Heathrow to Perth via Singapore.

                                                           Our beautiful Airbus A380

                                                                 Singapore

                                                                 Singapore CBD from the river

                                                                 Rob and I Kings Park

                                                          The old Swan brewery.

                                                           Rob and N at Rob's front door.

                                                                Donna and I with Rob and Steve

                                                            Me and N with Geoff (a second cousin ) and his son Paul.

                                                               Blue Water Point

We got to Heathrow about 3.30 and eventually were able to find a seat in the main terminal as it was too early to drop off the bags. An hour or so after we were able to drop off the bags and go through security into the departure area. Once again seats were scarce but we did manage to find 2 together. So commenced a couple of hours reading and watching the world go by. The amount of duty free shops is amazing, I really don't understand how they make a living. So much stuff!! Finally we boarded our flight and took off as scheduled at 9.30pm.

I have to write a short paragraph here about our plane the Airbus 380. It has now been in service for a couple of years. When we lived at Carol we saw it on its first test flight when it took off from Toulouse and flew over our house. After that it was to become a common site as it flew many test flights over us. We always knew when it was the Airbus as it had such a distinctive engine noise. It certainly is a much quieter plane to fly in and although I believe that the seat pitch is the same as a jumbo it seems to be more spacious and airy. I was able to sleep, fitfully, for 6 hours which is a great improvement on previous long haul flights. The entertainment system on there is superb too.

So, it was 6.30 pm local time when we arrived in Singapore. Through customs and immigration and picked up the baggage and caught a taxi to our hotel the Santa Grand hotel Bugis. Our room was smallish but adequate with a view over the street to parkland. I had a shower and went up to the rooftop swimming pool for a quick dip before we had a meal in the hotel dining room. We were both pretty shattered and were ready for bed. We were both awake at 3am, bright and breezy, so went online to see what was happening in cyber land. We managed to get back to sleep about 7am until 11am. After a quick shower it was time to take advantage of what little time we had in Singapore. We found an Indian restaurant not far from the hotel and had a lamb biryani to set us up for an afternoon's sight seeing.We decided to go down to Clarke Quay and after consulting the girl at reception caught a bus outside the hotel. Unfortunately it was quite a while before we realised that we had missed our stop and we had to get off the bus and cross over the road to catch another bus to retrace our steps. Finally we arrived at Clarke Quay. A stroll around and a quick visit to one of the huge shopping centres for a look around. Not able to buy anything really as we don't have room in our baggage for anything! We strolled along Clarke Quay and the many restaurants lining the quay and found where we could embark on a boat for a trip along the river. It was nice and cool on the boat and it was fascinating to cruise down the river and listen to the commentary of what we were seeing. Back at the Quay we crossed over the river bridge in search of somewhere to eat. Lots of restaurants which seemed expensive and not very attractive. By this time we were both getting a bit crotchety through hunger and tiredness and found it hard to agree what we should do. We finally went into the Riverside Mall, close to the bus stop, and found a stall that suited our purpose. I can't tell you what we had but it was very tasty and acceptable. Rice, egg and lots of different vegetables. We managed, then, to get the right bus and get off at the right stop for our hotel. Footsore and shattered we were glad to get back to our room and pack our bags ready for an early start next morning.

We both managed to sleep through until 5.45am when our alarm went off and were ready, with all our luggage, in hotel reception at 6.15 to pile into our taxi for the airport. After checking in our bags we had a breakfast of boiled eggs and toast which was most acceptable, not sure about the coffee though which was made with the addition of condensed milk! Soon it was time to make our way to the departure lounge and board our flight for Perth which left on schedule at 8.45pm. The flight to Perth is only 5 ½ hours which didn't seem too long after our previous flight from Heathrow to Singapore. An added bonus is that Perth is on the same time as Singapore.

Another check through immigration and sniffer dog who gave our bags the OK and we were out into the arrival hall where we were met by Rob. Nigel spent several years in Perth back in the 1980's and shared a house with Rob and some other chaps at that time. Rob had stayed with us, at our house in Ariege, back in 2002 so we were both pleased to see him again. We managed to load all our luggage into his car, a Toyota Celica, and I squeezed into the back seat. Unfortunately the air con in the car isn't working so we were soon feeling the effects of the 37C heat! We stopped off at Brewer Street at the house where there used to be a hostel where they met and gave them a chance to reminisce before arriving at his house. Rob and Donna have a very nice bungalow about 4kms from the centre of Perth. It was the first time that we had met Donna, I had been somewhat apprehensive about spending a week with them but as soon as I met Donna I knew that we would get on well and felt really welcome. After unpacking and sitting around chatting we walked to a nearby Indian restaurant and had a meal before returning “home” and going, relatively early, to bed. It is very hot here, mid 30C's and not too easy to sleep but we were both pretty shattered and ready for bed.

Donna is working but Rob has taken the week that we are here off work so on Thursday morning we went to Kings Park and Botanic Gardens for a look around. The park covers an area of over 400 hectares and has stunning views of the city. It was pretty hot though so after a couple of hours we were ready to go back to the car and made our way to City Beach where there is a very nice restaurant at the edge of the beach. I have to say that the Australians eat so well, such a variety of food and of course wonderful fish. I was entrance to see Cockatoos in the trees at the edge of the beach. After lunch we walked across the beach to the Indian Ocean, the sand was so hot that I had to keep my flip flops on! We had a paddle in the sea and Rob said what a shame that I didn't have my cossie with me but after hearing tales of shark attacks in these waters I'm not sure that I would have wanted to do any more than paddle.

On the way back to Rob's we stopped at a supermarket to buy ingredients for a picnic in the evening. Donna came back from work and we all made the decision not to go out for a picnic as we were all pretty shattered. We assembled the provisions and had a long lazy meal outside in the garden under the pergola. A nice end to our first day in Perth.

Friday morning we had a relatively early start as N and I were taking a river cruise down the Swan River to Fremantle. Rob dropped us off at the harbour and we boarded the ferry to Fremantle. The trip takes an hour and a half down the river past many yacht clubs and very expensive river side homes to the docks in Fremantle. Our ferry docked next to the largest private yacht in the world, The World, which was moored there for 24 hours. It was huge and apparently has a hundred and some private apartments which (very rich) people can buy and spend their lives cruising around the world. http://aboardtheworld.com/

There is a large dockside covered market which we explored and where I bought my tourist hat, a peak with a kangaroo motif! Touristy but a necessity in this heat. Then a short walk into town where we had a look around before deciding to find somewhere for lunch. We were lucky to find a really nice restaurant with the obligatory air conditioning as well as free wifi which we were able to take advantage of as we had taken the net book with us. More food, a very nice plate of tempura prawns for me and fried local sardines for Nigel. We also managed to drink 2 litres of water as it was so hot and we were beginning to feel dehydrated. Another short stroll and it was time to go back to catch the ferry at 3.45. Back to Perth at 5pm and a rest in the park by the ferry terminal until Rob and Donna picked us up to go for a meal in East Perth. They had booked a table at The Partisan a very nice restaurant by the river where we ate fresh roasted Barramundi.

Saturday morning Donna wasn't feeling good as she had a migraine. By the time that N and I surfaced Rob had already been out and bought a paper. After breakfast I took a short walk to the postbox, it's Jonny''s birthday on Tuesday so I hope that he gets his card on time. Rob and N went out, to meet up with Steve an old friend of theirs, in the afternoon and Donna and I chatted and I caught up with writing this. We went out later to meet up with the “boys” at Monte Fiore, an Italian restaurant in Beaufort Street. More good food, I had chicken excelente, free range chicken with scallops. Sorry if this is beginning to sound like a tour of restaurants but the food here is so diverse and so good.

Sunday, once again Rob had been out and got the paper before we got up I didn't sleep very well last night, it was very hot and I suspect that the strong macciatta coffee I had last night didn't help. We had a long, lazy morning sitting under the pergola reading the paper and chatting. After lunch Rob took us for a drive up to Scarborough Beach and beyond before parking up at Scarborough Beach. We were due to meet up at the Dome coffee shop at 2pm with N's second cousin Geoff (Beanie's brother) and his son Paul who lives here. When we met Beanie, last week in Windsor, she insisted that we rang Paul when we got here as his father Geoff was due to arrive in Perth a couple of days after us. They were a bit late arriving but we managed to recognise them and sat for an hour or so, over coffee, chatting to them. More relatives for Nigel to add to his family tree. We than had a walk along the sea front which was very busy with people enjoying the beach and the sea. It was pretty breezy so quite refreshing. Back home and a pleasant evening with an Indian takeaway for supper and then some tv before we all retired, early, to bed.

Monday. We both woke early after a good nights sleep, it seemed to be much cooler last night although it looks like being a pretty hot day again. We went into the town centre and Rob and N went to the Art Gallery and I went to wander round the shopping centre. I was on the hunt for a bag but couldn't find what I wanted in my price range. It was good though to wander around and to sit from time to time watching the word go by. On my way back to meet up with Rob and N I went into a souvenir shop and found just the bag I wanted which was a stroke of luck. The airline seems to have a pretty generous allowance for handbag size so I wanted to take advantage of that. We had a sandwich and a coffee before going back to the car and driving across to South Perth to Blue Water Point. Blue Water Point is the site of an old mental hospital that has been renovated and houses various offices, flats, restaurant and cafe. The views across the river are splendid and we saw a memorial to Heath Ledger whose family live nearby. We sat and had a cool drink in the shade admiring the view before going back to the car and driving back over the river and calling in on Steve on the way back home. At this point I feel that I have to mention the car. Rob has a very nice Toyota Celica that is getting on in years but is in very good condition and has not done a lot of miles. Sadly the air con isn't working and the back seat is somewhat restricted but I have perfected the art of getting in and out of it quite well but am glad that we are not doing any long journeys in it in this heat!

Donna was home from work at 5.30 and after half an hour or so we all piled into Donna's car, a Peugeot convertible to go out to dinner. Thankfully the air con in her car works but the back seat is somewhat smaller than Rob's car – swings and roundabouts! It was a 45 minute drive to the Indiana restaurant at Cottesloe beach. There were lots of people at the beach enjoying the last rays of the sun. Rob had booked a table overlooking the beach and we were able to watch the sun set over the sea as we started our meal. We had bronze whaler shark, a first for N and I and it was very good and extremely filling. Our evening ended with a drive back with the hood down which was very enjoyable.

Tuesday was our last day in Perth and the plan was that I would cook the evening meal. Rob and Donna have a nice kitchen which is somewhat underused as they tend to eat out most of the time. After checking what utensils were available Rob and I went off to the supermarket to buy the ingredients. I was looking forward to being able to repay their hospitality as they had taken us to some really nice restaurants. We then drove over to South Perth, to a restaurant by the riverside and had lunch. We drove back via yet another part of Perth where N had lived at some time during his stay there. Of course it is 30 years since he was there so the city has changed and grown so much that it is almost unrecognisable to him.

It was a good night to eat in as it was Valentines Day and, I suspect, that most eateries would be doing special menus and special prices. I prepared an anchoiade for starters, lots of fresh veggies which an anchovy dip and then tagliatelle with mushrooms, lardons, garlic, parmesan and crème fraiche accompanied by a couple of bottles of Semillon Blanc. Cheese and port rounded off the meal which seemed to be appreciated by our hosts. We have had a wonderful stay in this beautiful part of the world and have been made to feel so welcome by Rob and Donna.

From Bordeaux to Windsor

                                        Me, Susie,Roy,Beanie and Nigel at Roy and Jo's stables.
After two days cleaning and two nights staying with Jane and Michael the day of departure, 1^st February 2012. The weather had turned bitter cold even in our normally mild part of SW France and it was forecast to be very cold in the UK too. Nigel and Michael took Molly for a walk whilst I checked that we had everything ready to put in the car. Michael and Jane accompanied us, in our car which they are going to look after until John and Jill arrive, into Mont de Marsan where we parked at the station and got our tickets. After a copious lunch at the bar de Plumacon, by the bullring, we loaded our luggage onto the train, said a final farewell to Jane and Michael and set off on the first stage of our journey.

After an hour and twenty minutes on the (chilly) train, twenty(cold and draughty ) minutes waiting at the station for the airport shuttle and 45 minutes on the (hot) coach I was beginning to wonder if my body temperature would ever be able to stabilise itself again. I think that it was the first time that I have been through Bordeaux and not seen anyone sitting outside at one of the many pavement cafés in the town. Even in chilly or wet weather there are usually one or two hardened smokers sitting over a beer or a coffee but it seemed that today was just too cold for even them.

We had checked in for our flight, at 6.20, the previous night so we just had to drop off our hold luggage and make our way through security to the departure lounge which, thankfully, was at decent temperature, not too hot nor too cold.

Flight was fine and on time. I had booked a taxi to take us from Gatwick to Windsor and was looking forward to finding driver holding up card with Marsh on but, sadly, there was no-one waiting for us. After 2 calls to the taxi company they told me that I hadn't paid in advance. As I had had a confirmation e mail from them I was somewhat angry. If there had been some mix up why hadn't they told me and why had they sent me a confirmation e mail? Still, we had to get to Windsor so we had to get another, more expensive taxi. I was told before we set off that we could pay by debit card as we didn't have any cash. Journey to Windsor was fine and an hour later we arrived at our lodgings, The Swan in Clewer. Taxi driver then informed me that it would be more expensive to pay by card. I was thoroughly pissed off by this time but thankfully there was a garage with a cash machine around the corner so I was able to get cash there.

Finally we got to our room. The Swan is a small pub with just 4 rooms but the room is adequate and clean and warm. Warm is important as it is so cold at the moment! We had a drink in the bar and there was only one other person in there. Then to bed as we were both pretty shattered.

The purpose of staying in Windsor for 4 days is for N to meet up with some long lost relatives. Thelma, N's mum had started doing a family tree and after she died, last May, we decided to carry on with the research. Also, as N had never known much about his father, from whom Thelma was divorced, to find out more about him too. At Thelma's funeral N had met up with his cousin, Susie, who he had not met since they were children and they had kept in touch since then and she arranged to come down to Windsor, from Amesbury, to spend a couple of days with us. Susie arrived at The Swan on Thursday am, N had gone to have a look at the church and we introduced ourselves and chatted until he got back. We then walked alongside the river and into the town centre where we had lunch at Weatherspoons and I thoroughly enjoyed a steak and kidney pudding! After lunch I left N and Susie to look around the town and I went to look around the shops and do some shopping at M and S. I met up with them, later, in the library where they were both doing some research into their family. A walk back to the Swan and after a short rest we walked a mile or so down the road to a Harvester pub for our evening meal. We rang N's Uncle Roy and arranged to meet him tomorrow at the Fox and Hounds at Egham.

Next day N and Susie went off to look for graves (!) and I stayed at the Swan where we had arranged to meet up with Beanie a second cousin of Nigel who he had “met” through Genes Reunited. She has done a lot of research into the Kirtland family and was keen to meet up with N and Susie and Roy. Beanie rang at 10.30 to say that she was already in Windsor (she lives in the Forest of Dean) as her cousin was very ill. She came round to pick me up and we went to meet up with N, Susie, Roy and Jo (Roy's business partner) at the Fox and Hounds. I was so pleased to meet Roy, at last, as I have heard so much about him from N. Although almost 80 and suffering from MS his memory is brilliant and he is a mine of information about the Kirtland family. After an hour or so chatting we left the pub and went to the stable yard where Roy and Jo keep the horses that they use for carriage driving in Windsor Great Park. http://ascotcarriages.co.uk/index.html I was thrilled to be able to meet the horses and spend some time there. Finally we said our goodbyes to Roy and Jo and to Susie as well who was leaving us to go back to her home.

Nigel, Beanie and I went back to Windsor and met up with Steve, who had arrived earlier that morning, in Weatherspoons where I had another steak and kidney pudding!! After lunch Beanie took N back to the Swan and I went with Steve to his hotel, the Sir Christopher Wren, to check in. Once checked in we walked over the road to the Royal Oak where we spent a couple of hours chatting over a bottle of wine. It was so good to be able to spend time with Steve as I hadn't seen him since early August. Back to Steve's hotel for a while and then we walked up the High Street and met up with N and had a meal at Wagamamas. We then said goodnight to Steve and walked back to The Swan, still very cold but a bracing walk!

On Saturday morning I left N at The Swan and walked, along the river side, into town to meet up with Steve at his hotel. It was very cold and there were quite a lot of people on the river bank feeding the swans. Once at the hotel I went up to Steve's room and had a shower and washed my hair as there was no hair dryer at The Swan. Steve and I then had a wander around town and watched the changing of the guard at the castle. I was surprised how many tourists there were in town despite it being February and so cold. We met up, for lunch, with N at the Royal Oak. The afternoon was to be an important event for N as he had been able to find the widow and son of his father Ramsay who had died in 1985. Whilst Thelma, was alive she had not wanted to ask about her first marriage but since she died last may N has started to try and find out more bout his father. We eventually found out, only a month or so ago, that Linda, his stepmother lives in Slough as does Stephen his half brother. We couldn’t find a telephone number for them but we were able to find an address so N wrote to Linda and gave her our telephone number. We had a call, late one night, which we didn’t hear as we were in bed. There was no message but it was a Slough number so N called back the following day and spoke to Linda telling her that he would like to know me about his father and that we would be in Windsor in early February. N spoke to her when we arrived and arranged to meet her and Stephen at her mothers house, in Slough, at 1.30pm on Saturday. We left
Steve in Windsor and caught a taxi to the house in Slough. We were both feeling rather nervous, N more than I, about our reception but when we arrived Linda was very welcoming and ushered us into the house to meet her mother. Her mum, Jean, is 85 and quite frail but she has a good memory and retains fond memories of Ramsay. Both ladies were pretty glamorous! Stephen arrived about half an hour after we did. He is 40 years old and very tall. Looking at photos of Ramsay Stephen is very much like him. N was able to find out a lot more about his father and to see his

RAF logbook. Linda married Ramsay when she was 21 much against her fathers wishes, Ramsay was 48. Stephen was born 9 months after the marriage. Linda left Ramsay after 11 years and went to live in Spain for a while. She never divorced Ramsay but he visited her in Spain and she returned to the UK from time to time to see him. It appeared that he never gave up his love of women and that he was quite a jack the lad. His business back in his younger days was running bookies runners before betting became legal. Linda said that at one time he was a millionaire but that he lost most of his money before he died of a heart attack in 1985. Stephen gave us a lift back to Windsor where we met up with Steve at his hotel. N went for a rest in Steve's room and we went over to the Royal Oak to watch the rugby but it was very busy so we went back to the hotel. Much more comfortable and Steve was still able to watch the rugby albeit without the sound. We had booked a table at the Cornucopia Bistro for 6.45pm and walked up there. We had a good meal and came out to find that it had started to snow We all piled into a taxi, dropped Steve off and went back to the Swan.

Quite a bit of snow had fallen during the night but by 9am it was beginning to melt. We heard that Heathrow had cancelled many of the days flights but having checked on line our flight was still scheduled. We packed our bags and arranged with the landlord that we would pick them up after. They had kindly allowed us to have a late checkout as it was Sunday and no one else was booked into our room. It was far too wet and slippy to walk into Windsor so we booked a taxi to take us in to meet Steve for lunch and then to pick us up later, collect our bags and take us to the airport. We had a roast lunch at The Royal Oak and then said goodbye to Steve, always a sad moment but it has been good to have these 2 days with him.