Oct 20, 2011 - Plymouth

Tony had a day off to explore and decided on Plymouth, a cheap off peak return was just £9.50, and another £3 for an all day bus pass. There is a naval base there (Devonport) and Plymouth is also the port that the Mayflower left from in 1620 to sail to America. In 1839 the Tory left here for New Plymouth, NZ (for those that don't know, Tony was born in New Plymouth). The train took about an hour and a half, got there about 11am and used the bus pass to head into the city centre’ Tony could have walked it, but it was hard to tell how far the...

Sep 1, 2011 - Plymouth

After leaving Bath we head south to Glastonbury headed along what i can describe as how i imaged England's countryside to be, a patchwork of fields and colours, high hedge's and narrow roads and that is just what it was today. We stopped in Glastonbury to visit the Abbey, which was the first church in Eruope to be built above ground. It is mainly ruins today, but you can picture how it would have been if still standing and complete today. King Arthur is buryed in the Abbey. We continue south to the martime city of Plymouth, a new city...

May 6, 2011 - Plymouth and surrounds

Firstly we venture to St German and Torpoint – from where we can see Devonport and some of the British naval vessels. At torpoint we see the naval training college HMS Raleigh. Amuses us all the names that are so familiar from home. Here we have Launceston which is on the Tamar River – only here it is pronounced Lanston. Margate, Kettering, Devonport etc. Then to a park and ride where we leave Pierre and catch a bus into Plymouth. We shop in Marks and Spencers and then enjoy a wander around the water front, taking in the memorials, and then...

May 5, 2011 - Down the Cornish Coast

Today we head out to visit some of the Cornwall coastal areas. Our first stop a small village called Boscastle. A very narrow entrance to the harbour – difficult to imagine sailing vessels getting through. Apparently a rowing boat manned by six rowers used to lead the vessels through. Think they used ropes to pull them out when they set sail again. We walk up the cliffs to see the coastal views. The wind blowing so hard it almost knocked me over when I stood to take a photo. We travel further down the Cornwall coast to part of the coast...

Mar 2, 2011 - Devon & Cornwall

Mum is now home from hospital and recovering well from her operation. She had a check up this week and the doctor is very pleased with her. She starts her physio next week. Linda, my sister, stayed to help Dad care for Mum for a few days. It was lovely of her to take the time off from work and leave her family to fend for themselves. Thank you Linda. Paul and I resumed our travels by heading back to the south coast. We had an appointment in Poole to have a tow bar fitted on the motor home in case we decide to tow a car. We stayed on a...

Sep 12, 2010 - Cornish excursion

This morning I woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep! I felt a bit hung over which was strange because I'd only had 2 drinks.. maybe I didn't drink enough water. I ended up taking a Zofran to make me feel drowsy and ended up getting another hour of sleep. I awoke from a very strange and disturbing dream. The weirdest part about the dream was that I felt as though I was only half asleep, which may have been the case. Strange themes of the dream included my work collegue giving birth to quintuplets, Mandy renting out our spare bedroom...

Mar 31, 2010 - Wed 31 - to Plymouth and back

Buckland Abbey, Plymouth, Launceston to Oke Today we were snowed on, hailed on, rained on, blown away (by the freezing wind) and sunshined - all the winter seasons in one day. The top temperature reached a massive 9.5 degrees C, the low point 1degree C. I thought at one point ‘I’ll never complain about another Ballarat winter’ but I know I will so I’ll leave it unsaid. This grand abbey was once the home of Sir Francis Drake. Set up by Cistercian monks, it was wrested from them by good old Henry VIII (who hated the catholic church) and...

Feb 23, 2010 - Spots

IM SPOTTED!!!! About a week ago I started getting a weird rash all over my body Sarah took me to the doctor and they thought it was an infection. So I’ve been on antibiotics for four days and things are getting worse instead of better so we went back to the doctor today and they say it’s a form of skin infection. So round two of medication and lotions. Lets see what happens…

Feb 23, 2010 - The Band

This town singer songwriter was a group who formed a band a few years ago. Josh, Liam, George, and Carl. I had a great time doing a photo shoot with them because they all had such individual personalities and we're not afraid to be themselves. Their song was titled No Sympathy. It was a rock out song about taking charge of your life and not giving excuses for the mistakes you have made.

Feb 23, 2010 - Plymouth

We pulled into the drive and were immediately greeted with a smile filled with excitement, joy, and kindness. This was the Young American’s first time at Tamarside College in Plymouth. The staff was so incredible and really willing to learn and jump in with the workshop to experience what their kids were going through. Tamarside is known in the area as a very rough school in fact everyone that I mention that I was working with kids at Tamarside, they all seemed to cringe and apologize but I found these kids to be far from rough. Yes they...

Jun 23, 2008 - Plymouth (ENGLAND) - Old friendships that time can't change - lovely!

The train journey thru the South of England wasn’t the best due to my mood, but the closer I got to Plymouth the better I felt. Hedley had been on the phone and said he would meet me at the station, so with a bar on the last leg and few beers I felt great by the time I arrived. Albeit a day later than anticipated. It was great to see Hedley, my old school mate from our Hong Kong days, smiling as I walked up the platform. Been 8 years since we last saw each other so it was a long over due meet. We drove to his place and his brother Sean, who...

May 13, 2008 - Last Night At Home

Right well this is my last lil note from home now, said most my goodbyes and packed my bag... well sorta its in the process of still being rearranged still. Obviously i will miss everyone family and friends (even though i may not show it too well). But not to worry since we have the glorious world of new fangled technology to keep in touch with and not forgetting good old pen n paper! Wont be using my normal mobile number while im away, but if you ring it there is my current one on the evil that is the answer phone! Few last bits to be...