Vee and KJs Britain and the rest trip 2006

Sunday, 29 October 2006

Location: Rangiora, New Zealand

Vee's final chapter of her first BIG o.e.

Words cannot describe ...

They say that travel broadens the mind - blooming heck ... why did I wait so long! I yearn for (and will hold forever in my heart and head) the rolling hills, luxuriant in greenery; trees and green, green grass as far as the eye can see. Hand made stone (mostly ancient) walls, post and rail fencing, castles on every village hill, historic buildings, mostly stone homes: old and new, thatched rooves, narrow cobbled roads (which I originally thought were mad and scary - but weren't at all) passing within inches sometimes of someones front door. Even the blue of the sky and colour of the clouds was evocative: why can't everywhere be like this; I will keep forever listening to the church bells ringing on Sunday morning only 100 metres or so away; everything seemed so peaceful - every memory and experience a vignette or snapshot to keep until we come back.

Other than this, my highlights would be mostly the people - who I miss terribly. Not just people; our friends and family - the connections seem closer now somehow though we are so far away. Another reason (not that I need one) to go back for further exploration. The English people; pretty special in all their diversity: Jamaican, African, Anglo - most of them obliging, not too many miserable gits! The Anti Terrorist team members and copper at Gatwick airport - scary but reassuring at the same time. The Welsh; joyful, lyrical and melodic "alright then", pragmatic. The Italian opera set in Paris performed by the Welsh National Opera Company in Swansea, conducted by a Pole and attended by a pommie and a kiwi!!! PRICELESS; and the melting pot of both Singapore and (tourist) Portugese residents. Chinatown in Singapore was special; the Portugese natives so friendly and helpful - language barriers aside. And most people were INTERESTED in you and listened to you; no condescension or very little. Everyone was so helpful -and it was not threatening at all walking down through the "slum" area of Lagos; I felt more threatened by the Singapore pariahs trying to hook you into their shop (but that's another story).

Sights and things I want to see again/experience again:

I want to see more of England and Wales and spend more time with the lovely people of the North. I especially would like to spend more time in Oxford; do a walking tour of the universities. London requires more than the 5hrs we could spend there: (note to Vee - take much more sight seeing money for the sights of London). I would like to spend more time in Bath and the surrounding area, amazing Georgian terrace housing stacked up on the hillsides, so much history to explore. And I want to go back to soak up the atmosphere of Lambourn and Cheltenham.

Portugal was great for lots of other reasons: the weather (though we had beautiful weather in England), being so warm ALL the time. It would be great to see more of the Portugese countryside - I've been told there are castles everywhere, but I didn't see one. Six days was nowhere near enough time.

I want to swim in the South China sea again (as at Sentosa Island).

We had the most wonderful time. 5-6 weeks was great, but I would happily go for much longer. Keith and I had a ball together mostly; only a few minor mishaps and disagreements - the driving and navigating worked out well, I only pointed us in the wrong direction a couple of times and KJ only went (of his own volition!) the wrong way once (in Wales - on a roundabout). We both loved the same things and appreciated the little things. I think that it is only I though, who would move there for a short time for the experience. We have sussed the places we want to go back to, the places we still want to go to; and even though we came back to some not so stress free things, it has not dampened my enthusiasm for our 10th wedding anniversary trip. What a blast - 10 and 12 hour plane trips, 7 and 9 hour bus trips, driving on the right (wrong) hand side of the road, currency rate aside :-))

So I don't care that we may be paying for this (and the water pump!) for a year (groan) - we will always have this wonderful time tucked away to go back to every now and then, like a well loved book. Thanks Keith for having all these wonderful memories and places for us to go back to; through these we have made our own, and thanks for the last 10 years - it's been an amazing time. Bring on the rest!!!

Friday, 27 October 2006

Location: Rangiora, New Zealand

KJ The Trip for Me

Highlights, not so highlights, learning (practical and metaphysical) most likely to return to, the whole thing. These are the things I’ve considered. I may mix them up a bit.

Probably the learning from the whole thing was how truly resting and recharging it can be to have a lengthy time away from work and the pressures that go with it. This is the longest holiday I’ve had since leaving school. A week or two here and there just doesn’t leave the same sense of being refreshed and ready for the fray again.

Highlights: Emotional - Connecting with family and special friends. I’ve got to say that for my first major trip the most important thing wasn’t the places we went but the people we spent time with. Connecting with my Aunt Jean and her family alongside of reconnecting with my brother and his wife, allied to spending more time with friends Tony and Sarah and their beautiful daughter Evelyne, add meeting Tony’s wonderful family too and you’ve got a complete ‘whanau’ experience. Jean’s knowledge of our family and local history of the North East was amazing. Spending time with her and seeing her glow with the pride of having my Dad as a brother, touched me in more ways than I can probably recognise fully at present. It was like instant acceptance by all of that family along with an assured sense of belonging.

Sitting on the wall of our old home in Headington (Oxford) and walking into the garden where Mal and I played as kids. Remembering when my sister Karen was born in the front bedroom, smelling next door’s apples without the actual scent actually being in my nostrils. Meeting people like Jefferson on a beach and talking of real things almost immediately. Meeting everyone (but the one assistant manager in the clothes shop at Aberafan ) in Wales.

Having to leave all of these people and things.

Highlights: Places and events

White Hart Lane, being there, despite the jerks and the constant foul language (and the crap football ).

Wales. The opera at Wales. Actually ‘taking a trip up to Abergaveny’.

Headington. Heading back to Headington. Remembering where things are or were.

Actually standing on Cheltenham Racecourse looking down the straight – thanks Dick Francis.

Durham, Chester Le Street, Workington, Keswick and all the treasures and memories that went with it. (Did I mention Wales?)

Portugal, The Algarve, the beach, the pool, the shops, the town, the disappearing car and the challenge of finding it. The Portugese people.

Singapore, especially on the return. The river trip, Sentosa Island, shopping.

Spending it all together with Vanetta and having an extra special night out for our 10th anniversary (including the challenge of the pushy chef) truth is I really enjoy dealing with people who try to shag me about. But reiterating, spending it with Vee and recognising how important it is to share experiences in this way.



Not so highlights:
Travelling for 10 hours plus in a plane.

The obvious acceptance of F and C as a regular part of lamguage in many parts of England.

Recognising that despite my heritage how little of me is actually English.

The crappy room next to the lift in The Peninsula-Excelsior at Singapore.

Warming to special connections and then having to leave.

$3 to the pound.

Coming back to so much chaos.



Places I must go back to:

Wales, Oxford, the North East, and of course Portugal and the Algarve.

It would also be nice to do a trip just to Singapore for a fortnight some time, there’s just so much to see and experience.

Home, the horses, the peace, and the appreciation of what home really is.

Thursday, 19 October 2006

Location: Changi Airport, Singapore

Kia ora katoa, Hi all,

A short break before boarding the plane back to Christchurch. Changi is still our favourite airport in the 'whole world'. They have I Squeeze foot-massage machines for free, it is spacious, clean, reasonably easy going (you only take your shoes off for reasons of massage, not security) and my special favourite, they keep the smokers in a big glass cage. Vee says they probably just thought I was mad as I acted out EMPHASYMEA through the glass, and she said I spelt it wrong too.

We had a good rest followed by a good shop today. Cloud cover made sunbathing less demanding as an option. Both of us think we are ready to return home, if not yet to work. I hope Sooty still recognises me.

Cheers KJ

Wednesday, 18 October 2006

Location: Hotel Miramar, Singapore

Us again!

Last leg of our wonderful trip but we've done so much since we last connected.

We spent Saturday and Sunday at Oxford after driving back from Wales in the morning. That trip went well as did the drive. Really getting the hang of these British roads (almost - Vee has a story for you all regarding a roundabout in Wales :) ) Travelling over the Severn Bridge was great both times and you only have to pay the 4.90 (pound) toll on the way into Wales, makes sense to us.

Met Tony's parents and Gran. Lovely people, we really enjoyed our time with them (and the dogs - two noisy boxers). We stayed at a wonderful B&B on the Saturday night, closer to Oxford city and it was outstanding, run by South Africans who (surprise) were into rugby. Left to wet eyes and hugs (that was just Tony and me!) on Monday morning. Got into London by coach around midday. Spent a terrific afternoon "doing" London via the open/hop-on hop-off bus. Saw a little of everything and some things a bit closer. So much to see tho'. Highlight for Vee (because she couldn't fit it all in) was Westminister Bridge and the river ride, for KJ was - the whole thing, as I wasn't fussed on doing it at all but was very pleasantly surprised. Did'nt get into Tower or actually to the Globe Theatre but saw both from outside.

Flight to Singapore yesterday was okay. Vee found it a bit long as she couldn't seem to sleep at all. Watched a heap of movies tho'.

At first planning to rest up a bit today, we had a swim after breakfast and settled to lie-in a bit. However, the hotel maintenance had other ideas and started drilling (something important we hear) about 10am. We decided to leave them to it and went to Sentosa Island for the day. It was be-a-utiful! We did the cable car (Vanetta will probably try to tell you I moved about especially to make it swing but don't believe her... you know how she tries to make me look bad) Not that that would be hard !!!!!!!!!! (Vee). Then we walked the jungle trail down to Soloso Beach and that was about it for two hours, too nice to move and a hiveful of attractions to choose from. It was stunning swimming in the South China Sea in a protected inlet, lying on a pale yellow beach and the sun found it's way through the haze today to celebrate our arrival. All this AND Ben and Jerry's ice cream. If you haven't tried this yet it's amust - let me recommend Chunky Monkey.

We came back to the hotel about 4pm and rested awhile before going out for a late supper. It is our 10th wedding anniversary today. We walked down to the Grand Copthorne and had a (mostly) scrumptious meal. It was late and they tried to press my curry main on me halfway through the soup and accepted my suggestion that this was not a good idea but then tried to bring the same meal out looking dry and half-warm (assuring me that it was fresh - bollocks!) and of course then took it back for good. We got free desserts in recompence. The desserts were probably the highlight of the meal even though Vee's steak main and my French Onion soup were pretty wonderful on their own.

Last night (after almost no sleep for 20 hours on Vee's part) we went for what Vee calls "one of Keith's walks around the block" and after 'aimless wandering' (Vee's words again) we found the centre of Chinatown and it was as amazing as Tony said it would be. We really saw the locals at their natural best - not many other Pakehas around. We had some lovely peanut and red-bean balls cooked in sesame from a roadside stall. Just terrific, despite how it may sound to some. It was great soaking up the atmosphere and as always we found our way back 'as if by magic'.

We fly back to Christchurch tomorrow night, but Vee has plans to go shopping during the day and we will also try to get a little more sun beside the pool. We have so many lovely photos to show you all but don't feel competent in uploading them straight from the camera so hope you will bear with us and visit our site again over, or after, Labour Weekend when we can sort them out from home.

We will have a good think about the trip as a whole and do an observation of things from an individual perspective then too. Thanks for bothering to check in on us - KJ and Vee.

Friday, 13 October 2006

Location: Aberavon, Wales, UK

A late night update. (11pm)

We've had a busy but exciting day again in Wales.

The hotel we are at is great and we started by filling up on the breakfast supplied in the price. We then went for a drive along the coast road to "The Mumbles" and a little bit further. It was grey and misty, bordering on bleak but quite magnificent coastline.

We did a little souvenir shopping at Mumbles, posted some more cards and returned to Swansea to do some more shopping and a quick trip to the bookies. We had (initially) planned to go to the races at Warwick today so we had a bet there instead. Of course tinny Vee backed two horses that gave returns including an 80 -1 horse that got third and she had it each way. I backed one winner and we both came out just a little ahead. I managed to 'force' Vee to buy some clothes and she wore some of her new stuff out to the opera tonight. Shops were okay but the staff were too few almost everywhere and at one place (sadly where we bought most) the assistant manager thought it below her to serve and we had to wait ages to give them our money. At another place, a good sized clothes shop, they don't have any rooms or even a cubicle to try things on. It seems it's the same for that whole chain. Not a great idea in our eyes so we moved on, only to come across the staff previously mentioned. Vee had to wait 10 mins and beg for service to purchase a couple of things at Boots too.

Anyway....

We came back to the hotel, rested a little and then drove to Swansea to see the La Boheme. It was an older, smaller theatre but just great for the closeness to the spectacle. It was Vee's first live opera and only my second. The cast and scenery were great, the lead tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones (didn't you just know it :)) was outstanding. We finished it off with a late supper at the Chinese restaurant almost next to our hotel. Lovely food and classy service.

Driving back to Oxford tomorrow.

Stay in touch. KJ and Vee