Fort WIlliam, Scotland

Well it is New YEars Eve and I am in bonny Scotland. I am sitting in a car in a Mconalds carpark whilst my mates are in the local supermarket buying Haggis for NYE. We are staying in a gorgeous cottage in Glencoe. We went for a walk up a nearby hill yesterday, but weather is a bit rany and overcast today, so we are shopping in Fort William.

Tonights plans are to partiicapte in the local village procession, fireworks and bonfire. We are then jumping in cabs and going to a ceilidh for Hogmanay. We are then having a roast on NY day! Hopefully if the weather improves we will get to see Ben Nevis.

Hope you all havea wonderful New YEars Ee and 2008 brings you all the joy possible.

God Bless

Ngaira
xx

Poole, Dorset with Grannie for Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody!

I have had a lovely few days, and a huge rest. I caught the train down here to my Grans on saturday. I was supposed to just go as far as the airport, and pick up a hire car. I was running late, so I called the car hire place, and I was informed that the car had gone - they had given it to someone else. So needless to say - I then tried to get another car the weekend before Christmas within minimal luck! I ended up being able to hire a car in Poole. So I go the train straight here, and picked it up the following day. I have a lovely toyota calais - huge! Almost too big - as it only just fits through the gates at the front of my Grannie's house!

I finished all my shopping quite early before Christmas - which is just as well as the crowds were groaning!

I cooked the christmas dinner for Gran and I - my first ever. It worked out really well - it was all cooked and on the table by 1.30pm (right on schedule!) . I am sure I had an easy introduction cooking for just two!

We went for a drive yesterday to Corfe Castle - one of our favourite places to visit. And are plannign on riving down the coast tomorrow for the day.

I head up to Scotland on saturday for the week. I am meeting up with an OT firend Deborah and some of her friends for NYE in Glencoe. Looking forward to a change of pace - not quite sure about the change in weather.

Ngaira
xx

'Twas the weekend by Christmas

I am off to Poole this morning - Have had a lovely few days in London.

Hope everyone has a merry christmas

Ngaira
xx

Cardiff, Wales with the Beaumonts

Well I have t admit this blog entry will sound a little bit boring. I got a bus here from London on monday and after a slight delay (accident on the M4) arrived in Cardiff at about 6pm. The temperature was a massive 3 degrees celcius - freezing, well almost! I got the bus to Sarah and Tim's and got to meet their new little fella Ethan.

On tuesday we spent the day at home and I enjoyed cuddling and feeding Ethan and playing with Izzy. Sarah's cousin Leslie is also staying, so we went for a walk to the local shops for an afternoon outing.

This morning I am heading back to London, and am staying with Kate for the next two nights. I am looking forward to another couple of days in London, before heading to Grannie's on saurday!

Merry Christmas everyone

Ngaira
xx

Cold cold Cobh, Ireland

Well yesterday I had a lovely day. Carly and John went to work, so I was at home with the kids and their minder. I even got in a little morniing nap on the sofa. I caught the train into Cork in the afternoon and met up with Carly after work. We hit the shops and I bought some lovely presents. I also bought myself a pair of earings and a lovely necklace. We then headed out to dinner with 4 of Carly's girlfriends - a girls night out. They have all got at least 2 children each, so were excited to be out unhindered. We went to a pub first and had a few drinks before heading to a lovely resturant called Citrus. We were the last ones to leave the restaurant, so obviously were enjoying each others company as well as the food.

I have to admit I was a bit sore and feeling sory for myself this morning... i think they call it a hangover! Carly made us pancakes though - so that always helps, washed down with a cup of Barry's tea. Carly, Ella and I went out to a local market this morning in a little town called Midleton and bought some lovely goodies on offer (goats cheese, fresh fish, real bread etc).

We then had to pick up the car (as we were not in a state to drive home the night before) from Douglas and popped into see another of Carly's friends Kate. She is hilarious and kept us entertained for an hour or so.

John's brother p[opped around this afternoon, Bill, he has just headed off to play a gig tonight, (front band for a group called Aslan). We are now all cosy and settled in for the night - is freezing outside.

Flying back to london tomorrow, before my next adventure!

Ngaira
xx

Cobh, Ireland with the Colemans

Well I am in sunny Ireland - well not at the moment becasue it is the middle of winter! I arrived yesterday after spenind the night in Luton with some old family friends the O'Keefe's. They have just sold their family home and are moving in January -so it was nice to have one more meal and a few bottles of wine in such a familiar home.

I got up at 5am and went to the airport with Sarah (their daughter) who works for EasyJet. I had my flight at 9.30am - so I managed to fill in the hours before my flight left. The airplane was tiny - it had only 72 seats, four across and 18 rows....i think this may be smaller than the Dash 8's that fly to canberra. I landed safe and sound into Waterford airport - very very small airport, before catching a taxi to the Waterford Crystal Factory. I did a tour, and got to hold the Ashes Trophy (made of Waterford Crystal). I was almost going to buy something....... but they had none left in stock...lucky! My imagination did run a little wild!

I caught the bus to Cork, and met up with Carly after she hd finished work, and we drove back to Cobh. I got to see her two gorgeous children again Ella (2.5) and Aidan (1.4). They are both lively and talkative, and loved their little presents from Australia. Carly's husband John works in Waterford at the moment and had a Xmas party last night so stayed in Waterford - so I am looking forward to seeing him tonight.

I went with Carly and Aidan to Gymboree today - all these lovely irish accents filled my ears! I could have sat there and listened to them for hours. It is pretty cold and windy outside, so probably will stay in most of the day.

Til next installment

Ngaira

Chiswick, London

Well it is the 11th December and I have exactly one month left of my holidays! I had a lazy day yesterday as my plans altered unexpectedly. I stayed with Jenny and Tim again last night, and am heading to Luton today.

I did a walk through of my flat yesterday. Was a bit wierd to see people living in my house. Was relieved to discover that they are Christians, and hold bible study at the house twice a week. (The neighbour thought they were Mormons!)

These few days in London have been slow paced - and I have had time to wander the streets and dream of living here again! I wonder if this is in Gods plans for me - it is certainly what I would love!

I am looking forward to seeing Carolyn and John and Sarah tonight - before I fly to Ireland tomorrow. I have recovered from nannying in Denmark and am ready for CArly and Johns two treasures!

Ngaira
xx

Sunday morning in Chiswick, London

Well I have flown back from Denmark with a few more bits and pieces than I arrived with. My love of Georg Jensen was accomodated as well as Rosendahl. Not sure how i am going to get it all home.....

I arrive last night back in London for a Christmas Banquet that was held by an old friend from church Daphne. She is going to Nepal with interserve to work with children with physical disabilities, she is an OT too! She held this dinner as a fundraiser, but it meant that I got to see a whole bunch of people i wanted.

I am now at Jenny and Tim's home in Chiswick and am looking forward to spending the time with them today. I am planning on going to Christmas Carols at HTB tonight too!


xx

Tues and wednesday

WEll it has been a couple of days, and I am in trouble for not updating my blog! I am now in Sonderborg in Denmark staying with my lovely friends Anna and Rob and their two children Kristian and Andreas. I arrived last night, to quite cold and rainy weather, but no different to London. We popped via Anna's parents house to say hi and pick up andreas before driving back to Sonderborg from the airport. We had McD's for dinner and then settled into their lovely home. Well sort of, they have just sold their flat and are packing up as I type, they are flying to NZ on monday for 3 months, so everything is hectic - just the way I like it.

PLans for today are to get out to the shops and take Andreas for a walk, so Anna can get more packing done. I am in Denmark until saturday. This is my fifith visit to Sonderborg, so the exploring I will do will be quite nostalgic as Anna and Robare moving to Violija when they return from their holiday in NZ.

MOst amusing thing here so far is that Kristian (3) listens and understands my english, but talks back to me in Danish - at which point I give him a blank expression, and almost a ......why cant you understand me, I can understand you look!

My love of Bang & Oluffsen is returning quickly too!

Best run, lots to do!

Day two - London UK

Well my second day in London was quite chilled out! I got up early (jetlag!) and headed down to the local bank to organise new keycards, and ummmm...new pin numbers (I realised when I went to use my UK cards that I had absolutely no idea what the pin numbers were!).

I had a bit of a lazy afternoon reading an amazing book - The seventh monsoon by Naomi Read.

I had organised drinks with some old friends from church in the evening, Cath and Richard. So I pottered down to Ladbroke Arms at about 5pm and enjoyed a fantastic evening of red wine, gastro pub food and fellowship. I started the yawning at about 9pm, and was in need of bed by 10pm (jetlag again!). I had a lvoely walk home via the streets of Notting Hill, and my imagination was allowed to go wild (the flats here are all over 1 million - never affordable!).

So my second day in London was blissful!

xxx

xxx

Day one - London, UK

Well I am back in London town, and I feel like I have not been away. I am going to try and keep this blog as updated as possible during this trip! For those of you who may not have even known I was coming away, my apologies. I needed to do some business things and I wanted to spend Christmas with my Grannie, so the trip was born. I flew out of Sydney on saturday 1st December. Asmono drove me up to Sydney to catch my flight. All went fairly well, except I had my toothpaste and face wash taken off me by security. I had no idea I couldn't take them on as carry on luggage. I got crappy seats, because you can now check-in online (it appears everyone else knew about this!), so was in the middle of two other passengers for the whole time. Will definately be checking in online for the return journey!

I landed in London on sunday morning at 6am, and made my way into London on the tube (underground). I arrived on my aunt and uncles doorstep at 8am, just in time for breakfast. Was great to ssee them again, and the familiarity of their flat is always appreciated after such a long flight. I had a bath (they are yet to appreciate the benefits of a shower!) and headed down to Kensignton High Street with Hanah (aunt) for some shopping. I managed to spend lots of pounds and now have a fairly impresive winter wardrobe. We walked back to their flat via Kensignton gardens and palace.

My aunt cooked a lovely dinner of salmon and vegetables, before i headed back out by myself to go to church at HTB. I arrived to see only a few familiar faces, and Tim Hughes leading worship and doing the talk. I caught up with some friends after church over a cup of tea, and felt an amazing sense of fellowship. I started yawing at about 7.30 and headed back to the flat at the end of what felt like a very long day.

I fell asleep in front of the telly on the couch at about 9pm, and awaok eonly briefly at 11pm, when everyone went to bed and the front room transformed into my bedroom.

I awoke this morning feeling fresh and excited about the day ahead!

Til next time

Ngaira
xx

It's Spring Time

Hi all,

I have just had a look at the last post I did, and can I say i am ashamed. I thought I would post some photos, and let everyone know that work is going well. Lots of pressure working in a hospital, but I guess I knew what I was getting myself in for! Winter has been a shocker and I have had illness after illness due to the ongoing cold weather (and maybe burning the candle at both ends).

I had a lovely trip to Hobart, Tasmania for a word conference in July, and even came away thinking that I could live there (for a couple of years). I have also just spent the weekend in Katoomba at a womens christian convention. The weather was lovely and the women who spoke were humble and challenging.

I am looking forward to the long weekend that is coming up. I have been busy studying a post grad cert in Management and doing a theological certificate by correspondence, so I may get some study in. All is going well with my beau - Asmono - we are looking forward to a trip to Melbourne in October to go to a friends wedding.

I am heading to the UK for 6 weeks for Xmas - so will suck up some rays before I miss the Aussie summer and hit the english winter!

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Ngaira

ps. I am on facebook - so look me up!

15 May 2007

Hi,

Well after a long break from blogging, here I am again! I have created a new blog for life in Australia, so you can all keep up with what I am doing. I will try and put up photos of important things so that you can see what I am up to.

Will write more later!

Ngaira
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