The white stuff has arrived!

Following freezing - well that's how it felt to me - temperatures we had a winter storm with freezing rain. I suppose it was more like hail but the small pellets ended up about 6cm deep.

 Lauren's dad has a snow plough, which he attaches to the front of his vehicle, so he came round to plough the drive. The odd person was out doing that job by hand - didn't envy them that job.

After a trip to a Library with Lauren and Ivy, which has turned rather a large area into a play area for children - you certainly couldn't quietly sit and read a book there - I headed into the local area for a walk.

It was hard going because a lot of the paths hadn't been cleared and I was literally hiking up, well it seemed like, glaciers at times. I was stopped by a local who gave his views on the local 'council's' lack of concern for the people walking into the shops - all I could do was agree and hike on. I found a nice coffee shop and then got my nails done - well  what else can a girl do on a freezing day?!

The walk home was interesting because none of the paths had been cleared.

It was pretty icy and knowing that there was a possibility of me falling over and no one there to record the moment I was very cautious. I will admit to using plenty of expletives directed towards the council and their lack of concern for anyone stupid enough not to be in a car!

Trying to get my steps up I wandered around a supermarket and by the end felt quite sick at the types of food on offer - so many different types of the same thing! I will admit that the fruit and veg are far superior to ours at home!

 Ivy is coming on in leaps and bounds. She is walking more although still gets a wobble on a times. I think I now have a finger that is longer than the others from where she hangs on and then we go at speed around the house. 

She is incredibly funny and you can see a cheeky side coming out - don't know who she takes after! I will miss them all terribly when I leave tomorrow! I have been trying to take videos but can't always catch Ivy in her funny moments. She makes us all laugh so much and is a joy to be around!

Heading to a one night stop over in Miami, warm weather, where I hope to catch up with Valda - at the moment she is flooded out in St Louis!

Where did Christmas go?

Christmas is very different here as you have a big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve with all the family and no Christmas pud - Lauren's dad has asked about it and I will try to search out the ingredients to make one before I leave! Wish I'd realised as I could have bought one with me!
On Christmas morning we opened some presents here - Ivy was obviously overwhelmed with everything but I can tell you I'm back to ONE light travel bag.
Christmas day was a quiet affair with Ivy the centre of attention surrounded by many,many toys. Justin got her a toy golf set with the clubs about the same size as she is but she was determined to swing them around!

Ivy is such a happy content little girl, always smiling!
Boxing day is also a quiet affair and Justin and I took a walk into their nearest shopping area - we felt the need to take a walk whilst Ivy was napping. It felt pretty cold out and we got back home before the rain!

Justin and Lauren's place is a really nice 3 bedroom detached house with open land around it. The local area is pleasant with some very large houses, many looking very 'Christmasy' with all their lights. At the moment the backyard has rather a large 'puddle' in it from the snow melt of a couple of weeks ago. There are no fences to separate the gardens which seems strange but is the norm here.

Arrived in the USA

My last few days in the UK went by quickly. I went to see some of Allan's family - Gladys still has all her marbles but is slowing down but then at nearly 92 it's not surprising.

My activities included shopping, eating, attending carol service in local church, eating, walking along the canal footpaths, carol singing in the hot tub, catching up with niece and nephew and their children, sewing 'teddy bears' - this was for some plan Jake's son-in-law had - walking across the fields - no accidental slipping on stiles this time, visiting a National Trust house which was unfortunately going through renovations and finally eating!

The weather has been mild although with quite a lot of rain and very cold winds. People here are in t-shirts but I'm layered up!

Freezing!

My drive to the airport was very easy with Sat Nav but not half as much fun as getting lost around the airport, as I usually do, and then trying to race a jumbo jet as it was taking off!
Quite a lot of security at the airport but the systems in place seem so much better and you soon get through to duty free - plenty of browsing and breakfast were on the menu. Boarded and took off on time but the nine hour flight seemed so long but I did manage to catch a few zzz's. My body clock is so out of whack - waking at 3 am everyday and now I have another time zone to get used to!
Getting through passport control in Chicago was a hundred times better than in past visits. Justin picked me up from the airport and after a quick shower we were on our way to Lauren's mum and dad's for dinner and first view of Ivy.
Well what can a doting grandmother say - she is just gorgeous, so cute! She has just started taking her first steps but is still a bit wobbly - she likes hanging onto your hand so that she can zoom around at 100 mph! She's a really happy little girl. Her hair is a gorgeous strawberry blond and she actually has teeth - why do son's never tell their mum anything??

The weather here is very mild for the time of year but I would love to see a frost.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone x

We did survive the hot tub and I must admit the house became warmer! I can't get over how dark it is in the mornings. I certainly have pushed the 'old days' out of my mind! This is what I look out at each morning.

 I met up with some friends for lunch - we used to teach together. We had a great couple of hours of chatter, when pausing for breathe we did eat some food. It always feels as if I have never been away! It's amazing how many changes have occurred to the school I taught at. I can now well understand why there is/will be  a shortage of teachers in UK!

My sister and I headed to the shops for me to have a spend up! I certainly did and will possibly need another bag to take to USA - don't worry I'll be down to one bag again when I get Ivy's gifts out!
My sister was very helpful "Just put them in the basket and try them on. Don't try anything on until we've checked out the whole shop!" I think I helped the English economy stay afloat! We had lunch and I'm finding the accents interesting - so all at home don't be surprised when my Australian acent has changed! I know you think I sound very English but here they think I sound very Aussie!!!
Unfortunately by the time we'd completed the shopping it was pouring with rain - were we prepared? No! So I, was that because I'm the eldest, took off running for the car with key in hand so that it was open for when little(?) sister arrived. Glad to see the weather lives up to it's reputation!

On arrival home we had to get into finishing off the cakes. I think the picture below shows that we did complete them and I think Jakes grandchildren will like the results. I forgot to add that I also decorated the Christmas tree - am really having to earn my board & lodging!!

Travels to Strasbourg 11/12/15
Met up with my sister and her hubby at the Eurostar check in. The presence of heavily, and I mean heavily. armed police around the station was a little foreign to me but I could understand why. Through a thorough security check then onto passport control another few paces and we were at French passport control. Within half an hour we were finding our seats on the train and we were off.
It was quick and easy to walk from Gare Nord to Gare Est for the next train - we had all even used our smattering of french to ask directions. We were seated on the upper deck for the trip to Strasbourg. It was lovely to see the small villages go by. A quick taxi ride and we were at our apartment for the next few days. It’s a beautiful place exactly as seen on internet - I would recommend it!

 We soon headed out for supplies and then found our way to where all the Christmas markets were. The decorations everywhere are impressive. A cup of Vin chau certainly helped us around the market!! It was a bit overwhelming so decided to just take everything in and check it out again tomorrow. Dinner was at a local restaurant and the food had a truly German influence. Don’t know whether it was the vin chau or the local drop which aided us becoming lost our way home but luckily after much walking we eventuall found the right spot!

Our next couple of days were spent walking, walking and more walking! The highlight was a 90 minute tour of the city by segway - had and awesome time and learnt more about the history. We soon got our segway legs and were zooming around the place. There were so many people and as France is under a state of emergency there were armed police and soldiers everywhere. You didn’t feel fearful but as they have a shoot to kill policy at the moment I often looked to see where their trigger finger was!!

We also took a boat ride so you saw a different side of the city and we learnt more about the place. We can see Germany from our appartment and could walk there in an about 15 minutes so you could understand that Strasbourg has been part of both France or Germany many times over the years and the peole here have suffered greatly.

I have never seen so many Christmas stalls or decorations - if you didn’t feel like CHristmas before a visit here I’m sure you would now. Our French is coming along - hello, yes, thank you, baguette, numbers and the word Vin Chau just rolls off out tongues!! This is a really great spot to visit and the apartment we’re in is really spacious and pleasant. Next stop Uk.

Finally arrived back in UK and am at my sister’s place. As we’d been away for a few days the house was very cold so whilst John (b-in-l) was lighting the fire I was wrapped in a dooner with a hotwater bottle and a glass of vin chau - I know Australia makes you soft! Hopefully the house will be warmer tomorrow!
15th December

John was up early working on the heating,whilst Les crept into bed with me (the Sister) where she snuggled down for a chat, and then a demand for a cuppa, poor John!
Then off  for the next spot of shopping, preceeded by a cuppa and christmas cake - and she keeps telling us how healthly she is nowadays!
Into the first shop where a pair of snow boots were tried on. The salesman did his patter telling us how good the grip was -you won't slip over in these -  John and I were amazed that he knew that Les is infamous for falling over in the ice;so an instant purchase.

This afternoon has been spent with snowmen,elves,penguins and igloos- yes day one on the christmas cakes, before a hot tub with spiced wine,and now a G and T in front of the log fire!

My trip has started

OMG! Business  class is the only way to travel -thanks to feequent flier points! I entered Qantas lounge and all my healthy eating of the last few weeks went out the window - bubbles all the way for me!
We boarded on time and of course they greet you with a drink - well it gives cattle class time to get on and sorted! I was a good samaritan and changed seats so that a couple could be together - the hostie gave me a pair of first clas Pj’s and a first class amenities pack as my reward. Don’t worry Kez I got you a Business class one - they mKe beautiful make-up bags!The captain came on to say that there was a delay because of some paperwork and 3hours later we were on our way. By then we’d all been plied with many alcoholic beverages - that might have been to drown out the screaming and moaning from cattle class!
Our crew were quite funny and at one stage I felt it was like ‘Are you being served’but the airline version. Yes you do get a very good sleep when you are laying flat and add to that a cup of tea in bed - that hasn’t happened to me for many years. Sorry I digress!
Time was made up with a sort stop in Dubai and we arrived in London at 8:30 instead of 6:55 a more sensible time.
On to the train to central London. I forgot about all the steps you have to go up from the underground - I’ve now got some good ‘guns’! Hotel was just around the corner from the tube which was great. It’s past it’s prime but fine for one night. Bags dropped it was back to the tube - the speed those trains enter the station is really scary - and on to St Pancreas station to pick up Eurostar tickets.That done I headed to Kingscross station to the Harry Potter shop -
9 3/4 - some of my students are fans so I ended up getting some pencils. Next stop was Oxford street to shop and see the different Christmas decorations. It feels so much more Christmasy. I went to Marks and Sparks to get some - yes those of you who know this shop will know - undies! I went into the M & S food section and nearly swooned at the amazing array of fresh, different foods - our Colea and Woolies need to come here for some pointers!
After being on a plain so long I was determined to walk as much as possible and I did clicking up over 20,000 steps and boy did my feet ache - they were on fire! I ventured around and stupidly wandered into Liberty of London store - because it is such an old building it’s very narrow and you couldn’t swing your hambag(that’s for Kerry) let alone a cat. There were so many people that I couldn’t get past the ground floor and it was a relief to get out. I then stumbled across Carnaby Street - gone are the days of the sixties - there was one quirky shop but now it’s all the well known stores.
Finally the feet could take no more and with a M & S salad, eaten with a knife I’d luckily packed, I tried to keep my eyes open but when the kindle hits you in the face for the fourth time you give up even if it’s only 7pm. (I’m writing this at 4am!)