Info about the fence

So, just incase you are wandering about my post earlier... on Friday night someone drove into our fence! It is double brick and rendered and, as you can see, managed to slam into it and smash it to smithereens.

Good points:

- Chris had gone home about half a hour beforehand. Her car would have been toast otherwise.

- Shane had moved the trailer up the back else wise that would have been wrecked! Along with his car.

- it missed Shane's car by about 50 cms

- my car was directly behind the wall. The bushes stopped the shrapnel hitting it.

Annoying points:

- I currently do not have a kitchen- the last thing I want is a mess out the front.

- I heard the crash.

- we leapt out of bed to rush to offer assistance to the vehicle occupants.

- we couldn't see any cars crashed on the road! Doh wonder why...Shane even walked down to the letter box - but didn't see the fence, we weren't looking that way.

- went back inside very puzzled over what we had heard - I knew I'd heard something.

- while we were outside, we listened to a very sick car chug down the road...(there goes the number plate) darn it would have been so easy to get...if we had just known. If he'd like to pop back, I can give him his light covers, mudflaps, wheel nuts... etc...


The whole left side of the fence has to go, pillar and all. It wobbles now. It is upright, but that is all.

I guess it was good they weren't hurt! Pity that we have to pay the price for their hit and run....

Our neighbour, two doors down, who also rushed outside, let us know it was a Ford Falcon ute when he discovered what had happened.

What still amazes me, is that his car still was drivable....it was sideways across the grass, dug out concrete on the footpath.   

A peek into Roman Times

Since today has been a fabulous day of discovery for me, I am going to attempt to load these pictures from some of my class activities in term two.

The students had an amazing time making these. I hope you enjoy them.

Julie-Anne

The photo from Ireland

I know you have all given up. Stopped reading and drifted away, but since I have just sorted out blogging from my iPhone I can now share you the photos of the magical shopping centre we found ONCE in Ireland.

When we were sleeping

See what happens on a Friday night. Such a pain.

random observations from the trip

While I have tried to keep a diary of things we've done, there are always a few random thoughts or observations that really deserve their own space and time.....So here goes....

• All rental car agencies employ foreigners - this makes communication a challenge when you are jet lagged!
• down in Cornwall, there is a gate with 'Koombana' on it - they have got to be Australian. If it wasn't so early in the morning, I would have knocked on their door. Having lived in 'Koombana' suburb in Hedland and having 'Koombana' beach here in Bunbury, I want to know why they are claiming the name for their gate. 
• don't prebook accommodation in Cornwall - you will get it much cheaper asking at the door.
• In England - it is very cool to carry a brolly. I have never seen so many young men trot about with a brolly under their arm. 
• Mr Guinness, of the world famous Guinness Beer - deserves to be given more recognition for his business deal of the Millennium.  Fascinating fact - this sensational wheeler and dealer - made a rental agreement - wait for it - the land he agreed to rent for 9000 years, yep you read that right, he paid -sit down for this....an initial 100 pounds and then 45 pounds a year!!!!! Wicked.... this is for four acres in the middle of the city. You know, and I bet there were a heap of people who tut tutted at the deal... reckoned he paid too much. Brilliant. This was in 1795 - he really does deserve to have us all drinking his beer for that. 
• Scottish people do not like the Polish - in fact - in every country we went to the Polish came up. And I am sorry to say, that not one comment was positive. Not even kind of. 
• Always, always, always take your brolly with you. (with a jacket and scarf not far away)
• Every other under five year old in Ireland has red hair. This was a shock to us. But they really do. 
• English and Irish rental cars have the indicators and wind screen wipers on the opposite side to us. What a pain. I have very clean windows. 
• In Amsterdam, it is trendy for the teenage guys to double their girlfriends on the carrier on their bicycle. This made us smile a lot.... felt like we'd gone back in time. 
• Jayllee observed that Amsterdam had mega small groups of guys visiting. Most of them American. 
• Commonwealth bank cards don't work in Sweden. Take cash!!!!They also don't and won't accept overseas credit cards - worried about fraud. I was worried about trying to leave there. 
• In winter, in Sweden, the train is often late to town, because people commit suicide jumping in front of it. You know, they could always have a holiday down south. But the sun is only up from 11 am until 3 pm in winter.... guess I can see why they visit Aussie and NZ. 
• Cheap airline food is disgusting and overpriced. 
• Mary's castle in Copenhagen is very cool.
• tourists shops are full of junk, but if you look long enough and hard enough, you can find some classic treasures. 
• take half the luggage you initially plan to pack. 
• "when beef meets bacon' burger at Maccas Amsterdam is not very nice. (I kid you not, that was the name!)
• You have to pay to use the Maccas toilets in Europe. Only, 50 euros but sometimes that coin is very hard to find. 
• European men dress very well. 
• They are all fit and slim over there. Copenhagen was the first place we saw weight challenged tourists.
• Sweden has a country fitness fad - get fit before you go there. 
• There are nice public toilet at the top floor of Hamley's toy shop in England. Don't look for public loos there, you can never find them.
• The public bikes you can hire in England are great fun. You just have to go through a tedious system to rent it. You put your card in, you put your card out, you put you card in and you shake it all about, you ask the guy standing close, just what it's all about, and then you put in again and you shake it all about. Honestly, I think it took four separate in and outs... don't give up. 
• Cabbie drivers are a great source of info in every country. 
• do the hop on hop off buses. They are fabulous.
• All shops open late and stay open late, so enjoy a late evening out. 
• pack sneakers, joggers, runners or whatever you want to call them, as they will become your best friend.
• Get your money out at cashflow machines, carefully, they gave us the best exchange by far!!!!!
• Dublin is very multicultural
• Copenhagen has families as their main tourist groups.
• If you are trying to head south, when you leave Stonehenge, don't worry, they will make you drive north for a number of kms before they let you go in the direction you want to with a round about.
• every major city has road works going on - get used to it and adapt your path.
• the one time you don't have a map, you will face a detour, and all your technology is guaranteed to fail as well. Just enjoy the extra scenery you pass. Timelines are made to be adjusted. Unless it's at an airport - trust me, tide and time wait for no man, and neither do planes. Always, be early!

Chilvalry is not dead!!!!

This blog, I am sorry to say, is just a little late. I am back in Australia, but I am sure you want to know how we  finished up....So here's the last big wrap up.....

So, one more flight down and we made it back to England. Nice easy flight from Copenhagen to London. And knowing it was nearly over, we shouted ourselves the luxury of a cab to the airport! Such a good idea. Actually, it was more like, we packed the bags and thought...'Nah!' no way in hades are we lugging these cases around, up and down steps and in and out of trains. Cab ride was worth every cent, and in actual fact, it wasn't very much at all. So make sure you do it. I would love to stay in Copenhagen longer, I cannot wait to take the family back there and hang out. I am definitely going to book a cruise from there one day. Still gorgeous weather, everyone was at the beach, mind you, while there were lots of people there, we didn't see anyone actually in the water.... so go figure. But back to London.

It was great to fly back in there. They spoke English, the signs were in English, not that we have had any trouble at all - great thing speaking the international language...but, best thing was, we knew exactly where we were going. We didn't have to look at any maps, check out any train schedules or um and ah about which was way the best, most monetary effective way of getting to our bed for the night. Gee it was a good feeling. The biggest challenge was psyching myself up for the steps with my suitcase. However, after  desciding that we would be able to cope with elevators, stairs and luggage London men proved themselves to be worthy of a rave review.

I am thrilled to say that CHIVALRY IS NOT DEAD.

At the very first flight of mega steps, with me standing at the bottom looking woefully up, a charming young man sized up my dilemma immediately and before I could take more than one step had left his girlfriend and offered to carry my bag. Sensational bloke!!!!! Then at flight no two...the same thing, another guy immediately offered to carry my bag. This was not a small thing. This was a bag, jammed packed to the luggage limit - I was stoked. Jayllee, relieved. It was so, so nice. Then the day we left, a young man offered me his seat on the train as soon as entered the carriage. So England, such a nice way to finish. I am so very impressed.

To our surprise we had another apartment for the night. We had booked a room through Wimdu, and thought we where back to were we stayed at the beginning, but we weren't. Anyway, it was a lovely little spot, and there was a nice young couple from Germany there too. So that was nice.

We went up to Hertfordshire to check out the uni. This gave Jayllee her Harry Potter moment. She latched onto my arm and was like, "Mum, we are at King's Cross station...." I'm like..."yep." She began leaping around on her seat...."We're on platform 9..." I figured this was meant to mean something...and then I clicked. Looked vainly about for platform 93/4 ...didn't see it...  but enjoyed the thought. Had to smile, when we came back and went back for photos, there was an older couple walking around talking about Harry Potter. But great little train ride up to Hertfordshire. The uni looks nice, nothing too exotic, and yes, it has the obligatory mega flights of steps to climb. Incredibly, it was nearly thirty degrees, so I was a tad hot and flustered. Huge shopping centre just down the road, so Jayllee, the broke uni student, will enjoy that. It will be nice when she is settled in there, and I will be able picture exactly where she is.

For the last wander round London, we went into Trafalgar square, where the count down clock was. It was pretty cool to get  a photo with the clock on zero for the days.  When they first started that clock, I never dreamed that I'd be standing there when it hit zero. There were quite a few athletes walking around. Russians, Canadians, Slovakians and their carers were easy to spot. We were going to look through the national museum but there was a huge line, so not liking lines we left that. But we ended up in the right place and time to choose to watch the torch relay going down Regent street. We were outside Hamley's toystore, which was a great spot. A nice lot of pre torch entertainment, so that took an hour or two. We got to yell and cheer, have no idea who the lucky torch carrier was, but am glad for him. I'm sure he enjoyed his moment in the sun. The buzz in London was awesome. It is seriously making me think about saving up for Brazil. Everyone's happy. There weren't bad crowds on the underground. It was even nice walking around up the top. We sat in on the big outdoor concert at Hyde park and enjoyed the music, and the free seats under the trees, as we ate maccas and peopled watched to our hearts content and feet's relief... Our feet are officially tired!

Summer has finally arrived in England and Jayllee is walking around the place like a local. We have covered  a mega amount of territory.... Singapore, India, England, Ireland, Holland, Denmark, Scotland and Sweden - not a bad effort for three weeks.

My wallet is a united nations lucky dip of coins!
My feet are officially on strike.
I managed to ride the underground elevators and look up and down - and not shed a tear...
I am looking forward to going home.
It has been a treasure of a trip with Jays..... it's nice to know that even at the ripe old age of 43 I can surprise my daughter now and then....

Europe, been there done that...again...quickly...next time, hopefully, I'll have longer.

Copenhagen rocks

We had a lovely trip to Copenhagen. Firstly, the Swedish tourism people were great to help us get on the right train, and then when we sat in the wrong seats, the guys told us to stay. So we got five hours sitting beside each other chatting away, which we weren't actually booked to do, but didn't realise that we weren't, so it was great. A word of advice though - don't buy the internet connection, because it wouldn't work for us. You had to be in the bistro cart - and we weren't even close to it. So that was a waste of money!!!

But arrived in Copenhagen - mmmmm - carefully booked hotel was not quite where we thought it was. Booked it because I thought it was really close to our train station - Yep - it was close, just not to the central station! Just a short taxi ride and we were all good. First impression of Copenhagen is amazing. It has really wide streets (like Kalgoorlie) which was a surprise, since everywhere else has been built up around old carriage tracks. It has old and new buildings really nicely blended. Nyhavn is amazing! Our favourite place so far. We have done all the hop on hop off tours, and loved them all.

They have this cool little spot called Christiania - which is basically a hippy hangout, with it's own rules and crazy commune building in the middle of a section of island. Interesting point, what I have gathered about Danish history from the brief info they have shared.

1. Danes like the Norwegians.
2. Sweden is a bit on the out.
3. They are still gloating the Nelson didn't get into their port a few years ago.
4. They have the best restaurants!
5. Maersk transport - the people who have all those shipping containers, are such a big they have organisation negotiated their own tax deal with the government.

Now back to Nyhavn - this is a classic spot, where Hans Christian Anderson lived, but it is has lovely little canals, restaurants and shops. It has wide open cobbled zones, where you can sit at a cafe and even rickshaws if your feet are about to give up. But a walk from one end to the other and back is a must. They also have a mega lego store. Huge lego dragons and soldiers placed about the store. Ethan would love it.

Copenhagen was just plain gorgeous. We walked so many streets, and there is so much to see and look at, it would take weeks to feel like we had done it all justice. Definitely want to go back there and go for a cruise. It's a major centre for cruise ships and it is easy to see why. The sea looked amazing. The windmills awesome and the temperature was fabulous.

Copenhagen Rocked!

Super sunday

Had such a cruisy day today. It was nice just chilling at Adam's place. Lovely to meet some of his family. Felt like a teenager - Adam, Jays and me -sitting on the sofa, each with computer, laughing at some rather unusual Swedish soap programs... But it was great. The kids had a heavy night Saturday, Jayllee got to me a few of the locals as Adam arranged a party, which was so nice of him.

But apart from that, we walked down to the village centre and tried to get money out. None of my cards have worked in Sweden, all of Jayllee's have, go figure!

Train booked to Copenhagen tomorrow.... oh, and the weather has been awesome. Lovely and warm - best weather yet.

Sweden.....

We have arrived in Sweden. A country I can't say I thought I would visit for a very long time. It is so great to see Adam. For those of you who don't know Adam, he was an au pair for Chris for a while, a great kid who we really enjoyed getting to know.

Today Adam showed us his home town, or it would be more correct to say we showed Adam a few of the things which  he had never seen in Stockholm. It's a lovely town, city. Set on thirteen islands, it has wonderful old buildings. Really, what country in Europe doesn't. But in old Stockholm, we walked up lovely shop-lined cobbled alleyways, wandered in to an old map shop, tried to ignore the tourist shops and had lunch at a fab Italian restaurant called Vapiano's!!!

 FANTASTIC food. Oh, I loved it. They have this nifty system where you each get a card - just like your bank card. Then you waltz up to the counter, order what you want, choosing the pasta and extras and then they cook it in front of you. Excellent. I had the Cabonarra - just a touch of garlic, bacon and nicely cooked tagliatelle pasta. Yum. The desserts looked amazing, but everyone was too full to have them. They had free sparkling water, gorgeous tables with fresh herbs at them. The place was a buzz of people. I would love to have one of these restaurants in Bunbury. And to pay the bill, you just went up, they swiped your card, which the chef had programme with your meal, and bingo, you paid your own bill. All in all very easy and fun. And the best thing was the price. Twenty five dollars for Jayllee and me. Excellent.

Then we carried on up the alley way and viewed the castle. Love castles and love them even more when I don't have to walk to the top of them. Went through and viewed everything that was free...you have to do that you know, it gives you a good glimpse of the history without costing the earth. They have soldiers on duty, just like Buckingham Palace, only these guys aren't stuck behind a big fence. These poor lads, who are on duty 24/7 are an arm's span away. Mind you, I don't suggest you touch them, don't think that would go down well. But Jayllee, after analysing their marching, turning and standing at ease, rocked up and got a photo with one, which was fine as long as she stayed on the right side of the black line, which was drawn on the ground.

We saw another street entertainer. These guys have been great to see at every big town. In Scotland we saw a guy, who I think was the best so far. Todd Various. He was so clever, he entertained us without really doing anything much, but picking up on aspects of the crowd. He had us in stitches and we learnt a very valuable lesson: Never ever walk behind one of these guys when they are doing a  show, you are just asking for a bit of good-natured heckling.  He was so good. Trouble is, when we were in Amsterdam, we walked behind a guy who was just starting his routine... you may not know it, but there is now a crowd of kids who think Jayllee and I are strippers. LOL and the carry on, I was dragging behind us, apparently held all our costumes for a striptease act. Classic! Thanks to Todd, I knew just how to take him. Then today, we came across another guy. He was good, and had a great way of including the kids. They are so clever, knowing how to psyche up a crowd and really get them involved with the show. I'd love to show them to my drama class.

Stockholm has a great mix of very old and new. Once we'd passed the old cobbled alleys, the streets and shopping malls felt exactly the same as Perth, it was quite unusual. We had an ice cream at the end of a lovey long grassed area. There are little bridges and buildings everywhere. You could wander for days here and not see everything. And much to our surprise, the prices here are about the same as Australia's, if not a tiny bit cheaper. After London, Dublin and Amsterdam, we have been totally shocked at the price of things, and figured that the higher up you went, the worse it got. But no, we were wrong! Sweden is the country to visit! It is very, very affordable.

Gotta love Sweden.

Just a Little Torture

Today, we leave Amsterdam! We have had a blast. We have shopped. I've found a few of the types of gifts I have been looking for. I have a new favourite shop. Pylones. I think it is a French store. But it is filled with quirky gifts of stationery and house items. I bought a bit! Not as much as I wanted, but what I could fit in.

Jayllee has added to her water colour collection, so she is happy. And I managed to visit the Torture Museum. Excellent place. I mean anyone can go and visit the wonderful art museums but I thought you'd like to know about this dark little spot in human history. The museum covers around five hundred years of human misery and suffering. Really, in today's age, in Western society it is hard to believe what people did to others. And even though I'm not so naive as to think that somewhere in the world people aren't still dreaming up ways to hurt each other, for the moment, it is nice to think we are beyond that. But, it is so amazing to see what they used to do to encourage people to confess their indiscretions or change their religions.

Really thumb screws, stocks, pillars and body compressions are just so yesterday. Any old witch would confess under the pressure of a whole body press of nasty little pointy things on a big wooden chair. The eye-pluckers and hand-choppers were rather innocent looking when compared to the pyramid which they used to encouraged men to recant their sins. Imagine a two foot wooden pyramid, up on a five foot stool, with the unfortunates posterior positioned over the highest point and his body held there with a nice selection of ropes. And just to make sure they really pressed their point home,very heavy stone weights were strapped to their feet. Yep, would have worked for me. Whatever they wanted - I'm pretty sure I would have told them. The fire grill, which looked pretty much the same as one we use on our bbq, would not have been fun to be on, neither would the plank which people were tied to and then crushed with a big carriage wheel.  I was impressed to see that the plank which they tied and burnt witches on, also had a nifty little point which they pressed into the top of a person's neck, basically breaking their neck, before they burnt them.

The chastity belt was a classic accessory. A lovely metal belt which hinged between the legs, with two very convenient openings so one could relieve oneself. Gosh, bet they had a real top of the market seller with this little gem. I was fascinated to hear that this could, and they only state could, have been used in times when communities were under attack. So, it was used to help prevent the women from being raped. Now this is a very acceptable use of it for me. I am, however, trying to imagine a hero in a story doing this.... Castle under attack, heroine about to run for her life, hero comes in swinging a sword in one hand and a chastity belt clutched in the other. "Darling let me strap you in..." The mind boggles.....

The Euro Diet

Alright everyone, I do believe I have stumbled onto the best thing ever. You see, Jayllee and I have noticed that there are very few weight-challenged people over here. Yep, the English, Irish, Scots and the Dutch are all very impressively slim, trim and fit. And I am pretty sure there is a really good reason why.

Since we have been here, I have realised something- there is a fabulous fad diet which I don't believe I have heard about yet. And I think the best name for it is the Euro Diet.

This is how it works:

1. The best thing is you do not need to join up anything. No gym, no shakes, no weighing or counting...nope nothing like that at all...
2. Once you have your head around that, you book yourself a ticket to Europe.
3. You pack a suitcase up to 20kgs.
4. Then you take a tour around each of the towns I have previously mentioned....trust me.... I am confident to say that in a couple of weeks, you will feel different and probably look it.

I honestly cannot believe how many steps there are in Europe. We have trudged up and down multiple flights of steps, it is now not a question of, "Are we going up steps?"... "But how many flights are there?...... Oh, and just to make it fun, you have to lug your luggage with you.

This kills any interest you have in junk food, and has you clocking up the kms in no time flat, just make sure you pack your most comfortable shoes - you are going to need them!!!  i can guarantee you a minimum of five hours solid walking a day.

So ladies and gents....any takers ? - one month in Europe to shape up.....sounds good doesn't it! 

One Hundred Year Summer

One Hundred Year Summer

Now don’t get too excited, this was the statement our tour guide gave us in the afternoon. Like we hadn’t already wondered if there was ever a summer here. But apparently we are lucky enough to be here when they are experiencing their coldest summer for a hundred years! Bargain!!

We had a tour which took us to The Hague, Delft and Madurodam. Places of interest, yep.  I just was so pleased I wasn’t driving – the wrong side of the road caper would have done me in, I am sure. But sitting in a double decker bus was pure luxury! First stop was to the Delft Pauw centre, which is one of the few places where you can view (and buy) the traditional hand painted ceramics. I have a small collection which I carried home from China in my handbag, and I was dying to add some Dutch pieces to it! It did not disappoint. They even have a workshop which you can do, (shane it’s on my list) but we watched them paint, and heard the spiel about how it is made. Excellent stuff, the biggest surprise was how small the place was. Just a small two storey building, yep, with more steps. Do not visit Amsterdam if you are on crutches, in a wheelchair or have a kid in a stroller. Hell, is what it would be.  But I found one small piece to buy, so I was really wrapped, oh and some earrings which amazingly enough go with a necklace I bought in Dublin.

Then we trundled off to the Hague. Law centre, parliament place, think Canberra or Wellington. We were informed that the people here are more reserved that the Dutch Amsterdamians… as nice as they have been, relaxed and carefree are not two words which spring to mind to describe native Amsterdamians….. I’m thinking they probably need a bit of sedative when they hit Aus, if they think they are relaxed…. Our lifestyle and attitudes must be a complete shock.

Had a photo shoot stop at the Peace Palace – the place where if you don’t like your country neighbour you can go and scrap it out with words, not weapons…. Pity more people don’t use it properly.

Then Madurodam – a place which has recreated all of Holland’s iconic features in  small-scale replicas. Fabulous little spot, which unless one of my student’s had not mentioned it in their assignment, I wouldn’t have known existed. Ethan would love it. Super cool place. We spent an hour here and got the cutest souvenirs, you put your money in and then a wee pair of clogs drop into a truck and come out for you to collect. Definitely want to come back here. 

I have to say, I am loving eating out twice a day too. 
 

Bijbel Museum

Bijbel Museum

Day two and we are getting into this sleeping in caper. We are down in the dungeon of the hotel, the restaurant is above our heads! Yes we hear the scrape of chairs, and even better we are below street level. I feel like a below-stairs skivvy. We hear the drag of suitcases along the footpath at all times of the day and night. But last night, I crashed. Such a good sleep, I will forgive them for waking me this morning.

Best thing about Amsterdam is these guys really understand where they live and the market they are catering to. Most shops open from ten to twelve in the morning, so absolutely no need to hustle about to get out there. They stay open until ten at night or later, if you are off to XXX places.  So, even with our sleep in, we had a ton of time to visit our first museum before our tour started today.

Bijbel museum, I saw this online and couldn’t wait to visit it. They have a lot of old bibles and lots of artifacts from Egypt. They are beautiful, all the lovely calligraphy and illustrations. I love that you could (if you were famous and rich enough) order your own bible and say what maps and extra info you wanted included. Think I might put my order in. They have a self-guided audio tour for you to do, which lets you ramble around the building at your own pace and order...you know me, I can't do anything like that from stage one through to ten.  Fortunately, most of the information is provided in English as well as Dutch, but the one thing I really wanted to study, which was their very accurate models of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple - all the info was in Dutch, so that was a bit of a downer. Also, managed to wave my hands around and knock over the safety ropes, so feeling like a naughty kid, I tucked my hands behind my back and quietly slunk into the next room.  But it is housed in a gorgeous three storey building. Beautiful wooden staircases and also, there is an art exhibition, which focuses on how plants are used in the bible and how you can infer meaning from them. It was great. Can’t say I’ve given much more than the basic consideration to these aspects in the Bible. So my lucky students are going to have a bit of fun with this.

Day One - I am Amsterdam

After a bit of an early rocky start leaving Scotland, we had a great flight to Amsterdam. Jayllee and I both closed our eyes and slept, actually the pilot did the smoothest take off and landing I have ever experienced, so kudos to him. Schipol airport is huge. Fifth biggest in Europe apparently. Pack you comfy shoes to get from one end to the other and follow the crowd closely as you will get lost otherwise. We just managed to keep track of the crowd, then caught the train to Amsterdam, booked and paid for the fast direct train called Fayre, paid an extra two Euros each - bad move - train had been cancelled (no signs saying so), so we just caught the pleb one anyway.

Checked into the hotel - arrived early and they hadn't been given my request for early check in, but kindly gave us a room four hours early, (mind you I am pretty sure it wasn't the superior I booked) but it was fab to take a few mins in a room. I'd only had an hour and a bit sleep and we'd been up since 3:30am for the flight, so I collapsed on the bed for a brief siesta. Oh and caught the cab - $ 45 from say my place to Bunbury Centro or say my house in nz to the wharf. Geeish - scary stuff! And that was just from the train station to hotel.

Then we hit the streets. First impression - crazy roads, crazy drivers and even crazier street layout. Drizzly and chilly, there's nothing new in that, so rugged up again, scarf, brolly and jacket. Jayllee stepped out, "Come on Mum, it's fine!" I"m like, "Yep, Jays, you're looking the wrong direction for traffic." But crazy is good. It is definitely unlike anywhere else I have been. And once you get the hang of the canals, it is great. Just remember the layout goes like this....pedestrian path, BIKE path (only worked that out on the last day, thought it was part of the pedestrian path), very narrow pedestrian space, double tram and car lines, very small pedestrian space, BIKE track then back to the pedestrian crossing. See easy isn't it. Advice is follow the green man - most of the time, if you want to make it alive.

But there are eateries, pubs and cafes everywhere. Our hotel was on the city centre edge, so we had a nice walk through all of these. Jays ordered a pancake from the Pancake Palace - BIG pancake, think twice the size of your plate - awesome, she loved it, couldn't eat it all, and I had ribs - yummo. A great start. There are an interesting collection of shops and fashions. Not being a fashion slave, I was a tad oblivious to it all, but I can assure you I have never seen so many boots, shoes or orange clogs for sale anywhere. Boots, of all shapes and colours, and rainbow platform jandals (thongs for you aussies)! Handbags, which looked as though someone had skinned  a mammoth to create, super bright fluro tops, dresses in a rather interesting juxtaposition of 60s,70s and 80s - the 70s I recognised from my youth! The 80s from my teens and the other stuff  - was so weird it had to be 60s! If Jayllee had double the luggage allowance, she'd be in heaven. Of course, minor issue the prices!!!! The prices are the same as ours only in Euros! How do they live here? I have no idea! Pizza - $80 - yep they are bigger than ours, but we'd still need one to feed my family... ouch, not happening.

Then we jumped on a canal cruise- loved the no parking signs in the water! And no anchor signs. This is a fab way to tour the main canals. You get to sit back and relax and take in all the gorgeous buildings. They are big into decorative tops, so nice stone buildings with wrought iron decorations and interesting facades. The bike fetish is big in Amsterdam. The only thing is when you look close, I do believe that they really should go round and pick up the abandoned bikes. You think that they are all locked up safely, (goodness knows why anyone would steal them, I think the last design development was during the war) and then when you look closely, you see they are all bent and twisted and have flat tyres. Poor things should be collected up and laid to their final resting place. Had to laugh, me who loves biking, is not keen at all to tackle it over here. We passed a six foot American guy today, carefully perched on his bike, his face was white and he pretty much looked like he was on his way to his execution! I swear he didn't know which way to look first.  LOL brave man, I say.

Interesting fact, in Scotland and Amsterdam everyone thinks we are American! Go figure. There are heaps of yanks here, and we have only meet, seen, one other couple from Aus, which has been a surprise.

The Chilly North

Now, I have been lucky enough to visit this place once before, and loved it then and expect to do the same again. I am so excited to be going back to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh gets the best award for airport design. It's well organised and straight forward. The customs or lack thereof is still a bit of humour for us. Compared to Australia and New Zealand where it is pretty much an interrogation, tick the box, check all your luggage and swear with your hand on your heart you are telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God. These northern European's have simplified the process just a wee bit.

You walk off the plane, fill in no forms, read the red and green sign... I want to declare goods or no I don't.... and off you go into the wild blue yonder. The magic sliding doors open up and let you go, mingle with the general population. Of course you'd declare any illicit product - wouldn't you? Really, they are the most honest people I have seen. But for speed and efficiency in getting through the airport, I am all for it. Sorry, if we have bought in some new bug. Didn't mean to.

But in Edinburgh you walk straight out the doors, take a hard left, trail along the sidewalk with the rest of the sheep (sorry, keen tourists), then about twenty metres down the track you jump on the Airlink bus. Best thing ever!!! Six pounds gives you a return trip to the city centre. Even the pilots (and the air hostesses - don't even think that...) caught it with us. Then it was just a quick taxi ride to our abode.

Which we then discovered was up four flights of steps. (I'll tell you more about the steps later) It was a wee bit chilly, but the warmest place we have been so far. Yep, big shock for us too. But still, scarf and jacket on and then we headed straight out to the Royal Mile. Love this spot. Typical Scottish street - darn near veritcal, (It's no wonder they built Dunedin and stayed, when any sane person would have gone over the hills before building) and wandered our way up.  Started at World's End pub. They have this wee sign which gets you searching for the brass plates on the cobbled road (yep be careful doing this one) but these lovely markers designate where the city gates used to be, 5oo hundred years ago. And tells you how the inhabitants of the Royal Mile considered anything outside of the gate at World's End and not worth going to and competely uncivilised. Gorgeous history.

There is so much going on as you walk up the street. There are entertainers, cafes, pubs, the same somewhat tacky souvenir shops selling the same kilts, cards and knickknacks, but the charm is still there. It's light and busy at ten p.m. and the stone five hundred year old buildings make you gloss over the bits you wish weren't there. We popped in and had a late tea at the Rabbie Burns cafe. Loved it. One of the small cafes which had seating out on the street and then inside had white plaster and delectable dark oak beams in the roof. I'm going with the Tudor look, might be wrong, but think that and you'll be close. There were shelves with rows of spirits, and along each edge there were dollar notes from all the patrons who had eaten there. So many nationalities were represented, and their flags, some small, some big were on the walls, along with chirpy sayings. But the best things were that one, we got to have some fish and chips, and two, we had a guitar playing guy who really knew his Irish and Scottish ballads, singing off and on as we ate. De-lish. I love live music, especially when they really can sing. It was an awesome way to eat.  

Bought a couple of water colours and showed Jayllee the Dean's cafe where Shane and I had a meal seven years ago. This little place has been serving food for over four hundred years. It's tucked down a little alley, and in the basement basically, but so nice and cosy.

We did have a tour planned the next day, but darn it, I had a bit of a nasty migraine which kicked in for two days and laid me very low. The only good thing is Jayllee will be able to go back and do the tour, but I was so looking forward to touring through the highlands and visiting Nessie's lake. Oh well, such is life. Next time. You see now I have to go back again. And that's not to mention the Mary King's Close tour, which is inside the wretched hill we've trudged up and down. Where they have alleys dug and homes and shops and anything you can imagine underneath, and as old as the buildings above ground. That tour has made my bucket list!

I've got to say too, that I am so impressed with Hop on Hop off tours. I can't recommend them highly enough when you are being a serious quick tourist in a town. We did one around Edinburgh. You whisk past their government buildings, you get all the juicy gossip and info. I can tell you all sorts of fascinating facts on Edinburgh. Did you know they used to have their country houses in Leith, which is just over the hill from the main town bit of Edinburgh. The Chinese government came and borrowed some of their plants back when they wanted to rejuvenate their gardens after that civil war they had a few years ago, because in Edinburgh they have a mighty big collection of these plants. That the Dynamic Earth centre is well worth a visit. That there is an extinct volcano on the town's door steps. Fascinating isn't it.

But apart from the usual collection of shops, the fabulous buildings which make you consider whether or not a lending institution would consider a generational loan, so that you can buy a irreplaceable piece of history, and around every corner and every lane which you see and want to disappear down to explore, I can say the word wee. I can go a wee way down the road, get a wee bit more and take a wee while to make a decision and no one thinks it is strange, unusual or rather confusing. It's a marvellous moment when you've been a kiwi in Aus for so many years, and one I will savour for a wee while.

And as for the aforementioned blasted steps - not only were they an absolute curse to lug my luggage up, I ended up falling down a flight of them on the way to the airport. Entailed with bags and pressies, I was not a happy chappy. But was only bruised, not broken, so off we went to the airport.

The Wrap Up

Hip hip hooray! Let's hear it for British Airways, no rush guys but finally Jayllee's luggage arrived, we picked it up on our way out of the country. Such a relief. So we have finished our lightning tour of the Emerald Isles - So let's see, what are the gems we left with.

• you can park either way down a street. It's like someone has pranked every street. Let's park this way, nah that way, ooh what about nose to tail all the way down here. Cool! Truly, some thing that my head did not enjoy processing. The biggest worry I found was that when you entered another narrow street and gave a quick check of the parked cars - no help. You're own your own buddy! Drive and pray and act very confident. Of course, you're going the right way.
• 'Drum roll please.....The most diligent workers in the world - and the award goes to 'The Dublin city Traffic Wardens'!!! People if there is one word of advice I can give you it is - TAKE THE PARKING WARNINGS SERIOUSLY! because they sure do. You don't get a chalk mark on your tyres, a ticket under the wipers, oh no baby they go in for the kill. Rules are made to be followed! Every morning they slapped on those lovely yellow discs to wheels outside the hotel. Ten minutes over and sweetheart I have news for you, and it's all bad. Phone and pay...and don't do it again. But HI FIVE for us, we rocked. We fed those overpaid parking meter every day, with a religious fervor which the pope himself would have been impressed with and as such, enjoyed a friendly relationship with the local council. But you have been warned, don't forget. 
• smoking is a popular past time. If you are tired of being barred and bannished and treated like a piriah in Australia or New Zealand, then I suggest you pack up and move to Ireland. It's all the rage there. 
• their radio stations are a million times better than Britian. (sorry Britain, but your radio stations have to be heard to be believed. My suggestion when travelling in England - take an ipod!)  Oh and the best thing for me -sorry personal info here - they played 'the only way is up' TWICE..wow.. and then to top it, today, they played "I would march five thousand miles..." Ah made me smile, then sing....  Unlike the fact that I did not hear one Ronan song. Not a one. Tsk, tsk!
• Great roads, courteous drivers...no honking or road rage. All very civil and allow you to swap lanes with a seconds notice. Big plus. 

• Riverdance - is a must.  
•  International airport - actually a real treat. (Made up for the shopping there) So many shops, I was really surprised. Very nice sales people, who, because we are leaving the EU at some stage, made sure we paid the cheaper price. We had a great time. Only do suggest you order burger king takeaways if you have say, an hour or two to spare, speed was not their forte.

And if you are wondering, how did my bank balance fair when we hit up that magnificent shopping centre, which we stumbled onto last night... well... the sad fact is we couldn't find it today. Drove around and around in circles and came up with nada! I will download photos soon, just to prove it's existence. 

Oh and funniest conversation on the plane:

Jayllee, with nod of her head to the guys in front of us: "Mum, what language are they talking?"
Me: "Scottish accent aka English Jays."
Jayllee: "They are talking, English? No way!!!"

Oh dear it is going to be fun in Scotland.

A little gem

Dublin, Dublin, Dublin....what can I say, after tonight it deserves two posts today. You see, we decided to go and see Riverdance. I figure not only is it a good show, but watching a story about Ireland, in Ireland, with Irish dancers is probably the best way ever to view it. And they did not disappoint. But first, let me say, we have finally discovered the shopping district!

Ireland, Dublin, wow we nearly missed it and what a loss it would have been. Not only is there this seriously cool, quaint, part-with-your-money I am worth it theatre show, there is a drop dead whip-out-your-camera shopping area. What a treat. Even more, what a surprise. We have driven in numerous circles round the city centre, which isn't as easy as it sounds. Ireland must be a world leader in lining up buses and taxis down their main street, but they have their own lane and appear rather well behaved so it isn't too bad trying to follow where four lanes become two, and left's are ok and right turns are not and tram lines are there just to make sure you really are on your toes. But tonight, when we walked, with a positive attitude and no map (we had viewed one dot on the map, so it had to be that way somewhere) we found ourselves in the midst of a secreted shopping centre. Okay, I figure everyone in Ireland knows it is there, and probably even most tourists, but I kid you not, in our many eventful treks through the town we had not seen one tiny reflective light, glass dome or sign which indicated that there were hallowed halls to walk down and tempting merchandise decadently arrayed to tempt even the staunchest of shoppers!

Gorgeous is an understatement of what we found. A huge shopping centre with glass panelled ceilings, wrought iron framework, clocks which had me out clicking away to record.  Flowers, in pots and stacked in red and white layered pillars, lining all the walk ways, people milling about, talking, busking and fire juggling. It's devine. So, so many people all out enjoying it. I felt like a little kid late to a party. There is a smattering of cafes, night clubs, pubs, churches and art studios, with artist's painting in them, late into the night. The place is a Mecca which it is your duty to visit. At least, once in your lifetime.

Luckily, we still have one morning left. The shops open late, but we will make it.

And just a couple of other unexpected things. One, I know it is the Northern hemisphere, but I am really surprised at how light it is late at night. Eleven pm and it has just got dark and then the same is true for the morning. It's light when we get up. I can only imagine what it will be like in Stockholm.

Two, Jayllee has discovered that some stereotypes have been well earned....more on that later.

Mapless

Today we took the big step of driving without a map. Keen, crazy, overconfident or just plan adventurous? Not really sure which adjective describes us best today. But I think it is safe to say that after a week, I am feeling just a little tired. Okay, maybe more than just a bit.

yep - this is pretty much how I feel.... And every step I take today, my thighs are seriously protesting - that castle descent has darn near crippled me. In my head I keep hearing...'if I could walk ten thousand miles, then I would walk ten thousand more...nah na na nah...." playing out - probably just to torment me, since I think we have clocked up enough steps to march to that song for a good month non-stop.

So, what did we see while we were out being Indiana Jones in Ireland?...Firstly..... the little seaside town of Brae - which was sweet as, had a family fair happening, which Ethan couldn't have been dragged away from for a whole day, I would expect if he was here. Lovely esplanade hotels, stone beach, cross at the top of the highest hill and heaps of keen people wandering around pretending that as it was a summer fair, it was warm! Lots of jewellery, knits, food and sweets. These people take their sweet/fudge making seriously! Every other stall was 'pick-your-own lollies. WOW they looked good. Today, though, we contented ourselves with just looking - but I had to buy a hotdog. Yep - kiwi hot dog. I was so excited, we can never find these in Aus. Also learnt that they are called corn dogs in America - as it was an American stand we bought it off, I didn't argue. Just loved every bite.

I also learnt that I can back down a one lane street very quickly and accurately when there is a hedge mowing tractor blocking the road. That a truck, parked car and me can just fit down a two lane street, if I slam the brakes on and close my eyes. Also discovered that  when Jayllee says, 'Left! I mean that left." When I have just passed the turn off -  means that you count the off ramps better the second time around. 

Also, I must mention the Castle hotel where we are staying. The reception ladies have been absolute dolls to us. They have managed to scrounge up a room for us each night, since we were only booked to stay one, but have now tallied up three. And today, they said we could have an attic room. Some rather serious images conjured up when she said, " We can't advertise these as they are smaller rooms. You will be in between floor one and two!" Yep, you read that right. IN BETWEEN floors one and two. I suddenly imagined that we were about to have a Harry Potter moment. I figured we were going to have to step out of the lift, and then throw ourselves at the wall. If we got it wrong...well...thudd!!! Sorry, how sad, next time get it right, no 9 3/4 opening for us! But much to my relief, somehow, and I'm not even going there to work it out, there is a separate floor in between floors one and two, and wallah, here we are tucked into what they call the attic room, which isn't in the attic, and on floor well... 1 1/2...

Fun really, isn't it.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering why we went mapless....we had no maps! Jayllee has bought and lost her new phone credit..we haven't been able to top up the ipad with our dearest friend google maps....so.... we were heading south and west.... lovely thing is we ended up east and on the coast. Gotta love travelling.

The Black Cat

We were about half an hour out of Dublin and a black cat diced with death and ran in front of the car as we zipped down a nifty little lane... I made a joke about Friday the 13th, then I realised that it WAS Friday 13th...so I slowed down.... Which wasn't such a silly reaction when you know that before the cat...A guy had already driven into the back of my rental, Jayllee's luggage was still no where to be seen and we had no accommodation booked.... So, to deal with these little life issues, we did what any self respecting tourist would do, we opened up a map and choose a spot then discovered, when we got there, that we were visiting the "Braveheart' castle! Oh yeah... go Mel...!!! Yeah big surprised to us too, try not to reason out why the Scottish freedom fighters were filming in Ireland... but there you go, our gain.

I learnt numerous facts about castles today; cold, drafty, old, roofless, norman-built, stone stairwell castles. Main thing was, yep, much to my daughter's delight, I am still terrified of heights! Especially ones, four stories high, with walkways along non-existent castle rooves, with nothing bar a measily 2mm steel fence me between me and certain death. I don't care how many years and battles these roof tops have survived, or how many bad guys Hugh de Lacy decapitated or swept away with his sword as he came down his right-hand designed stumbling stone stair case! My legs were still jelly two hours later and should I have lived 900 hundred years ago, and been coming down that staircase as some marauder was trying to come up, there would have been no contest, anyone in my way would have been obliterated in a flash. Luckily, I managed not to kiss the ground when we got back down to it or the wooden rack thing which Mel was killed on in the movie!

Then we hit up our next 'building we have got to see' and trundled off to Belvedere!
All I can say is......MEN.... get over yourselves! What a history. Total historical romance plot!! (which is a good thing, when you are writing it, not such fun if you are living it)

This lovely bit of history has  the typical alpha male, marries, leaves wife to be bored and good at the country house  while he is having fun in the town (and we are talking years, not just a night or two!)  Then gets shirty cos apparently she has begun visiting then, sleeping with his brother (gee I wonder why)...so that gets her in all sorts of trouble, divorces then bannishes her completely- eleven years before she can escape back her to her father's house, who won't even open the door to her.....so after risking all, what happens, she's back to square one: bannished only now, no one talks to her..if she goes for a walk a crappy maid rings a bell so anyone around can leave...17 years later - when she is nearly mad, the tosser alpha dies and she can leave..... and all the time he has been living in luxury down the road.....wow scary stuff....


And the best news of the day was... we drove back to Dublin and didn't get lost once, not once. I love Ireland. Ireland is mellow. They have shops we recognise, movie theatres, roads you can actually drive down without risking the paint on your car! friendly locals and a tiny winy bit of sunshine.

Soap Box

Rights and Responsibilities

Just for once I am going to start this with a disclaimer :- if you are under thirty you probably won't want to read anymore!

Right, now that that has been said, let me say in very clear words - I am over it! OVER IT - in big letters. Will someone please tell me how this generation seems to be so well versed in their rights they have forgotten, that the laws of the universe (I would say chemistry, seem to think it's physics - but since I only did Biology, I know it isn't that- so universe is going to have to do!) say that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Under thirty's who didn't heed the warning, what does that mean???? It means that you cannot have rights, without having responsibilities. And, trust me, I know all about responsibility. I am a responsibility queen.

But what I see, far too often to make me happy, content, pleased, relaxed or even slightly jovial about life -  and what is being thrown at me is... "I want.. I need.. It is my..."

And why I puzzle because it is not what I have taught my children. Or what I say to others around me. So, what I want to know, who is teaching and over ruling what I teach my children? Actually, I know, and right about now - I am seriously considering become a hermit.

My only conciliation is, I am not alone:

"Teenagers these days are out of control.  They eat like pigs, they are disrespectful of adults, they interrupt and contradict their parents, and they terrorize their teachers."   Aristotle, circa 350 BC

And I think that perhaps this would be the best advice, I could offer a few people at the moment:
 
"Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing."  - Anon

Okay, am off my soap box.... until next time...

A Lighthouse moment

Now that school is back my life has shifted from pleasantly busy, to just a little out of control. However, the first week is over and the second should be easier, Lord knows I have spent all weekend peering at a computer trying to make progress on English, SOSE, History and Maths.

The good news is I think I am winning. The bad news is, well really there isn't any, however, last week as I was chasing my tail, trying to get it all together before Tuesday and I had to face a new class of 28 faces, I was quickly searching for a clip art picture of a lighthouse. Nothing too unusual, really. But what I discovered was a few things.

One: our lighthouse in Bunbury has black and white checkers painted all the way up it. I never really thought it was that unique, however, I can say that there are no other pictures out there, which are just like it. So my affection for it has grown.

Two: What some people think are wonderful lighthouse, bright shining life concepts are quite different to what I wanted to represent with the light shining from a light house.

I was left for the first time in my life thinking that I might just have to cyber-share Christian ideas with a stranger. Now, on the whole I am not someone who would do that. I know what I believe and why, and I fully believe that God brings us into relationship with people and we may be the person he uses to sow the first thoughts or knowledge about him, or we may be the last one, who has the privilege of hearing their pray of commitment or even their last breath.

I loved what our pastor said today. Basically, it was sometimes we go and shine our 'light' like to full beam car lights onto some, and really a gentle small candle of light would be more appropriate. But we are often insensitive to what he wants and we scare someone half silly or make them turn and race in the opposite direction. And I really agree with him, which is why I now find myself waiting to confirm what the right approach is.

This person who had a lighthouse on their website is so hurting, confused, desperate with the gender they have been born with and the lifestyle they are living that the drastic changes they want to make to themselves they think will appease that hurt. As a mother reading the site, a woman, a teacher and a Christian I felt shattered for this individual and I have no idea if anyone is saying to her ...stop.

'You want to help others, but your life is so pain-filled you have little to offer that is real hope, real healing or true positive instruction."

And now that I have found a lighthouse clipart graphic for me to use, no not from her site or really what I pictured in my head, I am still left wandering just what my role could be for this person. Does she need a candle or something brighter?

The Power of Praise

"Wow, you are riding really fast!" and "That is exactly what I am looking for, thank you!" Are, in themselves, not particularly earth-shattering sentences. In fact, you would be forgiven for paying, little, to no attention to them most of the time. But I am setting myself a challenge.

You see, the second sentence was directed specifically towards me. A workshop presenter took the time to comment on work which I had submitted, and in doing so, she encouraged me. I felt better. Success, bolstered my confidence. And once again, it made me think.

How many times do we miss the chance to encourage, praise or reward someone? We may notice the accomplishment of others around us, but we forget to verbalize it. And in doing so, we miss a precious opportunity to empower their dreams.

It is easy to see the faults in others, the hole in their planning, the glitch in their work and comment upon it. To draw attention to their deficits. But what I've noticed over the time that I have been making a conscious decision to comment upon the positive, is that they stand taller, they ride faster, they smile broader and they comment back positively.

So, when I am out riding with my youngest, what he hears me say now is, "Wow, you are riding really fast!" And then I am left chasing him down instead of dragging him along.

It's a nice change. Tell me what someone has said to you, which has encouraged you to stay-the-course and not give up. I'd love to know.