Charlie's WorldEngland Trip – Feb 2017
Posted on March 5, 2017
It was time to see the kids – been looking forward to this for ages!
I was flying Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi in the UAE this time. I’d flown them once before and it was a pretty good experience, although the airport is pretty busy and claustrophobic if you’re not inside the gate. Waiting areas and toilets are not so good.
But my transit was 90 minutes, so I figured it really didn’t matter. It was the cheapest route this time and dollars is dollars!
Read More
Summer in England 2016 – final part
Posted on October 8, 2016
As ever, all good things must come to an end – time was up and we had to pack up and go.
We went out for a little wander before I drove the kids off home and played ‘Pooh sticks’ off a bridge over a little brook
Simple things but such a lot of fun. Read More
Summer in England 2016 – part 3 – family
Posted on September 21, 2016
My trip over top the UK is really about one thing. Family.
Centered around my kids, of course, but also seeing my parents and my sisters and their kids.
Feels good to get together and I’m glad we usually get lots of time together. Read More
Summer in England 2015 – part 8: Aylesford Priory
Posted on October 11, 2015
Sadly, time always passes by so quickly and our time together was almost done. We had a few hours to spare on the last day, so I thought we could have a quick trip just down the road to Aylesford.
I used to play in a band when I was about 17 and 18 and we used to practice in one of the band members houses in Aylesford, so I know the town well – and it has a very interesting history with an active Carmelite Friary that dates back to the Crusades. Read More
Summer in England 2015 – part 7: Fossil hunting at Folkestone
Posted on October 3, 2015
Fossil hunting!
This is one of the things that I enjoy most. It’s pretty much how I got to be where I am today, career wise. Yes, I know I work in IT (and the business end of IT at that) but its because I was taken to a quarry on a primary school field trip and found a fossil that I took the courses and exams and jobs and stuff that got me here.
Anyway, enough of that sentimental claptrap, I decided to infect the kids with the same magic that had worked for me.
So off we went to Folkestone in search of ammonites from the 110 million year old Gault Clay Read More
Summer in England 2015 – part 6: Camber Sands
Posted on September 19, 2015
Sometimes the summer in England really delivers.
The forecast was looking really good, so my sister and made a plan to go to the beach early and make the most of it. After all, in England, you never know how long the sunshine will actually last for.
Once again – off we went complete with a packed lunch, to the old favourite, Camber Sands. Read More
Summer in England 2015 – part 3: High Rocks at Tunbridge Wells
Posted on September 12, 2015
At least forty years ago, my Grandparents took me and I think my middle sister to play on some rocks in Tunbridge Wells.
I remember my Grandads white Daimler with red leather interior and that distinctive Daimler/Jaguar leathery walnut smell and I remember looking out over the rocks from Mount Ephraim.
Near there, there’s a place called High Rocks which was supposed to be pretty fun, so off we went to have fun and see if my memory could guide me back 40 years. Read More
Summer in England 2015 – part 2: rowing on the river at Tonbridge
Posted on August 29, 2015
The next day was overcast and had rain forecast, but we’re made of tough water resistant English stock – no hiding inside for us!
We had wanted to hire a boat and cruise down the river at Tonbridge, but the exchange rate was terrible and my $AU are now worth about 30% less in £GBP than last year, so we had to downscale our ambitions a little bit. Read More
Easter in England 2015 – part 5
Posted on May 3, 2015
The magical mystery tour continued – I was thinking we might go see Rye harbour and Rye castle but the kids weren’t keen, so we popped into Camber Sands for an ice cream and a paddle in the sea.
I like Camber, we go there a bit as it’s safe, easy to get to and family friendly.
Easter in England 2015 – part 2
Posted on April 19, 2015
We often go out for lunch to Sevenoaks when I’m over – a special treat in a really nice restaurant that is open all day – so early or late is no problem. It’s not normally packed out, so we can usually just rock up and get a table without an issue.
This place specialises in pizza, which makes everyone happy 😉 Read More
Charlie's World 