aysons and AB's at Cardiff

We purchased tickets for the Cardiff game, months ago, at great cost!!! They cost $35.00 to be delivered from London. We had been telling the postie, how important the delivery was. So on the day he delivered the tickets to our back door, he was all dressed in an All Black shirt, instead of his usual uniform.
We had a great week, took of on Tues, went to the coast, and spent 3 days cycling round Cardigan and Swansea. lovely places,and the sun shone!!
Cardiff was buzzing. The singing was great, 300 male choir and brass band led in by a huge Billy goat. The game was as expected, the Welsh team needed to have scored in the first half and nearly did. Thousands of kiwis everywhere, even ran into Blenheimites. We stayed at Newport and went in on the train, enjoyed the singing on that too. Was great to have lunch with Momo, a Japanese lass we had met 10+ yrs ago. On the Sunday we called on friends in Bristol, Margaret and I nursed together 40+ yrs ago.
Painting is our job of the moment!!, I'm the sander, old old window frames, unbelievable that they dont just replace the whole window.!!
We are walking , cycling around these parts thsi week, while the weather lasts. 3-5 degrees most days!!

The beutiful Rhine

Fascinating apartments Darmstadt

hundreds on this building all different shape,colour,size

Vern and Manfred

Enjoying a sizzling steak in Frankfurt

See we did vote!!

Birthday shared

Autumn at Pool Grange

Our harvest of apples

2.5 degrees!!

Potting baskets in the stable

sigi and Manfred

Awonderful day on the Rhine

Sorry for the gap in communication, we’ve been having computer trouble and as our time is running out in the UK, we have been on the trot.
Winter is here!! Our huge house is lovely and warm,with the aga, central heating and the open fire. It is dark at 4 30 pm. We will be driving to and from work in the dark. Last week on a work day, we woke to snow!! 2.5 degrees for most of the day!! We were potting baskets!! The fingers were dropping off They do things here at the wrong time of the year, we think!!! But they are looking OK, pollys, pansies, ivy and hyacinths!! The gladioli I planted never flowered, they will be all ready for next year!!
Autumn colours are spectacular. Leaves are everywhere, spent yesterday racking them!! For a change it was sunny, a beautiful day, up to 15 degrees.
At Tedsmore they are running out of jobs for us, so have given us the delightful experience of painting much neglected windows on one of their rental houses. Vern and Graeme have used cans of bog!! Val and I the sanders!!
We are enjoying the pub scene; we are into watching the rugby at the moment!! Friday night we got involved with a darts interclub, and last night with a domino evening, great friendly folk.

Allblacks and Aysons at Murrayfield

this is the Rhine, didnt plan to have this here, dont know how to remove it!!

A treat as guests with Gavins Mum and Dad Liz and Stuart.

All Blacks in Scotland

We are off up the M6 once again, this time called at the Lake district on our way. Glorious time to see this area , the autumn colours are every bit as spectacular to the ones in New England. We called on Ians parents in Glenridding and had a lovely lunch there. Ians dad is frail, and Pat is the most dedicated wife/nurse I know. We went onto Keswick for the night, and had a lovely time there walking round a beautiful lake, these walks always seem to have pubs enroute so a coffee and scone is very delicious!! hard walking Eh!! Then it was off to Scotland , through Glasgow in the dark and rain!! Liz an Stuart, showed us around Helensburgh and Loch Lomand and to Crinon. Rugged west coast. The Rugby was great, the skirl of the pipes, the brisk evening but it didnt rain!! and of course the ABs won, but I was cheering the scots along!! as they were unlucky not to score. Murrayfield is a great venue, so special to go to it. Liz and Stuart went to wonderful trouble to give us a true scottish experience, haggis and all!! Went to church where Leo was christened. Headed home Sunday, was going to move off the M6 but it rained all the way , so it was no sightseeing at all.

Birthday surprise!! 'Mind the gap'

Vern and Val planned the surprise as it was Graemes birthday too. had to be ready at 815am with walking shoes and something to wear in the evening?? So off we went and ended up at the railway station in Welshpool, enroute to Birmingham and London. it was a fantastic 3 days , We stayed at St James Park, not far from Euston station. Walked and walked all around those familiar places, grey days and rain!! On and Off the tube like regulars!! Went to 2 shows , I will Rock You, and Dirty Dancing, both spectacular and amazing dancing and singing. Visited madam Tussauds, and really enjoyed that, esp the older dignitaries. So well done.
Watched the Bledisloe Cup with our niece Kirsty and Andrew, so nice to be with them. Then late on Sunday we headed back to Euston and home , with all sorts of hicups with British rail connections. But duly arrived in time for work on Monday am. Thank you for all my birthday wishes, a very special time for me.