Sunday 27th
November to Sunday 4th December 2016
As planned we did move off on Tuesday, but only just a mile where we have
moored the boat up.
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| She looks mighty fine there with all of her friends - the weather was even fine when we were leaving |
We had a lovely meal with Stella and Dave at Barby Sporting Club that
night – we have been before and for a place that is a bit out of the way, the
food that they serve is really quite good – that is not just the opinion of
Diane and I, but Stella also and she is a chef who really does cook well.
Tuesday night was a wee bit on the cold side (no, that’s not quite right
– it was bloody cold) – getting down to -6C which was low enough to freeze the
canal and lo and behold we had a tough time moving the boat to where we had to
go.
Eventually that was all sorted and we moored it up all safe and sound –
had to be really, because we were about to catch a taxi, which we did to Rugby
Station and then the train to Birmingham to spend the night – The Premier Inn
as usual – with a great nights sleep.
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| A lovely night sky and the German markets - all in Birmingham |
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| This does not count as a true Santa photo my lovely - it is not a real Santa |
The following day which was now Thursday, we made our way to Birmingham
International for a 13:30 flight – heading via Dubai
to Melbourne
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| The train was a bit full so we were out in the vestibule with the cases |
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| Diane couldn't help herself - on the flight they were showing the movie Jason Bourne - so naturally she had to pause it and get a shot with Ferndale in it. |
Our lovely daughter, Sam, picked us up – lost a bit of her beauty sleep
in the process, and we all managed to finally get to bed about 2 am – some of
this time was simply spent talking once we did get home, but that is where we
now are and will be for few weeks to come.
I managed to get a decent sleep, but Diane could not and she was still a
bit tired on Saturday and succumbed to an afternoon nap.
We did, however, manage to get a few things done that we had needed to
get done here.
The purpose of the trip is primarily to see Diane’s mum and dad for an
“on-site” assessment of their health and well-being, as well as celebrating her
mum’s 80th birthday (although she thinks that she is only 39) and
also a service to celebrate the renewal of their marriage vows – now is your
time Dad to ……. – but if you do it may be a funeral we are attending!!
Diane will fly up to Queensland
Upon our arrival, which was in the middle of the night, the temperature
was a mild 13C, but Saturday warmed up to about 20-21C and Sunday has been a
bit warmer in the high 20’s (but a bit humid).
It has been great to see Sam again, although we had only just seen her in
London
The cafes are just great and after catching up with our neighbours –
Frank and Helen – we did venture down to Puckle Street and had a late brunch –
it simply is wonderful along here where dozens of cafes and eating places are
vying for your business and it really is true of most places in Melbourne – If
you are not up to the standard required by the public, then you will not survived
– and the public is pretty demanding of high standards.
Anyway, we enjoyed it very much and will be trying out a few more soon.
This will, in some ways, be the preview for our return back to here for
good – for the time being we are simply soaking it all up and enjoying a
change.
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| Now this is a real Santa photo - the 2016 version; just waiting for the one from LA with Mitch and Sara |
1 Mile
YTD: 837 Miles (1347
km) , 452 Locks, 12 Tunnels, 21 Lift Bridges , 5 Swing Bridges
Total: 4632 Miles (7454 km),
3151 Locks, 124 Tunnels, 66 Lift Bridges , 172 Swing Bridges
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