Malta 2018
A coach took us to a northern ferry terminal where we crossed (only 20 mins) to the island of Gozo. In spite of a population of maybe 30,000, the island has not just one cathedral, but two Basilicas--a grade up from cathedral and rare in church architecture. They
Malta 2018
We took the buses via Valletta to the pretty fishing village of Marsaxlokk. What they don't tell you, is that , like Kurnell in Sydney, it's hemmed in by, not an oil refinery but a power station and the container port terminal! It was market day, so
Malta 2018
A taxi took us to the site of the oldest authenticated temple site in the world (over 5000 years old) where there was also a brilliant 4D audiovisual projection. From there to Valletta where we had lunch in a cafe we had been to before, which served really good meals
Malta 2018
On a hill near the centre of Malta stands a perfectly preserved 17th C creamy sandstone walled city/fort--stunning in its perfection-it may be unique. The many narrow and clean streets still have private residents living in the houses and the very few buildings that have been turned
Malta 2018
and you can see why, with it's incredibly rich history and medieval buildings-- in some ways a bit like Dubrovnic or Old Nice. The Maltese have two defining historical events-- defeat of the Ottoman Empire by the knights of St John, in the 1600's and their
Malta 2018
A straightforward 3 hour flight from Heathrow (although a conscious person at the back of the plane, was being medivacced to Malta on a suspended stretcher, with a monitoring nurse- which probably accounted for the slightly delayed boarding). Views of the rocky beach, complete with signs (directed at the French
UK Holiday 2018
Yesterday we drove to Oxford to see a neighbour,June, from our Nottingham days. I was reminded that it was June's husband Ron, who played the oboe as a hobby, who suggested that I try the clarinet after playing recorder to encourage Alison and Caryl. Nothing remarkable except
UK Holiday 2018
En route from Emsworth to Croxley Green we stopped at Windsor Castle for a couple of hours and visited Windsor Parish Church as well as some historic streets.The church contains a 17th C painting of the last supper and plaque commemorating an aeronautical engineer.
UK Holiday 2018
We travelled via Ringwood, where we stopped briefly to meet old schoolfriend of Bob--Geoff (now OBE) and his wife Patsy-both retired medics. On the way you pass some strange and quaint town names. At Emsworth we stayed with close friends Myra and Trevor (pictured with our hire car)
UK Holiday 2018
A train trip to Exeter and hire car to Stoke Gabriel and we arrived at the very quaint 14th C house of a cousin Sally and husband Robin. The, next morning after a walk by the river Dart with Robin and labradoodle, we drove to Kingston Estate for the splendid
Family
Niece Philippa and boys joined us and Jacqui (plus Max and Louis) at Hughenden Manor for a picnic lunch, with many other families there on school holidays. It was a stroke of genius from the NationalTrust to put small wheelbarrows in a garden corner for the smaller children. Impossible to
UK Holiday 2018
Over many years big Australian companies have forayed into the UK market, assuming that the common language and head of state guarantees success. They have almost all been wrong- banking, distribution, construction and retail. Failure always due to not understanding the differences in culture. Latest and largest is the highly