Family
Carol Service
Before leaving for the carol service this evening-I fed the wattle bird with a little honey. Mary was in the choir and we also both had a reading to do, my picture was a bit blurred.
Family
Family
Michael returns!
An on-time arrival was spoilt by baggage handling failures and sheer traffic volume at the airport. However, within an hour of getting home it was the 'beach' in 30Deg C heat--to Michael's delight. We met up with Alison and Craig at N. Cronulla and
Family
Mary at Oak Park today
With temperatures at 30 or above, we went down to the rockpools--the water wasn't quite so warm, but Mary sported a new cossie for the occasion.
Family
Opera House --Again!
In a rush of blood to the head--we ordered tickets for the one-and-only performance of the Bach Christmas Oratorio at the Opera House, sung by the London Singers with music by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. We heard a lot of the audience speaking German and then the
Family
First beach swim 2013
about 28Deg C light breeze, reasonable tide---good enough for a start!
Family
Thanks to everyone
Back home to brilliant weather here in Sydney, we must thank all of YOU for so many things these past 6 weeks. First thanks to Craig and the children for letting Alison come with us. To Matt and neighbour Kylie; Matt looking after our cars (I haven't looked
Family
Final Day
Sydenham, where Jacqui and Tom live, is a restored inner southeast suburb, densely populated and very multicultural. I was amazed how quiet it was (for the number of people) and the lack of graffiti or rubbish. It was cleaner than Caringbah. My cousin Keith, living nearby, tells me there is
Family
River Medway - Kent
A walk in Europe is never boring if you know (or look for) a little history or natural history. Today Jacqui and Tom took us to Tonbridge in Kent--famous for it's oast houses (no pic unfortunately) for a purposeful walk for two hours or more, by the
Europe 2013
Lion Kings?
Friday night Michael joined us at Jacqui and Tom's (Mr and Mrs. Housden )for a very nice meal. By convenient coincidence, only a 20 minute walk separates Jacqui and Tom from my cousin Keith and his Australian wife, Petrea, in Forest Hill, so I visited them first thing
Europe 2013
Crystal Palace
In the near heartland of London we find parks-astonishing that so much land remains for the public good, resisting the pressure from developers . We rejoined Jacqui and Tom today and they took us to the famous Crystal Palace Broadcasting tower, the trees and the dinosaur park and a small,
Europe 2013
Chastleton House --Chilterns--where croquet became a game
A plaque reminds us that croquet was first established in this splendid house--the best example of pure Jacobean architecture in Britain! Built in the early 1600's, the owners and subsequent generations were neither nobility nor wealthy, so the house never got altered, or attacked in the Cromwell
Europe 2013
Watford and Harrow
While Mary attended her college reunion in Penrith, I drove to Croxley, near Watford, where friends Rilla and Shirlaw live, near the Grand Union Canal and some lovely woodlands. I met with Marion, we were at the same school 50 years ago. I insisted she be pictured with her BMW