the icy pontoon

brrr ...

Well, summer has most definitely given up her fight and winter is beginning to sink its teeth in.

Each morning this week we have risen to find everything covered in a thick layer of frost. The first morning I stepped out of the boat onto the pontoon which had completely iced over. Being a typical Aussie, for the majority, my only experience of snow has been on a day trip to Mt Bulla and so I didn't even think that it might be a good idea for me to hold on to the boat as I stepped out. So, the inevitable happened and my highly practical stiletto heeled boots slipped from under me and I'm not exactly sure how I avoided falling into the icy water. My handbag wasn't so lucky. Needless to say I have been very cautious every morning stepping off the boat, and my parting words to Woz as I close the door behind me are always a frantic, "Don't forget about the ice!"

bikin' around

Our weekend away in France was amazing. We ended up taking the train over from Dover to Calais rather than the ferry, which took around 30 minutes. We had two beautifully sunny days. Despite the sun, it was bitterly cold riding from home to Dover so early in the morning and we had to stop off to buy extra gloves to slip under our summer riding gloves. (Note to self: buy winter gloves before fingers drop off).

After arriving in Calais we sat down to breakfast in a cafe and marvelled at how quickly we were in a new country with a new language, culture etc. We didn't hang around Calais long and headed off along the coast with no particular destination in sight. We rode past the white cliffs of Dover which seemed so close. The cliffs were gleaming white and very beautiful.

By evening we ended up in Le Touquet, a little coastal town which in the summer must be bursting with energy as it certainly wasn't quiet while we were there, late in Oct. It was a gorgeous town, with beautiful little houses and shops. Unfortunately we don't have a single photo of our trip (only the one above taken before we left England - sorry, one of me again) as we decided simply just to soak it all in. So you'll just have to trust me!

It was surprising how many towns we passed through that had an area of the town completely encircled by high walls and towers. Most towns had overgrown the small space within the wall and had, over time, spilled out into the fields that must have surrounded it. Something we would have liked to have found out more about given more time, but, Monday morning was calling and so it was back home on Sunday night.

London put on an amazing welcome for us as we rode in - fireworks going off in every direction, as far as the eye could see. It was "Guy Fawkes Night" which is a bizarre English celebration traditionally accompanied by firework displays, the lighting of bonfires and the ceremonial effigy-burning of one Guy Fawkes. Thankfully we didn't see that!

the lion king

On her last night in London, Claire shouted Woz and I a night at the theatre as a thank you for having her stay with us. She completely spoilt us with fantastic seats to "The Lion King". An absolute must see. Claire took this shot during interval and although it doesn't really capture the "Lion King" experience, it's a photo of both Woz and I, which are as rare as hen's teeth!

france here we come!

Woz and I have decided to take the bike on it's first international road trip across the channel on the ferry to France. We'll just go for the weekend and on Saturday morning Woz has convinced me to get up at 5am (I'm not exactly a "morning person" as Tim, Sharon, Stephen and Matthew can testify) ride for two hours to Dover, and then catch a ferry across to Calais. From there we're not really sure where we'll end up but we decided it was now or never as winter is definitely approaching. Today is actually a beautiful sunny (but cold) day so hopefully the weather will hold out for us!

in royal company

Yesterday was a very exciting day for the school I work at as we were honoured with the presence of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal (as we were told to address her). Princess Anne came to officially open up the school so obviously we finally got the carpet steam cleaned, new pot plants, equipment repaired etc. which was a bonus. One of our team of interpreters was selected to interpret the assembly and it was very funny to watch his spoken accent turn very BBC all of sudden. Indeed!

She visited each class and spoke with almost every student and teacher. Of course I was the picture of etiquette when she addressed me and would have made my family proud. Perhaps it was all that practise as a child when Dad would tell us, "The queen is coming" and we'd have to clean up the house and ourselves quicksmart.