And now we're home!!!

And now we are home....wow, what can i say...an amazing trip, an amazing set of experiences! We are starting to get ourselves sorted now we are back....perhpas easier said than done! But what is certain is that we are having a good time seeing people again and catching up with family and friends....not to mention the odd musical gathering!!! Oh and check out our new car.....H Reg (1990) VW Golf. 1.8 It has 4 doors which i am extremely excited about!!!! We have named her King Prawn! (we were in Trongs at the time!) Our trip really ended exactly where it began....just as it should.....with Daddy Paul and Celine......we spent our last nights in Ipswich with them before we left, and our first nights back with them too! A huge thanks to them, and to all our friends and family for their continued love and support throughout our little journey!!! xxx p.s. yes, my hair is now dark!!!!! (but don't worry, i'm still blonde on the inside!), and yes, that is Mark in a kilt!!! xx

Ireland...the Daddy Paul and Celine tour! (July 2006)

With Caroline and Louis married it was time for us to set off to see a bit of Ireland. Daddy Paul had planned our tour, and we drove from Cashel south to Kilarney. The drive was beautiful, and Celine's celtic songs cd really got us in the mood!!! We arrived in Kilarney around 5pm, and finally found our B&B! We then headed into town for some really Irish pub food! That night was filled with listening to some Irish music and watching some Irish dancing!!!! The town was alive! On sunday we did the touristy things....headed to Ross Castle and took a boat ride out to Inisfallen Island to see the old Abbey ruins. Mark found the celtic cross! Daddy Paul saved us all from being stranded with his ore....our boat ran aground due to shallow water and slightly too much weight...and our guide had to enlist DP to save us!!!!! hehehehe We then drove on to the Dingle Peninsula and into Dingle itself, where we stopped for lunch. On the way back we stopped for a paddle at Inch Beach...avoiding the jelly fish! That night we ate snacks from the garage in the garden, before relaxing in front of the TV! The next day was the real final day of our whole trip! DP and Celine dropped us at Shannon airport...and mum and dad collected us at Heathrow! A quick stop for coffee en-route and then we were off home! We called in at Nan's first...she was very pleased to see us; then it was round to mum and dad's for tea, and cheesecake that my brother Phil had made especially! Then home (temporarily) to Paul and Celines!!! (Although they were still in Ireland!!! Paul and Celine's house was quite the traveler's rest that week, as George and Vicky were also staying there...having just returned from Thailand!!!! Wow, here we are, back where it all began! Home! xxx

Ireland - Caroline and Louis's wedding and home cooked food!! (July 14th 2006)

We landed in Heathrow at 6am on Monday 10th July! Our first time back on UK soil for almost 10 months!!! It smelt like home! We were shattered! We'd been up for over 24 hours, and it was starting to feel like it! We didn't fly to Ireland until 3pm however, so got out the sleeping bags and settled for a day of rest on the floor in Terminal 1! We landed in Shannon airport around 4pm, and were greeted with huge smiles and hugs by Caroline!!! It was sooo nice and strangely just like normal!!! Katie soon arrived too and it was all in the car (only just with all our luggage!!!), and off to Tipperary! Arriving at Caroline's house was lovely, we were made to feel so welcome, and at home, and we had our first home cooked food in a long long while...proper 'mum food', it was great!!!! We briefly saw Louis when he arrived, before we were off to bed...jet lag catching up with us!!!! The next few days were filled with wedding plans and preparations, family gatherings and the arrival of more and more people. It was lovely to be there and be a part of it....and a special way to bring our trip to an end. The atmosphere, although hectic and stressed at times, was always one of excitement and love. On Wednesday we moved to our B&B - the Beachview - and the wedding crept closer!!! Mark spent Thursday relaxing in the spa facilities of Dundrum House, and I wandered into the village. As we returned we bumped into Daddy Paul and Celine! This was very exciting, the first time we'd seen them in 10 months.....and the first time seeing Celine pregnant with their twin boys!!!! We settled into the bar at Dundrum for an evening of catching up....Asma and Jamie were next to arrive, then more family types...then Ian, Pete, Karen, George, Baz, Colleen, Sandrabing, James, Ed and Mary! It was sooooo lovely to see everyone....and again.....strangely normal! Friday 14th July was Caroline and Louis's wedding day...and the sun was shining as soon as we woke up! We had a gorgeous Irish breakfast (yet another!!!), and met up with Alan and Susan over breakfast. The wedding ceremony was gorgeous, and quite Irish....i'm sure the priest had already had a few!!! Caroline arrived in horse and carriage, with all the Irish people waiting outside to see her! All us English people were indoors, as tradition would dictate, patiently waiting! I have to say, i think i prefer the Irish way!!!! There was live music in the church, and Ed played his flute. After photos and mingling, it was all on the bus and back to Dundrum for the frivolities! Drinks were flowing from the start...as only they can in Ireland.....and everyone had an amazing time! Mr and Mrs Verlaine arrived in style in their horse and carriage and we settled in to celebrate into the night with them. The meal was amazing...and i honestly don't think i have ever eaten that much food in one go......well...at least since Paul and Celine's wedding last year! The speeches were done before eating, and every bit as humorous as we expected! Then there was just time for a shoe change back at the B&B and a walk around the grounds, before the dancing commenced! The band were ace, and after a quick waltz with Celine, everyone was encouraged up on the dance floor for the Siege of Venice! My goodness those old folk know how to move you!!!!! Everyone had a fab fab time, and there was lots of surrounding Caroline and Louis in a circle and running in to meet them!!! The DJ even played Tiffany (at my request), and of course the Proclaimers!!! (Alan was very pleased..having worn his kilt!!)....so all in all a perfect evening!!!! Bing made a great wedding video throughout the day, and we had huge laughs watching people record their messages! Baz's factoid was the best!!!! hehehehe Congratulations Mr and Mrs Verlaine, and thank you for a fantastic day, it was special to be able to share it with you. xxx

Toronto - July 2006!

We're off again....leaving America and heading back into Canada....to Toronto this time! We were staying at the Global Village Backpackers...where i had stayed with Naomi in 2001! This time me and Mark had the Jack Nicholson Room.....a little bit creepy in a kind of 'The Shinning' kind of way....but ok!!! We ate our first Toronto dinner in the Dim Sum Palace.....guess what we had...hehehehe...lots and lots of dimsums! It was Grand Prix time in Toronto and while walking around town that night we discovered a big street party!!! This included Sumo Wrestling, a live band and a dance competition!!! it was excellent fun! and i got a knecklace that glowed in the dark!!! Next day was Pirates of the Carribean 2 release day in Canada...so we got up early (relatively!) and headed out to the 11:30am showing!!!! hehehhee We then spent the rest of the day trying to find outfits for Caroline and Louis's wedding in Ireland....now only less than a week away.....it is not an easy thing finding wedding outfits, that wont get creased while travelling, in a city that you don't know!!! We didn't have much luck with the outfits...especially for Mark...but we did discover a gorgeous cafe - Sunbeam. An organic cafe.....and we sat outside on a swing chair for our fruit and eggs!!! We also discovered a giant thimble....especially for you Nan!!! That night we were meeting up with James McCurdy and his girlfriend Jamie! James we had known briefly in Ipswich a few years earlier before he moved to Toronto! We had a great evening and they took us to the Distillary restaurant....it was quite posh...and very nice! As luck would have it, Jamie is a fashion designer...and offered to make Mark his wedding outfit! Get in! So after watching the local salsa band perform, we headed to her studio for him to be measured! It was going to be like some crazy TV show, as we were leaving Toronto in 36 hours!!!!! So as Jamie awoke and headed to the studio on saturday to make Mark's clothes, we headed for our final day out on our trip...to Niagra Falls! We went on JoJos bus tour to the falls....and it was quite good fun....a small bus, which meant a small group, very nice! JoJo did talk quite a lot though!!!! We had 2 hours in Niagra...and decided to avoid the tacky town! We walked through the tunnels behind the falls - hence the fetching yellow macs; then rode the Maid of the Mist into the falls - hence the blue macs!!! We all got absolutely soaked still....which had us in fits of laughter! The falls are pretty awesome...although i think not as big as Mark expected! I had seen them before so knew what they were like! The best bit remains standing with the water at eye level and watching it rush over the edge....that always amazes me! The power of the water is breath-taking. Next we went up the viewing tower for a full view of Niagra. Then it was back on the bus....a quick stop at the whirlpools, and on to Niagra by the Lake (one of the Great Lakes!!)....a lovely picture-perfect town! From there we headed wine tasting and back into Toronto! Our day was not over yet though...we headed out to the CN Tower and up to see the city in full...including through the glass floor! Then it was over to Little Italy, to 'Kalender' for dinner and sangria! Next on to Jamie's for Mark's fitting, and finally back to James and Jamie's for beer! James has a bit of a reputation as a beer expert...and his flat certainly shows it....complete with beer fridge under the living room table! Sunday was our last day before our flight home!!! We were up in good time, and packing the bags one last time! Then it was rushing round to Jamie's studio for breakfast with James (at the Victory), and collecting Mark's outfit, and striaght off to the airport...he didn't even have time to try it on!!! It was great having our last few days with James and Jamie...kind of took the sadness away from it being the end of our trip! And it was fab to see them! And there we were....on the flight home....after 10 months away....wow! Moose even got his own seat! Excited, nervous and sad all at the same time...wow, what a trip! xx