Thursday, April 17, 2008

Dublin - St Paddy's Day

March 15-18 2008

Matty to write.....

*Our first Guinness in Dublin!
*Matty with the Guinness Man

*Aimee and Kim inside the Guinness Factory
*Climbing barrells

*Guinness makes you strong!
*A new comer to the Guinness gang

*We got to pour our own pint!
*From the top floor of the Guinness factory. What a view of Dublin

*Loved the parade!
*Nice beard Matty!

*Hello from Dublin!
*Cheers boys!

*Matt the Leprechaun
*Ray with hair!

*PARTY TIME!!
*Matt's mate from work, Alex, with Aimee



*St Patrick's Catherdral

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Canterbury in Kent


Canterbury Cathedral
The Cathedarl is massive it didn't all fit in the photo!
Matty and Becs by the Old Weavers building.

This was gorgeous! We didn't go down the river but it would have been awesome if we had.

Aimee, Kimmy and Bec

This is the Canterbury Castle - Yeah we all it would actually be a castle too! What a let down.
Aimee found a Ferret!

Friday, February 29, 2008

Road Trip to Wales

We left London on the Friday for our 3 day Road trip. We started by heading to Stonehenge, although due to the bad road signage we ended up going via a small detour past a little historic town called Lacock, which was tiny but very cute. It was at this point that we decided to call it Wing-It Road Trip and just go wherever the road takes us. Finally we got to Stonehenge where the weather cleared up for us and the sun was shining, even if it was still freezing cold. Yip Aimee was well covered up and I’m sure she was thinking of the beach back in warm NZ. Stonehenge was smaller than we all thought it would have been, but it is pretty amazing. With the audio guides commentary we learnt all about its history. I think the most fascinating fact is that a third of each standing stone is under ground! Also, how did they get those stones there, never mind how they put the ones onto the top of the circle!

We were then off to Bristol to find a place to stay for the night. We tried a couple of places but ended up staying at the Premier Inn; a simple place but clean, and a good price, I would recommend it. We wondered off to find some dinner and ended up in the hotel restaurant for a nice quiet meal.

The following morning - after looping the town twice trying to get onto the wicked, high suspension bridge ,before we realised that it was one way – we were on our way to Bath. We all loved the town of Bath, with its old streets and buildings. Aimee and I did the old Roman Baths while Matty and Ray went for a wonder around and a quick beer. Once Aimee and I had finished our tour of the baths, the boys took us for a walk to the river and a small lap around the town as it was lovely weather. It was then back into the car and off to Wales.

Our first stop in Wales was to Cardiff city – what a nightmare though. We went around the city twice trying to find one of the three Premier Inns on my map. The final straw was when we could see the inn but the road we were on had no turn off for miles – What the?? For their capital city you would think they would have a better road system and signage. We then all decided (it didn’t take much) that we’d try for one of the inns just north of Cardiff in a little town called Caerphilly.

With much delight we found the place straight away. Dropping off our gear we headed to the pub/restaurant next door for some dinner and a well-deserved drink! This place must have been one of the local hangouts as it was packed with lots of families (in the family section) as well as a hen’s party (in the pub section). When we arrived back in our room to watch some TV and to relax we heard some crazy party going on in the room next door. It turns out that we weren’t the only people to hear them as they were kicked out later that night and when Matty and I went to checkout we mentioned them and ended up getting the night’s stay for free because of it. So all in all, Thanks Caerphilly!
Our last day was a busy one. Firstly we went to Swansea on the south coast and went for a nice walk along the beach – again another fabulous day. Thanks Aimee for bringing the good weather over with you! Back in the car and we were heading north to the Black Mountains National Park in central Wales where we were met by the local wild horses. We stopped to say hi and all three ended up surrounding the car and wouldn’t move until we fed them nuts and raisons we happened to have in the car. After our touch with nature we realised that we hadn’t eaten so when we came across a little village called Llangadog we thought we’d check out a village pub. The owners were a lovely couple originally from London and they made good cheap baguettes. Our next stop was quite a few hours away – London – but it was a good drive.

All in all, a great road trip! :)

The famous Stonehenge

We found some sheep, a reminder of NZ

What Stonehenge would originally have looked like
In the Roman Baths in Bath

Where is Aimee's body?
One of our many self portraits.
We enter Wales

Us in Swansea
Matty and the wild horses

in Wales
The horses surround our car

demanding food! Cheeky buggers.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Years in Edinburgh

Well what a Hogmanny New Years experience. We bounced our way up from Leeds all the way up to Scotland to turn in 2008. Most of the photos are pretty much self explanatory (party,party,party!) so I won't make this a long one. Thanks to Ewan, our Scottish buddy, who showed all of us around while we were there and for putting us up at his place.

The first night was spent hunting down some much needed takeaways (after getting lost in Edinburgh a few times on the drive), then playing cards and sipping a few bevvies.

The next morning, we slowly shook off our hangovers, and to cure them we did what most people would...climb the biggest hill in Edinburgh. After every type of moan possible, we conquered Arthur's Peak and checked out the serenity from above. Kim had a mare, she wore her going out high heal boots to make the assent. Dick of the day indeed. Sensational view from up there though, and all the moaning was put aside for that. In the evening we caught up with Dale,Sheryl,Phil and Sheryl for dinner and to check out the fair stalls, rides and then the street performers on George St. Some of the rides were awesome, notably the swings, then there was the laughable Ghost Train, which was still fun. The street performers were really amazing, all sorts of crazy creatures doing there thing amongst the hoards of people. There were a couple of bands playing, Danny and a few others got into the massive street line dancing which was going.

We went up to the Edinburgh Castle, which was a treat. Then it was time for New Years eve night to crack on. On the bus ride to the street party, Ewan stood up the front of the packed bus in his kilt and ran through the Braveheart speech. "But you will never take,our freedom!!". Brilliant, and everyone loved it.

Plenty of people out at the Hogmanny Street Party on Princes St. We caught up with Dale and the gang, then went to find a spot by the stage for where we had tickets for. Partied hard with Kasabian bringing in the new year, and Calvin Harris playing after that. Great night out for everyone, even Josh...we think, as he disappeared for most of the night before finding us again.

New Years day Kimmy and I met up with Dale, Phil and the Sheryls again for a nice quiet meal and a few drinks at the pub. We ended up staying for a fair while and it didn't end up so quiet after all. This ended a successful assault on Edinburgh, a beautiful city, and we look forward to going back to find more of Scotland another time.
Angel of the North
Newcastle
Scotland!
We're here
Ben got shafted playing scum
About to climb the Arthurs Peak

The view of Edinburgh

Just the two of us, or so we thought
The very scarey Ghost Train
Jimmy and Kimmy

Dragons on George St, these things were on rails along the side of the street and were very cool
Danny line dancing
Sheryl being eaten by a freaky insect critter

There were so many of these street performers along the street. Really well done
Edinburgh Castle
Queen of the Castle

Ewan, and the Jimmys
Haha
Dale/Sheryl/Phil & Sheryl's Scottish buddies on the street party
Kasabian played in the New Year
Happy New Years!
Calvin Harris on stage behind Ben

Phil and Sheryl

Dale (not impressed) and Sheryl