Saturday. Brisbane Grammar sportsground.

George scored a brilliant goal in his soccer match.
As we were leaving I spotted this sign;

Wed. 11th June. 17th & last Day UK.

Dropped Madeleine off in Hampshire. She was about to go off on the Contiki drinking tour of Europe for 5 weeks!

Flight left late in the evening for Bangkok where, INCREDIBLY, we bumped into Mick & Sue's daughter, Sally.


We lost a day, so it was Friday 13th before we flew over Sydney and got this view;

Tue. 10th June. 16th Day UK.

To Bladon churchyard and the grave of Winston Churchill.

On to a tour of Blenheim Palace, followed by lunch at Woodstock.


A couple of summer evening's beers at 'The Rose Revived' and 'The Maybush' on the upper reaches of the Thames.

Mon. 9th June. 15th Day UK.

Alistair did the godfatherly thing and fixed Madeleine's broken orthodontic wire.

We then had a spot of lunch in Betty's before leaving Harrogate for the 4 hour drive to Ducklington, near Oxford, to stay with the Coles.

A warm welcome from Rachel before Cole slipped into his comfortable socks & sandals and joined us for dinner.
Myself, Paula, Victoria, Rachel & David.

Sun. 8th June. 14th Day UK.

A walk in the Yorkshire Dales with Al & Clare. We walked from Hebden to Grassington. Pub lunch then back to Hebden along the river.



BBQ in the evening.

Sat. 7th June. 13th Day UK.

To Beamish Open Air Museum.
Very strange to see the familiar things of one's childhood in a museum!

A pilgrimage to the White Bear in Masham for a pint of Theakston's. (White bear in glass case behind).

Then on to Daphne Cottage and first meeting of Madeleine with her godfather, Alistair. Photo shows Madeleine, Clare, Alistair, Tom & Paula.

Fri. 6th June. 12th Day UK.

To see one of my oldest surviving relatives, uncle John - Phil's dad. He's now more than 10 years down the line from a major stroke.
Many 'Hello Dear's.








A day looking aroung a Newcastle upon Tyne almost unrecognizable from when I was a kid there. Here we are on the hugely fashionable Quayside.

In the evening, a curry in the Bigg Market with cousin Pete and his wife, Lynne.

Thur. 5th June. 11th Day UK.

Into Bamburgh Castle.
My uncle George, me, aged 2, and my father. Now, 53 years later, Madeleine & myself on the same cannon.


Then a boat trip out to the Farne Islands to see the seals & puffins. Could hardly see because of the North-Eastern 'Sea Fret'.


At the end of day, down to Newcastle where we rendezvoused with Naomi - 'Didi' -who was also in Tibet. We had a meal at the 400 year old Blackbird Inn in Ponteland.

Wed. 4th June. 10th Day UK.

Said farewell to Phil & Helen in Keswick.

We drove up to the prehistoric Castlerigg Stone Circle for final views of the Lake District.

Then, via lunch in Coldstream in Scotland, into Northumberland and the Victoria Hotel in Bamburgh. (Girls waving from window).

Bamburgh Castle, probably my favourite of all the palaces, stately homes & castles in England.

Tue. 3rd June. 9th Day UK.

A walk to Braithwaite and a climb up Barrow 1494' (455 m.) We stopped outside Prospect House where Phil's parents had spent their honeymoon in 1955.

Paula & I on top of Barrow, Derwentwater & Keswick behind,

Meal at the Pack Horse Inn that evening - mine was pork escalope with black pudding!

Mon. 2nd June. 8th Day UK.

To the Lake District, but dropped in to see Hugh, who was with us in Tibet, on the way.

Here, Phil, Hugh & myself (with presentation pack of ale)








Phil & I set off from Keswick and did Skiddaw, 3053' (930 m.), 11 mile round trip, in under 4 hours.











Approaching the summit.