The boys dressed in team shorts ready for action!

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.

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!

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.

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.

My lovely sister Catherine was planning a visit to her beautiful daughter Clare and asked if I’d like to come along. Well I didn’t need to e asked twice!

We started planning! Agreed on a week in rome and a week at Positano on the Amalfi coast.

About two weeks before we left we decided we couldn’t go without Helen so Catherine booked another ticket. SURPRISE!

So we flew out on sept 19th – the same day as last year!

Arrived in Rome in the early morning and made our way to Via G.
Apartment wasn’t great so arranged another one and it was good. Though Catherine and I had to share a bed. Clare had a bed and Helen had a fold out! But it was cute and convenient .

Had the best week in Rome. Memories include:
* seeing Clare arrive in Rome. Striding down the street backpack strapped to her back
* catching the bus to Trastevere.
* exploring St Peter’s
* the Catacombs!
* eating at the strega cafe
* shopping and buying great shoes
* amazing food
* throwing coins in the fountain Left arm over right shoulder
* wandering the Borghese gardens

Then off to Positano by train, circumsurviano then the local bus. Quite and expedition.
The apartment was great. two bedrooms, where again Catherine and I shared a bed.
beautiful sea green tiles on the floors, magnificent views across the blue waters, pink bouganvillia, and Chez Black where we had coffee each morning.

Highlights of the week:
* Meeting John and Bernie on the bus to Pompei.
* meeting up with them other days and having lots of fun.
* going to capri. Helen being hung over after too many cocktails – namely “sex on the beach”
* rain!
* no ferries out of Positano
* bus to Amalfi and up to Ravenna. Gorgeous views
* exploring Sorrento
* dinner out and more amazing dinner in cooked by Clare.

Then off to London where once again Catherine and I shared a fold out lounge! Now that was close. even had to turn over at the same time! We stayed with Clare and Shaun in a little flat in Bayswater.

highlights of the week:
* Opera at Albert Hall
* lovely long walks
* exploring the markets, Notting Hill and other antique markets
* sharing time with Clare
* art galleries
* walking the streets

2001 – Italy with Ginetta, Wendy, Lynne, Maria Mark and myself.

We started our trip in Rome. Ginetta, Wendy and myself flew out through Singapore and arrived in Rome in the early morning. We met Maria and Mark at the hotel, quite near the station.

Discovered Rome – the main sites and I even threw a coin over my right shoulder into the Trevi fountain – hoping to come back!
We had a super dinner and Wendy went to sleep!

Next day left for our first stop..Chuisi.
We had a great house with 4 bedrooms. I shared with Lynne. Wendy, Ginetta and Maria and Mark had the other three. We explore the area over the next 7 days.
Montelcino, Montelpulicano, Florence, Sienna, and lots of little villages.

Then off to Venice for three nights. Bellissimo.

We took the train to Milan and changed for Largo di Como. we stayed at the Hotel Victoria at Varenna. Very lovely too. Great walks, food , drinks (including the pink gin!)

From there we travelled back to Milano and onto the Cinque Terre. we actually missed the stop at Monterosso! Then we climbed to our hotel – the Convento di Cappicino. A really special place. Lots of italian speaking and great food. Explored the 5 villages. we walked some, boated along the coast, caught the train and generally had a great time.

At the end of a great week it was back to Milan, where Steve arrived to start the next part of our journey. Wend and Ginetta headed off to France to her sisters place in Vaison La Romaine. Maria and Mark headed to America.

Steve and I flew to Berlin via London! After nearly 24hrs in Milan airport due to a plane crash , which they thought at first was a bomb.

We had 4 nights in Berlin and did a wonderful walking tour, explored checkpoint Charlie, went to Potsdamm, did lots of walking and enjoyed the area.

Then it a train to Dresdan for the day, then Vienna. Oh sigh what a place.

Then the train to Prague and Chesky Kromlov.

Back to Prague before flying to Istanbul. Amazing city.

Altogether a great holiday.

Moustiers – note the star suspended above the town

We decided to head off to the Gorges of Verdon and in two cars with 3 bikes on board set off to Moustiers our first village stop about 45 mins drive away. It’s a beautiful little village with an enormous 12 point star suspended above the village.

After a wander around the village we started the climb up a winding road to look down into the gorge and it was spectacular. We reached Palud and the cyclists took off on their ride along the high road 
along the gorge and we started to drive it, stopping frequently to gasp at the view.

We met John, Lin and Andy for a picnic lunch, before they finished the downhill part of the ride and we drove back via the lake. Quite spectacular .

Steve once again stripped off his shirt to wave the riders in! Lin pretended to be a Tour rider and waved him away.

Back home for a last wander through the streets of Cotignac.

John and Steve debriefing outside the Modern Bar

The McNaughts, Brannocks and Maitlands relaxing on the Terrace

I’ve swam in  the Mediterranean, now I’ve cycled the Tour de France route! Well part of it.

We drove to Carces about half an hour away (John, Lin and Andy cycled all the way there!) Then we hired bikes and headed for the lake. We rode along beside the lake on a part of the road the Tour followed! So officially I have ridden the route for about 2 km.It was a gorgeous day and the lake was reflective green and still and it was so peaceful once we got onto the bike track.

We finished as all cyclists do with a cafe latte and headed back to Cotignac for lunch before a big afternoon storm hit. It rained and thundered and lightening struck and it was so good to be safe in this
beautiful house.

By 4 it was fine enough to head off to The Modern Bar (its not very modern at all but has a TV) to watch the Tour; and with John and Andy our resident cycling experts giving us guidance we were able to follow the race tactics and tried to understand what was going on. I miss the SBS coverage.

Hugh and Sue McKay with us in Cassis

After listening to the end of the movie last night- lots of music echoing throughout the town from the outdoor theatre movie night, followed by children’s voices and parents chattering on their way home – I got to sleep very late. Then this morning it was all soft light and birds.

After breakfast and coffee we headed off to meet Hugh and Sue McKay in Cassis. It took about an hour and a bit………. and is a beautiful little seaside town. We overshot the exit from the freeway but it turned out just great because we were able to enter Cassis by the coast road with spectacular views. 

A quick look in the markets (similar to Cotignac) and we met on time in front of the port. A lovely lunch later and a glass or two of Rosé and all was good! Had a lovely chat and catch up and back to Cotignac as the rain storm started.

Having tea and a little bit of nougat (John’s special ) – yum!







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