Brisvegas and 6 hours in Melbourne

I have recently returned from a week in Brisbane where I attended a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design workshop. I learnt so much during the three days, too much in fact and I think it will be a challenge to implement all that I learnt. The week in Brisbane also gave me a chance to catch up with some friends and family, which was an added bonus.

I took a leave day and was able to spend the weekend with my friend Jenny. We met in Mongolia, she is an AYAD as well. Jenny lives in Highgate Hill, in Brisbane's West End. Jenny lives a short walk from Boundary Street, a lively strip with lots of cafes, bars and funky shops. I had a glorious day on Friday thumbing through all the racks at all the op shops and vintage stores in the area. They were literally everywhere. And unlike Darwin where the clothes are all relatively new (i.e. late 90's) there was plenty of vintage and retro clothing. I spent a grand total of $32 and I got two dresses and three shirts. Boundary Street also had a number of vegetarian and vegan cafes which was also handy as I was about half way through my vegan challenge.

My flight back to Darwin was cancelled, so I had to go home VIA MELBOURNE, was a six hour lay over, none-the-less. I quickly texted Mel to see if she could pick me up during my time in Melbourne, luckily she could, and even more appropriately, Margo was coming over for Sunday roast, so I got to catch up with not one friend, but two.

The very well behaved Oscar was keeping us all entertained.

Oscar, Al and Mel chilling out after Sunday roast.

Margo providing details of her day at the Mooney Valley Community Day.

Having breakfast with Luke and J-dogg on Boundary St.

Whilst in Brisbane I also got to catch up with my high school buddy, Luke. Although we live in different states, have different jobs and haven't seen each other in the last two year, its like nothing has changed. He still knows how to stir me up better than anyone!

The River Steel Drum Band, performing at the West Brisbane Markets.

A weekend is not complete unless there is a visit to the markets. On Saturday I signed up to the Brisbane City Bikes and J-dogg and I rode to all our destinations on Saturday, including the West End markets. At the markets be bought THE BEST ROMA TOMATOES IN THE WORLD. They were absolutely to die for. I was eating them like apples. The taste was sensational. An old Italian guy was selling them (organic as well) and wanted to know why I wasn't buying more of them for my boyfriend.

We also tried lots of vegan foods. Some more tasty than others. One of the foods on the good list, was Cold Pressed Coffee (see below). It was basically soy iced coffee in a beer bottle (and yes it did look like I was walking around the markets at 10am drinking beer)

Soy Cold Pressed Coffee: one of the better vegan treats we had that morning

Catching up with Cousin Callan.

On Friday night Jenny and I caught up with my Cousin Callan for tasty Indian food and then we went to a local pub where a live band was strumming some funky blues rhythms. It is sort of hard to describe the joy I feel when listening to original live music. It just makes me so happy. And there and then I made a promise to myself to seek out more live music in Darwin and not listen to crappy DJ's because it is infinitely a better experience.

Some of 2010

After the travels I got very lazy with the blog and the taking of photos. This is what I could come up with for the remainder of 2010. Enjoy! Here's to better blogging in 2011.

Orphans Christmas: A day of fantastic food, great wine, fabulous company, that full up feeling, cocktails on a boat with sailors, and just general all round goodness.

Best Christmas Present Ever: A jar of pickled yabbies, caught and shelled by my family and posted from Kingston-on-Murray all the way to Darwin for me to enjoy on Christmas (Note: Directions on jar says I can not open them until the 25th) (Note: further directions also say that if I want any more I have to come home!)

Getting Our Bogan On: Renee and Camillies' Birthday Bash brings out the bogan in us all.

This includes bad tattoos, children with made up names, g-bangers showing and leggings and slippers as acceptable everyday attire.

The Mullet, it turns out, is a good tool for picking up!

Looking Hot on Halloween: Laine does her best impression of being scary (you are convincing no-one) as we get ready for a night of tricking and treating.

Meeting Hale: I got to meet Heidi and Shaugh's newly arrived son during my visit

Homemade Sandwiches made by Heidi: Spending some lovely down time with my high school buddy Heidi. Walking through the very lovely Bendigo, enjoying cups of tea together and op shopping.

Wedding in the Grampians: George's cousins, Nieve and Sophia as bridesmaids at Anna and Jerms' wedding.

H and G reunite: We met in Melbourne and travelled to Penola for our reunion tour. Anyone who knows us can pretty much guess what we did for our time together!

Bunji: In March I started my African experience by jumping into Victoria Falls. Surprisingly a refreshing and peaceful experience.

Cabaret: In August I enrolled in an 8 week Cabaret course. At the end we performed a show over two nights. It wasn't the most organised thing I have ever been a part of, but it did mean I got to prance around in heels, fishnets and lacy corsets, so there was some compensation.

What do you call a backpacker that has to pack her pack to go back?

The backpacker in her natural habitat, looking scruffy and unwashed

The year of Hayley is (sob, sob) coming to a close. I can't believe this amazing, scary, delightful, amazing, eye-opening, trip of a life time is coming to a close. I have seriously been having the time of my life and am a little apprehensive about going back home.

But enough about that, I haven't updated you on our latest adventures.

So we said goodbye to our tour group in Cape Town and then Cassie, Renee and I decided to take advantage of what Cape town had to offer including:
Fantastic gourmet food: after 3 weeks of rice and pasta we were more than ready to make the most of the game, seafood and other fresh produce available
Real Beds and Pillows: There were a few sleep ins and naps had... my bed seriously had about 5 pillows, it was amazing
Conquer Table Mountain: We could see Table mountain from our room, so were relieved to wake up one morning to see it not covered with fog, so we decided to climb it, it was a struggle, but we felt so great when we reached the top
One of a kind African Dresses: One afternoon when we were a bit tired and grumpy we stumbled into this dress shop with all these amazing locally and hand made gowns. We all ended up with stunning dresses, now I just need an occasion to wear mine.

We then reluctantly said goodbye to Cass...... and then the real fun began.

Renee and I with our friend Lisa went on a township tour. For any of you familiar with Apartheid in Africa, you are aware of the discrimination that happened and basically all the black people were told to go live elsewhere. These townships which are essentially slums are as far as the eye can see. Although there are some government built dormitory/ hostel type accommodation, the majority of the 1 million or more people live in little shacks they make themselves out or cardboard, wood and iron if they are lucky. These townships surround Cape Town and you soon realise that any balck person you see as a doorman, waiter or retailer is coming into the city each day from these townships.

Renee and I finally got the keys to our hire car and headed out towards Simon's Town on the cape. We visited some great local markets where we stocked up on snacks and then we went to an afternoon rock festival called "Sewing the Seeds" It basically felt like it was being held in someones back yard. It was relaxed and all the bands and DJs were local. We managed to get a CD of most of the bands we liked. It was so good to see some live music and just chill out.

The following morning we went walking along the coast to a Penguin colony and observed these wacky birds as they went about their thing. Then we drove to Stellenbosch a very close wine region... where the real fun began.

The first winery we stopped at happened to be our favorite as the girl doing the tastings was hilarious! She recommended us a place for lunch, which we went to and proceeded to spent 4 hours devouring a tasting menu with matching wines. We had to drink coffees on the lawns to sober up before we went to our hostel. The weather was divine and the food was amazing and the staff superb! The chef was mighty impressed when we sent her a beer for all her hard work, but it was the least we could do for the fantastic day we had.

The following day we sampled coffee, chocolate and tasty olives. We also went walking through the estate of an adjoining winery that had lovely gardens! It took us a while to find a place for lunch as most kitchen were shut on the Monday, we ended up at Kleine Zeltze, on the balcony, enjoying a 3 course meal with a crisp sauv blanc. Bliss!

The following day was a big driving day, we got out of the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine regions and went through many dry-ache farms and sheep farms. It looked dry and dusty just like Australia. When we got to Mossel Bay, the seaside town that was our destination, we found out they were in drought and there was water restrictions in this area.

I was so happy to get into the sea because I was about to overheat! The guy at our hostel, who was slightly mad, made a Braai for us that night. Braai is the South African was of barbecuing and it involves making a wood fire, burning it down to coals and then cooking your food over the coals. We had Boerwurst, Chicken, Lamb and Pork with Ugali and a sauce with a weird name. Yummmm!

The next day Renee and I learnt to surf! It was totally awesome dude. I never thought it could be so fun! I got up a handful of times, but not for a great deal of time. I am very keen to do it again though. I am already planning a surfing holiday to Brisbane!

After a nap, a walk and some ice cream, we shucked oysters with Neal (our crazy hostel mate) who had got some wild ones from his mate, then he cooked us some fish on the Braai, Red Baron with a garlic, herb and apricot jam dressing!!!! Yummy, yum, yum!

We got up especially early today to get to Cape Town in enough time to do our Robben Island tour (where Nelson Mandela was held) but it was canceled again (we had tickets as well for last friday) so bit annoyed about that, however got to have ice cream and a shiatsu massage at the waterfront instead.

Whoa.... what a few days. I have really enojyed being under our own steam for the past few days and Renee and I are such good travel partners for each other because there is not much in the way of compromise that we have to do, because we pretty much want to do the same thing.... eat and drink our way around the world!!!

On reflection......
I'm not a tour kind of person! I'm a bit sad we didn't just hire a car and do our own thing around Africa. The tour was great and we got to see way more than if we were doing it by ourselves, but I just missed that local interaction. I didn't have to talk to the locals for directions or bargain the price for a room or find supplies at the local markets.

Gone are the culture vulture days: It used to be all about museums, churches, galleries and opera but on this trip I think I can count the number of museums I have visited on one hand. I have now become the adventure traveler. I know, I surprise even myself, but the number of adrenaline things I have done, and mountains I have climbed (or slip down) just for the fun of it far outweighs the cultural pursuits I have undertaken and I have loved it and I intend to do more of it.

Traveling the World does not help you work out your destiny: Sadly, no, although a trip of this kind is good for learning about yourself, the world and your role in it, sadly it doesn't tell you what kind of job you should apply for!

OK sport fans, I have to go pack and brace myself for the normality (relatively speaking) of Australia.

Africa in Photos

A resident of Cape Towns slum

At the Cape of Good Hope

The Quiver Tree

Proof I was in Africa

Sunrise at the Soussouivlie

Cape Cross, Namibia, where the Portugese first landed

Our Tour Truck in the Salt Pan in Etosha National Park

Zebra Crossing

The lilac-breasted Roller, this bird is quite the poser

Cassie giving her new friend a piggy-back

Africa-ca-ca

Lady and baby from the Bushman Tribe.

The Bushman kids helping us set up our tents

Sunset mokoro ride on the Okavango Delta

Cassie the Delta Princess

Bindi.... I mean Cassie Irwin

Hello pussycat!

Getting pretty wet at Victoria Falls

Cruizin' on the Zambiezie

For those of you who are “Long Way Down” fans, you may recall the episode when Charlie and Ewan are in Livingston in Zambia. Apart from watching hippos at night, Charlie and one of the camera men bunji jumped off the bridge that spanned victoria falls. “That could be me soon” I mentioned to Steph (housemate who was also watching the episode with me) “I might go to Victoria Falls.” I said this almost six months ago and although I am pretty much petrified about bunji I kinda made a promise to myself then and there, that if I ever did go there I would have to bunji.

So when I eventually did get to Victoria Falls and there was a discount to do the Slide (flying fox across the gorge) Swing (basically you are harnessed and swing back and forwards across the gorge) and Bunji, there was no refusing the experience and the value.

The Slide was easy and very relaxing, a great view of the rapids below. The Swing I did in Tandem with Cassie.

I was greatful to do something scary with someone else. Our whole account of the event was quite amusing (and I have the DVD to prove it). At the last minute, as we are on the ledge, Cassie, strapped to me is just about to back out, she is already telling the guy she can’t do this, but he is too busy counting us down to notice, 3, 2, 1, Swing.... then Eeeeeeeeeeekkkk, I get an earful of Cass having somewhat of a panic attack! The free fall was sooooo scary, you are there dropping down into the gorge and thinking when is the swing going to go taught and swing us across. It finally did kick in and once Cass had relaxed we swang back and forth across the gorge.

By the time I got to the Bunji I wasn’t really scared of anything anymore. I did panic a bit as I stuck my toes over the edge and contemplated what it was that was actually holding me from my death. So the bunji was a tranquil experience. I bacially just fell into the gorge and lets mist submerge me. It was quite peacefull to bounce around upside down.

I really did not prepare for Africa, I didn’t even really read the trip notes. My preparation consisted of going to see “The Lion King” musical in London’s West End (which was quite awesome by the way). Which has been quite fitting because we have constantly been singing verse after verse on the bus. So when we were on a bush walk with some local guides, and they were trying to explain what creature had dug up the earth, they told us ‘a pumba’ had been there. Similarily when we were on a game drive, our guide said, “look there are some pumbas.” I love the fact that Pumba has become the universal word for “warthog.”

Africa is a lot more developed than I expected. After doing some touring in Mongolia and then contemplating a ‘drive yourself holiday’ in Africa, I was quick to shoot down the idea as I thought it is going to take too much planning, the roads will be shit, we can’t guarantee the petrol stations on the map will have petrol. But obviously you can’t paint developing countries with the same brush. Our route through Botswana and Namibia although remote, has taken us along many a village giving an impression that a lot of the countryside is populated, unlike Mongolia where you can drive for hours and not see another ger. Although the houses are simple mud and stick chalets, most of them have adjoining vegetable gardens or crop to some extent, which would be a luxury in Mongolia. Addmittedly I haven’t seen the whole country, but all the talk about Africa centres on the relative poverty of the population and the harsh conditions. Given all that I had herd and read I was surprised to find large town with internationally branded supermarkets (Spar) and petrol stations (BP), prefabricated houses in small villages with satellite dishes, cars and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Perhaps we can thank England’s attempts at collonisaion of Africa for the widespread use and understanding of the English language. Our guides are from Kenya, but as there are god knows how many languages and dialects across Africa, even they use English when communicating with people outside their language group.

Any expectations I had about Africa have literally gone out the window. I knew we would be going into some national parks with the possibility of seeing wild animals, but I didn’t expect them to be plentiful and for the most part not too scared by vehicle movement. I pictured us all requiring binoculars (and I bought a pair according to my expectation) to see anything, but no, they literally hang around on the sides of the road and most wait patiently for you to take their picture.

There are a lot of parrellels to be drawn between Africa and Australia. The vegetation, landscape and cultures are not mirrors but echos of Australia. We spent one evening with the Sani bushmen, who took us on a walk where they showed us how the hunt and forage for food. Their techniques and way of living is quite similar to that the Australian Aboriginals.

I love being on the water, and that is perhaps why I enjoed our time in the delta so much. We spent two nights in the Okavango Delta in Botswana where we spent a great deal of time ferrying between islands in Mokoros. Originally dug out canoes, polers (those who steer the canoes) now opt for fibreglass version. Their long slender shape and flat bottom make them ideal for navigating through the grasses and the shallow water of the delta. However being that low also make you suceptable to hippos (Africa’s most dangerous animal) and elephants who bathe and eat in the delta. It got a little hairy at times when we had to navigate our way around these animals.

One of the highlights of my trip, and it continues to be, is that I get to spend so much time with Cassie and Renee! It is so fantiastic to share such a great trip with such awesome friends!

More about Africa to follow! Maybe even some photos!

Coffee, children and cycling!

That about sums up my week in the Netherlands. During my visited I stayed mostly with Angelqiue and her family in Utrecht. Even though it has been five years since I have seen everyone, it hardly feels like I have been away at all. However, the fact that the children are all grown up is a definate indicator that time has passed. I arrived at dinner time and it was quite surreal for me to see an 8, 7 and 5 year old at the table with their dad! Last time I was there Lisa, the youngest was just a baby, but now she can walk and talk and had me playing princess games and doing drawings. Also Marlens kids are so grown up. Yannick just turned 15 and he is 191cm tall!!! I am only just taller than Wessel (13) and Erwin (12). Wessel is learning guitar, so he taught me some songs!

On Lique's days off we would do some shopping, sightseeing and bike rides through the park as well as take the kids to and from school and sport. Lique organised a baby sitter for Friday evening so her and I could go to the sauna. I checked with Lique if I needed to take my bathing suit and of course the answer was no, because Europeans are like that, free with being naked. However when we got to the sauna, I was a little bit concerned to see men in my change room. Lique had forgotten to mention it was a mixed sauna (aparently also very normal in Europe). So this sauna experience, coupled with the show Adam sent us to in London means I have seen enough naked men this month to last me a lifetime!!!

Apart from visiting family I managed to squeese in some touristy things. I went to the Central Museum and saw a great exhibition about a dutch fashion designer. I also had a great time at the Dick Bruna House. Dick Bruna is the creator of Miffy and he is from Utrecht. I also saw an exhibition at the Catherine-Convent Museum that was all about fertility symbols. I also went with Lique and the kids to the Rietveld Schoeder House, one of Utrechts most famous landmarks. The house is constructed using the De Stilj principles where fragmented planes and a colour combination (red, yellow, blue, black, white and grey) are prominent. Check out some more info here: http://www.rietveldschroderhuis.nl/rshEng.jsp I really enjoyed it, especially as it contained a lot of his furniture as well, which I find really interesting.

I caught up with Gertjan and his parents for dinner, had coffee with Tante Riet and Ome Theo, went to Marlen and Rons for a birthday celebration, had dinner with Anna and her two girls in Barn and had coffee with Tante Magda and Ome Johan before being taken to the airport.

I have also been practicing my dutch.... which is very tiring, because I have to constantly think about it! But aparently I speak better dutch then I did last time (which I can't work out how that might be because I haven't spoken that much dutch in the last 5 years!!!) And every conversation usually was around 3 main points.
1. How is your tirp, where have you been, so good to see you again?
2. How is all the family?
3. When is the rest of the family coming to see us?!

My bag also came back quite heavy as I was carrying: stroopwaffles, drop, hagelslag, Appletaart Mix, chocolate and cheese! Marlen and I spent Monday in Delft where insted of buying Delft Blue china, we found some delft blue cheese!!! Prachtig! I also bought a really nice young cheese that gets rippened in old bunkers and a pesto and walnut cheese that is divine!

Leaving is never easy, especially when there is a wonderful family that open their arms to you whenever you visit (and give you hugs everyday) but I was on a high from being 'loved' during my time there and I knew it wouldn't be the last time I would see them. Of course we sat down for another cup of coffee at the airport before I had to leave (3rd one for the day, it was only 11am) but this time I opted for Chocomel. I had been looking for it everywhere, and the airport cafe was the only place I found it. When Gemma and I came in 97 we would always have a chocomel when all the adults drank coffee!!! It is really good chocolate milk!

Me in Delft, I had my photo taken here when I first came to Holland in '97

Lisa at the horse paddock

Erwin, Wessel, Yannick and Me

Gebrand, Gertjan and Bep

England continued

Christy arrives in London

George is very happy to be watching her team, Everton

Hayley enjoying a devonian pasty on the walk from Beer to Seaton

Romance begins with a Pasty

So sayeth the devonians (residence of Devon, a south west County). I'm not sure about romance, but I have been called 'my love' 'my lovely' 'my dear' and 'my popett' more times in the last 3 days than in my whole life.... if that is romance then it definatley did begin with a pasty.

I have just come back from 3 days in Exeter, Devon. Every man and his dog wants to know why I would want to go to Exeter and my reasons are simple
1. It is the same name as a pub I like in Adelaide
2. I'm after a good pasty, and
3. Hannah (friend of George's lives there)

So off I went on a train to a city that has been around since the romans. One of the first things I did (after having a pasty for lunch) was go on an underground tour that took you through these tunnles that used to house water pipes. These tunnles were also used as storage, secret escape routes and bomb shelters during the 2nd World War.

Rather than pay the 5 pound entrance fee to the town catherdral, I went around the back to the catherdral cafe where I had a delightful cream tea (pot of tea, scones, jam and clotted cream) and sat in a wing of the cathedral that had the same achitecture and leadlighting as the cathedral. That evening I went on a ghost and legends tour. Thankfully it wasn't too scary as I had to walk home by myself, in the dark!

Exeter is a nice sized town, with only about 100,000 people and lovely old buildings and on the banks of the river Exe. I was lucky enough to have sun on my second day, so I hoped on a bus and went to Beer, a small seaside town where I procured a very tasty pasty and walked along the cliffs to the next town Seaton where I basked in the sun, bought some local cider and then caught a bus to the next town Lyme Regis. Lyme Regis is famous for its concentration of fossils. I visited the museum and walked along the cobb, the artifical harbour. At about 3pm is started to get grey and drissley, so I hoped on the bus and went back to Exeter. The day ended with pints of cider with friends from the hostel at a lovely pub around the corner.

On Thursday Hannah and James picked me up so we could go out to Dartmoor National Park for the day, however it wasn't to be as the radiator cracked and we were left on the side of the road waiting for the RAC. But all was not lost. We were able to get into town and walk all the way along the river to this lovely little pub near the lock where we had tasty pie for lunch and then walked back in time for me to go to the train station.

So my reasons for visiting Exeter, I think are worthwhile and justified.
1. I visited only nice, friendly pubs reminicent of my time drinking at the Exeter in Adelaide
2. I had 2 tasty pasties
3. I got to spend the day with lovely Hannah

The Good Life

To say I have been living the good life would be somewhat of an understatement! In the last month I have got to do a number of my favourite things including:

1. Spending lots of time in my PJs (George and I now have 4 matching pairs)
2. Hang out with George, Marg and Simon
3. and eat lots of tasty food with George, Marg and Simon!

I have also been sampling english culture. Highlights include:
Pricilla Queen of the Desert, the Musical: Absolutely the best musical I have seen in a while, I was laughing, singing, crying and dancing in my chair for the whole performance!! Highly recommended! I was on a high for a few days after it!
Coffee with Fabien in Brighton: Unfortunatley Fabien (old worl collegue) was going to be back in Australia for the entirity of my visit her, but we found a friday afternoon to catch up for coffee. I travelled to Brighton for the day where I also went to the Pier, the Lanes, the Fishing Museum, Royal Palace and the Brighton Museum. So good to see Fabien and hear about his life in London
Breakfast at the Georgian Cafe: Marg and Simon took me to this great cafe near their place that served up a Georgian inspired breakfast including a tasty bean concoction.
Birthday Celebrations: It began with french toast and bacon and ended with mushy peas and chips and in between George and I had our hair done, went through covent garden, had high tea and a few ciders at the famous cock! (thats a pub, for all you dirty minded people)
Tea in Weighbridge: I travelled south to Surrey to visit my 80-somthing-year-old pen pal, Louisa, and we had lots of cups of tea as we talked about all that had happened in the last 4 years
Hot Date with George: Adam (George's boyfriend) sent us off to dinner and a show on him. I had a lovely 3 course meal consisting of beetroot and vodka marinated salmon on a blini, pork belly and black pudding with a calradere sauce and lemon tart - we then proceeded to watch a play about men singing and dancing in the nude... not quite sure about Adams pick there!
Roast Dinners: Not only have we been trying various pubs to see who does a good roast, but there has been lots of experimenting at home to see you can do the best potatos. Adam is currently the winner.

I then decided to finally get out of London and discover more of this green isle.
Cardiff: a lovely seaside town/ city in Wales. I had a tea and scone at the wooden Norweigen Lutheran church that Rohl Dahl was baptized in, was unimpressed by the Dr. Who exhibition and watched the Cardiff Male Voice choir practice at the local rugby club.
Horse-riding: Wanting to re-created my experience in Mongolia, I found a place in South West Wales that offered horse-riding. However, I ended up choosing the worst 2 days ever to go riding. It was snowing, cold and wet for both days. That didn't stop my guide and I from exploring the countryside and trotting and cantering where possible. My guide on the second day was a lovely girl called Jemma, and she let me get on her horse and have a good ride around as my horse was not in the mood for going very fast. That night I went to dinner with all the girls from the stable because it was Nicola's birthday.

After 4 days in Wales, I made my way up to Liverpool where I was joined by George and we went to my frist football match. The game was Everton Vs Manchester United. Everton won 3 - 1, and it was a very exciting game to watch and whilst I think live soccer is great to watch, I don't think I have respect for a game that makes me scared as a spectator. Towards the last minutes there were several announcements that Manchester United fans (there were in a special sectioned off area) should remain in their seats until all the roads outside had been cleared. We ended that day with some really tasty asian, my favourite dish being the soya glazed salmon with wasabi mash and pickles, Mmmmm.

Our second day in Liverpool was the "Beatles Day" where we went to the beatles story exhibition and went on the magical mystery tour that took us all through liverpool showing us various areas of importance including the houses the boys used to live in, Penny Lane and Starwberry fields. We ended that day with fabulous pies and tasty ales at the Philharmonic pub.

I have eaten so much potato and meat since I have been here! I don't know if it is the weather, or that it is england and the the menu is limited, but I always find myself ordering the roast, or the home made pie or some chips or bangers and mash (oh and lots of cream teas.... I never used to eat scones!)

In the cavern club, Liverpool

Watching Everton do their thing in Liverpool

Breacon, Wales - Where I spent 2 days horse-riding

Garden of the Museaum of Welsh Life