July - Bordeaux

We then took the fast train from Paris to Bordeaux, getting off at Libourne a bit before that. The weekend before Bastille Day (France's Big Day) it was chaotic! We rented a car and a gorgeous little house in Monsegur, in Entre Deux Mers between Garonne and Dordogne and near St.Emilion. Suffice to say we were set in beautiful vineyards and 12th and 13th century historic villages and buildings. Monsegur is a bastide (walled cities built by English and French monarchs) so a marvellous market square, lots of activity, and really great food. We were joined there by sister Liz & Clive, the best tour guides for the area. Also marvellous cook and bottle washer. We will definitely plan a return trip to friends Myrle's son's home there. Sadly our return from France was serious marred when a snotty French security guard at Bergerac airport confiscated my stash of canned pate de fois gras (sob, sob) because it was a security risk!!! Who knew. Bastard probably enjoyed it all at home that evening. Grrrr

July - England - nephew Neil's Wedding to Jo

We returned to England to Ted's mum's home and visiting the Foster family for ten days. We all enjoyed the Cinderella wedding in Hampshire, an opportunity to meet extended family and friends we have not met or seen for decades. A great gathering. the happy couple both looked stunning as did their handsome parents and family. I got a chance to wear my Fascinator at last!
While near Epsom, we found many nice pubs and restaurants to visit every day, but the weather could have cooperated a bit better. After the heatwave earlier, rain and cooler weather dominated but not on the wedding day fortunately.

July - Paris

We took the Eurostar train from London to Paris, two hours under the English Channel. We hit France at 10 to 12 and it began to rain soon after! It seems the wet stuff followed us everywhere this summer! We had 4 days in Paris, wore out my feet and got food poisoning the last day which was a bummer. Fitted in some lovely museum/art gallery visits and up and down the Seine on the great little Batobus boats. And a couple of good restaurants before the stomach problems hit!

July to England - London/Southwold

We spent the month of July in Europe. First to London with sister Mary & Ivan then to visit their Georgian seaside house in Southwold.
From London we had a wonderful visit to the famous opera centre at Glyndebourne (photo left) for Falstaff and sister Mary's wonderful uber-picnic lunch and many of Ivan's bottles of wine. (How we stayed awake on day 2 in England for that I'll never know...)
Mary had all the family over for a BBQ in the garden one hot evening, great to see everyone and the fast growing Frank and Hannah/Nacho's new home by the Thames in Chiswick.
Later that week we spent a few days in Southwold. A typical English seaside town, hot and sunny while we ere there so fun going down the old fashioned pier for trinkets and ice cream. Lovely beach houses, supposedly the cost of a house for some, but no power or water!

Aug 2009 Up and running again - May/June USA

Welcome back to my blog! Life has resumed this year to its standard level of many trips and gatherings. We spent May/June travelling for the month in our 22ft RV Lupita (LUP111). WE spent he time in southern colorado and Utah and northern New Mexico and Arizona. gorgeous country. Many fantastic national parks - Mes Verde, Arches, Canyonlands, Canyon de chelly, Bryce Canyon to name a few. Weather was varied, some very hot, at 8,000 ft cold! Lots of rain at times too and huge winds.
We revisited many old favourites. Spent my birthday in Santa Fe, one of the most fascinating cities in the USA, dinner at Coyote Cafe, still great after 10 years or more. Hiked up and down canyons and did well. the RV worked marvellously, didn't have to resort to a hotel once and mostly ate in and BBQd a lot of the time. We are gradually finding all the bells and whistles to make it totally self-sufficient.

Celebration of Life

We had a most wonderful celebration Sunday with Gary and Sam Marx. I met Gary at Mount Royal College where he was one of my subjects in photography class. Since then we stayed in touch, though his marriage to the beautiful Samantha, shortly thereafter his diagnosis with testicular cancer and the long journey back to health. Last year, they successfully completed IVF and have gorgeous twin baby girls (i months) Sophie and Zoe. Sam threw a party for Gary's 5 year anniversary of end of treatment so we were thrilled to be part of that.
(See photos of Gary with Sophie, friend Jason with Zoe and Mum &
adoring grandpa.)

It was also great to see Kathleen Popiel-Long with daughter Aurora and partner Jason (right)

Apr 28 Update - Fundraising

I've been touched by many of you who have donated either to Ali, who will walk for the cure in July when I am in UK, or others. Notably, Vicky Hughes in England completed the London Marathon in 5/44, raising over L3000 (pounds) for breast cancer research in the process. Thank you Vicky!
You are on my honour wall now!