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UK and a bit of Asia 2024
  • John Gibsone
Aug – Oct 2024

UK and a bit of Asia 2024

A 42-day adventure by John Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 23, 2024
    John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024

    Feilding - Still Planning

    August 4, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    “An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.”
    – Dale Carnegie.

    I hope that's true, especially with airports, rental cars and accommodation.

    I am still fretting over things like
    * How to get from Changi Airport to the Holiday Inn we are booked into. I think a taxi will work best for that one.
    * How do I get from Gatwick arrivals to Europcar car rentals? Will they have the MG4 that we booked, or will it be a clunky, underpowered diesel of some description?
    * Where can I get a good beer in Tunbridge Wells?

    The list goes on. Twenty-something days to go.

    The route is AKL to SIN for 3 days in Singapore. Then, it's off to the UK and stops in (look them up yourselves) Tunbridge Wells, Wokingham, Dursley, Llandysul, Deganwy, Harrogate, and Cambridge (not the one near Hamilton). Then, it's off to Hong Kong for 2 days and back to AKL and PMR.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    PMR, and a pie for breakfast at 5:30 AM
    Sunrise leaving Palmy'Our' 787Our Hotel has 6 very cool lifts...and it looks like this from within

    Day one - Singapore Next Stop

    August 23, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Well, here we go—the first day. I'm writing this on Saturday as we were pretty tired when we arrived in the early evening.

    Friday 23. Out of bed at 3 AM to finish packing, checking, and getting to the airport for 4:45 for a 6:15 flight. I'm not a morning person and 3 AM is so early even morning people would struggle. Thanks to Mike for being our chauffeur.

    The flight to AKL was uneventful, apart from viewing the sunrise. (Note: us experienced travellers always use the international airport codes.) Getting on to our 787 was also straightforward, although it took a long while to get to the (new) far end of the airport.

    10 tedious hours later, we arrived in SIN. The flight was good, and Tricia didn't suffer airsickness. Even the food was edible.

    We did have one hiccup. We hadn't pre-filled out the arrival form! This is all online now in Singapore, and there is no paper option. So we were directed to a shelf with 4 or 5 tablets mounted on stands. So we spent a stressful 25 minutes form-filling. Note to self—do these before travelling. This did have some benefits, as when we got to immigration, there was almost nobody going through. However, we all needed help to get the facial recognition to work - maybe we Europeans all look alike to the SIN computers. Once through, we went to the luggage conveyor to find it stopped, with six suitcases tidily lined up at the end. Three of these were ours, so we weren't last out. No passengers were at the Customs area, and the Customs people looked very bored and waved us through. Then we got to the taxi area and figured out the webbing maze - again, nobody but three airport staff. They guided us to the large taxi rank with one taxi left. We took it,

    Got to the hotel and checked in. We unpacked, and I found the bar and settled my nerves with a medicinal Guinness. We were asleep before 9 and didn't wake up until 6:30. Day one done.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Decorative street lights
    Looks a bit ChineseThis looks much more Indian I thinkTwo smiling touristsInteresting shopping here3 dinners...very very nice1Pooltime

    Chinatown, shops, and Japanese food

    August 24, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We started the day well. We woke up slowly, then went down for breakfast, which was pretty damned good. There were lots of choices, so we ate up large -- fueled for the day, as it turned out. We worried about the rain, but that went away as we started our 30-minute walk to Chinatown; Google and my esim got us there.

    We checked out a mall, then walked into Chinatown and tripped over the markets. There were some hard sales pitches, which we avoided. The ladies found a shop selling cheap summer clothes and picked up some bargains.

    The walk back was a challenge as my phone's esim stopped doing whatever it is that esims do. So we had to walk back based on our memory of the walk in. One false move, but we sorted that and made it back. I think I fixed that esim issue...

    After a wee rest, we set off for another mall (Great World) just up the road from the hotel. It was very nice and modern but 'normal' (i.e., No Gucci or Tiffany's). We found a cool Japanese restaurant (Tempura Makino, part of a chain) with a really nice guy out front who guided our vegan to a suitable meal choice. Excellent!

    We made our way back, with Christine and me taking a dip in the hotel pool.

    It's nearly 9 p.m., and I feel like I need to go to bed.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Not our Grab ride, but a, thankfully, obsolete rickshaw
    Three Colonial Governor dudesJapanese tank like those used to capture Singapore in 1942Singapore River at Clarke Quay. Mall on left, food and drinkies on the right.Looking downriver with the famous Marina Bay Sands in the background.

    History, Vegan food and lot of walking

    August 25, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We did plan a day at the 'Gardens in the Bay', but the forecast was a 90% chance of showers with thunder (and implied lightning). So, we decided on a Plan B, and anticipating rain, we decided on the National Museum. I also thought it was time we expanded our transport into the 21st century, so I downloaded the 'Grab' app, the equivalent of Uber here. Despite its regional office in Singapore, Uber does not operate here. So we ventured downstairs and called up a Grab car, which duly turned up, and we got a great ride to the Museum.

    The museum was running a special exhibition on the history of Singapore. It was well done, and we all learned a lot. After the Museum, we decided to walk to Clarke Quay on the Singapore River, a 20-minute walk away. Google got us there with a slight hiccup when we had to walk around an area, which upset it a bit. I sorted it out while the two ladies asked two Singaporean ladies which way to go. They were horrified that anyone would walk that far. We proved them wrong...

    We got to Clarke Quay and went into an eponymous mall. It was not too impressive as it was a rabbit warren with many walled-off areas. We did get a great coffee, though. We then walked around the waterfront area with its many bars and restaurants. We then decided to get an early dinner and walk back to the hotel - another 25-minute walk. With Tricia's new-found veganism, we accessed the Happy Cow app, which directed us to a completely vegan burger establishment. It was back in the above-mentioned rabbit warren. So back we trudged, and with the help of another food outlet, we found it. The food was very good, although my burger might have been improved with a large beef patty instead of the soya-based item it came with. The vegan french fries were just fine, though.

    We cranked up Google Maps again and walked back. It was actually very easy, as we followed the river until we were close to the hotel.

    Back in the hotel again. Check out tomorrow, but we have a full day free as the plane to Gatwick doesn't leave until midnight. Maybe we will get to the 'Gardens in the Bay'.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Iconic 'tree'The sign says 'Jacinda' was hereWorld's highest indoor waterfall. Who knew.Glass flowers. Easy care.Flower Dome engineeringI figured out selfiesImpressions of Monet's house and front gardenSong for Christine

    Planted and in the Air

    August 26, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Sorry for the delays - jet lag, busy, and my last post got 'lost' - so here it is again, but not the literary masterpiece of the lost one.

    We are flying out today bu that doesn't happen until 11:55 PM so we have a bit of time here still. Today's weather looked good so we checked out (leaving our bags for later pickup) and grabbed another Grab to 'Gardens on the Bay.

    We got tickets to two attractions, the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome.

    We went to the Cloud Forest Dome first. This large glass dome - think greenhouse on steroids - represents a cloud forest's climate (higher altitude and cooler). This contained many trees and plants from around the globe (including a small NZ area with Maori sculpture). They also had an extensive collection of orchids, a big thing in Singapore. The world's largest indoor waterfall made a big splash. There were many smaller displays and presentations, which took us 2-3 hours to get around. Amazing.

    We got a drink at Starbucks (needs must) and trundled over to the Flower Dome. Guess what—this contains cacti, shrubs, large trees, and flowers. Everything is laid out beautifully. To top this off, they had an event showing the plants and locations of Claude Monet. It turns out that our Claude was quite a gardener. He also did a bit of Impressionist painting on the side. They extended this theme with a large display of information about other Impressionist painters, and this was in a large room still inside the dome.

    Mindblown, we returned to the Hotel via a nearby mall, where we grabbed a bite to eat. Got another Grab (Kona EV this time) wedged our baggage and ourselves in and got to Changi by about 6:30.

    After checking in, the first thing we came across was a ukulele group doing a few numbers. We watched a couple, and then the group leader asked Christine for her name. They then played/sang a modified version of Paul Anka's Diana. How cool is that.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024

    Two days for the price of one

    August 27, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We arrived at Gatwick and picked up our car, although because we were 30 minutes ahead of the pick-up time, we had to wait for a while until it was charged. We did get an MG4, which is what I had booked. That must be a first, as I don't remember ever getting the exact car that I booked. They also offered a great deal on a Tesla Model 3 instead, but an extra 600 quid didn't appeal.

    We didn't have much time to set up, so we used the car navigation system instead of Google Maps. So off we went, heading for Sue and Andy's (cuzzies) in Wadhurst. I blame the MG Nav system for accidentally getting us into an exit lane on the M25. Once on it you have no choice and need to go wherever it takes you. This meant a 30-mile loop to get to an on-ramp to go back and try this again. We got it right the second time.

    We made it to Sue and Andy's OK and had a chat, a garden tour, a great lunch and more chat. We then embarked on the 'quick' trip to our hotel in Tunbridge Wells (actually Pembury). Andy showed me the best route on G Maps and which route to avoid. Unfortunately, he didn't pass this on to the sat nav, and it duly took us the shortest distance route down a selection of picturesque but scary one-lane roads. I didn't realise this until it was too late to change. We made it, but it was sweaty.

    The 28th dawned sunny and clear (the high was 27C). After a sumptuous breakfast (note this theme of great breakfasts) I located a nearby fast charger and went and topped up the MG. Much to my amazement my Electroverse app worked exactly as advertised. The electrons flowed and the car was happy. I fixed the sat nav issue by getting Android Auto running. That gave me a much better result.

    We repeated yesterday's visit to Sue and Andy's, including a leisurely walk around Wadhurst and a great dinner. The ride back cleverly avoided the back lanes, but the actual drive itself was still a bit on the scary side, with darkness, narrow roads and a lot of traffic driving much faster than I am used to. We got back again, though. It was a great day - thanks, guys.,    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Great view from the room with no loo
    Tricia with her pint (if you believe that...)Our MG4 RentalA Polestar that I hadn't seen before.Wescott Primary School - Spot the touristsThe new and very large Lotus EVA crappy photo of the Wokingham Town Hall - spot the tourists

    Wokingham - 3 in 1

    August 29, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    No, I'm not getting lazy (well, maybe just a bit), but here is a summary of three days in and around Wokingham. There are not a lot of photos, as the photographer forgot to take them.

    On Thursday 29th, we had a leisurely breakfast and drove off to Wokingham, the town where the ladies spent much of their childhood. We didn't get lost once, which is nice, although we almost missed the entrance to the Hotel (Double Tree by Hilton - St Anne's Manor). We have stayed there twice before, but since our last visit, they have rearranged the road substantially. Luckily, we found it anyway. We were early, and our room wasn't ready, so we left two bags in the hotel and wandered around for a bit. We got to the room only to spot that the loo didn't flush. Luckily, the discovery wasn't terribly embarrassing. We got assigned another room with a working loo.

    We had a posh dinner at the 'Foundry Bell' just down the road from the hotel. Nice beer too, ask Tricia.

    The next day, we went into town, parking in the same car park we used six years ago, and went to the Brown Bag Cafe, which we had visited often six years earlier. To be downright dull, we ordered the same item from the menu - porridge with toppings. It was just as great as it was years before.

    We then did some shopping and walked to the ladies' old primary school. We then drove off to see Tricia and Christine's friends Liz and Francis in Eversley. We had a traditional English barbecue, except that it didn't rain. We did a lot of catching up and drove back just before sunset. Great day.

    Saturday, the 31st, arrived, and we drove into town for breakfast - see above. More shopping, where we did actually buy some stuff. We picked up some lunch at Greggs (if you have been to the UK, you'll know). We then took a chance to visit an old lady who had been a great friend of the ladies' mum. Christine had lost contact but knew the address - about 20 minutes away. We arrived expecting to find that she wasn't there anymore. But no, Jean answered the door and knew who she was talking to. So we chewed the fat over a cuppa. What a great lady - if I get to 93, I hope I am that good. We then drove back for dinner at Nando's, which serves some vegan selections, if a little spicy. Tomorrow is moving day again.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Those two ladies again, about to push over a stone
    The sheep seemed not to be impressed but we were.The National Trust car park ticket office, seems a bit over the topThe big question is what were they for?Small person, Big rockI might have overdone the colour filter, but it was hot.Note that the little obelisk is a later addition marking where a stone had been robbed. Vandals..

    Neolithic Stones and Family History

    September 1, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Today will be warm (forecast 28), and it was pretty mild as we drove in for our usual breakfast. We came back and checked out by 11. We decided we had enough time to check out something on the way to Cam - our next stop. So we set G Maps to take us to Avebury to see the stones. We got there quite easily, except it took a while to locate the parking. We eventually got some instructions that worked and found a park (which is often a challenge, apparently). It was a 300-metre walk to the 'old farmyard' where the National Trust took 7 quid for the car park. But it was free entry to see the stones.

    We wandered off to see these mysterious stones. They are quite impressive for something built 4,500 years ago; see the pictures.

    After an hour or two, we returned to our intended route, passing through Malmesbury, where Christine was born, and Tetbury, where King Charles has a wee place. It was all very pretty. The traffic around here was a lot quieter and a bit more pleasant than previous drives. We arrived in Cam and eventually found our allocated park. The house is small but has been renovated to a high standard.

    Just after we arrived, we had a big thunderstorm with torrential rain. This diminished to a misty drizzle, so we walked to a Chinese takeaway to get something to eat.

    After tea, cousin Susan and hubby Eddie came around. They saved our bacon by bringing teabags, milk and biscuits - we had nothing as the supermarkets all close at 4 PM, and we didn't get here until 4:30. Susan has been communicating with Christine about family stuff, but they have never met. They share common GG grandparents. Susan has an excellent knowledge of the local area and the family they share. Lots of talk...

    Another good day. What will tomorrow bring?    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Tricia and Sandra gasbagging after everybody else was leaving.

    Another Cuzzie Day

    September 2, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Today was another family day with Tricia and Christine catching up with two more cousins - Maureen and Sandra (and John) in Cheltenham.

    We had arranged to pick Maureen up and then go to the Rising Sun Pub on Cleeve Hill, on the outskirts of Cheltenham. Our navigation was spot on, and after a quick chat with Maureen, we set off for the pub. It's a great location with fantastic views that were somewhat ruined by the haze and mist today. Another excellent pub meal and a lots of talk. We then decamped to Sandra and John's home in Cheltenham for a cuppa and some more reminiscing. We left in the late afternoon - just catching the rush hour traffic.

    Arrived back at our house in Cam and finished off the Chinese leftovers from yesterday.

    Apart from the frenetic driving, it was a nice, quiet day.

    [Apologies for the lack of pictures again]    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    1The Scattering place
    The concensus is that Grandad Allen is in this areaMo, Tricia and Christune recreating an old photo from 60 years ago.A family group photo but nobody noticed.1Lotsa LongboatsBridge swinging......to let a couple of boats through.

    The Scattering and more Family fun

    September 4, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today was an important day for our UK Trip. Christine and Tricia's Mum had requested that some of her Ashes be scattered on Stinchcombe Hill in Dursley. So we arrived in the UK with an official box and paperwork for ashes for both Mum and Dad. Cousin Colin had requested to join us as he had fond memories of the girl’s Mum when he was a child. Stepanie, Mo and Mike also came along. The day was a bit grey and misty, which added to the occasion. We drove in convoy up to the top of Stinchcombe Hill. Locating a secluded path - away from the golf course - Christine and Tricia scattered the ashes into a grassy area with a great view of the surrounding countryside. Tricia recited a poem, and Christine sang a waiata (in te reo Māori). We then returned to the rest of the group. All very moving.

    We returned to the St Bartholomews church just down the road from our house, where several extended family members had been buried. Sadly, some were buried in unmarked graves, so we only had an approximate location. But we have now visited and that’s all good.

    We then drove to a celebratory lunch at the Tudor Arms in nearby Slimbridge. The food and company were great. Thanks, Colin, much appreciated.

    We went for a quick walk to see the nearby canal, which had real longboats and a road bridge that swung away from it while we were there.

    We said our goodbyes and left, although we will bother Colin and Stephanie again in a few days.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024

    A tale of two towns

    September 5, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Today, Christine was spending some time with Susan discussing more of their family history. Tricia and I decided to drive to the market town of Tetbury, which is about 20 minutes away. It’s a picturesque place with some expensive shops. One of these is Highgrove, which is run by Prince Charles Trust (you may remember him - he was promoted recently),

    We found a car park, paid the required fee, and walked. We looked in a couple of Op shops (they have a higher grade of tat here). Tricia got a couple of things, but the King and I have different sizes, so I missed out. We turned the corner, and I started looking for Highgrove and found myself standing in the doorway. There was lots of lovely, high-quality stuff in there. We bought a tea bag tray thingy, all we could afford.

    Starting back to the car, we noticed the local church. It stood out because it looked more like a Cathedral. We walked around it and went in. It was a very fine building apparently restored back to its original state, removing many of the overzealous Victorian restorations seen in other churches and Cathedrals.

    So that was Tetbury. We then returned to Dursley and went shopping there. Not so quaint. A lot of the town was modernised in the 1960s, and sadly, that era is not known for outstanding architecture. We found the supermarket and purchased some comestibles for a late lunch.

    After Lunch, we walked around the local area, looking at Cam Mills, still in operation, where Grandma worked briefly. Then we walked down to Rowley (a street) and looked at houses similar to the one their grandad lived in—his house is no longer there. We also spotted ‘The Railway’ Pub, still open.

    Back home, Tesco, for some food for dinner.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    It doesn't say Kezia's Shop over the Double Doors, but I'm sure it did once.
    3 of Kezia's descendantsThis may have been the house.Sue, Tricia and Christine looking drier.

    Wandering over to Wotton

    September 5, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    It was a wee bit cooler and rainy today. Sue had kindly offered to drive us over to Wotton-under-edge to investigate the location of a GG grandmother with the lovely first name Kezia (Tricia likes it a lot). She and her husband, and later just her, ran a second-hand business here, and we are all pretty sure we know where it was. So we drove over to Wotton-under-edge (locals say either ‘Wooton’ or ‘Wootonundridge’). We parked the car and dragged a bunch of umbrellas into town. Sue knew precisely where to go as it was opposite the local Library where she had worked. That street has a boring name now, but it was originally 'The Steep". We took some photos and looked for the possible house they had lived in, then decamped back to a cafe to have a drink, reminisce some more and dry off.

    Back home by lunchtime - thanks, Sue.

    I missed out on looking for the McMurtry car outfit based outside of Wotton, but I don’t think I am in their target $1M market for car buyers. Still, I can say I was there…

    Later in the afternoon, we went up the road to see cousin Bruce, who still lives in the house that was originally their grandad’s last home. We went out for coffee and had a good chinwag.

    Back for an early evening to play with the washing machine and dishwasher before we leave here tomorrow.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    That Welsh Dragon
    Renovated mill buildingThe river on the other side from the millC & S' home is on the right1Three ladies walkingWelsh roadside snacks.C & S's house with our car posing again.

    South Wales - a Precis

    September 7, 2024 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We packed up and left Cam at 10 AM. Today was a little cooler and a bit wetter, but it was just a variation of the misty grey weather we seem to be getting at the moment. This trip was mostly motorway (M5, then M4 from memory). We crossed the new Severn Suspension Bridge with the towers looming out of the mist. Probably spectacular on a clear day. The weather deteriorated to steady rain as we drove past Cardiff and Swansea. We heard later that there had been flooding in that area.

    We got to Colin and Stephanie’s by early afternoon. There, we had some bad news. Colin had been rushed to hospital by ambulance shortly before we arrived with a heart attack. Stephanie left to go in, and we made ourselves comfortable. Stepanie arrived back later that evening. Colin was being moved to a ward from A&E.

    The following morning, after a great breakfast (we are still doing those) we went for a nice walk in the neighbouring lanes. Visiting time at the hospital was 2 PM, and we went in to see Colin. Glad to see him propped up in bed and awake. He is being assessed on Monday - we will keep in touch.

    Get well soon Colin, and thanks to Stephanie and Caroline for looking after us when we shouldn’t have been a priority.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Leaving in the murk (Llandysul)
    Our new abode in Deganwy the next day when the murk had partially lifted

    Moving Day - South to North in the Murk

    September 8, 2024 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    After another great breakfast, we set off just before lunch for the next destination. We are staying in Deganwy, next to Llandudno and over the river from Conwy. The trip was very slow, partly because of the 20 MPH limits in various towns and villages but mainly because of the rubbish weather. Just after leaving Llandysul, we drove into thick fog, which lasted for a slow 25km. We eventually descended below the cloud to an incredible coastal drive that looked like it would be fantastic on a fine day. Today, however, it took us a while to spot the sea between mist and drizzle.

    We stopped at Aberystwyth for a quick recharge, as recharging opportunities in North Wales are not great. We also raided the nearby Morrisons for supplies for dinner tonight, as we are now self-catering.

    We then continued in the same rain/mist/drizzle combination. We took a wrong turn at an intersection that Google didn't tell us about, adding 15 minutes to our trip, when we finally found a place to turn around. The multiple roundabouts as we neared Llandudno were also stressful. The house was easy to find and we squeezed into the car park. Job done!    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Car, Car Park, CASTLE
    We made it up to the top of the tower on the far leftOne internal room - with moss.Nice view from that towerTwo tourists up the towerA history of the Princes of WalesA view from the far end...more shopping.

    Off to Caernarfon to see a Castle

    September 9, 2024 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today looked like a good day weather-wise to do something outside. We could have gone to the beach, but we decided to drive to Caernarfon to see the big castle there instead.

    It takes about 40 minutes to get there, and the drive is mostly easy motorway stuff. We found the car park, and as it was just outside the castle, we also found that.

    The castle is magnificent and pretty large. Edward the First knew what he was doing when he built it, and others here in Wales. It's still here and still an imposing structure. The photos may give some impressions of the size and grandeur.

    We spent quite a while walking in and around the castle. Then we walked around the pretty town of Caernarfon.

    Our trip back was a bit more stressful. We wanted to recharge the car, and we confirmed my previous investigations that this part of the country is poorly served. We eventually located a suitable charger, but my 'special' app and the provider weren't working well together. Eventually, I signed up to the provider's website (their app was no good because it wouldn't load on my 'New Zealand' smartphone). Once I did that, it all worked as it should. The air was blue for a while, though.

    We then had a good trip back. It was well worth the effort.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Llandudno Mostyn Street with Cabbage Tree roundabout
    Back in the other directionWalking to the supermarket - Conwy Castle looms out of the murk. Another Castle by Ed I.

    Shopping in and around Llandudno

    September 10, 2024 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Today promised some showers, so we hit the town and drove into Llandudno. We located a car park in a parking building in the Victoria Centre, which turned out to be a flash Victorian-style shopping centre. By the time we had done that and ventured outside, the weather had worsened to light rain, but we walked on looking at a few more shops. Then we took a break in a cafe. The showers continued, but we did some more walking.

    Tricia stumbled upon a Pandora shop, so we continued her tradition of buying a charm that reflected the area on her bracelet. We eventually made it back to the car - picking up a vegan version of bara brith ( a Welsh fruit loaf).

    We then set off to buy Tricia another present (mine too). I had looked at prices for a new Chromebook to replace Tricia's older model, which has been acting up recently. The up-market ones are not available in NZ, but the big electronics chain here (Currys) was advertising the latest Chromebook Plus models with some good deals. We located the shop and found a salesperson (who actually had some knowledge) and ended up with a Lenovo Flex 5 (Intel I3, 8GB memory, 256 GB SSD) with a good quality touchscreen display. The higher end for a Chromebook. I got it back to the house and had it all up and running very quickly. Great system. The only downside is that it runs a UK keyboard, which is handy if I need to key in UK currency.

    To finish the shopping, we took a late afternoon walk to the nearest (1.5km) supermarket (Lidl) and bought more food.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    The tallest doorway in the house, I didn't have to duck.
    LunchtimeThe house from the walled gardenThe Pantry - this must be an Elizabethan fridgeThe lady of the house slept here (and RW given the number of kids they had)The main HallThe first Elizabeth's initials - not sure who those other ladies are.This room shows wealth because of the numbers of glass windows.Beautiful workmanship in the atticConwy Castle as seen from the Attic window. That was old when this house was built.

    More History - An Elizabethan Town House

    September 11, 2024 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    There was a really ugly weather forecast, so we decided to do something indoors. We decided to visit Plas Mawr in nearby Conwy, a town house built in the 1570s by Robert Wynn, who had a few bob and wanted to show it off to the locals. It worked because it is still amazing a lot of people.

    It looked just like you would expect and has been restored back to the Elizabethan era. We spent a good couple of hours wandering around.

    |When we left it was showery again so we did more shopping on the way home. I bought myself a sleeveless jerkin in a small shop (£20). (I knew this UK keyboard would come in handy).

    We had a late lunch and blobbed out for the rest of the day.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Well worth a visit if you are in the area...
    On the way in it was wet......and now the sun was shining. Sad to say goodbye.

    Meeting new cousins for the first time

    September 12, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Thursday dawned very grey (again), but that was OK as we had pre-arranged a visit to see Ann and Rod. Ann is a distant (second???) cousin of Christine and Tricia. Ann had contacted us three years ago based on Ancestry DNA that the girl's mum had done earlier. Both Christine and I (to a lesser extent) corresponded with Ann via email. Mostly discussing Family history that Ann has researched for many years. So part of this trip was to actually meet up in person.
    We fired up the car and set off to Wellington, Shropshire (near Telford). We stopped on the way at Flint Mountain (aka Mynydd-y-Fflint) where there were 8 Tesla Superchargers and filled up the MG. The 2+ hour drive was relatively simple but wet, but we got to Wellington without incident at 11:30 and had a coffee and a catch-up. Ann and Rod had booked us into a nearby pub/restaurant for lunch at the beautifully named “The Huntsman of Little Wenlock”. We had a great, long lunch (thanks, Rod) and left at about 3:30 for the trip back - luckily, now in the sunshine.

    On the way back, we topped up again at Flint Mountain and got back for a cheese sandwich and cuppa. It was a long day, but it was a great drive through some beautiful countryside and a great lunch with two lovely people.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    At the entrance
    This photo needs straightening..One of many paths - I'm sure we missed a few.It takes a lot of work to build these wildflower gardensAmazing pyramid shapes.I'm pretty sure this isn't the natural shape.Stone bridge with fernsFalling waterSome formalityDon't ask me what they are. But I liked them.

    Visiting Anglesey and Plas Cadnant

    September 13, 2024 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    The weather is on the up, so we decided to visit the Hidden Gardens at Plas Cadnant. This is on the island of Anglesey, so we get two trips in one. The drive was largely a reprise of our journey to Caernarfon except for a quick right after Bangor and a trip over the old Menai Bridge. We found the entrance to Plas Cadnant and made our way up the long drive to the car park, which had obviously been a sheep paddock very recently (mind your step).

    We paid the entrance fee and wandered around for a couple of happy hours. The gardens are slowly being rescued and restored from many years of neglect. They are amazing.

    The pictures describe it much better than I can.

    We returned - via the new bridge this time - I think that Google is just showing us some things we hadn't seen before.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Now that's a castle...
    On the way to Conwy800 years later and it is still magnificentNot sure that there was much to see inside.Reliving their childhoodThe three stooges on the pier.The Grand Hotel - apparently not quite so grand these days.Rock 'n Roll, and Punch 'n JudyThe Pavillion at the end of the pierThe Castle View - Deganwy

    Beside the seaside, Beside the sea.

    September 14, 2024 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Subtitled: Walking 18,000 steps in one day is not natural.

    Another fine day and our last full day here, so we went for three walks.

    1. After breakfast, we walked to Conwy, the other side of the Conwy River from where we are staying. From a previous drive, we knew there was a great view of the Castle from the bridge, and we wanted to see 'the smallest house in Great Britain'. We weren't disappointed - Conwy Castle makes quite a statement in the landscape, which I guess was precisely what Edward I intended 800 years ago. And, the smallest house was so small we decided not to bother going in.

    It was a great walk, and back in time for lunch.

    2. After lunch, we drove back to Llandudno to visit the famous pier. We found a crowded car park with one small space. The pier was only a 10-minute walk away, and it didn't disappoint either. I was told that it was like these things were many years ago when the ladies were children and visited places like Bournemouth. It is very long and crowded with many visitors and lots of places selling questionable comestibles and various tat—a great experience anyway.

    Then, we walked the length of Llandudno in a fruitless expedition to locate some special chocolates (ask Christine). Back home by 4.

    3. The third walk was to the local pub, 'The Castle View' (still a 25-minute walk away. We went there to have a pub dinner to celebrate our last evening. That, too, was great. Good food, and if you are ever in the vicinity, the Conwy Brewery does a mean brown ale.

    We trudged back home, and Tricia's Pixel watch told us that we had walked 18,000 steps today. Maybe that's why I have sore feet.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Stock Photo from booking website, but it did look like this - even to the van in the window

    Our Trip oop North

    September 15, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Our new tradition is to undertake long trips in crappy weather. Today was our moving day, leaving Conwy and travelling to Harrogate in North Yorkshire. The day started out grey, but it started to rain as we loaded the car and drove off. It didn’t stop until we arrived at our destination about 4+ hours later. We also assumed that driving on a rainy Sunday would reduce the traffic volumes - but we were very wrong. Everybody in the UK was out on the roads. Even our favourite Tesla Supercharger location was busy, with 6 out of 8 stalls occupied when we arrived. However, they still worked and filled the car quickly, and we drove off back into the murk.

    This was a busy route as we drove just south of Liverpool, then snaked up just west of Manchester. Then, we ended up driving through the middle of Leeds. You wouldn’t believe how many roundabouts were inserted into our route - each one a chance to go the wrong way. I think we only did that twice, which shows that my UK driving skills must be improving.

    We also committed the unforgivable sin of using a Motorway services. But needs must—I needed a break. I bought an overpriced sandwich and juice from Starbucks and used the facilities without catching any incurable diseases.

    We arrived earlier than our check-in time, so we cheekily used the car park and walked around to the nearby Asda supermarket - a massive one and just a 5-minute walk. The Supermarkets here have the quaint habit of closing at 4 PM on a Sunday, so getting here early was part of our cunning plan.

    Back to our small but very cool apartment and our newly purchased ready meals. Job done.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Starting our walk into town
    The elusive front entrance to the Victoria...Queuing at Betty's1Whoops, we ate the Custard Slices already1A beautifully rebuilt MGB - gorgeous1An actual pub... my new local.

    Blob out, Shopping and Betty's

    September 16, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We decided to have a quieter day. A trip to the shopping centre in the morning, and an afternoon tea at the iconic Bettys Tearooms. The weather was lovely, clear skies and 18C.

    The walk into town was surprisingly quick - less than 15 minutes. We checked out a few interesting shops and then located the Victoria Shopping Centre (yep, there’s one here too). We visited this six years ago on a day trip to Harrogate. It still looked the same - including the TK Maxx store at the top of the building, full of remaindered designer gear. I got myself a light sweater, an overshirt (like a light jacket) and some Pierre Cardin socks. I was happy - the ladies didn’t find anything and we then went to Primark (sublime to the ridiculous if you ask me, but nobody did), where the ladies did buy stuff.

    We walked back for lunch after I found a butcher's selling pork pies. We then set off again to find Betty's Tearooms. We had to queue to get in. We had a cuppa, each with our own teapot, etc. Tricia consumed a vegan Sultana Scone, while Christine and I had a proper Vanilla Custard Slice. It’s very quaint and charming (and not cheap).

    On our way back, we stopped at a Marks and Spencer's Food place and picked up some salads for tea. After tea, I wandered up the road to the strangely named 'Devonshire Tap House' for a hand-pulled pint of Timothy Taylor Boltmaker. Nice.

    A grand day out.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    The iconic viaduct over the Nidd
    1Lots of picturesque places hereTaking the steps down to the Riverside WalkPart of the riverside walk...looking the other wayPart of the ruined castleThat viaduct againWWI monument with very polished brass nameplatesEven the station was cuteOh yes.....

    Train Trip to Knaresborough

    September 17, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    The weather looked great, and we decided that today was the day to make a quiet trip to the nearby town of Knaresborough. This is one of those pretty places that dot England and is often seen in various publications. The original plan was to drive. However, the train station is just a 10-minute walk from our place, there are cheaper off-peak fares, and the journey is just nine minutes - with no parking costs or issues.

    We figured out the station and ticketing and waited for the next train. The trip was short and we exited onto Knaresborough station. We walked around for a good hour, looking and checking more shops. We decided to buy food from a neat bakery that even did a vegan sausage roll, which looked nice but not as nice as the pasties. We then descended down to the River Nidd and walked a short distance along the riverside walk. Taking some obligatory photos of the famous railway viaduct.

    We then climbed up to a small park and sat in the sun to finish lunch. Apparently, the best view of the river and viaduct was from the ruined Knaresborough Castle so we decided to walk to that. We could see it from the park bench we sat on, but it took us a few minutes to actually locate it. The views were stunning, and the castle was so ruined that English Heritage didn’t have the nerve to charge entry fees. We then went back to the station and took the next train back to Harrogate.

    Tonight's dinner was Fish and Chips. We walked back to the town centre and went to Bradley’s Fish Restaurant. The Fish and Chips were fantastic and very large, and the cask Black Sheep Ale also went down a treat. Back home to sleep it off.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Shorthorns in the fields
    Marching inSome kind of sheepShire Horse Foal3 Donkeys and a foal. Is that a Gallagher Electric Fence?The reindeer enclosure is a bit taller than the others.Hairy Coo, rare sheep, and a Shorthorn back endLotsa goats and others.Farmer Daryl with mic.

    Us off t’farm

    September 18, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Ey-up, today was Tricia’s day for us to visit Cannon Hall Farm, which she follows on Facebook. The Farm is a working farm that is open to the public and has many attractions for visitors. Those attractions really work—it was busy, and the car parks were full. They restrict entry numbers, and you have to buy tickets ahead of time.

    It was an hour's drive, plus a recharge at a Tesla station on the outskirts of Harrogate (curiously named Crimple Hall). We successfully navigated our way, using a Leeds bypass with some scary roundabouts, the M1 (which runs slowly because of traffic volume), and a few narrow country lanes.

    The farm was well-organised, although it took us a few minutes to figure out exactly where to go. We trotted off and had a look at some rare-breed sheep, Shire Horses with foals, then moved to an encloser with Prairie Dogs (I have no idea why), a Red Squirrel enclosure (they are rare in Britain now), and a small mammal house with various exotic small mammals (rats, mice, armadillos, sugar gliders, and more). Then we wandered of to the barns where there were Hairy Coos (aka Highland Cattle), Shorthorn cattle, donkeys, goats and sheep.. We had a break from all of this excitement and then went back for a talk by ‘Farmer’ Daryl on some of the origins of the farm, their pedigree Hairy Coos and Shorthorn cattle, the pedigree herd of Shire horses, and the Reindeer(!!!). Daryl was very entertaining.

    After a good look around the farm shop (big enough for three checkout lines) and the gift shop, we wandered back to the car. Aunty Google took us back a different way (she knows best). This still involved narrow lanes and slow motorways, but it was a lovely day, and the countryside here is beautiful.

    Another quick jog to the supermarket for more supplies, including a Hobgoblin Ruby beer purely for medicinal purposes.    Read more

  • John GibsoneTravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Betty's building and the start of the Montpelier area
    Lots of elegant buildings hereTrees in the MontpelierThis was part of a very long GazeboArt, flowers, trees and gras. What more do you need.The building in the background isn't in the park - but it looks nicePart of the New Zealand GardenMaori-inspired sculpture and the bench donated by Wellington CityI think we're turning JapaneseTwo ladies on a bridge - my arty shot for the week.

    Posh Quarters and a Garden

    September 19, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We decided to stay closer to home today. The weather looked great again, so we decided to take a leisurely stroll across town to the Valley Gardens. The ladies packed our normal picnic of dry cheese sandwiches and a packet of crisps. This was a good counterpoint to the excellent dining out experiences and preparation for a good meal in the evening.

    We walked our usual route into town and walked on to the Montpelier Quarter which was new to us. This district is a posh area of fancy stores and cafes (Betty’s is on the edge), and lots of green space. It looked gorgeous in the morning light. Once we were through this are we entered the Valley Gardens. This park has many trees, grass, flowers and shrubs. Many park benches, with quite a few in use. We occupied one in the sun and enjoyed our sumptuous comestibles (well, the crips were nice). After people-watching for a while, we made our way to the far end of the gardens to find the advertised New Zealand Garden. This was a large corner with NZ plants and some sculptures. It was initially opened in the 1950s to commemorate some Kiwi aircrew buried in the area. They even had a wooden bench with ‘Absolutely Positively Wellington’ engraved on the back. Wellington is a sister city with Harrogate. We all felt a little twinge of homesickness.

    We walked back via a Japanese Garden. After leaving the gardens, we returned via some streets we hadn’t seen before, raiding yet another op shop. We also detoured to Primark and a hat shop, where we purchased two flat caps (one for me and one for Mike). Back home for a sit down.

    At 5, we went back into town to the Sukhothai Restaurant for a Thai meal. The surroundings, meal, and service were excellent, but the 10% service charge that was added to the bill somewhat dampened the experience. That ‘feature’ is creeping into places here.

    Another great day in Yorkshire.    Read more

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