The sights

This is just a photo post of london!

enjoy

Buckingham Palace in Black and White

Beautiful tower!

Grant was pretty happy. I don't think i've ever seen his face do that before

National Portrait Gallery, home to Van Gogh and Leonardo

The sun came out through the water spraying from the fountains, just beautiful

Westminister Abey

Parliament house, defiantly out does the Australian version

London Calling

Big sights, long drives, frost covered hills, and beautiful food all in a days work.

Yesterday we went to London. And as the optimistic, bright eyed tourists that we are, we thought we'd get to see all that London was and is. Silly us.

The day started at about 6:50am when we awoke in the dark, rummaging around for cloths to prepare us for the cold. I quick walk to the bus terminal, we boarded the bus which would take us to London. A picturesque drive and three hours later, we arrived.

A bit disorientated and hungry as we hadn't eaten breakfast, we wondered to the nearest coffee shop, bought something to eat and had it take way.(as everything here is more expensive if you eat in).

Walking out of the shop we realised we where on Buckingham st. So i guess we put two and two together and figured that where the Queen lives would be at the end of this street. And sure enough it was. Her house is so huge, you could fit a whole city in it!

We watched the horses march out the front, with the head horseman throwing his voice very loudly!

We then asked around and found our way to the National Portrait Gallery which is right near Trafalgar Square. We sore Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", Monet's "Waterlilies", Caravaggio and Leonardo Da Vinci in the flesh! (so to speak).

My favourite of all was Leonardo's "Virgin and Child with Saint Anna - 1499-1500. It is the sketch that Leonardo did to prepare for a painting. It was so perfect, but had such a roughness to it at the same time. It reminded me of my dear mum.

To you Jo-ann

We found a little Italian Deli and once again, I was naughty. I asked the man for two Ciabatta with Roma Tomato, Mozzarella (the real thing by the way) and fresh basil. It was amazing.

We ate in the sun sitting on the steps of Trafalgar square, and took it all in.

We sore many things yesterday but our favourite was the Bourgh Market. Picture a farmers market, times 100. It's based in an open warehouse type setting and people come from all over to show and sell their amazing produce. Tables and Tables of fresh olives, cheeses and dates. Stalls with home made breads, pork dried sausages and beautiful fish. There were other s

talls that where selling cooked food. Big dishes, almost like woks, filled with curries of all sorts, home made soups, mulled wine and not to mention Hot spicy cider!.

I was in Heaven. I took so many photos, but unfortunately they where taken on film. When they are developed I will be sure to show them all to you. You will defiantly want to make Bourgh Market the next place you visit!

The day went on, with more things to see, London Bridge, Tate Modern, Strathwalk Anglican church (which we stayed to hear the choir and the service, they where like angels) Pup meals, the under ground..and after all that at 8pm we boarded the bus back to Gloucester.

I can now safely say that I am well and truly over jet lag.

And a little note for Dad. John took us to an all you can eat Thai Restaurant at the Docks in Gloucester. Its one of those places where you don't eat for four days leading up to it!

A taste of Gloucester

I woke up this morning and thought I sore snow on the roof tops. To my disappointment is was just frost, a mass amount of frost! I have never seen it like this before.

We decided to go out for a Gloucester Breakfast on this frosty morning.

We Borrowed some bikes from Red Cliffe Bible college and off we went.

(for all those who know of my gluten disposition, ignore it, I was naughty today but it was worth it!)

Gloucester pure pork sausage made from real meat, no fat in between to home made slices of thickly cut bread, with home made chutney and locally produces butter spread all over! And...A slice of toast each with Lemon and Whisky

marmalade. To die for, i wish everyone could taste this!

Onto the post office to find some stamps, and a trip to the local department store to fin

d a convertible electrical adapter.

We sore many beautiful things along the road of our frosty trip. We captured them for all to see.

"Stanmans" Beautiful owners, great food and cute setting.

Writing a Post card (Grants Handy work in the picture taking. He was very proud of his work, and so am I)

Another of Grants master pieces, a building

near the Cathedral.

This is Red Cliffe Bible College And this is where we are staying and where John

lives at the moment.

Adjustments

it's still difficult to comprehend that we are on the other side of the world. i mean i know i am in England, but it somehow doesn't seem to have sunken in.

Everything is new but only very subtly. It's not like we landed on another planet, they still speak English and have shops and buses. they only have subtle differences, the weather for one. it feels like 6am only a particularly nippy morning, in the middle of the day, even when the sun is out.

We are both feeling pretty buggered, it will undoubtedly take i while to adjust.

It begins

Awoken at 7am with a dark sky and the songs of the birds from our front window, I became very disorientated.

I woke up in another country and had know idea where I was. Then I remembered that we were at Red Cliffe Bible college with our friend John.

We arrived last night on the train at about 5:30pm which actually felt like 11pm. As we travelled along the train tracks from Paddington in London to Gloucester, the sky got darker and darker. This by the way was only at 4pm!

We arrived just in time for tea and lots of conversation with our friends here. Meeting new people has also been a great thing here. So many different stories from different people.

At about 10am this morning Grant and I decided to have a stroll into town and be a little bit touristy. The day started with us crossing the road with me jumping for joy and the thought of BEING IN ENGLAND!!

With scarfs and gloves we set out on our first adventure. A coffee shop, second hand book store and the Gloucester cathedral were our findings from this outing, with many pictures to show for it.

A beautiful old lady named Liz took us on a tour of the Gloucester cathedral. The first part of it was built in 679!!! I was in shock. Not only had I never seen something this old before, I had never seen anything like this at all! We learnt our history with every bend we walked, discovering new things every step of the way.

We are now cozy in our little house on Horton St and thinking that a nap may be in order.

I'm glad I can share this adventure with you in this images.

xoxox

Today's the day

Goodbye to this place for now.

Its strange waking up and realising that tomorrow you wont be sleeping in that bed, let alone that country.

I've enjoyed being home these past few months. Smelling the smells that bring back old memories.

The Adventure began a long time ago. I guess this is just a larger extension of it. I'm extremely nervous about the whole thing really.

Right now Grant and I are watching Monarch of the Glen to get physced up about Scotland.

Moses sitting at our feet and the sun poring through the window. I will miss this.

Some photo's of our two months at home

Beautiful Gluten Free feast. Bruschetta with Carbonara and a side of patata. Buono mangiare!

Wedding dress glistening in the sun.

Goodbyes and Tummy Aches.

There are pros and cons of embarking on an adventure such as ours. One of the cons is saying goodbye to a life hear and the things that make up that life.

Both Grant and I are now coming to terms with the fact that we must say goodbye to our beloved VW Baloo.

He has seen us through many good times and

bad, and we treasure the memories we have made with him.

Road trips to cousins weddings, beach trips with

sand on the back seat, and waking up to the sun right in your eyes at 5 in the morning.

As for the Tummy aches, not sure if its nerves, or just a piece of uncooked chicken I ate last night that has made my stomach say no to everything.

Our Bedroom Window

My Nona told me a Italian saying that goes like this

"What ever you are doing on the eve of the new year, you will be doing for the coming year."

So here we are, Grant and I, sleeping in the back of our van, drinking wine and being merry.

That sounds like a nice way to spend the coming year.

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night.

The view from our bedroom window...