Germany visit
We are getting champs, at booking parking, and getting to these huge city airports!! Our gate at Manchester was D51!! And there was ABCE as well. Frankfurt has 1400 international flights a day!! Certainly a little different to Blenheim
We had an amazing time with our wonderful friends, Sigi and Manfred, who we met in NZ with Trish and Barry, our Chch friends.
We zoomed down the motorway to their lovely home in a nearby city of Darmstadt.
The autumn colours were magnificent. They took us for a trip on a ferry on the Rhine, such a busy waterway, with cruise ships, tankers of all shapes and sizes. Continuous traffic of trains and cars on the banks of the river. . Not long and we were out of the city, and into a gorge, which was lined with steep vineyards, all golden leaves, amazing the walls and structures of these vines. All along the way are castles, built in the 12th and 13th century, standing majestic overlooking the river. All have been restored, some are private residences!! Others are hostels or hotels.
We had lunch in a fascinating place all very dark and intimate and historic, down a very narrow alley. Tried the local new unfermented wine and onion tart, a local delicacy. Then we went to another winery, all very different to Marlborough, and sat in the sun and view, for coffee.
We went by tram and train into central Frankfurt the next day, cobbled streets, busy modern city with all the ancient magnificent buildings intermingled. Amazing markets, oh!! The cheeses, veggies, meats, salamis etc, Great salesman!!
We so enjoyed the hospitality of Johanna and Wolfgang, also Trish and Barry’s friends. Magnificent home, delicious food and fun and laughter. How we wished we could speak the language!! But they all have a wonderful command of our language. We played golf on Saturday, glorious day, 25degrees. The course was unbelievable, bunkers, water everywhere!! It was girls against the boys?? Bugger!! the boys won, convincingly.
Sigi and Manfred have just bought a new home , so we were fortunate to be able to see it before they redecorate it, it will be lovely, when they put their stamp on it. They showed us all sorts of interesting places in their home city, and all too soon we had to depart , again down that busy autobahn. Arrived back to rain at Manchester Airport after a wonderful few days seeing and learning about Germany from Sigi and Manfred and their friends.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Mystery tour
We boarded the bus 9am Friday, and proceeded to drive all round the surrounding district to pick up people. . 3 days , with interesting locals and no idea where we would end up, until we arrived at the pub at 5pm that night.
Nice to be in the bus above the hedges, and relaxing for Vern who usually does all the driving.
Had lunch at Skipton,which is on the edge of the Yorkshire dales,a market town, with markets most days.
The Yorkshire dales were lovely, autumn colours abound. We ended up in Washington, a city on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne. We were pleased to visit here, as it was Ians home city a while back. So you see we covered a good few miles.
Next morning of again, not knowing where we were going. Heading north again through lovely country, to Jedburgh in Scotland, just across the border. It had a huge abbey, we enjoyed Mary Queen of Scots house, which told of her short torrid life.
Headed south again, and ended up at Gretna Green, didn't get remarried!! , very touristy place, then drove along beside Hadrians Wall, of Romans time, back to Washington. Next day to Carlisle, big city, cathedral and castle. Then it was down the motorway and home, made new friends and all for 125 pounds. Great value.
Nice to be in the bus above the hedges, and relaxing for Vern who usually does all the driving.
Had lunch at Skipton,which is on the edge of the Yorkshire dales,a market town, with markets most days.
The Yorkshire dales were lovely, autumn colours abound. We ended up in Washington, a city on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne. We were pleased to visit here, as it was Ians home city a while back. So you see we covered a good few miles.
Next morning of again, not knowing where we were going. Heading north again through lovely country, to Jedburgh in Scotland, just across the border. It had a huge abbey, we enjoyed Mary Queen of Scots house, which told of her short torrid life.
Headed south again, and ended up at Gretna Green, didn't get remarried!! , very touristy place, then drove along beside Hadrians Wall, of Romans time, back to Washington. Next day to Carlisle, big city, cathedral and castle. Then it was down the motorway and home, made new friends and all for 125 pounds. Great value.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Sandersons converted barn in France
We enjoyed their hospitality, and their workmanship. Thank you Liz and Stuart. 
France
Rural France.
We were up and away on Ryan air from Birmingham to Poitiers last week to visit Liz and Stuart Sanderson, Kathy’s in-laws .This was a wonderful experience, 2 hrs drive from the airport, considerably a long way south of Paris. They have restored a 1700s barn into a delightful summer home. A 10 year dedicated retirement project, have a colourful productive garden, grow vegetables, we picked delicious raspberries. Beautiful countryside, French homes with all the shutters, looks as if no one is at home. They went to a lot of trouble to give us a French experience, wonderful market, phew! the cheese stall was huge, goodbye healthy heart diet!!. Fish!! Alive and dead, snails, I thought they tasted a bit like mushrooms in garlic sauce! The bread was delicious, no wrapping, just put it under your arm!! We were intrigued with the continual greeting in the market, 2 kisses for an acquaintance, 4, for a special friend or family. 6 and you are in trouble
Now we are back home, and into serious bulb planting, being done very slowly, because we had a feed of snails. What a shame we aren’t staying until spring to see the fruits of our labour.
We were up and away on Ryan air from Birmingham to Poitiers last week to visit Liz and Stuart Sanderson, Kathy’s in-laws .This was a wonderful experience, 2 hrs drive from the airport, considerably a long way south of Paris. They have restored a 1700s barn into a delightful summer home. A 10 year dedicated retirement project, have a colourful productive garden, grow vegetables, we picked delicious raspberries. Beautiful countryside, French homes with all the shutters, looks as if no one is at home. They went to a lot of trouble to give us a French experience, wonderful market, phew! the cheese stall was huge, goodbye healthy heart diet!!. Fish!! Alive and dead, snails, I thought they tasted a bit like mushrooms in garlic sauce! The bread was delicious, no wrapping, just put it under your arm!! We were intrigued with the continual greeting in the market, 2 kisses for an acquaintance, 4, for a special friend or family. 6 and you are in trouble
Now we are back home, and into serious bulb planting, being done very slowly, because we had a feed of snails. What a shame we aren’t staying until spring to see the fruits of our labour.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Montgomery canal
Maggie and Chris our neighbours steam canal boat. They took all our kiwi friends to Welshpool and back. A sunny warm Welsh Saturday.
the canal is on our west boundary
the canal is on our west boundary
Burying the Badger
Well we chased this badger in front of th carlights down the lane at Tedsmore until he took off into the hedge. A couple of days later this badger lay prostrate on the lane,dead. After about 8 days,he was still there so our "boss" ageeda that Vern should" bury the badger"
A badger is quite a large animal(collie dog size) and protected, are the vain of the farmers as they carry TB. The lane is only wide enough for a car and a badger to pass at one time!! Due to the smell and being careful not to catch TB, Vern hooked some string onot his foot and towed him up the lane. The string broke 3 times, but worst of all he had to pull the badger off the road to let 6 cars past!!. One bloke stopped and gave Vern a lecture on how nice they are , and that not all carry TB. Vern said he didnt know how nice they were , esp after eating 8 dozen pansy plants that kay had planted!! and that this one stunk
A badger is quite a large animal(collie dog size) and protected, are the vain of the farmers as they carry TB. The lane is only wide enough for a car and a badger to pass at one time!! Due to the smell and being careful not to catch TB, Vern hooked some string onot his foot and towed him up the lane. The string broke 3 times, but worst of all he had to pull the badger off the road to let 6 cars past!!. One bloke stopped and gave Vern a lecture on how nice they are , and that not all carry TB. Vern said he didnt know how nice they were , esp after eating 8 dozen pansy plants that kay had planted!! and that this one stunk
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Our land line Phone number
Some of you have tried to call us, sorry, our number has changed since we first arrived
Its 0044 1938 590 113.
Today we have been Stable hands, mucking out. That will be good on our CV.!!
Its 0044 1938 590 113.
Today we have been Stable hands, mucking out. That will be good on our CV.!!
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