View from the house in Canary Wharf

Had to get up very early to make our way to the station then Gatwick airport. We’d had  a lovely meal cooked by our host Ian the night before and a few glasses of Italian red so it was hard to get up!

But we made it to Gatwick – not  the best airport in the world. It always seems crowded with groups of people going on cheap holidays to Europe . All flying Rynair which is not the best airline, but you get what you pay for….. and have to keep paying for anything extra. It’s a free for all when boarding starts! I’m surprised you don’t have to pay to use the toilets!

The plane left late and we arrived into Dublin around 11.30 a and at our hotel, Wynn’s Hotel, too early to check in. So we found a pub( really easy in Ireland) and had lunch. Both of us had cider as its so refreshing.

The Hotel in Abby St was a good find. It’s old, central, lovely room for a big breakfast and nice comfortable room ( 5th floor overlooking Abbey St , with an opening window)

We were an easy walk to the bridge across to the main area for bars and music.
Really enjoyed our days wandering the streets of Dublin. Did a walking tour  which included the university – a good thing to do.

Also did the hop on and off bus and tours of the Guinness brewery and Jameisons whiskey. Both really good. Had lunch at Guinness on the top floor. Really good. 

We had a lovely start to the day and then a walk  around the Docklands area. We walked along the river had a coffee and eventually stopped at Gordon Ramsey’s riverside cafe. Gorgeous! Had fish and chips which looked great, tasted terrific and later I felt it in ever increasing stomach!
Walked back and packed up. Tears and goodbyes to Liz and Peter. Would love to stay and be at the waterpolo but not this time. Somehow Beijing can’t be repeated.

So we got the taxi across to Islington / Angel. What a great area. Lots going on . Fantastic shops, restaurants people. Staying with Ian and Ali Barnes an old school friend of Steve’s. They have a 5 story house on a really interesting street.  We sat in their garden and had drinks and the. A walk around the area. A glass of chilled Prosecco and a chat filled the time till we left for dinner. We went to a great middle eastern place Ottolunghi. Long white shared tables with candles in between eaters. Lots of  wine. Lots of yummy share plates -spiced beetroot, lamb and smoked eggplant , duck, octopus. I’m going to buy the cookbook and treat all my friends to some great dishes.

TUESDAY

Woke early. Had coffee and hit the road for the city. Steve decided to stay and help move Ian’s son into his new house. I went and had coffee with Fee a lovely friend of Robs. Then lots of wandering. Bond street – where I pretended to be rich ( didn’t convince anyone) Burlington Arcade, St James St and eventually the National Art Gallery . We we going to meet Phoebe but her building had no power so she had to work from home. So Steve met me and we wandered thought the beautiful Gallery. Saw the Titian exhibition including the room with the peep hole into a bathroom with a nude lady moving about going about doing what one does in the bathroom . Phoebe who works for the Gallery told us all about it ……

Now I’m sitting sipping a chilled white in the kitchen while Ian cooks dinner. What a lovely day.

Hello to all at home and I’m sorry I haven ‘t put photos on yet but uploading them to the iPad is more difficult than I thought .

Tomorrow the lad of the wee little green people.  Xxxxx

Arrived in the Olympic city after a great flight -business class upgrade helped!
Met Erin McGregor (waterpolo Sam’s wife) at the airport and travelled to the Ibis  to meet Sam’s parents. Peter and Liz. Showered,  chatted and got a big car -lots of bags! To drive us to our house near Docklands.  London looks great for  the games and even the traffic flowed. The men’s cycling was on so we went the long way round to our house. All excited ! Steve jumped out to collect his tickets from co-sport and Peter and Liz went to get their tickets from waterpolo Aus. That left Erin and I to wait for the lady to let us in the  house. And…….

Wait wait wait. We sat on the ground until neighbours from other little houses in the mews type of place started to chat and offered us chairs, drinks, and even access to her house . Such friendly people! But where was the lady delivering the key for the owners -who were off to Canada to spend all the money we paid to rent their house !Eventually Scott arrived and was shocked to find us camped outside the house contemplating a break in. He rang the lady, found she had only waited 12 min for us before leaving. Not a great start!
But it all turned out o – we got in  so we went to our local The Gun had drinks and dinner and watched the Aussie girls win the 4+100 relay.

We were getting ready for bed when music started up in the house . What a shock. Turns out it was the door bell! there was Marcus one of the friendly neighbours wondering if we had any tickets to sell! Ten minutes and 195 pounds later….. I was about to get into bed when…… The theme from the Godfather started up again. This time it was Mike another neighbour hoping we had got in ok and if we wanted any pizza! And so to sleep.

SUNDAY:

Had a great nights sleep before Steve and I headed off  to Horse Guards for morning Chapel for a beautiful service of good music and lovely singing. Then lunch with Phoebe Rouse and her man
Warren. What a great time we had-lots of talk and laughs all in a fun setting . Gordon’s wine bar in
Villers St Embankment. Phoebe and I had a huge catch up and. Steve I checked out Warren for her
parents! We approve J&P. You will like him and we can see he makes Phoebe very happy.

While we were doing this the others were off at the first waterpolo game. Sadly they lost to Italy 8-5.
Everyone met up at the house and after much discussion of the game we headed out the The Gun for
drinks and dinner. It was a beautiful night and The Gun looks across tot he big stadium O2? where the basket ball is being played.

Highlights of the day: Cruising home along the Thames after lunch. The river was busy, the sights spectacular and even a few little showers didn’t spoil the day.

Last day and I’m busy doing last minute things………. running in ever increasing circles. I just want to get on the plane.
Where will I be?
July 28 –  London
29th –
30th – London
August 1  – Arrive ireland 3 days in Dunblin
4th – Kilkenny
5th-6th  – Kenmare
7th  – Dingle
8th –  Doolin
9th  – Galway
10th  – ?
Sat 11th – London . St Paul’s Cathedral for a concert
12th – Pick up Pip and head for Henley on Thames
13th Highclere castle – Downton Abbey tour. Night at Portsmouth
14th- 15th –  Arundel
16th – Canturbury
17th –
18th  – Gatwick flight to Pisa. Goodbye to Steve…. Hello to Pat, my friends from Italian class : LERICI
18th – 25th – Lerici
25-8th Sept – LUCCA.  1st week with Pat:  2nd week sister  Catherine arrives.
8-11th – FLORENCE
11th-14th ROME. Friends from schooldays NArelle and Anne arrive. Apartment in Campo di Fiori
14th-19th – Collect our leased car and drive to SPELLO in Umbria
19th-22nd – Lake Garda. Le Corte apartments BARDOLINO
22- 29th – ARQUA PETRACA near Padua. Jill and Chris Wilson and Geoff and Lindy Shaw arrive.
29th – 6th. SAN GIMIGINANO : Farwell to Narelle, Anne, Lindy and Geoff and welcome Peter and Carmel Harrison.
6th Drive to AOSTA near Turin
7th  – MACON  France (recently seen on the Tour de France)
8th-13th  – AMBOISE in the Loire Valley.
13th – 20th – PARIS    witht he Harrisons. Farewell Steve.xxx
20th-27th – SANCERRE  in the Loire with Carmel. Off to taste the vino/van/wine!   
27th-10th – San Remo -an Italian language school
11th – 18th – Cotignac in Provence with Margaret and John Brannock.
22nd – Fly home Farwell adventure!

TWO WEEKS to GO! Work has finished and it’s now planning time for the trip. Now we aren’t going to the Olympics……. We have decided not to sit in London but to go to Ireland. It will be a lovely potter through the green of Ireland, a Guiness or two and a drink at McGann’s pub in Doolin. Remember I am a McGann! So follow our adventures through England Ireland Italy and France.

Be an arm chair traveller.

The last month of my career . I can hardly believe it. Travel is the new Library.
Had a quick trip to Melbourne last Thursday for dinner. Talk about a quick trip!
It was really lovely and we didn’t even have to leave the hotel.