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Champagne

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In the sitting room at Pol Roger
Hubert showing Steve the production records

We spent our first night in the Champagne area in Epernay. It’s a small town with an Ave of famous Champagne Houses – Caves. Accommodation was hard to get and I had tried to get two nights at a charming B&B in nearby Hautvillers. But sadly they could only give us 1 night so we stayed at the the,  not so,  Best Western. Luckily we only arrived there at 8.30 off the flight from Sardinia. We went straight out for dinner to Le Banc. It was very good. Lovely old building , an old bank with wonderful wood work. 
After dinner we walked the Ave de Champagne and marveled at the size and grandeur of the Champagne Houses and thought how lucky we were to have access to Pol Roger. We decided not to go to other houses as we would have such a good private tour. We decided just to sample bubbles  in the restaurants at every opportunity. 
Fell into bed and slept badly in the dipping into the middle bed. I also had to remove the doona from its cover. The Europeans don’t use a top sheet and I find it SO hot under the doona. It’s supposed to be summer! It’s not though…….. with the weather a little overcast. 
We set off the next day on the flower route to see small villages of note. Went to Chalons-en-Chapagne,  a delightful small village. On from there we ended up at Verdan as Steve wanted to see the memorials and sites related to the war. We enjoyed lunch by the river- a rather nice baguette and for me the non driver a glass of rosé
We arrived in our village,  Hautvillers,  to stay in a lovely B&B hosted by Cecile. It was very welcoming with a lovely large room overlooking the vines towards Epernay. Sadly the very good restaurant in the village was not open Sunday for dinner so Cecile booked us a taxi to take us to bistrot  7 in Epernay, a bistrot  with a big reputation. It was really good and we shared a champagne and a lovely red with veal with capers, preserved tomatoes and lemons for Steve and Duck with cherries for me. Delicious. Steve followed with cheese and I had local strawberries. 
The next morning we had a light breakfast before heading into Epernay for our visit to the house of Pol Roger. Hubert de Billy a direct descendant of Pol Roger met us and took us in a very personalized way on a tour of the cave. He was so interesting and funny – not a stuffy rich French man! We finished with a bottle of 2004 Vintage. I learned a lot about the production of Champagne and a few little stories as well!  As the French say….. Magnifique. 

Epernay to Noyers

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Following our visit to Pol we headed along the Champagne trail towards Chateau Thierry, enjoying a really lovely salad for lunch at a very small village along the way. It rained, on and off as we wound our way along country roads towards Noyers.

Noyers is a very old village with ramparts and arched gates opening into a really lovely small village. W found the office to book outer room and made our way through the rain to the old castle where we are staying.  Our room is big with windows looking out to the courtyard below and the bathroom has glorious views across the surrounding river and pastures. 
We rested up then made our way to the local bar for a drink before dinner. No champagne here. It’s Chablis territory as Chablis is about 20 km away. We booked at a lovely little restaurant run by a charming young couple who had their little baby in a high chair by the kitchen door, Laurent the host and his wife in the kitchen keeping an eye on her until it was bedtime. The food was delicious. They do 2 plates of the day both entree and main plate. I had smoked salmon and Steve had terrine then I had veal and he had beef. We met the man at the next table and he turned out to be from Bondi and was staying in the same little castle as us. In fact almost next door! A most interesting man. An ex lawyer,  who has written a book on wellness and started a business based on the idea. It must be lucrative as he is in Noyers looking at a property to buy. Very talkative nice guy. 
Walked aback to our  room by 10.30 and slept well in the bed with double sheets – no doona!    

Ciao and Bonjour

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Well we finished the swim trek and had a wonderful time. Steve was amazing the way he swam 14 km so soon after his knee replacement. I did a few swims but not as much as last year,  as the big swim was the focus. Our group was great, headed up by Francesco the guide, Yves ( from Vanuatu) and Vittoria from Milan. The group was Chris Masek  from London, his brother Ben from LA with a friend Dan also from LA, another Chris from London ( the ” not so straight Chris” )  and Phoebe, who went to kindy with Pete and we have always kept in touch with. She was there for girl company for me , but ended up swimming with the boys! We had many laughs. 
Jill,  I’ll  look forward to swimming with you, as I was a little group all on my own! Phoebe our young friend  from London got straight back into her school days swimming and went with the big boys! She didn’t do all the crossing but did around 8 km in total getting out then back in the water. Amazing effort for her with not too much training.  
So I was lonely! Steve swam with me one day when we did an small channel crossing from one island to another! That day I did 3 km. but it will be so good to have company. 
Yves the guide was such a nice guy – he has swum the English Channel and works for Swim Trek. He said we’ll love Greece in Sept. 
Chris, the birthday boy who organized the whole trip was so generous to us all. He paid the total hotel bill! Then when he heard we were going off to the Champagne area immediately got on the phone and organized a private tour of Pol Roger, which is impossible to do unless you know someone! Turns out Chris grew up in the area and knows the owner very well. So 10am Monday the owner is taking us on a private tour and tasting! Lucky us! 
As I’m writing this we are driving from Orly airport having flown in from Sardinia this afternoon. As usual you can’t depend on the weather and though its fine, it’s quite cool. So I wish I had my jeans. We will arrive in Epernay around 8 pm in time to change and have a glass of champagne and dinner. 
We had a memorable last night in La Maddalena with Francesco and Yves – everyone else had left the afternoon before. Had drinks and watched the soccer , then had dinner and then back to watch soccer at the bar. Very italian crowd and atmosphere. 

Day 1 Sardinia

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We assembled for breakfast in the glitzy dining room and were a little disappointed to see the wind blowing so wildly.

The TEAM meeting was after breakfast and we got away to meet Marco in the marina all dressed in out matching gear.

I forgot to mention our team gifts which make up out team uniforms. Francesco had two T Shirts made for us – day and evening wear! All printed up with a great logo and our names on the back. Then Ben (Chris’ brother from the USA ) handed out theft shirts he had made. Not to be outdone Steve produced the shorts in a wild red and yellow print that had been so popular last year.
So off we went all dressed matchy matchy!

We drove for about half an hour through the wind, north of the township of La Maddalena. Finally found a beautiful bay where we could start our swim. Just like last year I went in the rubber ducky with Francesco and he dropped me half way along the swim so I would have about a 2 km swim and the others a 3 and a half swim. Off I went On my OWN! No pals to swim with as Phoebe decided to swim with the boys! What a goer she is.

At the end of the first swim I was dropped off and a taxi was waiting to take me to La Maddalena to meet Berti, Fabio and their little girls Cleo and Demi. We had a lovely lunch together and happened to meet Chris from London walking along with his suitcase.

After lunch we went for a drive around the island, something I didn’t get to do last year. It has the most spectacular views.

Back to the hotel we took the girls for a little swim in the hotel pool while waited for Steve to return. So much fun seeing them and the little girls are just gorgeous.

An hours rest then of to a little beach restaurant for dinner. Lots of laughs later we fell into bed at about 11.30. Phoebe was suffering a little with sunburn and had swallowed so much water in the
afternoon swim that she coughed and was just a little worried about dry drowning. Francesco is
keeping an eye in her. Not sure she paced herself for the first day. Fear she will suffer tomorrow.

Another big sleep in our very comfortable hotel room.

Hi from Sardinia

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Ciao miei amici

Our return to Sardinia has been everything we hoped for and more!

We arrived soooooo tired after nearly 38 travel time with layovers in HK and Paris.
So getting to the Hotel Grand MaMa was exciting. We met Phoebe ( our young friend from when she was at Kindy with Pete) who had traveled from London with Chris and Yves and was well rested compared to us.
We had a big freshen up and headed to the hotel bar for my first Aperol Spritz. Oh they do taste different in Italy.

Dinner was in the hotel dining room a rather swish room with lots of sparkly lights. ( Not always in good taste but so very Italian!) We had lots of catch up with Francesco our guide from last year, Chris our very generous host and chief organizer for this year, Chris’ brother Ben who arrived from
the US with his friend Dan ( a very funny guy who makes sets and toys in the US). Also Phoebe, Francesco the guide, Vittoria the assistant guide and Yves who is a swim trek guide and will swim the channel with them. He is the most experienced one, as he has swum the English Channel!

It’s going to be a blast! The laughs are coming quick and fast and “not so straight Chris” has not arrived from London yet.

Off to bed for a well deserved rest!

Sardinia 2014

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Well it’s happening. We’re going back. Sardinia here we come.

After booking, considering cancelling, changing dates, discussing, replanning – its back on. This time two weeks.

The trip is the mastermind of Chris Masek – form London. He is celebrating his 50th this year and part of his celebration is to swim Corsica to Sardinia.  He asked us along last year. and Steve is more than keen to do it. Despite the setbacks we are off. His new knee is behaving and he has been training hard.

Lovely Phoebe Rouse is meeting us there – travelling over with the two Chris’. We asked her to come along, to keep me company and provide some female companionship. She started swimming in london and no doubt will be faster than me already! But what does it matter. It will be great fun.

Chris has organised all the details – from the coast, guides, coast guard, licence, medical support and has booked the hotel (which he tells us know he has paid for!)

We leave on Saturday and fly Cathay to HongKong. Then Air France to Paris – then Air Italia to Olbia, bus to the port, then ferry to La Maddalena. Quite a trip (made easier with business class!) but it will be great to get there and relax. Its been a tough 6 months for everyone. Just wish Rob and Jordan were with us.

ITALY AGAIN in 2003

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I am having to learn Italian!

I keep going back!

This time to watch Rob play in the Australian Under 20’s World Junior Men’s.
What a champion!

We flew to Roma and then onto Naples. I was nervous about the apartment I had booked. Also about sharing it with peter and Elizabeth McGregor. They are Sam’s parents and we met them once at a game and decided to share!

As it turned out it was magnificent.
They were such fun and we had a great week.

The apartment was on Corso Vittorio Emmanuale. Top floor – so about 90 steps, so we could stay in shape! It was a short walk to the train station – then about 4 tops and a short walk to the pool. ALl this worked well as we went to the pool  every second day.
Other days we spent exploring.

Highlights of the trip:

* amazing views from the apartment towards Mt Versuvius
* big rooms in the apartment
* heat, heat and more heat
* Showering outdoors on the roof terrace
* watching rob play so well
* meeting the other parents. Especially “My fleshy little peach – Janet Flazon.
* Taking the fast ferry to Positano and our great lunch at Chez Black
* going up on the vernicular
* finding a beautiful restaurant
* dinner with the other parents
* last night party on our roof top

Last day train back to Roma and having our last dinner with Peter and Elizabeth.