France

Oh dear, I'm a terrible blogger :-(
So far we've been to Brussels and Bayeux, and now we're in the south of France for a whirlwind tour before heading to Paris.  One of the things I've learnt is don't book a train journey that transits through Paris with only an hour to change stations. We made the train with minutes to spare!

Last day in the UK

I haven't  had much internet since i left Glasgow. Hoping I get more at our hotels. Leaving for London to get the Euro star to Brussels soon. All my time in London will have been spent in train stations and at Heathrow

Last full day in Scotland

This holiday is already going way too quickly! We have walked so much, my feet are blistered. I am hoping that spending tomorrow travelling will help them feel much better. I need new feet!

So, some of the highlights of the week?

Dear old Glasgow Town!

Finally arrived in Glasgow around midday Saturday! Having great time hanging out with Mel and seeing the sights of Glasgow. Today we went to the Huntarian Museum at the university, and then to the Huntarian art gallery, finishing with a tour of Mackintosh House, a reproduction of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's home. I love the style of his work! Lunch was afternoon tea at the willow tea rooms, yummy tea and food. The tea rooms are a reproduction of rooms designed by Mackintosh. On the way home Mel introduced me to the joys of Primark!

Tomorrow we are off to Perth and Scone Palace!

London town

Finally made it to London, but of course it was too late to get to Glasgow. So another night in an airport hotel, and a morning wandering around Heathrow. They didn't tell me I had access to the lounge! When I found out (after asking about my gate) I went up and had a cuppa. I'm a bit slow, just realised I'm flying Business  B-) that's like flying business to Sydney or Melbourne but I'll take it!

I found Elderberry & Blackberry Pimm's in the duty free store, and had a £5 voucher from the rewards club so got it for £9.99!

Boarding! Finally on my wait to see my Coz!

All packed up and nowhere to go

Finally managing to check in here! If you're on Facebook, you'll know my trip got off to a rocky start. I made it to Sydney with no drama, the bus trip was delightfully boring. However, when i reached the front of the checkin queue we were advised that there was a fault with the plane and we were going to be delayed overnight. Really not something you want to hear when you are gearing up for a 24 hour flight! When things go wrong with planes, parts are needed, and in this case the nearest part was in Hong Kong and wouldn't arrive until early Friday morning.  

So they booked anyone who wasn't local into a hotel and told us we would likely leave at 10.30 am. Rydges at the airport is very comfy at least, and Sydney Airport is quite pretty at night. I decided to catch a train into the city and wandered around, finding not one but TWO Haigh's stores, and a Strandbags where I got myself a rolling carry on sized duffel bag. My backpack was just not going to do the job. At this point I got an SMS saying our departure would be 22.30 that night, but that was retracted a few minutes later. It had been brought forward to 8.30 though, which was a slight improvement.  

Back to the hotel for a shower and dinner, and trying to get some sleep. The new departure time meant check in opened at 5.30, so  I had to be up early. Finally it looked like we were on our way!

Everything went smoothly today, and as I write this we are getting close to moving away from Aussie shores and going out over the ocean! Sadly I have an aisle seat, and in the middle row at that, so no view. At least we have in seat USB power, so no danger of running out of juice!   By the time i get to post this, we will be in Singapore. I won't know when I will arrive in Glasgow until we land in London, unfortunately. As soon as possible I hope!

A girl's gotta have shoes!

Even I need choices sometimes!

So I suck at photo a day...

But I'm  going to Europe soon, and I will try and update here. Even if it's not every single day! I'll sure be taking enough photos!

Tuesday is Schnitzel Day!

CHOCOLATE!!!

Thorntons dark chocolate with wild blueberry & raspberry! All the way from Scotland. Thanks Coz, it's so nommy!

Here Kitty Kitty...

best kind of kitty, doesn't need feeding and always loves me!

MooGoo!

Lined up in the shower

Block of Chocolate

Hiding in the fridge!

Old Parliament House

With the Lightning Rod (AKA "New" Parliament House) behind

Hexamagons!

Brand new giant Hexagaonal awesomeness! Other goodies hiding beneath :)

JGB

Beautiful old building!

Red Eye

I drink way too much of this stuff at the moment

Little Thorin

Off to claim his heritage

Rain!

After a stinking hot day (it probably hit 40 degrees!), a thunderstorm that actually brought rain with it was a welcome relief!

Christmas Beetle in early morning sunlight

I walked up our hill this morning, and whilst sitting enjoying the early morning quiet, a Christmas Beetle flew down to my feet.

Pretty summer thongs

Loving my red thongs in this weather!

Taking a stroll

 John Curtin and Ben Chifley take a stroll to Parliament House.

Click on the photo to make it easier to read :)

Jackie v Christmas Beetle

Hopefully 3rd time lucky with this photo venture, Happy New Year, my friends! (If anyone's still following along here...)

Oops

I'll be needing this tonight. Sun was ouchies

Flying Ford Anglia

It seems the Hogwart's Express isn't the only train Ron and Harry checked out on their way to school

Feel the Serenity

Bondi Beach at daybreak, as seen from the apartment we stayed in.

A tradition

Must post a photo of a pavlova whenever I make one! Plus, it's Australia Day!

Mmm... macarons!

Wee morsels of meringue goodness!

And the other side

Oh, who could ever be tired of living in Bath? Northanger Abbey

Dear Jane

A gift from the Jane Austen Center in Bath!

Time to read

Cute little tin

Keep Calm and Carry On

iPod style...

What is wrong with this picture???

Burger time

Steak, bacon and zucchini cooked into awesomeness on the BBQ and then put together with lettuce, tomato, cheese and BBQ sauce. Great dinner!

Cookie time

Scarf

reversible cable scarf - that is what the purple wool deided it wants to be when it grows up. So far so good!

Happy Birthday Kat!

Poffertjes

Need inspiration...

This gorgeous purple wool is saying it wants to be knit up, but what to make?

Morning coffee

Watching TV shows...

Tuesday, all day!

Even for the part where I was convinced it was Wednesday...

Me and technology...

Not good friends...

New space

Out with the desktop, in with the laptop! Loving the big monitor on my lappy!

Betty

Let the sanding of the Beetle begin!

Snuggly

Jackie's favourite spot - on my quilts on the back of the couch!

Foggy

Great place to hang out at lunchtime on a hot summer's day

Time to say goodbye

See you next Christmas, pretty Baubles

Tea Time!

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

With the temperature still in the 20s at 10pm, I am glad of my fan tonight!