I been busy!

But not as busy as others have been: since I last posted, we have had a change in government in Australia: a resounding rejection of John Howard's Liberals, with Johnny himself losing his "safe" seat of Bennelong in Sydney, only the second time a Prime Minister has found himself, not only out of a job, but out of Parliament, after an election. Labor's Kevin Rudd, despite his lame US-style "Kevin07" slogan, has a lot more credibility, as well as a wife who retained her maiden name... Future will tell if he can earn continued support!
On the home front, very important stuff has been happening: Bryn my welsh foal is growing fast, and is no longer a colt... ouch! His Mum Bessie is in foal again, hopefully to give Bryn a little sister! Holly has had 2 visits to stallion Dae Wynne (Bryn's sire), fingers crossed.
Last Sunday, Michelle went to a Welsh Stud sale, to "help with the catering". Monday morning as I drove in, I noticed a new inhabitant in the front paddock: Francesca, who is a lovely chestnut part-welsh mare with a flaxen mane, very fetching, we all love her already!
The weather hasnt really been very "beachy", so I have finished 2 more pages for my scrapbook.
Still on 2003, I have done a double spread, featuring Sharon's last day in Narrogin before she, the children and Jewel left for Canberra in Nov 03.
The opposite page records the visit of my brother Francois and his wife Babette, all the way from France and before their move to Greece.
All in time, as tomorrow I fly to Canberra to help Sharon redecorate HER new Lodge!

My new baby!

Meet Bryn! Colt of Bessie (Trapalanda Bellissima) and Dai Wynne, he was born in the late hours of Friday 12 October. Michelle rang me at 11.45 pm, she had been watching a movie and checking on Bessie as she new her moment was near. Bessie foaled between visits, and as Michelle walked towards them, all she could see in the dark was his huge star.
He is very healthy and cantering around the paddock already, much to his mother's annoyance, and we have never seen Bess move so much and so quickly of her own accord to keep up with him. He is also VERY gorgeous, the most beautiful dark grey like mink, which I am am told will become black, with 2 white socks and the star on his forehead....
His name took a while and much deliberation: I always fancied Bryn, and after trying all sorts of combinations, the name "Brynderwyn" came to me at 3 am... that steep mountain pass on the highway north of Auckland where one usually gets stuck behing caravan-towing travellers. Well, it sounds a bit welsh anyway!

Chapter 3: Ireland

Friday 14 September: Taty Janine joined us on the train from Challans to Nantes. There we said our farewells, she was off to Paris, and we took the airport bus to catch a flight to Dublin. Once in town, we were having trouble locating our place for the night, so Richard went into a pub, came out with an accurate rendition: "Ye cross O'Connell Bridge, then tak the first left, right at the poob".
Litton Lane Hostel sounded charming on the net, in real life, its central location was its only positive trait: the "poob" across the lane played loud doof-doof very late, the showers dribbled pitifully and the fire door slammed upon the return of the inebriated occupants of the other rooms and their subsequent visits to the bathroom.
Nevermind, we enjoyed some great meals in Temple Bar, explored the town and were quite ready to move on by Sunday. Entertainment at the Euston Train Station as hordes of brightly dressed fans descended from Cork and from Killarney for the All Ireland Finals in Football and Hurling (Cork lost BTW).
Two nights at a slightly quieter B & B in Cork: being "close to the train station" also meant "close to diesel trains running their engines very very early in the morning"! Visited Kinsale on Monday, then on Tuesday we picked up our rented VW Golf for 3 wonderful days:

Day 1, a circuit of the Dingle Peninsula, the best B & B so far at Killorglin!

Day 2, irish weather as we drove around the Ring of Kerry, including a little ferry ride to Valentia Island, its slate quarry, grotto and the lovely sub-tropical gardens of Glanleam. Glengarriff for the night, in a bright pink B & B, our last pub dinner followed by a wonderful jam session of traditional irish music by local muso's.
The next morning, on the road again, stop at Skibbereen for a sobering look at the Potato Famine Heritage display, then back to Cork to return the hire car and our flight back to London.

Chapter 2: France

On Monday Sept 10, we took:
209 Bus Mortlake to Hammersmith
Tube to Baker St
Coach to Stanstead Airport
Ryan Air to Nantes
Airport Bus to Nantes Train Station,
Train to Challans, and finally
car to Baudy!
And here we are, in the cradle of my paternal family, the house my great-grandfather built in 1906.
It was the first time I had slept there since many happy childhood holidays, spent roaming country roads, daydreaming in fields of poppies and cornflowers, relishing my Pappy's cooking, milk, cream, butter and eggs from Ademe across the road. I even recalled the smell of Pappy's post-meal cigarillos...
This time Taty Janine, the last of Dad's generation, was our host. We ate her wonderful cooking in the same dining room, slept in a very antique bed in a room where generations have slept. A bit of gardening, more great meals, walks to the village of Apremont, to the cemetery to water flowers on family graves, then time to leave for our next destination!

London swings

Well here we are in London since last Thursday. Having had a wet and cold August, the Poms should be grateful we brought warmth and sunshine with us. Gorgeous days, walking the streets, meeting for the first time Josh and Adele's gorgeous baby daughter Eva, Richard's first grandchild. Eva is a great entry card to playgrounds like the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, near Kensington Palace. There we played in the sandpit surrounded by families of many nationalities enjoying the sunshine. Multi national food is being consumed too: italian panini in Soho, Indian in Sheen, Yum Cha in Queensway... not a Fish n Chip in sight, although we are meeting up for sausages n mash near Hyde Park Corner!

Rain then Sunshine

After 15 wet days, we finally reached, and in some places, exceeded the July rainful average.

The week-end was sunny, warm (22C) and spring-like. Richard and I celebrated this with a huge (for us!) walk through the Trigg bushland just North of Scarborough. The bushland is a remaining pocket of "natural" vegetation, from scrubby sand dunes, to medium size wattles, quandong trees bearing unripe fruit. A few Tuart eucalypts have survived , their habitat much altered by highway building, residential encroachment and deliberately lit fires. After a very pleasant walk, we spotted the ocean again, crossed the highway and walked back home in the sunshine, footpaths busy with walkers, skaters and cyclers, and many in the water enjoying the winter waves.