Brunei, Ireland and England

Fly Royal Brunei Airlines to Ireland with a three day stopover in Brunei. Two weeks touring Ireland and then two weeks touring England. Read more

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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
On to Duncannon via Wexford.
June 12, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ 18 °C
At home, we have bought hay from Gerard Whitty of Wangaratta. He has a relative, also Gerard Whitty, who owns a pub in Wexford, the Whitford Hotel. Because of this, we added Wexford to our itinerary. We expected the Whitford Hotel to be a pub but it is huge, more like a resort. Gerard wasn't there. We had a Devonshire tea and then headed for Duncannon.
Duncannon is another big surprise. We checked into our B&B. From the front, it looked like any ordinary house. The back of the house however was virtually on the beach. The place was purpose built to take advantage of this location with the B&B bedrooms and dining / lounge room upstairs.
Had a long walk on the vast beach which felt like a great workout for the sore legs. We had dinner at the local pub, “The Strand Tavern" and it was the quality of a top restaurant. I had scallop entree and John had breaded sole with chips which were the best chips in Ireland so far. Love their vinegar also. Walked home to sort and write some postcards.
We met an Aussie couple who had been travelling for a couple of months and enjoyed hearing their tales. They loved Turkey and showed us the view from their hotel room of the Blue Castle - amazing! Deb had taken a gorgeous photo of sheep (wish I had got her to send it to me). King was fromSwan Hill and went to school with a lad called Colin Brassa!Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Last day in Ireland.
June 13, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Had a huge breakfast said goodbye to the amazing view from our room (I woke to the sound of the waves outside our window-that is how close we were to the water).
We drove along lots of little roads to coves and interesting rural villages. A cruise ship looked most out of place in the Waterford estuary.
We stopped in Augrim for a cuppa. Through the cafe window, we could see across the street. The houses opposite opened onto the footpath. A door opened and an elderly gentleman appeared carrying a ladder which he placed against the front wall of the building. On this wall hung three baskets of flowers. The man went back through the door and reappeared with a watering can, climbed the ladder and watered one of the baskets. He came down the ladder and moved it across to the next basket. He went back through the door and again reappeared with the watering can. This was repeated till all three baskets had been watered. He then carried the ladder back through the door and closed it behind him.
This was probably his daily morning routine. We found it quite entertaining.
Enniskery was a lovely village, just South of Dublin, where we stopped for lunch and also bought some Irish linen tea towels. The salesman had a brother in Perth.
We organised to stay at Swords, just North of Dublin, tonight as it's very close to the airport to make it easy to drive there tomorrow morning.
Arrived at Kettles Country House Hotel in Swords around 3.30 and spent some time washing, sorting cases and paperwork.
When we felt organised we went to Howth drove around the peninsular and decided on a hotel called The Bloody Stream for dinner. Once again the food was superb - we both had a fish dish - we have hardly had red meat in Ireland.
A blackboard in the dining room explains the name:-

On 10th Aug 1177, the 2nd (Norman) invasion of Ireland, a great battle took place against the Danes who were in occupation on Evora Bridge over a stream afterwards known as The Bloody Stream. During construction of this public house, we found that stream runs directly under the premises. Having fought a constant battle with the stream flooding the bar,we decided to make peace with it. Hence the name.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
The food was a real surprise.
June 13, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
The biggest surprise so far has been the superb quality of the food everywhere. The only exception to this was our lunch in Bangor.
We've eaten mostly seafood.
The Irish hospitality is second to none.
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Taking my medicine.
June 13, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Could it be that the Guinness tastes better in Ireland?
To be sure! To be sure!
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Ireland to England.
June 14, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Left Kettles at 6.25 am to return hire-car - what a debacle. We went the back way from the hotel which was straightforward and easy but couldn't find Dollar (Thrifty) Car Hire to return vehicle. Asked at airport only to be directed to where we could hire a car. Parked in the wrong place despite other Thrifty cars being there. Eventually we were told to leave it at the service station on the way in to the airport from Dublin (not the way we came!).
John left me at arrivals to wait for his return. He had no money and I had no mobile! John returned about 15 minutes past eight so we had plenty of time to check in, go through Customs, have a coffee & toilet break etc. We didn't spend remaining Euros but no matter - I am sure we can spend them in Dubai.
Good flight and Heathrow is well signed. Over an hour wait for our hire car as they were busy. Finally off to the ring road and headed the wrong way - went South instead of North. Cost us about an hour.
Quick Indian meal at roadside stop before going straight to our B&B at Alton near Stoke-on-Trent. Amazing B&B - Manor House Farm. Dates back to the 1500's and the owner's family have been here for over 200 years. Chris and Margaret, the owners, also had an antique business so the place is jam packed with fantastic antiques - so interesting. The garden is gorgeous with established old trees, tennis court, croquet pitch, summer house and lots of old curios and garden furniture.
Dinner on Margaret and Chris's recommendation at The Duncombe Arms nearby. Had a first class meal of roast beef & Yorkshire Pudding and an amazing dessert of panna cotta topped with strawberries and a basil sorbet.
Finished the day beautifully after a bothersome start.
Tomorrow we meet Geoff and Maureen.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Geoff and Maureen
June 15, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Today was really about meeting Geoff and Maureen. We arranged to meet at the Trentham Gardens Centre at the nursery (plant). It is a big place and we were at the wrong spot. Janette headed off and found them.
Had a couple of cups of tea and then had a lovely lunch.
Some of Geoff's characteristics reminded Janette of my dad, his uncle.
We headed back to our B&B and had time to look around the most amazing gardens.
Dinner last night was so nice we went to the Duncombe Arms again and it was just as good as last night. John had fish & chips & coconut semi freddo and I had lamb with fine gratin potato & lemon curd in white chocolate.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
More Manor House Farm - the garden.
June 15, 2015 in England ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
More Manor House Farm - inside
June 16, 2015 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
More Manor House Farm - outside.
June 16, 2015 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Alton to Prestbury via Ilam.
June 16, 2015 in England ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Great walk around the beautiful garden, breakfast, then time to say goodbye to Chris and Margaret who are lovely hardworking people. Took photos of the cupboard made from a hollow tree trunk - hope we can find a tree big enough at home.
Drove via back roads and through gorgeous villages. Actually drove through farm properties - just like home - through the high country of Ilam.
Ilam is in the Staffordshire Peak District. We visited Ilam Hall and walked around the huge gardens.
Had lunch at Congleton and almost had my fingernails done but they were busy! After lunch decided to continue via little lanes and side roads. First corner we turned we arrived at a beautiful lake with ducks, swans, and an ice-cream van! Photo opportunity after having an ice cream each and they were lovely to eat on such a sunny day in Siddington.
Found Prestbury to be a bit tired and quite a number of buildings need a lick of paint. We checked into the hotel which is lovely and had dinner in-house. The dinner deal was amazing and I had roast duck & pear salad.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Prestbury.
June 16, 2015 in England ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Collar House, Prestbury, was used as the maternity department of St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester from 1939 to1952. This was because of German bombing during WWII. It continued to be used until 1952 because of the extensive rebuilding required after the war.
As previously said, Prestbury is looking a little tired and in need of a 'spruce up'. It is still a nice little village though.
“...should never go back...”Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Prestbury to Chester and Llanfairfechan.
June 17, 2015 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Left Prestbury early after deciding to eat later in the morning - still full from last night's great 3 course dinner plus wine for forty pounds!
Had late breakfast in Chester and a great wander around the walled town with its shambles and Tudor buildings - even two storey shopping arcades. Chester is a walled city with four access gates. The base of the walls are 2000 year old Roman walls.
From Chester, a picturesque drive took us through mid-north Wales with its lovely grey stone buildings, fast flowing streams and rivers, rocks, caves etc.
Had lunch at Betws-y-Coed, in the Conwy Valley, Caernarfonshire. This is in the Snowdonia area. The waiter was recovering from some rude Welsh Diners.
Then off to find our air B&B in Llanfairfechan. Graham most friendly. Tea at the Pub (The Village Inn) with the locals - £10 meals which is a change from our fine dining!
We went for a walk after tea to the promenade at the seafront and then back to email Adam and Candie some requested photos!Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Conwy and Talgarth
June 18, 2015 in Wales ⋅ 16 °C
We headed out after a long chat with Brian over breakfast. He suggested some amazing gardens and we were going to try to walk to Aden Falls but missed both.
We drove to Conwy (Conway) and had a look at the castle and the town. The main street is dominated by the view of the castle at the top end..
Spent most of the day on the highways travelling to Talgarth near Brecon in South East Wales. Beautiful scenery again with views of the Welsh mountains, especially coming through a pass with mountains each side and a lake ahead - absolutely gorgeous. The scenery along the coast was also spectacular.
Lunch of fish and chips in Aberiswythe.
Afternoon Tea in Talgarth and toilet stop near the silver knight at the old castle. Tempted by an old kettle but at £24 and heavy to carry, sadly left it behind.
B&B is on farm in probably a converted mud room and laundry. Nice that it was separate but still joined to the house.
Dinner was at the Indian restaurant, Red Indigo, in Crickenhowell which was lovely - we mucked up the pappadam order much to the frustration, and probably amusement of the staff.
Met Sarah who was amazing running the B&B with little children to care for as well.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Hay-on-Wye and Margam.
June 19, 2015 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Started the day with a short drive and then a cup of tea in Hay-on-Wye. We spent most of the morning checking out the books, antiques, junk shops etc and had lovely healthy open sandwiches before driving through more scenic Wales to Margam.
Margam is not far from the steel works of Port Talbert which also has a surprise beach and resort where the circus had set up for summer.
The B & B, The Barn B&B and Tyn Cellar Farm, is in a rural location near a busy road. We had trouble finding it. It turned out that we had gone directly to the right spot first time, but the sign was hidden by a bushy tree. On one of the occasions we stopped to check the map again, a man offered help. He knew where we had to go and directed us. As we set off he drove in front of us to direct us, pointing to our destination when we arrived. He then just went on his way.
Relaxed for a couple of hours before heading out to a local pub for dinner. Had a lovely meal at the Prince of Wales Hotel.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Corsham.
June 20, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Headed across on the freeway and arrived in Corsham around 10.00am. It was armed forces day with an accompanying parade and lots of stalls and actives. Pottered around this beautiful village for a couple of hours, watched the parade, the choir, and the brass band.
Corsham is where Janette’s maternal great grand father was born and his father before him.
It is also where Poldark was filmed.
Had a lovely lunch of fish cakes in an upstairs cafe before heading to Bradford on Avon and then to our B&B in Frome to check in.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Corsham (cont).
June 20, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We popped into St Bartholomew's church for a bit of a sticky. A man was working among the gravestones with a whippersnipper. He came over to us and asked if we needed any help to find a grave. We thanked him and said we were just looking around.
He said, “have you seen Sarah Jarvis's grave?”
When we said we hadn't, he took us to it. Her original epitaph carved into the stone grave marker, is now illegible. It has been reproduced on a brass plaque. It says that in her one hundred and seventh year, some time before her death, she had fresh teeth.
To me, that could mean one of three things:-
She went to a dentist and got some dentures.
Her husband died and she inherited his dentures.
She grew a new set of teeth.
According to local history, the last one happened.
This graveyard has an unusually high number of people who lived to a ripe old age - well past three score and ten.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Bradford on Avon and Frome.
June 20, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Went to Bradford on Avon and found Murhill (Janette's great grandfather's house) but didn't go in.
Had tea and tart with cream for afternoon tea at "The Bridge Tearooms".
In 1999, Janette came here for a pit stop after locating Murhill for the first time. Back then there was a print on the wall identical to one we have at home. It is a head and shoulders picture of a lady. We call her Maisie.
The new owner said the previous owners took the picture of Maisie and similar pictures when they sold the business in 2009.
We headed to Frome to check in. There was a Town Crier competition in town and some ladies in the information booth were most helpful directing us to the B&B.
Lovely home in stone but renovated to a high standard and in central old Frome. We walked into Frome for dinner at The Artisan, a new pub/restaurant in Frome. Lovely venue, nice food but service a bit worrying.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
The Blue School.
June 21, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
This is the Blue House, aka Blue School, in Frome. Blue Schools were charity schools, so called because of the distinctive blue uniform worn by the pupils.
This building originally provided housing for twenty widows and schooling for twenty boys. Its role as a school ended in 1921. It now contains one bedroom flats for seventeen elderly residents.
Janette's great-grandfather, Peter Hooper, was a pupil here.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Frome
June 21, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
First stop was the Laundrette. Then we went for a good walk around the historic old town with its lovely cobbled streets. Being Sunday, it was very quiet so we had the place to ourselves pretty much.
We then headed to Devises to see the canal boats. Had a cuppa & scone in an old fashioned tea room above a boat house and then drove toward Iford Gardens.
Stopped at "The Red Lion" at Tellisford for lunch - a lovely old pub and an amazing Ploughman's plate for me and Greek salad for John.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Iford Manor Gardens.
June 21, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Arrived at the gardens down a long narrow lane (on the way to Winsley from Frome). They were beautiful and we took heaps of photos for Kathy Z.
Another cuppa then back to Frome to find somewhere for dinner.
Marina at the B&B suggested The Talbot at Mells and it was another amazing place - a beautiful old stone village with very old church etc. The pub is set around a courtyard and, as it was the midsummer solstice and we are near Stonehenge, there were quite a few alternative types around as well as a few eccentric toffs!
Another lovely meal ( duck with pickled blackberries for me and burger and chips for John).
Back to the B&B for a lovely chat with Marina and Will, who is a gun engraver. He has a sister in Melbourne.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Off to Cornwall.
June 22, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Up early for the quite long drive to Cornwall. A really grey wet day so we decided to head straight to Cornwall.
Stopped for a coffee near Exeter and bought provisions for our 3 day stay in Ludgvan. Stopped in Truro for lunch at Marks and Spencer's and bought John some socks with loose tops. Market was interesting & meat prices similar to home.
We are booked into Cherry Tree Cottage for three nights. Arrived around 3.00pm, unpacked in a lovely "stone cottage with a fireplace". Spiral staircase was a bit of a challenge so we decided to just take up toiletries and night attire.
Drove to Lands End which is quite touristy but then drove around lovely stone villages and disused tin mines. Spectacular coastal scenery along the northern Cornwall coast from Lands End.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
The Gunard's Head Hotel.
June 22, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
We decided to do a bit of a 'loop' back to Ludgvan and find somewhere to eat. Stopped for dinner at the Gunard's Head Hotel, Zennor, on the north coast. It is the middle of nowhere among amazing coastal and rural scenery.
The food was five star.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
The drive to Padstow.
June 23, 2015 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Padstow is our main destination today with our booking for lunch at the swish "The Seafood Restaurant" - Rick Stein's main restaurant.
On our way from Ludgvan via s/w coast we saw lovely coastlines with unprotected cliffs, small harbour communities and beach resorts. One surprising thing was the number of surfers in the water at Newquay.
We had a double shot latte in the sunshine at Mawgan Porth and arrived in Padstow around 11.15am.
We loved this seaside town. It is touristy but classy and we could have bought heaps. We did buy a rather expensive blue bead necklace and a print of Padstow.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow.
June 23, 2015 in England ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Another item on our wish list for this holiday was to have a meal at Rick Stein's 'The Seafood Restaurant, in Padstow.
Once we knew where we would be staying and the dates of the stay, we booked. We booked for lunchtime as we were staying a fair way away. We booked a long time ahead via the restaurant's website.
As we were being shown to our table, the maitre d commented that we had been given “the best table in the house - this is our most requested table”. The table was in the far corner and we decided that it is the only table at which both diners face out into the restaurant, and so could observe everyone else.
Lunch was wonderful.
Service was of the highest standard and ambience great.
For entree, I had a grilled plaice served Japanese style in a broth and with baby greens. John had fish done in a chickpea batter. Both were delicious. Mains were also melt in the mouth fish and delicious with greens and new potatoes as a side. Dessert was fantastic - tart tartine and vanilla ice cream for John and passion fruit brûlée for me.
Bought some Cornish pasties for tonight's dinner at The Chough Bakery and took a long walk back to the car park and headed home for a quieter early evening in.
It seems that Rick Stein has an involvement in so many things in Padstow - bistro, fish and chip shop, cafe, gift shop, bakery, B&B... many credit him with Padstow being as popular as it is with tourists.Read more
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Brunei, Ireland and England Janette and John
Around Ludgvan - Porthleven and Gweek.
June 24, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Set off to Porthleven early, had a walk along the pier and had a chat to the fishermen. Not sure how the stone pier was built as the stones are so large. Had breakfast at The Harbour Inn.
Drove through Marazion and decided to come back in the afternoon to visit St Michael's Mount.
Went to Gweek down near the Air Force base to visit the Rescued Seals Centre. They are doing great work and have rescued 58 seals this year to date. Great place to bring children as the seals and penguins are very cute and there are other animal nurseries to see too.Read more
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