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Three months in Europe
  • Christine Stephenson
  • Paul Stephenson
  • Christine Stephenson
  • Paul Stephenson

Three months in Europe

We are finally doing the trip we have planned three years ago. I can’t wait for the adventures. Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 12, 2025
    Three months in Europe

    Dinner with Ann and James

    May 12, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    What a way to start our holidays. With one of my soul sisters. ❤️. Found an amazing Indonesian restaurant close by. You know the food had to be good with so many south East Asians in there. Enjoyed my sambal chicken with coconut rice. Paul had beef short ribs. Ate far too much, but not enough time with Ann. Missing her already.Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    First stop Sydney

    May 12–13, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    With heavy hearts we leave Tomsam behind forever. Jack and Nero will be well taken care of and spoilt by Ty and Yedda.

    Flying in to Sydney and will be so lucky to have dinner with Ann.

    Happy to leave the rain and cold behind for a few months. Bring on Summer in Europe.Read more

  • Three months in Europe
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    Travel day. Sydney to Bangkok

    May 13–16, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Best way to travel between Sydney domestic and international is to take the free shuttle bus. We stayed at the Citadines Connect hotel overnight which is walking distance from domestic. Woke up too early in the morning, had breakfast and headed back to domestic. Shuttle bus was ready to depart so only a couple minutes wait and we were off to international. Check in was super easy. Sadly no business class upgrades available.

    Paul is doing final tax work before we board the flight.

    See you in BKK.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    From Bangkok Airport to Chatuchak

    May 13, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    OMG. What an experience. We decided to catch the airport train to the hotel. Changed trains to the Petchaburi line and walked to our hotel.

    Of course we got out of the airport into peak hour traffic with huge bags! Check out how squished we were. I was silently thanking Gabby for her immune system potion. It tastes horrible but I know it was protecting me.

    What amazed me was how very helpful the locals are. Every station we were at trying to figure out what to do next, there was someone from the station staff who came forward to help us. Even when we didn’t ask. The lady at Chatuchak station asked us where our hotel was and made sure we took the correct exit to be on the right side of the road.

    Hotel is lovely. Very quiet, because Chatuchak is a weekend market. We are up early to go look for a hotel closer to Pratunam. I am more familiar with that area and it has heaps of food and massage joints.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Morning in Bangkok

    May 14, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌩️ 30 °C

    Woke up at 4am!! Despite taking a sleeping tablet. Decided to change hotels to be closer to some action. Given the Chatuchak markets are only on the weekend this area is deadly quiet. No massage places, no shops to idle my day away…

    Check out the Queensland Hotel!

    Currently in Pratunam which is heaving with activity. It’s also the monsoon so we are ducking in and out of the rain looking for a new hotel to stay at. Finally picked one that I have stayed at before with my sister Karen. Accomodation is very cheap. But you pay for what you get. We have splurged and paid $110/night. Got tired of looking at rooms.

    So after a yummy Cambodian lunch in the middle of Bangkok, we are back to the old hotel to have a nap, pack up and move to Baiyoke Skytower. It has a pool!!! So this evening I am going to treat myself to a cocktail!    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Evening of Day 2 in Bangkok.

    May 14, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌩️ 29 °C

    On the way back to our hotel in Chatuchuk, Paul was so relaxed he kept falling asleep in the taxi. Took us an hour to travel 5km. Sigh. So happy I’m in Pratunam.

    Went for a lovely massage. Always start with a foot massage and if the lady is good, then come back the next day for a Thai massage. I hope that works. I loved my foot massage.

    Off to the money changer to convert currency for England and Europe. Always change currency in Singapore or Bangkok. The rates are the best.

    Dinner was simple local food. I had pepper crab and Paul had river shrimp. Yum, yum, yum!!!

    More yums to come tomorrow.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Last day in Bangkok

    May 15, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Had a last wake up. Went down for breakfast and the night markets were still going. It was 8am!!

    Paul had a roti with egg and banana. Had condensed milk on top. Strange combo, but to each their own.

    I had the nicest Aloo Paratha and the worst idlis I have ever eaten. Should’ve guessed the cook was North Indian. You could’ve bounced the idli on the table to get it into your mouth.

    Left Paul holed up in the hotel doing our taxes. Yes…went hunting for a shopping centre and discovered Amarin is a popular name in Bangkok. Finally found the right shopping centre after walking for what felt like hours in the heat and did not find what I was looking for.

    Discovered the BIG overhead pedestrian bridges that link shopping centres. Walked in to a mega shop..like Costco and bought some supplies for the trip in the UK. While things are cheap…

    Paul met me to carry my haul back to the hotel. My hero!!

    Went down for an early dinner. Ate one of my favourite dishes! Stinky beans. Go on…google it. Aka Petai.

    Had another massage. 90mins of Thai. Needless to say Paul and I are very chilled. Early to bed tonight. Up at 4:45 to catch the train to the airport. London is calling!!

    Have to apologise for only one photo today. Paul and I were both slack. 😱    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Bangkok to Muscat

    May 16, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    4:30am start. Packed our bags and walked to the train station. Easy peasy. Smooth check in to Business Class and a simple lounge breakfast.

    Our flight was only 5hrs+ so it was a quick journey over. Got some shut eye as we are trying to keep London hours now.

    Beautiful lounge in Muscat. The airport looked deserted. Lounge is full of happy campers. We both had showers and MORE food. I’m not sure where I am putting it all. No doubt on my belly. I’ve stopped checking my sugar levels.

    Flying into Muscat is triggering memories of Dubai. Landscape looks like Fujairah.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Muscat to London

    May 16, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Damit. Forgot to take a photograph of us on the underground. Got to our hotel about 90 minutes after we landed. I wish more cities had airport trains. They really do work.

    It was a lovely flight from Muscat. We both caught a nap for a few hours..dozed more than napped. The Galley was right behind us and loud!

    Food and service were good. Got my meals mixed up though. I ordered prawns but got fish. They made up for it with an amazing dessert. I don’t think I’m going to eat for a week!

    We are in a tiny but absolutely lovely room right outside King Cross station. Will go get some Harry Potter photos tomorrow.

    Hotel Alhambra if anyone is wanting accommodation in London. Cheap by London standards. $190/night.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Day 1 in London

    May 17, 2025 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Woke up bright and early. First stop was to take a load of laundry. The man reckoned it was a large bag and it cost us £25!!! That’s $50!!!! OK…stop converting currency Christine. 😡

    Next stop was the Borough Markets. A gorgeous farmers market with yummy food, fruit and vegetables. I was in my happy place. Got some great ideas for cooking up some goodies. Vegechilli! Vegemite and Chilli. Paul reckons we’d make a killing.

    I had the yummiest wild mushroom risotto made from whole grain spelt. Guess what’s going in my next Mushroom risotto kit!

    Got back from our morning outing, just enough time for a little rest and then back out again to His Majesties theatre to watch the Phantom of the Opera. I don’t have the words to describe it. I was so blown away by the quality of the production. The talent was incredible, the sets were incredible, the costumes were incredible. The best was being able to take our drinks in with us. Same trouble we have in Oz though…not enough toilets for the girls during the break. Sigh!

    We’ve done over 15k steps today. I’ve hit a wall! Keeping myself awake till 8pm so I can go to sleep.

    Raspberries, mango and bananas for dinner. Oooh my diabetes loves me. ❤️    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Day 2 London

    May 18, 2025 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I know I haven’t been to church in a while, but two services in ONE day, takes the cake.

    We set out to go the Choral Matins in St Paul’s and it was stupendous! A small gathering considering how many people fit in there for Diana’s wedding.

    I’ve always wanted to go to Westminster Abbey to visit all the famous people buried there. Just so happens on Sunday there are no visitors only those who are attending a service may enter. So down we were for another service. This time a communion one where I did battle with the communion minister to let me dip the ‘wafer’ in the wine instead of sipping out of the cup (covid). I lost. Keep my fingers crossed for divine intervention and I remain a Novid!!

    All that churching was exhausting! Back to the hotel for a little nap.

    Early dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at the Savoy. Treated ourselves to a nice bottle of champagne and had a delicious dinner. Photos capture the meal.

    Now on to packing to pick up our car at Gatwick airport and off to hit the road.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Day 3 London to Bath

    May 19, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Up at 4am. I might keep my body clock on this time! Means I can get work out of the way for heading off on the road.

    Caught the train to Gatwick airport. Easy peasy. Picked up by a shuttle to car hire company. First car given to us was a bomb! Thankfully it came up with an oil change message before we even left the car park and we were swapped to a much better car.

    Didn’t quite make it to Bath. We are just outside in a little village called Nettleton. For £96 for the night we are in a lovely room. Went for a country walk on the very narrow roads, hung out in the pub, played scrabble with Paul, stayed awake till 8:30 and crashed!    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Morning in Castle Combe

    May 20, 2025 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Still waking up at 4am. We’ve figured it out now. Tea in bed, then put yesterday’s clothes back on and go for a walk.

    We walked through beautiful Castle Combe that’s close to where we stayed the night. A quaint, english village. Very pretty and prettier because there was no one else on the roads.

    Came back, showered and packed. Now ready for breakfast and then we will hit the road to the next stop.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe
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    Bath and Bowood House

    May 20, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    I’ve read so much about Bath and the Roman Baths lived up their name. I couldn’t help wishing that Alex and Gete were with us. So much archeology!!! There were heaps of schools kids visiting. A few groups were from European countries. They have dedicated learning centres for them where they can give a real dig a go.

    Bath is not a small city. Too many people for us, so we got out quick and landed at Bowood House.

    A noble house that has been opened to the public. I wanted to go there because one of the former Earl’s had been a viceroy in Burma and India. And guess what? He was in Bangalore and Mysore. Lots of craft timber pieces on display which are typical Karnataka handiwork.

    Beautiful gardens…but we were too pooped to go see everything. We have decided two stops a day is more than enough for us.

    Paul is not 100%! I don’t want to catch his bug. Especially just before I visit my cousin Matt in Kent.

    We are staying tonight in an Airbnb in Melksham. Host is a retired Mechanical Engineer. Crossed the Avon river to get dinner at a Thai restaurant. I do need variety…

    Onto Stonehenge and Salisbury tomorrow    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    The Caen lochs and Stonehenge.

    May 21, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Left our Airbnb at 6am. Went for a walk to see the Lochs. A wonderful example of problem solving. Paul loved the engineering aspects.

    Love to see so many people walking their dogs.

    A very damp day today so not so nice bro g out when it is also 11 degrees.

    Ate breakfast in our car. Cereal and hot coffee.

    Hit the road to Stonehenge. Lovely drive through to the country. Got to the gates which were closed. Of course we were too early. Thankfully there was a lovely security guard who showed us a lovely free walk we could do that took us right up to the stones. Close enough to appreciate them without having to pay or wait to enter the grounds.

    It really was a lovely walk. 7495 steps and it’s not even 10am.

    On our way to our night stop.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Bognor Regis for the night

    May 21, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Checked in early to our hotel call the Royal Norfolk hotel. Nothing royal about it, but an amazing spot for a good price. 1800s hotel so pretty old. A great view from our bedroom.

    Decided to take it slow this afternoon and had a nap after some Aldi chocolate and wine.

    Went for a walk after to clock out 10k+ steps for the day. A very pebbled beach walk…no sand and a walk through the shopping area. Everything was closed except for some supermarkets and the laundry. It was after 5pm.

    It’s 8:15 now and the sun is still up!!

    Had a really lovely Punjabi dahl and chapatis for dinner. Sorry Paul…no soup. Came back to the hotel and had a very domestic night folding laundry and washing up. Time for bed!!!    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Weekend in Kent

    May 23–25, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Arrived in Eastry near Sandwich to spend the weekend with my cousin Matt and his beautiful wife, Charlotte. I last saw Matt and Charlotte in London before they were married. We had lunch at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant across from St Paul’s cathedral.

    They have moved into an amazing house in Eastry which is older than Australia being discovered by Captain Cook. It is a ‘listed’ house. Very well renovated and welcoming. Love being here.

    We had a beautiful dinner on Friday night that Charlotte cooked for us. It was so nice to have a home cooked meal for a change.

    Saturday we spent the morning in a village called Deal and went to the markets with Charlotte. Bought some pies for lunch and scoped out some lovely local shops.

    After lunch we went tramping in a local forest and then a lovely county drive through Sandwich and then back home. Off to dinner to a local.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe
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    Harlow to Darlington

    May 26, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Stopped in Harlow after staying with Matt and Charlotte in Kent. It was a lovely little town and a beautiful clean pub. I was very tired and all I wanted to do was sleep.

    Hit the road early morning, very weary..had breakfast in Cambridge. Parking is a challenge in some of these university towns.

    Drove up the M1 to York. The start of our adventure to trace the Stephenson roots. Saw a show for Viking history. Sold out so couldn’t go in.

    Hopped back in the car and drove straight to Darlington. Home of Pa’s father and paternal grandparents. A very industrial town. Low socioeconomic demographic where we are staying. Next to the train station. Shops shut, roads dirty…sad sad sad.

    Had a drink at a local pub. A few old men..can picture what their lives are like.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    A hard days work in Darlington

    May 27, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Had a slow start to the day. Light breakfast and walk into town to see if the ‘Citizen’s advice’ could help us locate Paul’s great great grand parent’s grave site.

    Lovely lady points us to the Darlington Library and what a gold mine of information and an amazing helpful librarian.

    We couldn’t find John in the East or West cemeteries. Librarian suggests looking at the newspapers for the obituaries around the date John passed. Voila…not only did we find the obituary, we also found which cemetery he was buried at!!!

    Back to the cemetery index and we find exactly where John and his wife Maud were buried. So off we go to the cemetery.

    Paul figured out the logic map and although we walked the whole section they were meant to be buried in, there were no headstones.

    We did find a grave of John J Stephenson and his wife Emma. Can’t locate them on the family tree, but they must be related somehow.

    Thanks to my darling engineer husband, he figured out the location of John and Mary’s grave site. Unfortunately there is no headstone left there. So we might have to figure out what we can do about it.

    Next we drove to Pa’s grandparents house. 41 Woodland Road. Pa still remembers the address. Census corroborated that John Hamilton did indeed live there with his wife Mary.

    The house is a back clinic. Osteopaths I think. Paul and I stand outside and bicker about whether we should ring the bell or not. For the record, I’m the brave one in this relationship. I rang the bell and the door was opened by two lovely, generous ladies who were so happy to show us inside the house.

    The bonus was they had the original title deeds to the house!! Auntie Evie and Uncle Cam bought the house. Waiting for Pa to wake up in Australia to try and understand why his grandparents didn’t own the house. Auntie Evie sold the house once Uncle Cam passed. Mary Maud had passed before he did.

    These amazing ladies showed us their title deeds and also some photos they found d under the floor boards. Picture of two men. Can you see the family resemblance?

    Next we walked a very short distance to Arthur Stephenson’s house on 12 West Crescent which is a stone’s throw from where John Hamilton Stephenson lived. Arthur is John’s brother.

    A very fruitful day of research. It’s an amazing feeling to know where you come from. I am hoping Paul got the buzz.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Captain Cook’s birthplace

    May 28, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Captain Cook was born in Middlesbrough. A 30 minute drive from Darlington.

    After a sleep in and a beautiful hot breakfast cooked by Paul, we hit the road to check out the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.

    £4.80 entrance fee and access to a very well laid out museum. Learnt a lot more about Captain Cook than I knew about him. He came from a labouring family. His father worked as a farm labourer.

    Captain Cook himself, fell into the Navy and eventually became a captain.

    None of his children survived or had children so his line died out with him. He had sisters who might have had children, but that’s it! No one to inherit his legacy. Sad! 😢

    It was nice to see Captain Cook’s cottage photo mentioned in the museum. This is where the cottage was removed, stone-by-stone and set up in Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne. I’ve been there. I was blown away by how small his bedroom was. Teeny tiny home.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe
    Roman abutment. Bottom of a bridgeA lovely sheep who just wanted to say hello

    A day through Northumberland

    May 29, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Early morning start. Couldn’t leave our Airbnb fast enough. Skipped our showers as we couldn’t face using the filthy shower again.

    Leaving the yuck behind to beautiful countryside. Did a lovely walk along part of the Hadrian wall. Nothing but sheep for company.

    Now stopped in a lovely country cafe for a cuppa and the bets darn chocolate cake I e had in a very long time. (Thinking of you Kate. Dad ate your share of cake. ). This is the last cafe in England.

    Onto more walks and driving. Will keep posting till we get to Edinburgh.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe
    St GilesEdinburghFor my sistersMillar CastleRoslin CastleThe apprentice's pillar

    Roslin and Edinburgh

    May 30, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We are staying in a lovely guest house called Chapel Cross Guest House. Very nice room and walking distance to the Roslin Chapel.

    If you didn’t know what the chapel was famous four, go watch Tom Hanks in the Da Vinci code.

    Pa spent a few moths here staying in Roslin castle when he was a child. His mother’s friend billeted him while she was very ill. He has many fond memories of being in this are, doing what little boys do at that age.

    Paul was last here 40 years ago with his parents and also has fond memories of this area.

    Read up about the apprentice and the master’s pillars in Roslin chapel. Very beautiful but sad.

    We drove into Edinburgh this morning and were overwhelmed by the crowds there. Forget about going inside the castle as you need to book ahead. Today was sold out!!!

    Walked along the royal mile andand couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

    Paul has bought tickets to another castle called Castle Millar. The Millar hosted Mary Queen of Scot’s. It was lovely exploring the castle. Fewer people around.

    Came back for a little nap, cup of tea and a short stroll back to the Roslin chapel for our booked tour inside.

    Well worth the trip! Hope you enjoy the photographs.    Read more

  • Three months in Europe

    Roslin to Glencoe

    May 31, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Can’t say it was the best day or our trip. Got out of Roslin very upbeat but as they day went, things got quite gloomy and WET!

    We are out in the Boondocks! You’d think. The roads were very busy. My nerves were on edge as the roads are quite narrow with everything going quite fast. The rain didn’t help at all.

    We headed north 2/3 the way to Inverness then crossed across the mountains to Fort Williams socked at how touristy it was headed south along the beautiful Loch Linnhe expecting it to be quiet in the village of Glencoe.

    Spectacular scenery driving through Glencoe. Sandra’s parents live in Glencoe, QLd. Nothing like this…the hills here are humongous. Walkers everywhere! Many lochs and rivers. And it’s about 10 degrees.

    This was not the day to ‘wing it’ with accomodation. Every thing is booked out. Paul managed to get us a self service flat in a gorgeous location. The owners live in a converted stone church. Flat is compact, cosy and beautiful. Like I’d love to have on the farm. We are far from the crowds and it’s very quiet.
    To find accommodation we had to drive over the mountain pass more than an hour south again, now not that far from Glasgow    Read more

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