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.

Sun. 1st June. 7th Day UK.

A 10 mile walk around a bit of Morecombe Bay in steady rain.

Fortunately we were able to have an ice-cream at the end.

However we had home cooked roast beef & yorkshire pudding to look forward to in the evening.

Sat. 31st May. 6th Day UK

To Bispham near Blackpool to stay with my cousin Phil & wife Helen. We went walking up the promenade to see the wreck of the 'Riverdance'.


On the way back we had to take a walk down this street.

Fri. 30th May. 5th Day UK.

To Shropshire and Mick & Sue at Rhodes Farm. Sally just off to Thailand.

Not everyone has a well in their kitchen, but Mick has.

Thur. 29th May. 4th Day UK.

Picked up a rental car. Had to pay the CONGESTION CHARGE!!!! $16!!! Just to drive through London. Big Brother is truly watching in England. Cameras everywhere so that everyone pays up.
Drove off to Greenwich to the Observatory, Prime Meridian & Maritime Museum.
Saw Nelson's uniform in which he was killed - bullet hole on left shoulder.

Then on to Chelmsford to stay with Tim & Jilly Baylis. Tim & I up rather late trying to decide if the Sainsbury's Merlot in plastic bottles really was worth drinking or not.

Wed. 28th May. 3rd Day UK.

A visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, then over the Millenium Bridge to the reconstructed Globe Theatre.
Here we watched an excellent performance of 'A Misummer Night's Dream'.

The show was followed by a couple of beers in 'The George', Borough High St. One of my old haunts.

Tue. 27th May. 2nd Day UK

Met up with Madeleine after almost 5 months. Here the girls are outside 'the Old Curiosity Shop'. This was just before a 'near-death' experience in the Royal College of Surgeons lift which didn't stop and crashed into the top of the building!

We went walkabout to the Hunterian Museum, The National Gallery, Whitehall, Buckingham Palace - here the girls are beside one of the State Coaches in the Royal Mews.

Then on to the British Museum so Madeleine could see the Elgin Marbles before she gets to Athens in a few weeks time.

England Bound

Paula & I off to the UK for a couple of weeks.
Trying out the new 'Premium Economy' seats as we couldn't get Business class.
Will be spending much time in pubs with family and friends.
It will all be on the blog as soon as we get back.

TOODLE PIP!

55 YEARS OLD! Birthday dinner at 'Belle Epoque'.

Fri. 23rd May - out to dinner with Paula, Jake & George, Nicola & Brady, John & Jenny Burgess and Rodney & Jane Litzow.
Excellent meal and French wines at 'Belle Epoque' in the Valley. (Birthday was the day before but I was working)

TIBET, TIBET.

As someone who has visited Tibet twice recently I thought I should get a little more involved.
I joined the 'Australian Tibet Council' a few years ago and have had an article published on their website about the changes at Base Camp.
This is highly topical as the Olympic torch is meant to be passing through on it's way to the summit in the next couple of weeks.
My own feeling is that it's a huge gamble attempting this. The chances are slim that there will be a successful ascent this early in the year - most summits are made at the end of May.
The Chinese are tempting fate by trying this. There is much potential for disaster and they may even have to fake a good result so as to not 'lose face'.
Please check out my article at - Tibet: One Year On - Militarisation, Public Relations And The Fake Panchen Lama - The Australian Tibet Council Website.

AND PASS IT ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.