Rachel’s retirement

We are now in day two of Rachel’s retirement, her having finished work on Friday. Don’t quite understand why she doesn’t make the breakfast and morning cup of tea like people in retirement are supposed to do for their working partners. Come to think of it, not quite sure how she managed to get to retirement before I did…
It’s been a very busy week, with work, study and socialising (and preparing for retirement). Roger (as in Eva and Roger from NZ+Sweden) has arrived in the UK this week to work for a while, so we had to introduce him to the Old Goat (see previous post).
Ananth Pai (a guy from WKUK I met on the SAP project) invited us to him and his wife’s place for dinner and we had a great Indian meal.
Then, on Friday we went out with Kate (formerly of Adis NZ), Matt and Roger in Richmond, a fantastic burger restaurant started, it would appear, by NZ’ers with tomato shaped ketchup bottles, beetroot in the burgers and Steinlager for sale. Quick side note on Kate and Matt’s apartment in Richmond, great building with art deco features (curved walls, wrought iron gates) and an inner court with a very NZ-like garden, finally views across the roof tops of Richmond.
And, of course the pub lunch on Friday to celebrate Rachel’s retirement with her workmates.
Today we have left our first nomad dwelling, having been to lunch with Rachel’s family for her Mum’s birthday. Rach’, Bex and Tash’ will stay around there for a bit, while I am now on the train to Stansted to spend the first part of the week in Alphen for work, before meeting Barry at Schipol (Amsterdam airport) to fly to Mallorca.
Many thanks to Lynn, Stephen, Hannah and Ellie for their place the last couple of week, come stay any time when you are in NZ.
PS – first post via cellular modem, life in the semi-online world

Norfolk in the weather

Norfolk... fine sand beaches, pebble cottages, good pubs and wind, rain and all the elements the Gods could throw at us.

This was the week camping with Helen and family. Crabbing on the wharf, although the bright pink net might have scared even the bravest crab from the bait, walking up the hills, hunting for shrimps in rock pools, cricket on the beach, and, to complete the picture, dodging rain storms in cafe's and pubs.


Crabbing at Wells



Beaching at Holkham and Brancaster
Craft market at Burnham Market
Pubbing at the Jolly Sailor (nice local), The White Horse (rather posh), The Lifeboat Inn (16th C).



We stayed at Deepdale Farm camp ground. http://www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/
Clean, good showers, cafe, internet, supermarket.

It wasn't, one would have to admit, the best week of weather this summer, but, then again, our camping trips in England have always suffered from excessive humidity.


I was working in the middle for a few days in Alphen aan den Rijn (my long commute to the Netherlands), squeezing on to the flight after endless security queues.

Now we are back at Ellie's house for the week.

Blowin' in the wind

Having just had the hottest July in recorded history, we decide to go camping in August... and the wind blows and the grey clouds roll in. Just managed to get the tent up, we wait with anticipation for the night's events. If it blows and rains, well, in short, we will get wet.

Lovely spot though along the Norfolk coast. The houses are made of the local pebble rocks mixed with red brick.

I have snuck away this time to the shop to get on the Internet, Andy only made it as far as the local, The Jolly Sailor, that could be my next stop when my credit has run out.

Goodbye to Cambridge Rd

Today we said our last goodbyes to Cambridge Rd. Two days of cleaning, touch ups and gardening - four years of our lives swept away. Nah, not really, it just seemed like the logical ending to that sentence. It has been a great area to live in, so nice to walk to the Thames and to the high street. We will all miss it, although it will also be nice to live in our own place again with space and ideas.

Tonight we are at Lynn, Ellie, Hannah and Steve's house (they are away in Italy for the hol's) in Strawberry Hill, just around the corner. We are clean at last after three days of packing and cleaning. Bit of drama getting the hot water working, thank god for cell phones.

We had a lovely pub Sunday lunch (breakfast, lunch and dinner for us) at 4pm at the Old Goat to celebrate all our hard work. This is a great pub about 2k from home. They serve Belgium beer and mussels during the week and the usual Sunday fare on Sunday. Recommended if you are in this part of the world.

Tomorrow we go off camping with Helen and family in Norfolk. The weather has turned dodgy the last couple of days so we cross our fingers.

The week with grandparents -Jane and Stephen

Two days until the packers... and the house is scaaarrryyy!

Bex and Tasha spent the week with Rachel's parents (Stephen and Jane) allowing Rach' and I the 'freedom' to sort the house for the packers (well actually eat out and hang out at the local pubs to be perfectly honest).

So, what did Tash' and Bex get up to...
Movies - Pirates of the Caribbean (a big hit) and Superman (surprisingly good). Some good culture with Durham cathedral and a great place called Beamish, recreation of 19th and early 20th century Britain. Various shopping trips and just chilling out was good for all. Visiting aunties and made a great diary to go along with the week.

Side note here - Kate (that's Aunty Kate or Rachel's little sister) has adopted a robot family.
The cat 'Elsa'
The robot dude (robo spaien, he is pretty cool) -