English fashion

Thanks for the All Blacks tie Dad!! You will pleased to know that it was not well received at work today - especially when it was accompanied by my prediction that we will pump them by 40 points this weekend!

Saturday afternoon visitor

We had a very small interruption to a lazy Saturday afternoon on the couch. This young fella climbed up the drain pipe to our third story flat. He was shy at first, but after a while he

came right on in (encouraged by one or twenty peanuts).

He made the journey some 12 or 15 times up the pipe and down the pipe and back and forth across the road in an attempt to gather tucker for hibernation.

I could have thrown the peanuts down to him but it was nice to have such a visitor.

And by the end of the day we were dining together.

Ireland

Now that I am a real deal Irish citizen it was great to finally set foot on my home turf for a week of touring. We covered over 1000 miles in our Nissan - from Cork in the South to Derry in the North through the lush green fields, rugged coast and dry stone walls. A country filled with quaint character and characters where the little things matter. We steered clear of the cities and so we have good cause to go back and see Dublin and Belfast.





Old friends

It was a real highlight to meet up with the Elliotts (no relation to Gabrielle - well we hope not!) and Coopers and see around their farms on the border - interesting to see how the boys are preparing for the challenges of winter. It's nice to see where the family's roots are and Audrey's guided tour left no stone unturned! We also managed to meet the Minister of Agriculture - quite a bonus!

Killendarragh - the Starrett dairy farm:

Looking across to Northern Ireland from the front lawn

Blarney

We did the compulsory tourist deed of kissing the Blarney Stone that supposedly gives you the gift of the gab for 7 years and had a walk around the surrounding grounds. It was a great start to the trip but do you think we could shut up in the car afterwards?

Cashel Rock

Cashel Rock was a spectacular structure (no longer used) where we added to our thin understanding of Irish history. When you come from NZ, it's mind boggling that buildings still stand from over 800 years ago.

Bunratty

Bunratty (love the name) was another history stop with a well maintained village from the 18th century. We had a quick look around, a cuddle with the horse and then quickly went back to our centrally heated B&B to avoid the Irish rain.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle is right in the middle of the town of Kilkenny and has tremendous grounds surrounding it - we went on a quite a walk around them and subsequently missed the tour - but the views of the outside were great.

Walking

There are plenty of good walking stops and we tried to get a walk in a day but laziness or Guinness often won over. However, the better spots we went walking were in Gorten:

and Killarney National Park:

The were plenty of other noteworthy sights - the city walls that surround the "old city"of Londonderry:

Kylemore Abbey in Galway (which is now a school):

My first swim in the Atlantic (Ireland's weather isn't that bad):

The town of Dingle and the coast around Dingle and the Ring of Kerry:

Our accommodation in Killarney:

So that's that - after the Irish breakfasts, the stews and the Guinness I think we may have to go on a diet for the next 7 years as well. Farewell until the next instalment.

Henley on Thames

Henley on Thames - a place for the rich, boat racers and people in NSW jumpers - absolutely stunning. It was a mere 30 miles from London so I'm not quite sure how it took 2:20 to get there, but it was worth it.

Norfolk & The Broads

When the chap you hire a boat from makes a point of saying that if your boat is making waves you are probably going to fast, you can be pretty sure its not going to be the most exhilarating day out. That said, I'm pleased we didn't go to fast as it allowed plenty of time to enjoy the views of the riverside villa's and it meant that we only had to steer the boat in between swigs of beer.

The Norfolk Broads was a relaxing waterway to check out along (albeit along with half of England). We did manage to beat the speed lock and get our boat up to at least 7mph and pass a few pasty Englishmen who were out fishing and sunbathing.


Now I know there will be a few of you who will love the sight of these wind turbines - we drove by the construction zone purely by accident and I couldn't believe how massive they are. It was a beautiful sight to see them at sunset, out at sea pumping out power. Unfortunately the photos didn't turn out too well because of the mist. If Helen Clark wasn't so busy worrying about her love life maybe she could put her manly foot down and build some of these beauties at Makara:

Bury St Edmunds & Botesdale

Bury St Edmunds: Shrine of the King, Cradle of the Law

This is where I lived for a couple of years with my parents when I was about 13-14.

The town grew up around the Abbey of St Edmund in early medieval times. For five centuries it was visited by pilgrims from all over the world, coming to worship at the shrine of St Edmund - the martyred King of East Anglia. St Edmund was the patron saint of England until the dragon-slaying George took up the title in more militant times.

And for those of you paying attention in Nigel Jamieson's first year legal history lectures: It is said that at St Edmund's Altar in 1214 AD the barons reponsible for the Magna Carta met and swore an oath that they would force King John to accept the Charter of Liberties, which later became known as the Magna Carta.

We took a walk around the town and I discovered that not much has changed!! Although it was much quieter than I remembered. One of the more common developments around the world in the last 15 years has been the rise of the Starbuck - and unfortunately Bury St Edmunds is no different. Was great to have a wander around - but I'm sure that Hamish got sick of me saying "Ohh - that was where I...." We went into the shop that Mum used to work in called the Parsley Pot. They thought we were a bit freaky when we started taking photos and came out to check what was going on, so this photo's for you Mum:

At the bottom of Abbeygate Street:


A stroll through the beautiful Abbey gardens and ruins:




Botesdale
St Catherines: Our old house. Very old. I think it is about 600 years old and it used to be a monastery. When we moved in the villagers told us that it was also inhabited by a ghost, but we never saw any sign of that. Not much has changed there either, although I am sure that it used to be pink.

The village used to have three pubs in the space of about 200 metres. Hamblyn House has now closed, so now there are two within about 20 metres! This photos is taken looking down 'the street' from where Hamblyn House used to be. And yes, the street is actually named 'The Street'!