London

Of course, we're home again and the poor blog is way way behind - all of London and Barcelona and a couple of days in Singapore to catch up on. So for the sake of reliving all those wonderful places, here's some photos and a few words to catch up.

London first ….

Our lovely accommodation in Kensington

Westminster Abbey cloisters

Jersey Boys at Piccadilly

St James Park

The Monopoly board... 

The British Museum

Tower of London

More Tower of London … life-sized animals from the Royal Menagerie, all sculpted in galvanised wire

Dockside building with windows like broken teeth

In memory of women's contributions in wartime

Visitor (on the left) to a punk exhibit (on the right) at the museum

All round Scotland

We all do actually fit into Bec's little car, albeit with much discussion about whose turn it is to be squashed into the back seat, and with some effort wedging everything into the boot.

But first - Edinburgh castle on its rocky outcrop over the city; walking, walking, walking; chasing squirrels for photos in the botanic gardens; dinner at the wonderfully named Angels with Bagpipes. 

Edinburgh Castle

Then on to St Andrews, where we played a round for the princely sum of £1 each - on the Himalayas putting course with all the kids (and even a couple of dogs on the sidelines). 

Woods at St Andrews …! 

Some other highlights as we travel - 

Dinner at the Bognie Arms Hotel, a small country pub a couple of hours north, where we were offered samples of the local whisky (from the top shelf!) and we did our mutual best to have a conversation with some lovely locals - their accents as indecipherable to us as I'm sure ours were to them.

Blackout to the whole northwest of Scotland - apparently the largest ever - with candles shared around the pub as we finished our meal in Fort Augustus (near Loch Ness); and then lighting our way to bed in our B&B.

The drive from Loch Ness across to the Isle of Skye, and the stark and beautiful scenery on both Skye and the Isle of Mull.

The beautiful meal and service at the Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye - a memorable evening.

A few photos below, more to come.

Love to all xx

Dunnottar Castle

Yes, it's THAT cold

Bec's furry friend

From Paris to Carlisle, and on to Edinburgh

We're in Glasgow today (Easter Sunday), only a couple of hours up the road from Carlisle, but we've done a full loop of Scotland since my last post! So here's an effort to start catching up before we get back to Carlisle tomorrow.

From Paris, we made our way by train to spend four days at the beautiful Hawksdale Lodge at Dalston, with a welcoming cup of tea, syrup cake, new born lambs, and a very affectionate spaniel to greet us. 

Kit takes a selfie (with friend)

Over the next few days Bec, Colin and I explored Carlisle and the Lake District - walking a tiny section of Hadrian's Wall; lovely towns and villages such as Penrith and Pooley Bridge, Ambleside and Keswick; picnicking by the lakes; and Col and I on an icy and wet ferry ride on the Ullswater 'steamer' and a warming glass of red wine afterwards in the tiny Howtown public bar (a real visit to the past!). 

Even more special though was finally seeing where Bec lives and works, so it's not so hard to imagine when we're 16,000km away again.

Picnic morning tea

Col and Bec at Hadrian's Wall

Typical of the countryside: daffodils everywhere, stone walls, and green as green …

Carlisle Cathedral, where Bec will graduate in two year's time…

Then we're on the cold and windy road to Edinburgh. We travel via the 13th century church of St Mungos and the nearby tea rooms, where Dexter the Westy had his birthday last week, with over a dozen adults, nearly as many dogs and a birthday cake; and the beautiful and evocative Dryburgh Abbey. 

Dexter takes a selfie too

 That's Bec under there (at Dryburgh Abbey)

Then finally Edinburgh airport, where we met Dane - and the four of us (together for the first family holiday since the kids were in high school) went to explore Scotland.

Paris

We’re on the Eurostar, rocking gently at something like 180 miles per hour, heading to the UK after a wonderful week in Paris. We’ve walked from one end of Paris to the other, eaten lots of fromage and saucisson, and just enjoyed each other’s company after 8 months apart.

Lovely surprise – Col and Bec had plotted for her arrival two days early, so what I thought was an early evening wander ended in a big hug with our beautiful Bec in the forecourt under the spires of Notre Dame.

So some photos below of our week: Col and I at Versailles, before Bec arrived; then the three of us walking up the Eiffel Tower (711 steps to the second level, including the 9 up to the ticket booth!); the Batobus on the Seine at sunset; pizza on the Champs-Elysées;  wandering the streets around Saint-Germain-des-Prés; Luxembourg Gardens; a canal cruise on the Canal St-Martin, with the rushing waters of the locks; and climbing the winding stairs of Sacré Cœur for the view over Montmartre (294 steps according to Bec).

Versailles

More Versailles …

 Lunch on the Île Saint-Louis

 Walking up the Eiffel Tower

More steps … Sacré Cœur

Luxembourg Gardens 

Notre Dame

Paris at sunset

Sainte-Chappelle 

And Bec at the end of the day in our little apartment in the Marais

Actually, more photos than I had planned – but it was very hard to choose!

Now just a few more days till Dane joins us as well - he's on his way to us as I write, and we can hardly wait. 

All our love to everyone xxx

Brisbane-Helsinki

We're finally off and away, leaving behind the Australian coast over the Northern Territory (below) and enroute to Helsinki via Singapore.

It's a perfect blue sky day when we land. Takes about half a minute to realise that doesn't mean it's warm - it's hovering somewhere just above 0 degrees and there's an icy chill that's seeping through our bones. By the time we've negotiated a bus into town, a block or two walk through the city, and a tram ride to our hotel, I've gathered layers of jumpers and gloves and scarves along the way, and look like the abominable snow woman.

Yes, that's ice on the water …

But a lovely city, despite the cold. With just a couple of jet lagged days, we didn't see as much as we would have liked, but took the ferry out to Suomenlinna sea fortress; and visited the gorgeous Uspenski (Eastern Orthodox) Cathedral, set on a hilltop overlooking the city. 

Uspenski Cathedral 

UK and Europe 2014

So here's the plan:

Helsinki (2 nights)
Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka

Paris (7 nights)
Loft Beaubourg Le Marais

Eurostar to London, and on to...

Carlisle (4 nights)
Hawksdale Lodge Country House

Edinburgh (2 nights)
Stay Edinburgh City Apartments - Royal Mile 

(where we meet Dane and all squeeze into Bec's little car… then …)

Aberdeen area (Huntly) (one night)
Denhead Steading Bed and Breakfast

Loch Ness (Fort Augustus) (one night)
Netherwood Bed and Breakfast

Isle of Skye (Dunvegan) (one night)
The Tables Guest House

Isle of Mull (one night)
Pennyghael Hotel

Glasgow (2 nights)
Radisson

Back to Carlisle for a final night….
Crown and Mitre

… and then by train to London, where Dane leaves us
Presidential Apartments (7 nights)

Barcelona (7 nights)
Las Terrazas Apartment

and finally….

Singapore (2 nights)
Park Regis

and home!