Day 68 24 September

Our last blog!  This is a very predictable entry tonight.  Yes, we rested, read and walked!  It has been another warm day, super sea views and interesting people.  This is a really lovely beach resort, a great place for families as well as conferences.

We have had an amazing time, are grateful for all the support we have had from home and have learned so much about how to travel.  We look forward now to processing it all as the weeks go by and hopefully we will have opportunities to share many stories.  

Tomorrow we leave here at 2.15 for the Brisbane airport, fly out at 6.45 pm and land hopefully just before midnight NZ time.  Thank you Katherine for staying awake to meet us.  Hope we are on time.

We are ready to come home, despite the reports of wet, cold weather.  We are also interested in the yachting and of course are hoping for success.  Go Team NZ!  

See you soon.  Love to all.

Day 67 23 September

A very restful day for us here on the Sunshine Coast.  Another late start, a bus trip to Maroochydore to browse the shops and a one hour walk along the beach.  This is a wonderful warm part of Aussie.  All good and most enjoyable.

 Have just had a fire alarm activation, a false one, so the hotel is settling back after a visit from the brigade.  This time we were sitting in the foyer catching up on emails so we just sat and looked on!

We are interested in the outcome of the America's Cup - can they do it?  Not much talk about it here and the iPad Herald has not helped.  You must be really glued to the telly as each race is run.

Tomorrow we pack and prepare for homecoming on Wednesday.  Hard to believe that we will soon be on that plane.  It will be good to see everyone again.  School holidays are fast approaching too.  Love to all.

Day 66 22 September

Another day of rest and relaxation so not a great deal to write tonight.  We slept late, walked along the beach, read the newspapers, enjoyed a telephone call from Katherine and girls, and have watched some TV.  We are truly on countdown to our journey home.

It has been a lovely warm day on the Sunshine Coast.  The wind surfers are having a great time and are fun to watch.  This resort offers all we need and more.  Tomorrow we will take a bus and look for some shops.

Love to all.

Day 65 21 September

After a really really long sleep our morning disappeared quickly!  This afternoon we took a long walk along this beautiful beach.  School holidays begin here and it was the first day for the Surf Lifesaving teams to be on duty.  We enjoyed the warmth of the temperatures and the exhilaration of being beside the sea.  The swimming pool here was occupied most of the day.

Our plans for the next couple of days are very open. We are able to take a bus to Maroochydore, 20 minutes away, so we may do this.  One thing for sure is that we will be spending as much time as we can walking the beach, reading and just relaxing.  The apartment offers everything we need, meals are there too if we want them.  Faye ironed shirts today for the first time since we left home!  

Deborah and Andrea thanks for phoning tonight.  Brings the reality of homecoming very close!  Good to hear all is well.  Love to all.

Day 64 20 September

We are now very settled into the Ramada Hotel, Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast.  It has been a very full day for us, hot and sunny day and a very early start.  We waited on our aircraft for about an hour before the plane got clearance to leave Hong  Kong. What a busy airport!  However, we had a very good flight and managed to catch some sleep.  We landed at Brisbane an hour late but this did not affect our booking with the bus company as we were scheduled to leave at 10 am.

This is a very spacious apartment on the 5th floor with a magnificent view of the sea.  The facilities are excellent.  It was great to be able to catch up with our washing using a machine and drier as well as using a clothes rack.  We are sorry we are going to miss seeing Damian who is holidaying in Europe.

We have had an early tea and are ready for bed.  I think the travel is catching up on us!  Will share more tomorrow.  Have a good weekend.  Love to all.  View from our balcony............

Day 63 19 September

We are now at Hong Kong Airport in preparation for our flight to Brisbane.  This airport is huge and we have walked a good distance to get near our Gate!  All seems well organised and very clean with plenty of signs and of course heaps of people.  The Cathay Pacific Lounge is also big, one of three at this airport - a pleasant place to wait.

Today was really quiet.  We slept late, had breakfast brought to our room, leisurely packed, had lunch and let the day go by before we caught the shuttle, a service which operates every 20 minutes at no cost.  We are very impressed with both hotel and the attentive service we have received.  It is very hot outside so air conditioning is welcome.  Unfortunately this climate is not conducive to walking, the heat and planes constantly taking off detract from fresh air!  This stop-over was a very good call as we feel quite rested.

We are presently reading an Australian paper and note that temperatures of 25 to 30 can be expected over the coming week.  Looking forward to that!   

Good to hear from you.  The skies are beckoning.   Love to all.

 

Day 62 18 September

It has been a very long day.  We left Copenhagen at 9.20 am 17 Sept, Frankfurt at 2 pm and arrived in Hong Kong at 6.30 am 18 Sept.  With the exception of a few anxious moments at Frankfurt when we had to change flights from Luftansa to Cathay Pacific.  Once sorted (bus to terminal 1, train to terminal 2),  all went well, good flight, lovely food and great attendants.  We were able to catch a shuttle to the Hotel, good service too.

We are staying at the Marriott Hotel close to the airport, ninth floor, great view, spacious room - ideal for us to be in all day and rest after the long flight.  We are looking forward to an early night tonight!

Tomorrow we have organised a late check out for 2 pm.  We fly out about 9 pm, hopefully sleep through the night and arrive 7.45 am in Brisbane.

We are dining at a Chinese restaurant tonight.  Menu looks good.

Yes, our days are numbered now!  Love to all.

Day 61 17 September

Our last day in Denmark.  We spent this with Charlotte and went to see her mother, Inger Lise, who is in a home close to where Charlotte lives.  Inger Lise is very ill but was able to talk and recognise photographs from the Ellerman family albums which we went through with her.  She remembers Mum and how she used to write to her so she was very pleased to see us. We had lunch, left her to rest and went for a walk out to the coastline.  On our return to the home we said our goodbyes and went to Charlotte's home in Humlebaek.

Charlotte had invited her two sisters for tea so we now have met another branch of the family, Annemette and Henriette.  We shared a beautiful meal, talked heaps in English before it was time to return to the hotel and pack for tomorrow's journey.  Our Denmark experience will certainly be one to remember.

It will be an early start as we fly out at 9.20.   Tomorrow evening we will be winging our way to Hong Kong so not sure when the next blog will be written.  Will write once we are settled into our hotel and rested.  Lots of love to all.  

Day 60 Photographs

Day 60 16 September

Another day with this amazing family.  We woke early and set off with Ina at the wheel, Helge and Martha, for a long trip to visit the old farm and the cemetery.  As to be expected, the farm has changed.  The old house has been remodelled and has been subdivided off, the land under new ownership.  Many of the old buildings remain and it was interesting to see these.  Took some photos and will be able to compare these with the 1995 visit.  We met the new owner who showed us around and invited us in to see some old photographs he had borrowed from the neighbour.  Great!!

We have mixed feelings about the visit to the cemetery.  The headstones have been removed and trees planted, so the 1995 photos are really important.  Helge would like copies of these as he has no record or advice that this removal was to happen.  Apparently, after so many years, this happens to make space.  Not sure how this works as the plots are still hedged.

We then moved on to have a lovely lunch at the home of kHelge and Martha's son, Allan & Birgit (wife).  Once again we were made so welcome in a beautiful new home in a wooded area, lots of talk, translated as we went.  At the close of the meal, Helge spoke - a very emotional time as he expressed his thanks etc.  They really appreciated our visit and did not want us to leave!  It was soon time to drive on to Aahus to catch the train.

We are now on this train returning to Copenhagen.  It will be 9 pm before we get back to the hotel.  Tomorrow we spend the day with Charlotte and meet her mother, Inger Lise, and her family.  Somehow, sometime we will need to pack our bags to move on!

Until tomorrow, love to all...................

Day 59 15 Septemberm

Please make an amendment to last night's blog - Ina's husband is spelt Joergen pronounced Yur-han.

We have had an amazing day today.  Ina drove us and we arrived at Helge's place to find a beautiful garden decorated with many NZ flags and the Danish flag flying, a custom in Denmark whenever someone special or important is coming to visit.  We were greeted so warmly.

Helge and Martha had invited all relations for the day - lunch, dessert, afternoon tea and tea.  We sat down (17 of us) to designated named places, were welcomed formally and shared a beautiful meal prepared and served by Martha. After eating, each family introduced themselves and shared stories.  We then were taken on a walking tour of the farm and once again we got a feeling for life in Denmark and many aspects of farming from cows, to pigs, to potatoes.  We viewed the most beautiful garden and lawns, spacious and colourful.  You really have to see this to appreciate the beauty of it.  

We returned to the house for dessert and then out came the photographs and records.  We have been given quite a few to bring home.  Five of us were first cousins, and some of the group were meeting for the first time so it was a real family occasion.

As many could not speak English and of course we know no Danish, two of the younger generation were interpreters for the day.  They were most attentive and translated constantly so that we could converse.  There was a lot of laughter, deep viewing of the family tree and intense discussions as family lines were sorted out.  Helge had done a lot of work and had written material to distribute.   He really appreciated the contact with the NZ families, especially the cards and emails from Elaine.  What an amazing couple!

We are saturated with information and it will take some time to work it through.  Before we came to bed tonight, Helge and Martha gave us a thank you gift.  It has been quite an emotional day and one we will certainly remember.

Tomorrow we drive to visit the family farm, the cemetery (headstones are gone now), and areas of family interest.  Ina has been a wonderful companion and she will get us to the train at Aahus to return to Copenhagen late in the day.

On Monday we spend the day with Charlotte, meet cousin Inger Lise, and Charlotte's family.  This has been a very humbling experience - we realise that people do value family connections and we were so fortunate to be able to be part of bringing the family of Jens and Nikoline Madsen together.  We will have so much to share when we get home.  Love to all.

Day 58 14 September

Today we left Copenhagen to travel by train out to Jutland.  We were met by Ina at Kolding and brought out to Hadersley to her home where we met husband Johan and children, Lena and Jacob.  We have had such a good afternoon, a lovely lunch and a walk around the property - a pig farm with hectares of surrounding fields used for grain cropping, and blocks of attractive woods which are refuge for deer and foxes.  It is just beautiful.  Ina and Johan are building a new home and are presently living in part of the barn which has been converted to very comfortable living quarters.   We have been made so welcome.

Ina and Johan have talked a lot about their trip to NZ and their desire to come back.  I will share our photographs with them tonight and will take some tomorrow and hopefully put them on the blog.

Tomorrow we move up to meet Helge and family.  There is so much to see.  Farming is a key industry so the flat landscape is preparing for winter.  

Once again we are having new experiences and enjoying them very much.  Hope all is well with you.  Love to all

Day 57

A quiet day in Copenhagen.  Walked into the city, met Charlotte mid afternoon and the day slipped by. We purchased our train ticket for tomorrow and with Charlotte's help had a look at the set up at the station.  With a bit of luck we will not have to change trains.

We spend tomorrow evening with Ina and then a night with Helge, both living in Jutland.  Charlotte has talked a lot about her Mum and we look forward to meeting her on Monday.

So it's early to bed.  Weather looks OK.  It was cool this morning but warmed up as the day passed - what to wear is always the question.

Hope to have some photographs tomorrow if all goes to plan.   Much love to all.

Day 56 12 September

We are settled into our hotel in Copenhagen after an uneventful flight from Dublin.  No dramas with bags or customs!  Charlotte met us at the airport and we travelled by train to the station opposite the hotel, so convenient.  It is a small room but has all we need.

We connected with Charlotte very quickly and we have had such a good time talking, on the train and over a cup of coffee.  Tomorrow we will meet for lunch and if all goes to plan we will meet Charlotte's two sisters.  On our return from our visit to Jutland, Charlotte will take us to meet her mother, my cousin, Inger Lise, and we will go out to her place to meet her family. 

Tomorrow we will explore Copenhagen and get a feel for this place.  We have decided to leave our bags here and just take our backpacks to Jutland on Friday when we visit Ina and Helge.

Simon was struck with the family likeness!  Can you see this?  Note that I am in warm clothes - it was wet and cold when we left Dublin.  Love to all

Day 55 11 September

Our last day in Ireland!  We are now at the Clarion Hotel in Dublin ready to fly out tomorrow to Denmark.  We went back to Ennis to check out further documents before we set out for Dublin.  It was an easy drive, all motorway, lovely countryside.  However, when we reached the airport we had some bother finding the hotel.  Another story to tell!

We returned the car without too much hassle and walked back to the hotel.  We have really loved this Ireland experience, very relaxing, a very friendly culture.

So there really is very little to share with you today.  An early night, early start tomorrow, change of currency, through customs again and a different language!   

Love to all.

Day 54 10 September

We spent today on the trail of the Gibson family.  Who and when did he/they leave Ireland to reach NZ?  Many records were destroyed during the civil wars so we spent today visiting the centres which specialise in genealogy.  We visited Kilmaley, Ennis and Corrofin but have been unable to reach any conclusions.  We also renewed our acquaintance with Paddy Pyne, visited the cemetery again and enjoyed an Irish coffee with him.  He is a very interesting person with a keen interest in the history of this area.  We are beginning to wonder if  Kilmaley (County Clare) is the origin of this Gibson line.

Tomorrow we move on!  It's back to packing the bags and hoping the weight is OK.  We have received an email from Charlotte Ellerman (daughter of cousin Inger Lise) who is meeting us at Copenhagen.  A new phase begins.

We have had to source our evening meals for Sunday and Monday as this hotel restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.  Not that many options in this area.  We think we have been spoilt with plenty of choices!

All is quiet regarding the hurling result here, possible disappointment that County Clare did not retain its lead to win.  That's sport for you!

Until tomorrow, love to all.

Day 53 9 September

Hurling has been the call of the day here with County Clare and County Cork playing off the final and drawing 25 all in the last minute!  So there has to be another match 28 September - we will be home to watch it!  There is amazing community spirit for this sport.  We were in Ennis and managed to join the crowd in the Square as they waved their flags and wore the blue and yellow - shirts, hats, hair bands, scarves, painted faces etc.  All good fun.

This morning, after Mass we drove to Kilmaley to reconnect with the Gibson genealogy.  Ŵe met Paddy Pyne again, visited the cemetery but could not locate the family graves - memory had faded. We are meeting Paddy tomorrow and he will take us back.  Tomorrow we will visit the Ennis Library and the genealogy centre at Corrofin Heritage Centre.  Should be interesting and we hope they are open!  Meanwhile, just driving around is so interesting and we are noticing quite a few developments since our visit in 1995.  We are meeting many of the locals - fascinating accents, wonderful sense of humour, good stories.

There are many golfers in residence here so we are very much in the minority.  

We are beginning to think about our trip to Denmark now.  We will leave here on Tuesday to drive back to Dublin, return the car and stay the night close to the airport.  

The temperatures have been warmer today and the heating is on in the hotel, thank goodness.  Must away to bed now for an early night.  Good to hear news from home.  Love to all.

Day 52

Today would be our first experience of feeling cold!  The day began as clear and fine in Dingle but as we moved up to County Clare, the temperatures dropped and we ran into rain.  However, this did not deter our interest in the landscape, the farming, the desolation, the Atlantic coastline and the many villages.  

We were sorry to leave Greenmount House, an exceptional place for its facilities but it was also the hospitality and the care of the owners and staff that we will remember.

Vaughan Lodge turned out to be different from our expectations.  It is a large hotel close to Lehinch, known for its golf courses and facilities.  Many Americans come here for tournaments.  At present there are Americans, Canadians and Irish playing in tournaments so the place is busy.   Our room is spacious so we will be very comfortable.  It is central to the places we want to visit and what we want to do - that probably will not include a game of golf!   We are close to Ennis, Kilmaley etc and we hope to find out more about the Gibson connection to this area.

Tonight we had our evening meal here in the hotel, lovely food, attentive service etc.  There is great interest here in the hurling championship to be held in Dublin tomorrow.  County Clare is a strong contender so the flags are out and there is quite an air of excitement and anticipation.

Good news about the All Blacks.  We have no details yet about the game - will wait for Monday's Herald.  All is well with us as we begin another phase in our journey through Ireland.

Love to all.

Day 51 evening 7 September

We missed the sunset!  The attached is the remnants!

Love to all.

Day 51 7 September

Overnight rain cleared and we had another sunny day with the occasional shower.  We got back into the car and decided to drive out to Slea Head.  This proved to be a very interesting part of the world,  narrow road, winding and steep at times.  The views were breathtaking, evidence of the wild waters of the Atlantic Ocean and steep cliffs.   We hope the camera has captured some of this beauty.  The Dunquin shoreline is said to be among the most rugged in the world.

On our return to Dingle we did a little browsing around the port area and settled into a lovely afternoon enjoying the sun and our amazing view.

Tomorrow we pack up and leave for Ennistymon, County Clare.  From here, we hope to visit Ennis and its surrounding areas, but once again we may decide to enjoy a quiet restful time in the vicinity of our accommodation.

We have really enjoyed being in this area and so pleased we have had time to soak in the culture and lifestyle of the people.  The word recession is often mentioned and there is evidence of this.  The summer has been amazing and has attracted many visitors to Dingle - tourism would be one of the key sources of income.

As we write this, we capture an amazing sunset.  Will have a go with a photograph.

Day 50 6 September

This was a day of relaxation and rest so there is not a lot to share with you.  It dawned sunny and fine but by 11 am it was raining heavily.  We did not pursue our plan to take a drive but kept close to the village.  By mid afternoon the sun was out and we returned to our room, sat in the sun and "blobbed out" reading and just doing nothing.  What a treat!

You will have read our email about our late night experience with the spam/hoax.  All is now well and we are able to keep up the communication.

Tonight after dinner we walked home close to the water.  It was a beautiful evening, so quiet and peaceful.  Not sure about tomorrow - probably need to think through our drive on Saturday.  Whatever, we know we will continue to enjoy this place.  From conversations we believe we have been very fortunate with our weather in this part of the world - conditions have been ideal for fishing, tramping, biking, outdoor events etc.  It is the Dingle Marathon on Saturday so the place will come alive!

Until tomorrow, love to all.

Day 49 5 September

Our first day in Dingle.......

We slept late, woke just I time to get to breakfast by 9 am and meet the deadline of 9.30.  We spent most of the day just wandering around the town, talking with people etc and doing a little shopping. There is an abundance of hotels and eating houses.  Of most interest has been the art and craft shops where local artists make and sell their own creations, obviously for the tourist trade.  Fish is on every menu, a strong industry here.

Late afternoon the rain came in so we had to get out the raincoats to walk for dinner.  We are now back in our lovely room enjoying a peaceful quiet time.  Tomorrow we hope to drive out to Slea Head, the most western point closest to Canada.  This will give us a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean.  However it will be weather dependent.

We note that it is fairly wet and cold at home.  We continue to enjoy discovering new places and are soaking up the beautiful scenery.   We are enjoying the hospitality of the Irish people - they are very friendly and interested in where you are from. Of course, we are taken for Australians most of the time!

Keep warm everyone.  Much love to all.

Day 48 4 September

We are now settled in to our home in Dingle for the next four nights and what a super place this is!  We have a very big room in this rather beautiful complex with an amazing view out to sea over pastures, cottages and fishing boats.  Will try to attach photographs at the close of this entry.

We picked up our rental car, an Audi A3, a lovely car to drive.  A good part of the way to Dingle was by motorway before we hit a more challenging road of hill and bends, but still very easy and no different from some roads in NZ.  We drove for about five hours with a stopover at Adear.  It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny and the scenery was so good.  Once on the way, the drive was quite simple.  We were given a GPS and this too was very helpful.

Dingle looks really fascinating, a typical Irish village, but with a beautiful outlook towards the sea.  Will be able to comment more after tomorrow.  Farming seems to have a presence as does the fishing industry.  We have just got in from a fish meal, really fresh too.

We are looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow so will just take walks.  Hopefully the weather will remain warm and fine.  This is a part of Ireland we did not visit in 1995 so there is plenty to see and enjoy.  Hope all is well.  Love to all.

Day 47 3 September

A day in Dublin.......

We took ourselves to Baggott Street to visit the Mercy International Centre, the home and final resting place of Catherine McAuley (please amend spelling in last night's blog - a senior moment), foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.  We were made very welcome, had missed the tour for the day, but were shown around by an Australian Mercy Associate, Ann O'Connell.  This historic place captures many aspects of Catherine's work with the poor and disadvantaged, a sacred place central to the Mercy Sisters throughout the world.  We were so fortunate to be able to visit.  Of course, I was reminded of the Mercy Spirit so alive at OLSH.

This afternoon we browsed a shopping area, walked through St Stephens Green, a place that reminded us of Cornwall Park, a green area in a busy city.  We had hoped to visit the Genealogy section of the Dublin Library to see if we could find any records relating to the Gibson and Lynch families, but as it was Monday, it was closed. Pity!

It has been a lovely warm day and the forecast is promising.  We have studied the map to find our way to the Dingle area.  We think getting out of Dublin will be the challenge!  One consistent thing we have experienced is the friendliness of the people so we should be able to get help if we need it.

So another good day.  Love to all.

Day 46 2 September

Thanks to Patrick Gibson we caught our flight to Dublin in good time.  Manchester Airport is huge and once again we found ourselves walking good distances to check in (no weight problems this time), goo to security and then to the gate.  The security check was very very thorough.  Simon's backpack was searched only to find we had forgotten to take out the sunscreen.  No worries and all was well.  Thank goodness we had plenty of time.  The flight was short so we seemed to land in no time and went straight through to find a taxi.

We took a taxi to our accommodation.  Our room is very big, fairly basic but comfortable, B&B.  We are quite tired so will look forward to a good sleep.  Tomorrow we search for Baggott Street, the home of Catherine McCaughley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.

There is a cold wind here so time for jackets.  We found a lovely Irish Hotel, Foleys, and enjoyed a good meal.  We seem to be very central to the city so will be able to walk to shops etc.  We change from the Pound currency to the Euro, so it will be off to find an ATM machine.  

We look forward to this new phase of our journey and have our maps out to plot our driving around Ireland.  Ŵe need to do this before we leave Dublin.  So until tomorrow, love to all.  Enjoy your new week.

Day 45 1 September

Thank you for Fathers' Day messages.  Hope you enjoyed your day, Keith, Mark, Tony and Brendon.  Thinking of you all.

Today Anne hosted the Gibsons to morning tea.  It was a beautiful sunny day so we were able to gather outside in the courtyard, took lots of photos and enjoyed getting to know this family connection - cousin Patrick and Barbara, cousin Simon and Ann and their two children Tom and Angela with her husband Rick, and cousin Cathy.  We hope we are able to keep in touch.

After lunch, Anne took us to her bowling green for some practice ends.  Anne had not played for some time so she was keen to have a practice as she has a game on Monday.  Simon took a few turns and enjoyed that too.

We attended Mass at St Joseph's Church in Lytham.

Tomorrow Patrick is driving us to Manchester to catch the plane to Dublin.  So once again we pack the cases and move on.  We have been very fortunate to be able to stay here with Anne and appreciate all she has shared with us.  The temperature is certainly cooler here tonight.  Hope Ireland does not get too cold!  It is hard to believe that we have been away from NZ for over 6 weeks now.  Each day continues to bring something new.  

Have not heard a rugby score yet, so are presuming it could be a Sunday match?   Love to all.

Day 44 31 August

Happy birthday Anna!  Thinking of you today.

We have just got home from a lovely celebration dinner at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes.  Anne had invited the Gibsons - Patrick and Barbara, Simon and Anne, Cathy, and her two neighbours to join us. It was a lovely meal, plenty of music and fun.  We enjoyed meeting up again and of course had lots to talk about. It is late so this blog will be very brief.

The day passed quietly with a visit to the hairdresser for the three of us followed by our last circuit of Lytham.  We are aware that the Ranfurly Shield is up for grabs so will wait for the result!

Tomorrow Anne has invited the Gibsons for morning tea and we will then have to think about packing. So until tomorrow, love to all.  Hope you are having a great weekend.

Day 43 30 August

Today we met Patrick, eldest son of Pat and Mary Gibson, and Cathy, only daughter.  Anne invited them for morning tea.  We enjoyed chatting, especially about the life of their recently deceased mother, Mary.  Patrick also shared snippets of the life of Pat, an RAF pilot.  It was so good and we look forward to meeting the family again tomorrow evening at dinner.

This afternoon we again took to the footpaths and walked, browsed and shopped.  We called into the Railway Hotel and photographed the displays featuring golfer Bob Charles, winner of the British Open in 1963.  Simon remembers it well.

We have begun preparing for Ireland, really thinking about the places we will be visiting and where we will be staying.  Looks good on paper!

The temperature has dropped a notch but still very pleasant. Anne's garden is in full bloom.  Today she harvested a bucket of lavender which has pride of place on the hearth, delicious perfume and very pretty.  The bees love it too so there is still heaps to cut back.

And so concludes another day in this very beautiful, peaceful place.  Love to all.

Day 42

A significant day for us today.  We met with Simon and Anne Gibson who drove us to the cemetery to visit the graves of Pat and Mary Gibson.   The headstone is now ready to be put in place - very beautifully done.  Anne had organised flowers, we took some photographs and reflected on the recent death of Mary.

Simon and Anne invited us to their home for a chat and refreshments.  We enjoyed this very much.  The two Simons caught up with the achievements of Uncle Pat both in sport and in the RAF.  Simon had many interesting photographs to share.  He has gathered information from many sources and is preparing to write a book.  We also saw the scrapbook record of their family trip to NZ.  If all goes to plan, Simon and Anne hope to travel out to NZ at the end of the year.

We hope to meet Patrick and Barbara Gibson tomorrow morning.  Anne has invited them around for coffee.  On Friday evening we all gather for a meal, a family celebration for Anne's 70th birthday.   Thanks to Anne we are able to catch up and connect with  family in this part of the world.

We continue to be impressed with Lytham.  We briefly sighted the golf course today.  We are enjoying walking everywhere.

So comes to close another day.  Thanks for the emails.  

Day 41

Another quiet day in Lytham, fine, warm and restful.  We spent the morning attending to domestic tasks, responding to emails etc. Early afternoon Simon mowed the lawn and Faye completed the crosswords and did a little ironing. Anne had some shopping to do before she prepared a super chicken meal for tea.  Easy life this!

We enjoyed a stroll into the village and browsed the shops.  So you will see there is not a lot to share.  All is well. We are now watching the American Open Tennis.

We have a number of things we want to do while we are here, catch up with the Gibson family, visit the cemetery where Uncle Pat and Aunty Mary were buried, catch sight of the golf course where the British Open was played in 2012 and explore Anne's bowling territory.

Simon comments:

Yes life is quiet and relaxing, that  is expected I guess.  I must say we do get very good coverage of what is happening in Kiwi land. On a daily basis we get the Herald News through the Internet!  Always good to catch up on the news.  We begin our plans for Ireland tomorrow, some reading and studying the maps.

Love to all.  Think of you often.

Day 40 27 August

Another restful quiet day.  Anne is just 10 minutes walk from the village of Lytham and the sea so we took a walk to explore a few areas close to her home.  The estuary is quite expansive with an established promenade along the waterfront.  The village of Lytham prides itself on its floral presentations around the streets - flowers in bloom in boxes, pots, hanging baskets.  Being a public holiday in England today, there were many people out to enjoy the fabulous warm sunny day.  The shops look inviting so that will be a must on the to do list.  We dined Italian tonight so have just got in from a lovely stroll home, so different from the pace of London. 

On a more practical note, we have caught up with the washing, made our plans for the rest of the week and enjoyed having time to ourselves.  We have yet to confirm our plans to meet with the Gibsons - Simon and Anne, Patrick and Barbara, and Cathy.  We are looking forward to catching up with them.

So we are enjoying seeing another part of England.  Thanks for keeping us in the loop with news from home.  Until tomorrow, love to all.

Day 39 26 August

This morning we woke to more rain, but by the time we set out for Mass it had cleared.  It was really good to visit Westminster Cathedral again, our last "walk about" in London.  Of course, we had to pack up once again and check out of the hotel.  The suitcases are a little lighter!

We are disappointed we did not get to experience the cricket at the Oval, but then that is always a possibility with this sport.  We will catch up on TV

Today we travelled by bus to Anne's place in Lytham.  We left London at 1.30 pm and arrived here at 8 pm.  It was a long trip but very pleasant with lots to see as we moved through the various areas.  We had a 30 min stop at Birmingham to grab a bite to eat etc.

Anne had prepared for us so we are really spoilt and we are looking forward to our time here with her. What a beautiful area this is, quite close to the sea and lots of green.  It think we will be able to catch up on some good walking.  Anne's two storied home is lovely with that touch of NZ in the photographs and the art works.  

Must away to bed now.  It will be the beginning of another new week for you all - school, work, commitments.   Love to all.

Day 38 25 August

This will be a brief blog tonight as we have done very little today.  We had our tickets for the cricket at the Oval but it has rained all day so there was no play.  We took a taxi to Regent Street, browsed and returned to the Hotel.  Anne went to the Oval and picked up the hamper she had ordered for our lunch.  We met back at the hotel shared the lunch and rested for the rest of the day, our tea being the remainder of the hamper!   

Tomorrow we catch Mass at Westminster Cathedral before we head for Lytham by bus.  Hopefully the rain is over.  

It s good to hear about the rugby win.  We did get a chance to watch it this morning while we waited for the rain to clear.

So until tomorrow............................

Day 37 24 August

We have had another leisurely day in London, strolling the area around Westminster and taking photographs.  It is so good to have this time without having to meet deadlines.  We parcelled up surplus stuff and struggled with another box to the Post Office!

Tonight we went to dinner with some of Anne's friends to celebrate her belated 70th birthday.  We went to a restaurant called Simpsons in the Strand, a traditional  English Hotel in architecture, menu and service - very nice indeed.  It was a warm night and the streets were alive.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the cricket at the Oval.  Rain is forecast so that could be interesting.  Anne has arranged for a hamper and we are sitting in the open stands.  It will be another new experience.  Sunday we are on the move by bus to Lytham.

We will be taking a keen interest in the rugby.  We will be able to watch this on TV hopefully before we leave for the cricket.

Another busy weekend for you all.  Thanks for emails etc.   Will sign off as another day passes.

Day 36 23 August

Woke to a wet morning but not cold.  Time for rain jacket and to buy an umbrella.  We slept late.  So good being able to take our time and not meet any deadlines.

We walked across Westminister Bridge and found the Westminster Catholic Cathedral in time to celebrate Mass.  A beautiful Church.  Of course we had a lot to see on that walk - London Eye wheel,  Westminster Abbey, statues of famous people (Winston Churchill eg), StJames Park, Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, the Thames River and plenty of people, queues of them waiting to visit various historic sites.  Still did not make the shops!

We have repacked our bags and yes, it is time for another parcel home.  This time it is quite heavy - the paper stuff from our travel including books etc.  We had our evening meal in the hotel and went to theatre.  Anne had booked us into "The Lady Killers".  We enjoyed it very much, very funny.  You may remember the film version.  We experienced a ride in the London cab and had lunch at a typical cafe.  We are finding the cost of food here quite expensive.

Anne is enjoying the cricket although today was interrupted by the rain so she sat around for a while.  The hotel arrangement is working out for us.  We are on the 15th floor so quite high.  It is a big hotel, very busy.

Time to sign out.  Love to all.  Great hearing news from home.

Day 35 22 August

We are now in our hotel in London after a very easy flight from Lyon.   We rose early and left l'Hermitage at 7 am.  At Heathrow we were met by our arranged car (Colleen did a good job with our travel plans) and were impressed with the drive in, a beautiful day, warm and not too much traffic.

Our hotel room is small but has all the essentials and looks very comfortable, but whether it is suitable for three is yet to be tested!  It has some interesting wall panels which I will capture, especially the one beside our bed!

Anne has been to the cricket today so we caught up about 4.30 pm.  We are now sitting watching the end of today's cricket on TV and will soon go out for a meal.  Anne is well and sends her love to all.

And so begins another phase in our journey.  We hope to rest tomorrow, have a browse around the area close to our hotel and may even browse some shops.  Love to all.

Day 34 21 August

We have enjoyed another exciting day here at l'Hermitage.  We were driven 1500 ft above sea level to Village of Le Bessat, then to La Chaperie, before visiting the Rivat Family home.  At each place we reflected on a story.  These stories have become part of our journal as we come to understand the life and influence of Marcellin Champagnat.   We drove through very steep country, trees, hamlets, small villages and small farms - very beautiful valleys, narrow roads, lots of snow in the winter.   We continue to enjoy the amazing hospitality and generosity of the community here.  

This afternoon we revisited our walk of last evening and took some photographs of the cemetery, the view from a walk above the complex, the gardens.  It is a beautiful place, a home.

It is difficult to express the impact these few days have had - a time of discovery and reflection within and around this peaceful place.  We will treasure this opportunity to walk with this amazing community and to feel the presence of the Marist spirit.  We have certainly experienced welcoming, spirituality and formation.  Tonight we celebrate Eucharist before we share a meal with groups from around the world, Brothers, families and group associates.

Tomorrow we leave here at 7 am to travel to Lyon to fly to London.  It will be good to meet up with Anne.  So it is time to pack the bag again and hope the weight has not increased!  Will be sending another parcel from London, we think.   Love to all.

Day 33 20 August

A "wow" day discovering more about the life of Marcellin Champagnat.  There are three important places to recall.  We visited the Chapel at Le Rosey and the cottage of his birth place, the Church at Marhles, and the  house where he began his work with the Brothers before he began l'Hermitage.  

We were surrounded by valleys, varied countryside which is described as being stony and not very productive although we did see some cows.  We drove for about 30 kms to 1000 ft above sea level so the view was rather awesome.  The most memorable place for us would most probably be the Chapel at Le Rosey where there were significant links to what we know and were taught.  From humble and simple beginnings has grown communities worldwide, all driven by the same purpose and direction.  The community here is really focused on three things - welcoming, spirituality, and formation.  The buildings, the grounds, the vision all capture the Marist way relevant to today's world, presence, simplicity, family spirit, love of work and achievement, strength in character.

We spent a part of the afternoon taking photographs of yesterday's experience in the house here at l'Hermitage, history expressed in contemporary fashion, a powerful expression of faith and belief in what was begun almost 200 years ago.   We hope our photographs will reflect a little of what we have felt today.

We are coping OK as the minority in this French community.  We try to read instructions etc and hope to get it right. Everyone is very thoughtful and helpful, gentle, with lots of laughter around us.  Today a group of Spanish Brothers arrive so tonight at supper will be interesting!  

So ends a day with lots to think about.  Caught up on the washing, slept late, have been driven around and have enjoyed the meals with the community.  We will be taken by car to Lyon to fly to London on Wednesday.  No more trains!  

Have no specific plans for tomorrow so look forward to resting and reflection.  Love to all.  Thanks for your emails and comments.  

Day 32 19 August - Evening

No problem with wifi so here's our entry for the rest of Day 32.  We are safely at l'Hermitage after a few  anxious moments catching trains.  We were met at the station as planned and driven to this beautiful place.  We have been made so welcome and the hospitality is really attentive and caring.  We have already been taken around the building and saw the most wonderful presentations of the life of Marcellin Champagnat.  We have visited many churches and museums over the last fortnight - nothing compares with this in its simplicity, uncluttered insights into the life of Marcellin, beautiful frescos, very clear purpose - the story of the first Brothers and their charism which has spread worldwide.  Every picture, display tells a very clear story of the Marist way centred around the life of this saint.  We hope to take photos tomorrow to capture some of the important details.

Tomorrow we walk some distance to view the area and gain further knowledge of the beginnings, growth and development of this international centre, a sacred place where the Marist spirit emanates.  People of all languages come and go.  We were fortunate to meet Brother Allan from the Philippines who speaks English fluently.  So we look forward to discovering more tomorrow.

Our accommodation is very good, not all the trimmings of the cruise but still comfortable, spacious and spotless.  We are tired tonight and ready for an early night.  Life is simple here, breakfast at 8.40, dinner in middle of the day and supper in the evening.  We were able to celebrate Mass tonight - another experience in French.  Much love from St Chamond.

Day 32 19 August

It is early morning, departure day.  We are packed and ready to go!  Not sure if wifi will be available over the next few days so our next blog may be from London.  We fly from Lyon on 21 August.

The ship is very busy this morning and preparations being made for the next cruise.  It is a very efficient operation, amazing staff.  We are sorry to be going but on the other hand looking forward to the next phase of our journey.  Will write again tonight if services are available.

Day 31 18 August

This wonderful cruise comes to close.  Tonight we had a last meal together.  Lots of goodbyes.  We spent time on deck with a Scottish couple with connections to the Talley fish industry in Nelson.  It's a really small world!

Today we walked through Arles - amphitheatre, running with the bulls down those narrow streets just as we have seen on TV, markets, a step back in time but still cars etc prevalent, historic buildings, cobbled streets etc.

We spent the afternoon sorting out our bags.  We did not go to the Olive Farm which was the afternoon option.  Just enjoyed time on the ship, warm day, doing things at our leisure.

Tomorrow we catch a train to Lyon then change trains to go to St Charmond, another phase in our trip.  This is a bit of a challenge but we think we have it all sorted provided everything runs to time.

This is a beautiful ship, great staff, top class facilities and we are very grateful to have had this opportunity to be on board.  We look forward now to our times with the Marist Brothers community before we fly on to UK.

We were delighted to find out the score for the AB game.  We did well again!  Take care everyone.  Hope the weekend sport went well.  Think of you often so until tomorrow ..........

Day 30 17 August

Tonight was the Captain's dinner.  Yes, the cruise part of our trip is rapidly coming to a close.  We are berthed in Avignon, a beautiful city, surrounded by an ancient wall, fascinating history centred around the Pope's Palace.  There were nine Popes in residence here before the papacy shifted to Rome.  We walked around the city and climbed to have an amazing view. Great fun and another learning experience for us both.

We spent this afternoon up on deck reading and enjoying the warm day.  There are many cruise ships in port so lots to see.  This is quite a tourist city so lots of people.

We are following the news about another earthquake in Seddon/Wellington area.  Hope things settle soon.

Tomorrow we leave for Arles, the last leg of our journey and time to think about packing!  For some reason we bus to Arles so there will be no more cruising time on the river, just one more night for sleeping.  We are really thinking about the train trip to Lyon and then to St Charmond.  Hope we make the connections as planned.

Thanks for emails and comments.  Always good to hear your news.  Have a great weekend.  Think of you often.  Love to all.

Day 29 16 August

It is still 15 August here in France and a public holiday as it is the Feast of the Assumption.  We are in Viviers, a small town steeped in history and preserved.  We walked the very narrow cobbled streets, visited the St Vincent Cathedral and climbed to have aperitifs at an original family home which was once a seminary for Cistercian Priests.  We were the guests of a French family.  The courtyard and garden were beautiful.  Just cannot describe it really - unreal in today's living in NZ.  

In the afternoon we sailed to Avignon.  We passed through many locks, one of which was 75 feet, quite a drop and an amazing experience to navigate through.  The afternoon for us was one of rest, reading and catching up on some emails.  We did not visit the truffle farm and Chateuneuf du Papes, but elected to have a quiet time on the boat.

It is a beautiful evening, so warm and mild.  We walked after dinner for a very short stroll. Tomorrow we  take a walking tour around Avignon.  I did not realise that this was the home of the Pope before the Vatican.  There is so much to learn wherever we go.

The wine continues to flow, meals are plentiful, the ship is very comfortable.  We are beginning to think about disembarkment, the trip to l'Hermitage the next challenge with train connections etc.  Our ship is moored alongside a very busy road, the first city intrusion in many days!  Will close the sliding door and put on the air conditioning and close down for the day.  Always good to hear from you.  Until tomorrow, love from us both from southern France.

Day 28 15 August

 We have been away a month now and it has been another great day.  We walked through the towns of     Tournon and Tain-l'Hermitage.  These were true French towns, cobbled narrow streets, many little shops tucked away in places you would not expect.  Such a lovely relaxed morning which ended with wine tasting at a vineyard, although we only saw the shop front of it. Nothing like the vineyard experiences we have had in Central and Marlborough, but good.  We tasted a Chardonnay and 3 reds, the predominant grape variety Syrah.  It was just before lunch so concentration and discernment may have been distracted.  It has been another warm balmy day, a little windy, but ideal for walking at a leisurely pace.

After lunch the ship set off for Viviers.  We gave the cooking demonstration a miss and sat up on deck to enjoy the views around us.  We passed through two more locks - we are fascinated each time.  We are now back in our cabin enjoying a wine with our sliding door open.  We may try to attach  photo this time.

Simon will now take over and make a few comments.  Love to all.  Faye.

Hi all today has been an enjoyable and learning day.

I do love this France country. The rural nature of this river cruising has been a winner for me. Today is an example. We have had 4 Hours of crusing through rural land. This country from a rural perspective surprises me.

It seems to me it is in the development phase for agriculture. Production on the growth, Government incentive, positive results from projects of land development and leadership on farm are encouraging the Government.

There is a focus on improving the the utilisation of water and the access of river water to the land. A major change in thinking of the Government.

All these strategy moves are something to follow.

We loving this time here. At the same time miss you very, very much. Keep up the contact.

Nana and Pop, Faye and Simon, Mum and Dad.

Signing off.

Day 27 14 August

I am am not happy!  I wrote the blog and hit a wrong button and have lost the lot!  So this will be an abbreviated version as it is quite late.  We are presently going through a lock.  We are in our cabin with the sliding door open.  The ship has descended between two concrete walls as the water is pumped out.  It is quite dark and eerie as we pass though.  What amazing engineering feat!

Today we took a panoramic tour by bus around Lyon.  We visited the old part of the city, even went into passageways used as escape routes many centuries ago.  We climbed a very steep hill to Fourviere to the Basilica and Chapel.  This is the place where the Marist Fathers, Brothers and Sisters made their commitment to form the Society of Mary and dedicate their lives to spreading Christianity across the world.  We found it a very beautiful place but once again for us the significance was not emphasised other than its architecture, its position and a place to view Lyon.  No doubt we will get a greater sense of its meaning once we visit l'Hermitage.  We took photos but I doubt they will capture the real beauty and size of the area.  It can be viewed from many parts of Lyon, an amazing must see for all who visit.

The silk industry is quite strong here in Lyon, so we were treated to a demonstration of how scarves a designed, printed and made.  Believe it or not. I did not purchase despite the many lovely designs and colours.

We walked to find an ATM this afternoon, found one and it worked!  We continue to meet interesting people and are enjoying ship life, often comparing the two ships.  The days continue to be warm.  We are kept very busy and love those down times when we can just enjoy the smooth cruise, our time together with no rush. Precious times! 

Must away to bed now.  Will keep you posted as we journey on.  Much love to all.  We do enjoy those responses and emails.  Good to know what is going on for you back home.  Many thanks.

Day 26 13 August

We write this from our hotel room on the ship.  We have just got back from a walking tour to explore the vineyards of Burgundy, the Hotel-Dieu (once a hospital dating back to 1441) at Beaune, and visit an abbey at Tournus.  Another great day, very warm, good guide.  All so interesting.

The countryside reflects vineyard after vineyard, small villages with similar house construction, narrow streets, and lovely flowers on window ledges, balconies etc.  Not a lot of space between houses, very typical of the pictures we see.  The wine industry is regulated and we were given some valuable insights into the growing of the grapes through to harvest.  Since beginning the tour we have French wine with our meals, a different  variety and label each evening.  I still like my NZ varieties!

We are now back in our stateroom, sliding door open and a view of the river as we return to Lyon.  

Tonight we attend the Captain's Dinner so we dress for the occasion.  We left our American friends at the close of the River Baroness cruise so are now faced with finding new company - not easy if groups are already together.  There are two other couples from NZ, Australians, South African but predominantly American, a range of maturity across us all!

Tomorrow it looks like we take a scenic tour of Lyon in the morning and an afternoon of leisure.

Good to have your comments.  We are really coping well and realise that there are not many days left on the river.

Love to all.

Day 25 12 August

Today we left Paris and travelled by bullet train to Lyon.  We embarked on the ship River Royale.  Our room is a little bigger than that of the previous ship with every convenience provided - rather lovely!  The train trip was just on 2 hours, very fast and smooth.  Once again we were in awe over the railway stations both at Paris and at Lyon.  We keep thinking about that trip we have to take at the end of the cruise and we have to come back to Lyon and change trains!

We are with a new group of people so it's the challenge of mixing and meeting new people.  She boat sailed at 6 pm tonight and we are now on our way to berth at Chalon-sur-saone.  We are going a guided walking tour tomorrow, captains dinner in the evening.

Not much to share today.  All continues to go well.  Have yet to find an ATM to test our card!  This boat is bigger, so more people on board.  We have a door which opens on to a narrow balcony and a good view over the river.  Took a photo before so hope the reflection is visible - an amazing sight.

Much love from the travellers.

day 24 11 Auguist

This morning we viewed Paris from the top of Monmartre.  We were taken up this very steep hill by motorised train and once again heard about Renoir, van Gogh and Picasso. It was an artists haven.  All good.  We visited the Cathedral of Sacre Coeur, just beautiful.  Of course we joined crowds of people out for Saturday strolls along with the tourists.  

This afternoon we enjoyed a spot of resting up on deck and then began to pack our bags for tomorrow when we travel by bullet train to Lyon to join a new ship River Royale.  We were not aware that we were actually on two cruises so a number of people go home tomorrow.

We experienced our first hiccup with the ATM today and were declined!   Not a good experience.  We rang NZ only to find out that everything ANZ was down.  We had to phone again later and now hope we have everything sorted. Will try again tomorrow.

We have been very impressed with Paris.  Never did any shopping.  Just enjoyed the history and being here.  Our great weather continues, not too hot now and no further rain.

Great to hear from you have a moment.  Hope your weekend is restful and all is well with you all. 

Day 23 Evening comment

As we write this we have retired to our stateroom (cabin) and have the sliding door open as we enter Paris. It is really beautiful.  Simon has been  on deck and taken a photo of the Eiffel Tower which is lit up at 11 pm each evening. The river is very busy, quite a change from the past few days we travelled into Normandy.

This evening we have been briefed on the transfer to the train on Sunday and our embarkation of River Royale at Lyon.  Our luggage is transported for us so we just pack and organise our hand luggage.  All good.

Tomorrow morning we will visit Monmatre and spend some time in Paris looking at some shops.  We have made friends with two American couples who are not picking up the second stage of the tour.   We will miss them.

So everyone it's time to sign off.  Love to all.

Day 23 9 August

What a morning!  Ŵe visited the gardens and the House of Claude Monet, famous impressionist artist, at Giverny.  It was warm and sunny and the sun and light were just right to see the garden at its best.  The lily pond was just as you see it in the paintings, the flowers were in full bloom and of course colour was spectacular.  Inside the house, we were able to get a feeling for the way he lived.  We heard the story of his life and the paintings, although not the originals, became very familiar.

This afternoon we are on the ship sailing towards Paris.  We are up on deck on sun loungers, quietly cruising and resting.  Bit of a dream really!  We pass through villages, sometimes just tree lined banks, but all so quiet and smooth.  Will try for a photo.  My book is good and Simon is enjoying reading daily from "France" the book you gave to us Katherine.  Will write again tonight.

Day 22 8 August

Today we took a long bus trip to the coast of Normandy to see the White Cliff village of Etretat.  We climbed up a series of steep steps to a church and the most amazing view.  It was a beautiful morning, the sea and beach reminded us of some beaches at home and the view was rather spectacular.  We got back on the bus and drove to a cider farm where we heard about how apples are converted Ito cider and its stronger alcoholic derivatives.  We sampled these and enjoyed a salad lunch with interesting cheeses, Camembert being the most familiar to us.  The Normandy cows produce milk for this cheese.  We really enjoyed this morning -  picturesque, expansive cropping, few cows, flax crops.  We then visited the historic town of Honfleur built around a marina.  The buildings dated back to early 19 century, once again the church being central to it all, almost museum pieces now.

Back at the ship we enjoyed another beautiful meal as we set sail for Vernon.  As I write this, I am sitting up on the bed looking out our big sliding door over the river, so peaceful with just the wake of the ship disturbing the smooth waters.

Tomorrow we visit Monet's home and Gardens.  Looking forward to that.  Each day continues to bring something new.  We head for Paris tomorrow and arrive there about midnight.

We are well.  Thanks for keeping in touch.  Words cannot describe the many varying scenes of this part of the world, villages, interesting houses, expansive fields, evidence of history, people of many races etc.  It's quite a learning curve for us.  Must away to bed.  Love to all.

Day 21 7 August

A wet day!  It rained heavily. Temperatures dropped but we still continued with our programme.  We took a tour of Rouen but as it was raining we spent most of the time in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, looked at architecture and of course revisited much of the History of Normandy.  We listened to the story of Joan of Arc and walked to the site where she was burned at the stake and spent time in the most beautiful church dedicated to her, a modern building with many relevant symbols and artifacts.

It would have been a great place to shop but not in the rain so we returned to the ship, enjoyed a great lunch and rested for the afternoon.  Simon took a bike ride along the river.

Late afternoon we attended a signature lecture - A Journey through Impressionism, an insight into impressionist art with emphasis on Monet.  Very interesting.

The standard of care, food and facility on the ship remains very high.  Each day we are briefed for the coming day, sometimes we select. Other times we go with what has Ben organised.  It is so good.  Tonight we were entertained with singing and music from the 50s.

Tomorrow is another big day with a tour to Etretat White cliff village, a visit to a traditional Cider farm followed by a visit to Honfleur. We are now docked at a place called Caudebec-en-Caux.  All very peaceful and quiet, river so smooth.  Off to bed now.  Love to all.

Day 20 6 August

A long day today!  We set off at 8 am and returned 6.30 pm.  We spent the day exploring Normandy, the landing sites on the beaches and the cemetery.  We spent time at Gold Beach (Britain) and Omaha Beach (America). We are now familiar with the stories of the landings.

We chose to visit Bayeux Tapestry.  This was a very interesting piece of work, 70 metres long, worked on canvas in wool telling the story of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the time of William the Conqueror.

Absolutely fascinating!

Simon is now picking up the blog............today was a highlight for us. We had the opportunity to visit and spent the afternoon of a beautiful sunny day learning and viewing the 4 landing beaches of The battle of Normandy.  D Day landing on the beaches on the 6th June 1944, became a reality for us today. The beaches are beautiful and today were well used by many families enjoying a holiday  day in sunshine and the sea. It was a warming and happy sight.

The many memory items of writing in stone, war used machinery, memorial structure and finally the cemetery visit shifted our thoughts and emotions!  We walked with hundreds of others among the 4000 upright white crosses reading names. Reflecting of the part these young men and women from the USA had played in this battle. Most of all one could think who they left behind.

The two American Air Force high powered Jet Fighters flying overhead made the day real.

A wonderful experience for us.

Must sign off now.

Mum and Dad, Nana and Pop.