Month: October 2024

The Pharts arrive at Heathrow Airport after a very pleasant stay with Niven and Marianne in North London. They are approached by a Cathay Pacific staff member with a proposition. Would we be prepared to travel the next day, Business Class, and be accommodated in a nearby Airport Hotel? “Ok”, we said, although it meant skipping our one night stopover in Hong Kong.

The next morning, back to Heathrow, and off we fly. Business class is very comfortable, with the passenger able to convert the seat to a bed. A four hour stopover in Hong Kong, then back on the plane, Premium Economy, and Brisbane. We arrived very late to our apartment, then hit the sack.

Despite a sleep in, the Pharts are jet lagged, but pop down the road for brunch, then a short 15 minute walk into town. They are staying in an AirBnb apartment in Spring Hill called “The Johnson.” Son Scott and partner Eva rent an apartment in this complex, so a perfect location.

Great to catch up with Scott and Eva, and dinner is at a Mexican restaurant in nearby Fortitude Valley.

After a less than perfect nights sleep, the old groovers haul themselves out of bed, and eventually wander down to nearby Victoria Park. This used to be a golf course, but is now parkland, with a cafe which the travellers visit for a much needed caffeine hit.

They then walk into the city, lunch in the City Botanic Gardens, and back to the Johnson and a swim in their pool.

Dinner for the evening is at Felons Brewery at Howard Smith Wharf, under the Storey Bridge. We are catching up with an old mate of Blair’s called Ross, and his wife Chris. Blair (the Prince) and Ross (the King) have been mates for 40 years, having met on a Contiki trip around Europe. A great night of catching up and reminiscing!

The old groovers pull on their walking shoes, and head off to explore the local sights. Firstly, nearby Roma Street Parkland, then across the river and along the South Bank. Back across the river and up to the Sky Deck, with panoramic views over the city. Admission is free! A bit more shopping, then back to the digs to rest the feet, then down for a swim in the complex’s pool.

Dinner is a short drive to the South Bank area, and a visit to the restaurant at the Emporium Hotel. The restaurant is at the top of the hotel, with views out across the city. Also, a very interesting use of interior lighting. The food is spot on.

And to our final full day and night in Brisbane. It’s going to be another scorcher, so the Pharts decide a sedate river cruise is the right option. A 90 minute journey down river and back, with an interesting commentary on the history of the area.

Back to the “Johnson” for a swim, but it has clouded over somewhat, with rain threatening. We decide to dine locally that evening, and the four of us wander across the road to a Vegan restaurant. Good tucker and reasonably priced. We have enjoyed spending time with Scott and Eva, and can see why they are enjoying life in Queensland.

As the travellers cannot move in to their Bristol AirBnb digs until 3pm, they decide to visit Tyntesfield, a National Trust property, just outside Bristol. This impressive property has been owned by the National Trust since 2002. Once owned by Britain’s richest non noble, who made his money in Guano for fertiliser, imported from Peru! There is also an art exhibition in the main house called “The Uninvited Guest” Reviews of the art have been mixed, with the Somerset Gazette likening it to a pile of poo!

The Pharts settle into their Clifton digs, and our joined by son Andrew and partner Neethd for pre dinner drinks. Great to see them again after almost a year! Dinner is at a Japanese restaurant in Clifton Village called Yakinori. Excellent food, service and atmosphere.

The next day is Friday, and Andrew has the day off work. We collect him from his flat in Brislington, and drive to the Cotswolds.

The popular TV host Jeremy Clarkson, of Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm has recently opened a pub and farm shop near Burford. We check it out, buy some goodies and are amazed to see people queuing to get into the pub. Kiwis don’t queue I’m afraid!

Back to Burford for lunch, then on to explore the Cotswold villages Stow on the Wold and Bourton on the Water. Picture postcard places and very much on the tourist trail. Back to Bristol and dinner at Aqua, White Ladies Rd, within easy walking distance.

A pleasant day weather wise, and the Pharts walk 40 minutes into the city centre. A coffee with Andrew, who is working, then exploring on foot, particularly along the river area. Lots of steps, so a well earned rest before driving to Andrew and Neethd’s flat, and dinner at their local, “The Langy”

Today we collect Andrew and Neethd, and drive to the Mendip area. A nostalgia trip for Sue, with strong family ties in the area. We have a roast lunch at The Lytton pub, then drive to the places of interest.

A quiet evening, with the Pharts picking up a pizza from an outlet on Whiteladies Road. Top quality!

Today is a golf day! We drive to the outskirts of Cheltenham and the Cotswold Hills Golf Club. The weather is cold and drizzly, and a bag carry only ruling by the club for the day. We meet up with old Uni friends of Sue, Mike and Fiona, who are club members. A fun day, despite the weather, and Mike and Fiona are great company. We have a cup of tea at their home in Cheltenham, then drive back to Bristol. Dinner is at the trendy steak restaurant “Pasture”. The steaks and sides are excellent, with the aged steaks cooked to perfection.

Another opportunity arises to meet with Sue’s rellies, after Covid curtailed the previous gathering. We have lunch at the Railway Inn in Sandford, which is alongside Thatchers Cidery. A nice lunch and great to catch up with Aunt Joan (96 years young), cousins Sally, Jenny and Dips as well as Sally’s husband George.

Our final dinner with Neethd and Andrew is a middle eastern city restaurant called Cappadocia. Excellent food and we say our goodbyes to Neethd. She is in New Zealand for a wedding in December, so may see her then.

Our final day in Bristol. We say farewell to Andrew, and will see him in January, when he is also in NZ for a wedding. We walk to Clifton Village from our accommodation for lunch. Then across the Clifton Bridge, back past the Observatory, through the Downs and home.

It’s back to Sue’s old home town, Chard, South Somerset. We find our Air BnB, which is in a rural setting and very quiet. A meal in the first evening, ready for the interment of Sue’s mothers ashes the next day.

We meet Sue’s brother Jim and his wife Nicki, and bury Yvonne’s ashes in Chard cemetery. We are then treated by Sue to lunch at The Cotley Inn, a Michelin star gastro pub in the nearby village of Wambrook. Back to Jim and Nicki’s, and load the car with boxes of photos and papers, for Sue to sort through!

Dinners is at an old favourite, the Windwhistle Inn, near Cricket St Thomas. Decent pub grub, but the Pharts are still pretty full from lunch.

The next morning the travellers wake up with sniffles, and are wary as Tim and Sharon in Swanage had both tested positive for Covid.

However, they decide to drive to a National Trust property near Crewkerne, called Montacute. Magnificent gardens and a huge home, dating back to the 1600’s.

The Pharts have developed heavy colds, so pick up a Covid test pack in Crewkerne. They test and oh no, positive. That will change the plans for the next couple of days.

With the Old Pharts still Covid positive and feeling a little under the weather, activities are limited to outside, with little people contact. Also dining in of an evening. Planned gatherings with the family over the weekend have been postponed. Sue had also arranged to meet up with old Uni friends in Winchester on Monday for lunch. Sadly, cancelled.

It is thus local walks and exploring. We drove to and climbed up Pilsdon Pen, one of the highest points in Dorset, with panoramic views. And also back to our old favourite, Lyme Regis. We managed a walk along the waterfront and Cobb, before the rain set in.

Having joined the National Trust shortly after arriving in England, we are keen to make the most of. About 9 miles away, near Ilminster, is Barrington Court. It is a worthwhile visit, with impressive gardens and buildings. Also, over 20 years ago, Blair played cricket there in Sue’s brother Sean’s village cricket team. Sadly the ground had been “let go.”

With the Pharts still testing positive, and with a very wet day forecast, it is decided a trip to Taunton is on the agenda. They pick up a few bits and pieces, have a pleasant luncheon then drive back to Tatworth in the pouring rain. They dine in again, care of goodies picked up from Marks and Spencer.

The next day, Covid free! They meet Jim and Nicki for lunch at the Windwhistle, a spend a pleasant few hours in their company. They can finally dine out again of an evening, so drive to Hunter’s Lodge, Axminster. Good, honest pub grub. The next morning it is pack up time, and off to Bristol.

It’s time for the Pharts to move on, destination Portsmouth.Sue has some old University friends who live on the way, so we call and say hi. Then on to Portsmouth, or “Pompey” as the locals call it. Our accommodation is at the Ship Leopard Boutique Hotel. The location is near the Gunwharf Quays, a large development with shops, restaurants and residential. The hotel is dated and tired, but fine for a night.

The evening is cold and wet, but we walk into the Quays, have a drink at a bar then dinner at the “Giggling Squid”, a lively Thai restaurant. Great food, but the oldies order too much.

After a not great sleep in a too hot room, and an average breakfast, we head off for a walk around the waterfront area. A windy morning and a bracing walk. Time then to pack up the car and drive to Swanage, on the Dorset coast near Bournemouth.

On the way, Sue has another old Uni friend to see, Carolyn and her husband Mike. They live at Barton on Sea, and kindly invite us for lunch. Great catching up with them, then it is on to Swanage and Tim and Sharon. Tim is an old school and Uni friend of Sue’s, and they have been to New Zealand a couple of times. Great to see them and spending two days in their company. Lots of walking in the local area, plus talking and catching up.

The next day is more walking and exploring around the Swanage and the isle of Purbeck area. Stunning scenery, and great fun and company with Tim and Sharon.

After two most enjoyable days, it’s time to leave Swanage and motor to Chard. A couple of spectacular Dorset stops on the way. Firstly, Lulworth Cove, noted for its unique geology and land forms. We continued on to Abbotsbury, a quaint little village on the Jurassic Coast. An excellent lunch set us up perfectly for the final push to Chard.