Tuesday 8 May

Pete and I did NOTHING today…..YAY!!!!!!!!! We sat on the couch ALL day; snuggling and watching DVD’s…it was perfect. It was so nice to not go anywhere and just spend the day together sleeping in and then just chilling. This is one of my favourite days. When the Metcalf’s came home we went out for ice cream and saw Toronto by night. We are planning on hitting the city tomorrow!!!! Bring it on.
And finally at 9:50pm tonight we got our case back… Yay!!!! We got it back so late because they had another 27 bags to deliver… go American Airlines!!

Monday 7 May

We flew from New York to Toronto today on the smallest plane. Well it was a Leerjet, so there was only about 15 of us on the plane – I guess we were just expecting something a little bigger, so it was kinda funny. Not only that they lost one of our cases…Go American Airlines!! You can guarantee they'll lose a bag somewhere in the US. So now we have to wait, hoping they will find it. Luckily it didn’t have the quilt and the baby stuff that Robyn and Cheryl had made…..phew LUCKILY… but it did have all of our clothes in it except for our hanging stuff. So we had to do a quick dash after dinner to Walmart to grab some undies. Nice!!!

We are staying at Kevin and Laurinann Metcalfs place and their son Michael, they are our great Canadian friends who we got to know well while they were living in Sydney over the past 3 years before moving back. It is so great to see them again.

Sunday 6 May

Today was FANTASTIC. Pete got a new sweatshirt from Quicksilver NY..

We spent the morning in Central Park, walking around and checking out all the movie locations for films like When Harry Met Sally, Home Alone and even Spider man 3….

After this really relaxing Sunday morning we went back for lunch at the Markle and then headed to Brooklyn to visit the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church for their 3:30 meeting. It was great…. No it was FANTASTIC!!!!

It was a concert with the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir who sing gospel music… the best part of the concert was my favourite singer Damaris Carbaugh sang – she has the BEST voice in the whole entire world, at the end I got to meet her!…aaaaagh!!

What was even better is that we didn’t even know if they would be singing or if Jim Cymbala would be there to preach but everyone was there and it was perfect. The tabernacle is gorgeous. Man if I lived in New York this would be the church I think I would go to. It was also like scenes out of The Preachers Wife with all of the African- American women with there hats on, the men best dressed… it was perfect…. I think you get the picture by now, lol. Pete and I left the Brooklyn Tabernacle, me in a bit of a daze because of the fantastic afternoon worshipping God with really great people, great music and a great message and then off we went to do more exploring.
Time was limited this was our last day in the Big Apple and we were determined to make the most of every second. We went back into Manhattan to the UN and then back out to see the Statue of Liberty- you just have to say at least one hello- don’t you.

Saturday 5 May

This morning we got up and had breakfast at the Markle then we hit the streets. Got the subway to ground zero and went to Century 21, a local discount warehouse in downtown Manhattan, in fact just across the street from ground zero..

Then from here we went to Gap, Sketchers, Macy’s and loads of other stores through NY city until lunch time when we headed back to the Markle for lunch.

After a quick rest we headed back uptown to 42nd street and 5th avenue to the New York library. Pete wanted to see the public library as it was used as the filming location for Ghost Busters and The Day After Tomorrow.

From there we headed into Time Square to do some more shopping and enjoy the ambience of this fantastic city, then had dinner at Subway before heading back to the Markle where we once again crashed…

Friday 4 May

Today was an early start, as we left Alison’s house at about 7:30am for Heathrow. We eventually arrived at about 9:15am to the airport. We had a great chat along the way and once again we will really miss the time spent with Alison. Thank you very much Alison for your warm and kind hospitality.

So we checked in our luggage and got through immigration and spent some time window shopping in duty free before sitting down at Garfunkles for a vegetarian English breakfast.

Then we eventually boarded our plane to NY city... watched a few great movies, Blood Diamond which is awesome and then we watched Miss Potter, about Beatrix Potter which was a chick flick but great.

Then we arrived at JFK in Queens NY and got a cab to the Markle Residence in lower Manhattan, on 123 West 14th Street, just in time for dinner. After dinner we re-arranged our room and then went to bed, ready for a big day tomorrow... zzzzzzzzzz

Thursday 3 May

This morning we slept in till about 9 0'Clock then we arranged to go and visit Commissioner Edna Williams... Who is Robin Dunsters Right hand woman, who Pete originally met up with in the Congo in Africa... We chatted to her for over two hours about life in and out of The Salvation Army.. it was so great to catch up with her. We look forward to seeing them again soon on their next trip to Australia.

From here we hopped onto the train at New Beckenham station for Charing Cross and hung aroung in London looking at the sights... Specifically Trafalgar Square.

From here we got on the underground and went to Picadilly Circus and visited our Virgin megastore and saw all the great DVD's which are out.. but we were so good and didn't buy anything. From here we got on the underground again and headed for Hyde Park corner, where we spent a few hours just lying in Hyde Park and we even fell asleep.

From here we headed into China Town just near Leicester Square and had a delicious Chinese meal.. including Jowzers and Sweet and Sour Pork... delicious...

Then from here we went to the West End to see the show Les Miserables, which was playing at the Queens Theatre. It was really great and even though our seats were in the Gods we still were able to enjoy the show and capture the emotion of the story..

Then from here we got on the train again at Charing Cross and headed back to New Beckenham station... getting in at about 11:45pm.. only to find out we were needing to leave at 7:30am tomorrow. So off we went to bed... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wednesday 2 May

Today was very sad, as this was our last day with Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris. We have had a terrific time with them over the past 10 months and we are so grateful for their hospitality, love and care. They have been brilliant and we've got to know them so well and done so much with them and will miss them.. only a few months till we see them again in Australia!! YAY!!

So this morning we got up and had our last cooked breakfast with them which was awesome!! Then we went for a final walk around Middlewich where we fed the ducks and stopped off at the local lock for a few pictures.

Then we stopped by a bakery for a last sweet treat.. mmmm chocolate eclairs... Then before we knew it we had said goodbye to Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris was waving goodbye to us as we boarded a Virgin bullet train at Crewe Station, direct for Euston.

After a short 1 and a half hour trip we arrived in London Euston and boarded a taxi for our short trip to 101 Queen Victoria Street, where we met up once again with our friend Alison Cowling and her staff member Debbie.


It is always so nice to visit these guys at IHQ as they're a hoot.

While we were there we caught up with Rob Garret, which is Commissioner Robin Dunsters secretary and he took us for a tour around the Generals office... but we got busted in the Generals office as General Clifton was just on his return from a meeting... so Di and I got to breifly meet the General, who had obviously had a very hard day and needed a rest.

We caught up with Commissioner Robin Dunster and Bob and Janet Street also which was really great. Di had really wanted to meet Robin and got her wish although it was only for a few minutes.

From here we headed home with Alison and went out for the most delicious Carvery meal... which was awesome... really nice... and satisfying... yorkshire puddings the size of a plate... mmmm...

What a great end to a very long and interesting day.

Tuesday 1 May

Today is our last full day in Middlewich, this morning we spent our time updating the blog and doing a final pack and clean up. It's a strange feeling, sad, happy and a little apprehensive for what's to come... we have so many changes ahead of us...

In the evening Di's sister (Aunty) Robin and Cheryl came out with Uncle Paul, Aunty Chris and us to Chester where we had a terrific meal at Cafe Uno...

It was delicious.. a great meal but sad because it was our last together in this UK setting... Bring on the New Year!

Monday 30 April

Today was kind of sad. We returned our faithful little red beast……. He has been so great. Who could have thought one little car could go soooooooooo far. And to all of those people, Linda, who doubted and thought he would leave us stranded up some Alp….. ye of little faith. Lol lol lol.




Well we did lots of washing and packed up all of our stuff. What a day. It feels so weird. It feels like just yesterday that we were unpacking. Who would have thought that this last year would turn out the way it has….and gone so fast. No regrets. It has been so rewarding, challenging, and such a time of personal growth not to mention all of the opportunities for more adventure- which is what we love the most. Life is not a dress rehearsal! We have been so blessed. But we know that it is not ending here, there is so much more in store that even though we are leaving one place, the year ahead is still going to leave us breathless. Yay bring it on.

We have had several farewells already and tonight was another. We had a good old fashion bbq with our fellow Australian mates Barry and Michelle, and of course the English Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris… what a way to end…. Bring on the bbq…. And our Regge Regge sauce…. Karen the sauce is delicious. That was the best present ever….Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Go Dragons Den!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were a bit carried away eating and talking and didn’t take any pics (what were we thinking) but you will remember them coz we stayed at their house in Wales a couple of weeks ago. They are so great.

Sunday 29 April

We had the best sleep last night and woke up feeling really refreshed but somewhat a little sad that today was our last day on the continent and even our time in England was drawing quickly to a close. Sniff and double sniff. We have such mixed emotions we feel it best just to take one day at a time and just roll with it. You cannot predict the future or how you are going to respond to it so it is best to live for today and know that God will give us the strength and the wisdom to handle all of the other great things He has planned for us. One thing is for sure, we will miss our family over here… we wish we could take them with us. We have had such a great time. Work is still another matter…. We won’t miss that…. At all lol lol. The adventures….yes.

We have calculated that if all goes well with our travels home… Moses- since conception will have travelled to Egypt, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, America, Canada, Fiji and Australia….. BEFORE he is even born, lol lol what a feat…. 16 countries…. I bet he wishes he had a window on the inside looking out, lol lol lol. He is definitely enjoying the adventures though, he moves so much…. It’s great.

Anyway back on track. We travelled to Callais, boarded the ferry home, sniff, and on the way back to Middlewich visited some heritage of Petes in Dover and on the Isle of Sheppey.

Then of course we couldn’t pass up a last effort to visit Oxford since of course we had visited Cambridge just the week before. Wow how time flies.

We arrived home and hit the sack after watching a movie with Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris, one of our final nights with them. Sniff
How could I forget one of the highlights today was a phonecall from Robyn saying that her and Cheryl have decided this week that they are going to be back in Australia no longer in November but in August yayayayayayayayayayayayayayayay. It just wouldn’t be the same without them… after everything they have already done for Moses- and he/she isn’t even born yet. I just don’t know where we are going to pack the things that people have already given us yayayay…. Thankyou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We really appreciate EVERYTHING. But I tell you what I think Robyn could hear me screaming from the Isle of Sheppey all the way back in Alderley Edge. We are so excited that you will be home for Moses… if not for his birth day pretty soon after…. Yay. Have I said that already? Yay. I will miss you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much when we leave England. But not long now until you’re home too after all of your adventures through Europe. You are truly the best sister in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!