Calgary, Banff & Mt Norquay

Pleased to arrive in Banff on 30/12 after the longest 29th ever. Haha. Good accomodation in Calgary and Nicola and I managed a wee breakfast wander before our bus picked us up. Would love to have had more time but will have another look on our way home. The covered corridors which link the central city are brilliant. 

The vistas in Calgary are beautiful. Not many photos yet. Taking gloves off not an option. Phone also keen to hibernate but I do have a plan...

Mt Norquay today:

Nicola and Liam in a spot of sun we liked. Great transport to and from the field. Hired skis worked out really well. All had dry feet. Bought some warmer mitten type gloves on the way home. Hopefully toasty hands tomorrow. 

Bondi

Family trip to Bondi today. Chilly day and few in the pounding waves. Lovely beach and vistas. Walked around to the point. Dipped our toes in the sea. Admired the surfers and skateboarders. Lovely bush walk down from Sarah Jane and Brian's after we arrived home.

Nicola and Liam went to see the CBD of Sydney - saw the Sydney sights and did a touch of shopping at a local market.

Palm Beach and the lighthouse

Post Boxing Day (at Andy and Tracy's) saw us on a team trip to Palm Beach and lighthouse. Then to the Royal MotoYacht Club @ Broken Bay for pub style lunch. Senior Hall team dined in Balmain in the evening and Catherine, Campbell, Nicola & Liam went to a T20 game at the SCG. 

Tired bunnies refuelling for the evening. 

Sydney Hall Christmas

Halls and co all together for Christmas @ Brian and Sarah Jane's in Lane Cove. A super day with all the hall cousins together. And of course the obligatory cuzzie photos:

Singapore

Our view:

Light show as part of 50 years of independence.

Three great days exploring and having adventures. Last day taking in the views from the Singapore Flyer and the never ending interconnected air conditioned malls. Amazing! Such fun...

Keeping cool- and Martin's method...

The mountain and waterfall within one of the domes at the gardens by the bay.

And finally... The amazing orchids! 😀

Paris Hilights

We have enjoyed our time here. Wondered where all the people were as we have travelled in France. Well we found out - Paris!!

And looking the other direction from right up at Sacre-Coeur...amazing!

Chablis to Metz

PGreat adventures as we drive through the countryside keeping away from the motorways. Chablis...

Troyes...

Metz

There was a series of art installations all over Metz. Alll cubes. Clever. This one is at the railway station before we caught our train to Paris. 

Beaujolais country

Great trip yesterday on the Beaujolais wine trail. Super vistas and very cute villages. 

10 August - Lyon

Good trip through the Chunnel and on to Lyon. Lovely city. Mix of very old and new at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone. Lots of adventures. Huge shopping malls that just go on and on... Today is Wednesday and we're off to pick up our car. Cotes de Rhone here we come. 

7/8 A busy week- Doncaster to Portsmouth

We have had a fun week. Chatsworth - with Dot and Mic ( friends of Andy & Tracy). On to Grantham where we found a lovely wee farm b & b near Belvior Castle. Super evening views. On to Kings Lynn, Sandringham, Norfolk Lavender & Ely. Here at to catch up with Colin who guided us around Ely and hosted us overnight. 

Cambridge was next. A great tour around the university area. Look out for the cyclists. Uni students on holiday so reasonably quiet. 

On to Canterbury and a couple of nights with Steve Pallets mum - Irene. An amazing wealth of knowledge Irene guided us around the central city. All so old and historic...

Today we cruised down to Portsmouth and enjoyed wandering around Fort Nelson and the old wharf. Staying in a very cool pub in Chichester tonight - the Nags Head. Write again soon. :-)