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
UK Holiday 2018
600 Windmills once littered the English landscape and a whole construction industry must have existed for centuries--about which almost nothing was documented or has survived. Near here there is the oldest 'Smock' (for its shape) windmill that survives today intact. While not imposing from the outside, the
Family
Yesterday we all went to Henley, famous for the Boat Race (won decisively by Cambridge this year) and regattas. After an attempt at a playground with Louis, we had lunch in Zizzi's Italian restaurant-- a very popular place. Pic of Mary inspecting the menu on display in the
UK Holiday 2018
The first pic is of the rambling rear of the Red Lion, in rain, of course, from our outer door. You might think that having to walk , in the rain, on a puddly road, in the cold, is no fun. So think what it's like to be walking
Family
We have both developed bad nead colds and coughs to the point where a doctor yesterday diagnosed bronchitis and prescribed antibiotics . As a precaution for Max' health as well as the unpleasantness of having us coughing in the night as well as the day, we have moved out to