Helen Henry of Rarotonga
  • 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
  • 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

In England's Green and Pleasant Land

26/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Click on play button - to the right 
As we travelled from London to Suffolk the refrain of "Jerusalem" played over and over in my head. The landscape was indeed a 'green and pleasant land'.

Picture
We spent a wonderful few days staying with Cynthia and Martin Parry, in their a 16th century farmhouse - "Dairy Farm", St Andrews, Suffolk - just south of Norwich in East Anglia.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The low ceilings were quite a challenge for Johno. He was slow to learn, and hence lost a few layers of skin off his head!
Picture
Dairy Farm included extensive fields, woodlands, gardens, ponds and an orchard.
Picture
And also Martin's "retreat" where his days always started, with coffee, reading the newspaper online, and answering emails.
Picture
Johno joined him one day, after which they returned for a scrumptious English breakfast - one of Martin's "fry ups".
While staying with Cynthia and Martin we did some fabulous day trips - to Southwold with the colourful beach huts (that are selling for up to GBP140,000 EACH), and to Dunwich where we had a delicious pub lunch. We walked along a blustery beach, to Orford Ness with its historic military installations, and to Norwich with its impressive cathedral, castle, downtown arcades, and the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Thank you, Cynthia, Martin and Charlotte, for a wonderful, and all-too-brief, visit.
0 Comments

Making Memories with Family on the Gold Coast

25/9/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
In Toowoomba, practicing for our upcoming trip to Paris. Thanks to Diane and Harry for the parasol.
We went to Toowoomba to visit Johno's granddaughter, Cassandra. She is studying for a BA in performing arts and marketing at the University of Southern Queensland.
Picture
Cassandra had just moved into a new flat - actually a lovely three bedroom house..
Picture
Cassandra in the kitchen of her new digs.
Picture
Proud grandfather with Cassandra, who will graduate in 2016 - so young to have achieved so much!

Picture
A new place to stay provided an opportunity to get a new pet.
Picture
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a restaurant on the outskirts of Toowoomba.
Picture
Picture
I was impressed with Toowoomba, including its greenness and picturesque gardens.
1 Comment

Harry is Already a Charmer

25/9/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

Johno Ticks a Box!

23/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of Johno's dreams finally came true when we flew on an Airbus A380 from Singapore to London.
Picture
Johno enjoyed lobster thermidor for his evening meal.
Picture
On arrival in London one of the famous black taxis soon whisked us to our next adventure.
0 Comments

Making Even More Memories on the Gold Coast

23/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of the many highlights of our visit was two days of sailing on Joanne and Matt's (and Rosy's) beloved "Easy Beat", a spacious and well-equipped catamaran.
Picture
Picture
Picture
We sailed on the Broadwater, an inland waterway that stretches from the Gold Coast to north of Brisbane, anchoring overnight at a scenic and sheltered location.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Matthew helped with departure preparations, including refuelling, but could not join us due to his part time job as a dive master.
Picture
There was plenty of time to relax and enjoy.
Picture
Rosy was chief lookout!
0 Comments

Off on another adventure…...

9/9/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
We have started another two months of travels - first a week in Paradise Point (near Surfers Paradise, Australia) with Johno's daughter and family, followed by the UK (Suffolk and Scotland), France (Paris, Albi in the French Pyrannees, and two weeks on a self-drive barge in southern France), Italy (Lake Como, including a few days in Bellagio), Slovenia (a week in the spa town of Lasko) and almost a week in New York City.

As you can see, we are travelling lightly, despite the many seasons and the many levels of formality we will experience.
After a brief stopover in Auckland and a catchup with Johno's son AJ and his partner, Debbie, we headed to Brisbane. We were met by Joanne and her husband, Matt. They drove us to their home in Paradise Point, which is just north of Surfers Paradise.
Picture
Picture
The following day, Monday, we drove to Byron Bay, where we enjoyed a wonderful seafood lunch, and took in the views of the bay (left) as well as the impressive Lennox Beach (right).
Picture
Picture
Tuesday evening was memorable for several reasons - we met our new grandson, Harry, for the first time; and we caught up with three couples, two of whom had previously lived and worked in Rarotonga. The wife of the other couple had worked with me in Auckland - 55 years ago! 
Picture
Harry with his Mum, Diane. Dad, Nicholas, has returned to the Cook Islands, and is now GM at the family hotel in Aitutaki.
Picture
Harry was the focus of attention.
Picture
Catching up with friends.
Picture
With Carol and Richard - I worked with Carol 55 years ago.
Picture
Diane, Harry, Aroha and my eldest grandson, Richard, with their daughter, Marley.
Picture
Joanne and Harry - mutual admiration!
Picture
Gerald, Terry, Trish and Di
Picture
Celebrating my birthday with Summer-Rei and Aroha.
We drove into Brisbane today, to visit Johno's grandson, Matthew, and his girlfriend Kayla.
Picture
Mathew and Johno showing off their St Christopher medals - we gave Matthew the one Johno used to wear.
Picture
Kayla and Matthew showed us around the campus of Queensland University, where they are both studying, and doing very well.
1 Comment

    Categories

    All

    Helen says.....

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

    Archives

    September 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.