time. Had a great flight to sydney, very calm. The pilot said it was one of the calmest hes done for a while. Yah.!!! And I have just spent the last 15 hours sitting beside a young french man called Sebastian.He worked for the french embassy in Australia, so his english was very good but with that wonderful french accent  of course.... who cares.!! We talked about movies, music, sport, showed each other photos like long lost friends, so thanks grandma for arranging that for me. You did good. (-:
Thank you to my family for the wonderful photo album they made for me... of the worst photos of them all but it made me laugh. 1.30 til i take off again for the last leg. its been amazing. The abu Dhabi airport has this huge mosaic ceiling . pretty impressive.
In Abu DhabI, of course, got the random stop by customs and wand down in NZ and then i beeped in Aussie so had to take off my shoes and go thru again. All clear here so far....

Only one more sleep....

Well, I think I am nearly there and if not, to bad. I have spent a lot of time getting all the family tree info about my mum and her parents together. It's been hard work but I'm sure when I visit the relis and show them it will be worth it.
Saphy, the dog has spent the night lying across the top of my suitcase.  I don't think she wants me to go. Alice gave me some travel gifts her and Charlotte got for me to keep me busy on the plane. (-: A 'frozen' colouring in book with pencils and two 'frozen' pens. A jigsaw and two crystals to travel with. One which is a penguin. Very cute, funny and very thoughtful

My flight leaves at 1 pm tomorrow air nz to Sydney and from there to Abu Dhabi then onto London

Last day of work today

What a fabulous day at work today for my last day. No more work for 5 weeks Horray!!!     I met up with special friends for morning tea and for lunch. I felt very loved in all my stores with lots of hugs and well wishes for safe travels from many staff and merchandisers. Thank you . You are all what makes my day so special every day (-:

£150 

Here is my Guardian angel Mariah who will be with me on my travels. Also a photo of some pounds sterling. The last time I brought them they were 33p to the $ !!

my Guardian angel Mariàh

Hi. Well here goes my first blog . My trip is now only 9 days away!!! Wow. pretty exciting. . I leave friday 13th at 1pm flying Air NZ to Sydney then Etihad air to Abu Dhabi, then onto London Heathrow. I do have an itinerary to add but I will try that tomorrow!!