Botanical Odyssey

Jun 01, 09 Botanical Odyssey

Posted by in Cambridge 2009, Travel

Today we visited the wonderfully tranquil Cambridge University Botanical Gardens. They were first opened in 1846 by John Henslow a teacher of Charles Darwin. They really are an oasis of beauty right in the heart of Cambridge. They also proved a useful source of inspiration for our new garden. The weather was superb, hot and...

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An English Idyll

May 31, 09 An English Idyll

Posted by in Cambridge 2009, Travel

Its been a perfect English summer day in which we have somehow packed a whole host of activities. We walked into Cambridge centre this morning under a perfect, clear, summer sky to partake of a good old English roast and a ploughmans meal. Afterwich we went on a tour of the famous Kings Chapel. The word magnificent is too small a...

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Culture overload

May 30, 09 Culture overload

Posted by in Cambridge 2009, Travel

Weve had a fantastic day touring Cambridge with Julie again. The weather has been glorious and we took an open top bus tour around the city followed by lunch at a cost little pub right on the river Cam. Afterwards we went punting on the river expertly piloted by one of the students. Im so glad I didnt go for the self drive option....

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Those dreaming spires

May 29, 09 Those dreaming spires

Posted by in Cambridge 2009, Travel

Well here we are in the academic idyle of Cambridge visiting lil sis Julie. Shes just completed her first year at Anglia Ruskin University studying Graphic design. Cambridge is a truly wonderful place. Theyve managed to fuse old and new very well to create a truly charming and cosy place. I arrived yesterday and spent a wonderful...

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Back in Blighty again

Mar 08, 09

Once again we find ourselves transported back from one world into another. Travelling can be such a weird disorienting thing as we now find ourselves back in our familiar part of the world and as I write this I’m sure that I’m suffering quite a bit of “jet lag”, mixed also with a dose of “culture...

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Bangkok

Mar 08, 09

Our Bangkok stop-over proved every bit as interesting as Hong Kong was on the way down. Once again we found ourselves in a teeming metropolis filled to the brim with life & commerce. Like Hong Kong, Bangkok was an overwhelming cacophony of human life all packed into a very dense space but in many ways felt more “far...

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Sydney … Deja Vue

After returning again to Sydney, we managed to pack in a trip to the National Maritime Museum, where we got to go on HMAS Onslow (submarine) and HMAS Vampire, the last gunship destroyer in the Australian navy. It was deja vue for us because we also visited a replica of the Endeavour, Captain Cook’s ship that first mapped...

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Norfolk Day 15 … Farewells

We bade a sad farewell to the family (& our new friends) on Norfolk Island today  🙁 We’ve had a fantastic time & it’s hard to believe we’ve been there two weeks, the time has flown by. We’ve had so much fun with everyone but especially with our little 2 year old nephew River. He’s as bright as...

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Norfolk Day 11 … The Big Day

Mariëlle & Sylvan’s big day has come at last after much preparation and activity. We’ve all pitched in with different alloted tasks including the decorating of the reception & wedding location, setting up the bar, cleaning & cooking. My day started at 8am when I helped out with the washing and cleaning of...

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Norfolk Day 8 … Hens and Bucks

Last night was Marielle & Sylvan’s Hens & Bucks party …. and did they go with a bang! The boys kicked off with paintball (& beers) at about 3 in the afternoon …. & man was it FUN, FUN FUN ! The overalls weren’t much  protection at all and so we all got our t-shirts & shorts liberally...

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Norfolk Day 7

Feb 24, 09

We spent a great day down at Emily bay on the south coast snorkeling. Emily bay is naturally enclosed by a huge reef and we were able to snorkel right up to it where the waves were crashing against it on the other side. The marine life we saw was incredible; highly coloured parrot fish , Angel Fish and numerous other shoals of...

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Norfolk Day 5 … Reunion

The whole family has now finally arrived in Norfolk! Ma & Pa, Gerard & Herma all flew in from New Zealand today. Gerard & Herma have spent just over 4 weeks touring New Zealand whilst Ma & Pa flew in direct from Schiphol via Hong Kong. We’ve celebrated tonight in true Aussie style by having a...

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