Helen Henry of Rarotonga
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  • Welcome
  • About Helen
  • Living and Loving
  • Reflections
    • My Travels
    • Independence Celebrations
    • Current Events
    • My Life
  • Albums
  • Family Hotel
  • Family History
    • Family Tree
    • What's in a Name?
  • Contact Helen

Funeral of my Sister in Law - Wellington, NZ

1/9/2018

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Immediate family at the funeral home
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There was a large turn out to bid farewell to Alison
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Beautiful floral arrangements adorned the coffin
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Owen and Poolie did Alison proud
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Time at "Hayven", Teal Bay, NZ        November 2016

31/8/2018

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Wandering the beach at nearby Mimiwhangata
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Kai Moana
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Flying the flag at half mast, for our dear friend John Kenning, who had passed away suddenly in Rarotonga
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Yet another dinner with some of our Teal Bay friends
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With my dear friend, Freda, who was visiting from Tauranga
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More fun times with some of our Teal Bay friends
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THE IRISH WAY:  Coastal colours of the Emerald Isle

22/9/2016

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On top of the world - Malin Head
The patchwork of colours is copied into the fabulous Irish Tweed woven in local mills.
Whitewashed cottages nestle into the hillsides which in September were covered with mauve heather.  Wild cherry pink fuchsia delineated winding roads and the gold of gorse was abundant in the fields.   Ireland is an artist's delight.
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A multitude of craft ciders to wet Johno's appetite
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Johno's favourite tipple
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Ireland's oldest distillery
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We asked how to get to this famous Pub!
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An Irish Green Post Office
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The sign for the Wild Atlantic Way
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Pipe, fiddle and accordion- wonderful
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We were fortunate to see a marvellous production of "The Pirate Queen"
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Spectacular dancing - shades of Michael Flaherty
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Walking through Glenveagh National Park
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GATES AND GARDENS:   CASTLES AND COTTAGES

21/9/2016

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Kylemore Abbey and Gardens - Clifden,
"Cead Mile Failte"   A hundred thousand welcomes.    Whether you stay at a Georgian Manor, medieval castle or whitewashed cottage you will be given a wonderful welcome.   Ireland should be on everyone's bucket list. 
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Ballyseede Castle - Tralee
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Clontarf Castle, on the outskirts of Dublin
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Belleek Castle - Ballina
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"Classiebawn" home of Lord Mountbatten in Mullaghmore.
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"The Stables" Westcove
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Entrance to Ballyseede Castle
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A "Fairy Tree" - never mown underneath or you disturb the fairies.
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Blackberry Feast!
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Sweet Pea Cottage - Dingle
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Glenveagh Castle Gardens
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                  SAUSAGES, SCENERY AND SILLY SIGNS!

20/9/2016

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On the road again!
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Sweeping scenery
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Malin Head, the most northern part of Ireland.
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IRELAND - THE EMERALD ISLE

18/9/2016

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Stunning scenery as we drove from Dublin via Enniskillen to Letterkenny in the north.
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Iridescent green of the golf courses with golden ploughed potato fields in the background.
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Walking to the Giants Causeway along wild mountain country.
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Dunluce Castle-an amazingly preserved castle going back centuries. Made from Causeway stones.
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"Irish Mist"
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The Giants Causeway is now a World Heritage site.   Made up of unique symmetrical basalt columns, 40,000 of these are crammed together, some up to 12 metres high.   Or you might believe the Irish Legend that Finn McCool, an Irish giant quarrelled with a Scottish opponent and they began a line of stepping stones towards Scotland.
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Ballintoy Harbour
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Carrick a Rede - Fishermen used a swinging rope bridge to bring their catch back from the islands.
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Episodes of Game of Thrones and Star Wars have been filmed in these areas.
Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is one of the longest defined coastal touring routes in the World.
Starting at its northernmost point of Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula it winds 2,500 km along the length of the West Coast ending in the historic town of Kinsale, County Cork.   This breath-taking route offers a diverse coastline of inlets and cliffs moulded over the centuries by the power of the Atlantic Ocean.  Picturesque towns and villages, rolling countryside and dramatic mountains, and an ever-changing palette of colour and light.


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New York, New York……..

11/11/2015

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Click in the Play button - to the right…..
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It was the end of of our two month trip.
So we went for gold for the five days (and nights!) we were in the the Big Apple.
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Shows…...
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Sightseeing….
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Johno is a Guggenheim Fellow, so has always wanted to visit the Guggenheim Museum
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We went to ground zero soon after 9/11. So it was very emotional to return, and see the memorial. Despite the controversies, we feel they have ended up with a wonderful tribute to those who perished, as well as to those who continue to deal with the consequences of that horrendous event.
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The symbolism is truly amazing.
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We walked the Highline, a 2.33 mile “linear park" built on an elevated section of the disused southern portion of the train line running far into the Lower West Side of Manhattan.
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The ice skating rink had just opened in Central Park, where preparations were well advanced for the New York Marathon which was held on the day we departed the city.
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The Frick Collection, and the mansion which contained it, were both in the "not to be missed" category.
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We visited both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
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What a skyline.
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Times Square was a crazy place on Halloween.
With short transit stops in Denver and Los Angeles, it felt good to be home.
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With short transit stops in Denver and Los Angeles, it sure felt good to be home.
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Sheer Indulgence - A Week in a Spa Town in the Mountains of Slovenia

11/11/2015

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The result of considerable pampering - for both of us!
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Laško is a spa town in eastern Slovenia.The healing properties of the local waters have been known since antiquity. Laško developed as a health resort towards the end of the 19th century, and its Thermal Spa Resort is becoming one of the most important health spas and tourist centres in Slovenia.
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However, we did not stay at the Thermal Spa Resort, though we made daily visits. Rather, we stayed in the very comfortable summer holiday chalet owned by our dear friend, Mojca. She is the cousin of another dear friend, Captain Rajko Zupan. The chalet was originally the home of their grandparents.
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Rajko, and his wife Nada, drove two hours from the Adriatic coast of Slovenia, to spend a day with us. It was a wonderful reunion with our Slovenian/Croatian family, who we see all too rarely. They brought an array of local food and wine
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Our family gathering also included Mojca's daughter, Natachsa. They had both driven the 12 hours from their home near Zurich, to prepare the chalet for our arrival, and to spend a day with us before the return drive home. We felt so spoilt.
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The chalet is located just a short walk from the town as well as from the spa.
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We enjoyed the extensive and sunny garden, as well as the warmth of central heating in the chalet once the sun went down.
Lasko was picturesque in its fall colours, historic buildings and well kept homes.
​We even saw my kotuku again.
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We called in on our neighbours.    Laura and her grandmother spoilt us with home made liqueur, wine nouveau and tasty treats. Laura, who is a third year law student, acted as interpreter. 
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We hired a car and drove via Piran to Portorose on the coast of Slovenia, to have an all-too-short visit with Nada and Rajko. Nada spoilt us with her fabulous gnocchi for lunch. They are new grandparents, so it was great to meet mum (Jana) and daughter (Lucia) for the first time. We hope Lucia will love her bright pink doll when she is older.
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We enjoyed a fabulous 5 course degustation dinner at Restaurant Pavus, Grad Tabor. Grad is Slovenian for castle. The restaurant had a wonderful ambience, and the food, wine and service were just as good
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A Long-awaited Return Visit to Lake Como, Including Bellagio

10/11/2015

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We waited three long years before we experienced the joy of returning to the Lake Como area, this time arriving by train from Montpellier, via Zurich - a 10 hour, three-train journey. It was well worth it!
Below are some of the many reasons why we wanted to return.
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By the end of our visit, only one question remained - will we return?
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Who Goes Swimming in the Canal du Midi?

9/11/2015

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Woops a Daisy!! Quite involuntarily, Johno ended up in the muddy Canal du Midi - not known for its good water quality!
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OMG! Life buoy to the rescue
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Climbing a slippery, steep ladder up the side of the lock
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Heinz and I waiting to drag him up
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Johno's rescue was assisted (and photographed!) by Sabine and Heinz Brieskorn. They were on a cycling holiday from their home in Germany, and had stopped to watch our barge pass through. They chatted to me as our barge came into the lock, and also helped with the ropes as there was a strong crosswind. But they soon had to swing into action…...
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A few days later, we met Sabine and Heinz, in Carcassonne.  Johno was happy to confirm that he was all OK, and to thank them again. 
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​And again by chance, we met them several times more, including when they resupplied us with some German beer - using an ingenious transfer method - beer in a bucket on a pole. 
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We look forward to meeting Sabine and Heinz again - next year, when they come to Rarotonga.
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    Helen says.....

    I am addicted to travelling - my bags are always packed!

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