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UK & France

April - May 2017
A 27-day adventure by Coltrane Read more
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  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 11

    Dublin - Day 11

    May 1, 2017 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Woke up this morning feeling rather groggy! After a slow morning the Mallon's and the Leek's make it on the road for a trip out into the Mountains. The day is an absolute pearler, and we go to Powerscourt, a stunning gentry house and gardens! The kids had a ball rolling and sliding down the massive lawns and the adults enjoy the most magnificent gardens. The weather and walk significantly improve our demeanour and we then drive on to a spectacular view from Laragh. A quick pint @ Foxy Jon's and then back to the Mallon's for a BBQ dinner and just the one wine!!! Early to bed as we are on the plane to Dad's hometown of Ipswich tomorrow!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 12

    Dublin > Woodbridge - Day 12

    May 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Left our friends the Mallon's in Dublin and took the 1 hr flight to Stanstead where we picked up another car for the 1.5 hr trip to Woodbridge in Suffolk. After a bit of trouble we find our B&B which we are staying in with my brother David and wife Jenny and sister Ginny and partner Andrew. A quick pint at the Bell & Steel (one of my dad's favourites) and the Mariner and then back for a late dinner.Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 13

    Ipswich - Day 13

    May 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    So this is the whole reason for the Ashes tour! Day 13 May 3rd, the fourth anniversary of Mum's passing and the day we finally get Dads Ashes back to his hometown of Ipswich. Thanks to the efforts of our 1st cousins Ian and Andrew, and the organisational skills of my sister, we are able to get dads ashes buried in his mothers perpetual plot at Ipswich Cemetery. It is fittingly a drizzly miserable English day, and after a few words from the three siblings I place Dad in his final resting place. I feel a mix of emotions, obviously sadness, but also pride that we have honoured his last wishes and managed to do so on a day that recognised mum and their 50+ year bond. It is lovely to be surrounded by our extended family at this moment, particularly my Dads 94 year old sister, Joan, who is incredibly stoic in the circumstances. We spend the rest of the afternoon over a long lunch at where else? The Coach and Hosreman Pub! We exchange stories and I am reminded of how immediately close I feel to blood relations, despite the physical distance that normally separates us!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 14

    Cambridge - Day 14

    May 4, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Woke up a tad groggy, but eager not to waste the day so organise to catch up with Val McKee and Ian's son Fraser, both of whom live in and around Cambridge. No satnav, but I plug in the coordinates to Google maps and way we go. We somehow end up on some country B roads on the way out, which is OK and after doing what feels like a big loop get onto the highway and arrive in Willingham about an hour late. I have a feeling I've picked up possibly my 3rd speeding fine as I try to spot up the rd we are looking for under pressure from some asshoole behind me! This could get bloody expensive! Anyway we catch up with Val, have a tour of her cute little terrace house and garden, and have lunch in the village at the local Auction house and Tea Rooms. we then head off to Cambridge to meet with Fraser who is studying law. After a nightmare drive in peak traffic, including driving the wrong way down a one way street we manage to locate Fraser. He takes us to his local college cafe and under time constraints we have a quick catch up. Unfortunately, as we try to get out of manic Cambridge traffic, we take yet another wrong turn and end up driving 45 mins north instead of East. FML!! 3 hrs later we made it home, not the greatest end to the day, and in the rush to get around we have neglected to get photos with the people we've seen!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 15

    Woodbridge - Day 15

    May 5, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Lazy day at home for Georgia and I, and Jane has gone for some retail therapy in the local village. By mid afternoon the cousins arrive for the Last Hurrah before we all head off on our separate adventures! This is possibly the last time all of us will be in the same house together, so there is a palpable sense of joy and excitement. Ginny has bought half the local gourmet shop, Andrew English and I have loaded up with wine, and Jenny and David are on Dinner duty. There are 12 of us including, Aunty Joan and Andrew McKee's new partner Lyn. Everyone is in high sprints and as usual the conversation flows easily! We have a tremendous meal and the night transcends into raucous laughter as we reminisce about the children's show Captain Pugwash. Ian is trying to convince us that there were the characters Roger the Cabin Boy, Seaman Stains and Master Bates!
    I do some Googling to find that this is a furphy, that was reported by the Gaurdian, who were consequently sued by the developers. As a footnote they did say the Captain Pugwash came from Australian slang, so I got on to the Urban Dictionary as none of us Aussies had heard that term. For those of a curious nature and who are not easily offended, I will leave it to your own research! Suffice it to say I got to the point in definition 3, of 7 definitions where I couldn't speak I was laughing so much! What a great night, I'm going to miss these guys!    Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 16

    Woodbridge - Day 16

    May 6, 2017 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Early bustle in the morning as Ginny and Andrew leave for Carlisle, and Hadrian's Wall, Andrew and Lyn head back to Bury St Edmunds, and Dave and Jenny head off for London.Fraser's Mum Sue pops over to say hi, and I'm amazed to see how little she has changed in 20 years! Once everyone has left, the house suddenly seems huge and desolate after so much energy the day before! We have a lazy late morning reading and nodding off before a last stroll down to the river and up to the Tide Mill. This is followed by another wander of the cobbled streets, coffee and cake and a trip down to Whitby Rd to see Aunty Joan for the last time! It's a sombre time for me, as I know this will be the last time I will see her in the flesh. She is as upbeat and lively as ever, and I think she has really enjoyed having the colonials around. Big G as the 2nd cousins like to call her, is one of the loveliest ladies I have had the pleasure to meet, I will always have a soft spot for her!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 17

    Woodbridge > Paris - Day 17

    May 7, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    So it's goodbye to Suffolk for now, it's been fantastic ! We drive to Southend Airport, drop off the Hire Car, and hop on the plane for the 1hr hop over to Paris. With a little help from a passenger we locate our Taxi driver, who speaks about as much English as we speak French! He is however particularly nice and helpful, and Georgia and I are entertained by Jane and his garbled conversation on the way in! The 1 Hr ride is a real eye opener, as we depart the absolutely massive Charles De Gaulle Airport and drive past the impressive French Stadium, and through the bleak and depressing refugee tents that line the highway and cluster under the bridges for shelter. They are begging for money as the traffic stops, and I feel embarrassed to be on such an extravagant holiday when they are so helpless! Georgia is clearly upset too when the Taxi driver refuses to open the window, clearly concerned that something might get pinched. We move further on and begin to pass the magnificent architecture that dominates the centre of Paris. What a beautiful City! We arrive in Marais the district where Jane has booked our accomodation! It is funky and vibrant, and as usual she has chosen well! We are met by our afro-French contact, a lovely young man called Adonis, who is really helpful getting us settled into the appartment. Shortly after Sarah Francis arrives and we head off for some traditional French fare. We all decide on the Duck Confit with 2 Potato side dishes of truffade! It is a huge lovely meal, but very filling, so we decide to walk it off with a stroll down to the River Seine and some twilight shots of the City. It is the Presidential Election and Macron has won, there is a jubilant vibe in town, clearly the citizens are relieved!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 18

    Paris - Day 18

    May 8, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Not feeling 100%, but after a bit of a sleep in, I join the Mademoiselles for breakfast. Some Parisian Pastries kindly bought by Sarah hit the spot, and we head off on foot to the Notre Dame. On the way we pass an interesting Patisserie, selling bread in the shape of male genitalia! It gets a good laugh, but no-one is buying so we continue on along the river, and past the many vendors selling books paintings, and trinkets. A photo shoot at the Notre Dame Cathedral, is enough, and we wander further to the Shakespearian Bookstore, which has an amazing selection! Georgia finally finds a fidget spinner, and we contact my bro David to catch up for Coffee! After a walk to the Louvre which he and Jenny have just visited we have a drink and part ways. Georgia and I head back to the apartment whilst Jane and Sarah continue shopping. On return I open the windows to the traffic below, slip on some Miles Davis and get stuck into my novel! I'm feeling very relaxed and at home in this Parisian environment! Several hours later the shoppers return, both have bought really cool coats and don them for our next stop, the Moulin Rouge. The show is a tittilating affair, which is undoubtedly making Georgia uncomfortable, but she does enjoy the interspersing acts of strength, dexterity and grace. The rest of us enjoy the show's tight choreography and spectacular costumes, and walk away glad to have made the effort to see this iconic performance. A few happy snaps outside and we make it back home for a vino or two! It's been a good day!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 19

    Paris - Day 19

    May 9, 2017 in France ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Took us all a while to get going, but we finally get out into the sunshine by 11am. We decide to explore our local district, where the ladies are enticed by the funky jewellery shops. We head down to the Jewish Quarter, where the shops seem to get more extravagant, and the cobbled streets more beautiful. Georgia can't resist the Crepes, but Jane and I indulge in the phalafel pouches famous for this area! They are amazing. Because it is such a beautiful day, we decide to wander down and walk along the banks of the River Sienne. The French are out in droves enjoying the first rays of summer. An interesting coffee there, (I never cease to be amazed how many different types of coffee I get when I ask for alatte!) and then up to the Tuileries Gardens for an ice cream, then yet more walking up to the beginning of the Champs Elyees. We are due for a 4 hr bike tour so we leave Sarah Francis to some shopping, and it is the last we'll see of her till London. The Phat Tyre Night Bike Tour of Paris is fantastic. We see the amazing highlights of Paris in all it's luminescent glory, including a one hr cruise down the river! By the time we catch the metro back home it is 1 am and we are completely exhausted!Read more

  • TravelerUK & France
    Day 20

    Paris - Day 20

    May 10, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Woke up with a glowing sunburnt face, aching legs and a sore arse from the Bike ride!!! We have covered close to 15km in the last two days and are all feeling it! Good thing all we have to do is a tour to the top of the Eiffel Tower, said no one ever ! After much groaning and moaning we negotiate the Metro yet again and find ourselves at the base of the Eiffel Tower. She is a massive awe inspiring piece of architecture and after numerous security checks, we are on our way to the top! Jane is in the middle of the lift with eyes closed, she's not real happy with heights, but once we are up the top we get a great view of the city. This puts all the great landmarks we've seen over the last few days finally into perspective. Jane eases her nerves with a champers, and Georgia is comfortable enough to pop the camera through the wire for some uninterrupted photos of the landscape! This was the big reason for us coming to Paris, as she loves this iconic tower. Thanks to our amazing tour guides we receive an interesting history lesson on it's build and indeed on the history of Paris generally. The weather is perfect again,so we take a walk to the Golden Domed Cathedral, where Napoleon is entombed in such a way as you have to bow down to see him! We continue on back over the river, to the Arch de Triumph. An hour or so lost to clothes shopping, and we finally make it back home for a well deserved beer. It's 8pm and I am totally shagged, and we haven't even had dinner yet! Paris could well be the end of me! But there could be worse places to finish up!Read more

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