The House!

We've had this house for close to 2 years now, and I'd kind of forgotten lots of the work we've had done to it! So I thought I'd note it all down just to remind myself, although there are probably a few bits and bobs I've missed off the list!

1. Damp proof course


2. Replacement lintels


3. Added ventilation to cellar


4. Kitchen Window refitted


5. Damp treatment in play room and Harry's bedroom, including plastic interior coating and replastering


6. Fireplace and hearth reconstuction in playroom


7. Kitchen ceiling plastered


8. New fitted kitchen


9. Decorated all bedroons, kitchen and play room


10. Carpets in all bedrooms, solid flooring in hall, kitchen, living room and play room


11. Improved drainage so cellar doesn't flood when it rains


12. Replaced back door


13. Ivy removed from exterior of house


14. Pigeon spikes fitted


15. Garage removed


16. Garden landscaped


17. Drive replaced and front of house landscaped


18. Roof fixed


19. Guttering fixed


20. Exterior window frames repaired and painted


21. Replaced 'dungeon' window

Royal Wedding - Street Party!

Several of the people on our street got together and organised a street party! I've since learnt there were 17 in the Sale, but ours was by far the biggest with over 200 attendees! There were also around 35 under 10's, and they had their own tea party.


The local butcher had donated burgers and sausages, the baker had provided rolls, the owners of the pub at the end of the road had given us beer and wine, and 'Pack and Pay' had provided bunting! Everyone coming was asked to bring soemthing that could be shared - and you've never seen such a variety or quantity of food before EVER! This photo shows, as an estimate, around a third of it!


Some of the 'men' were on BBQ duty - with 4 set up to provide for us all.


One way we raised funds to cover some of the other costs was to have a raffle - here I am being helped to pick a prize by Tully. Luckily we won more than 1 so we all got to pick something.

Claviere!

We took Tully skiing, but we didn't see her much as she had so many arranged activities!

Still, that meant we could do lots of skiing... On the way up!


Coming back down again.


A bit more down.


A bit more up! (This lift has my 2 favourite runs going down each side of it so I went on it quite a lot!)


Nearly back in Claviere - you can just about see the bar at the base of the slope.

Made it! And having a well deserved beer.

Paul's Wedding

This weekend I've popped to Belfast to go to Paul's wedding. It was a full catholic ceremony - but Paul and Helen managed to survive it!


There was only a smallish Exeter group there - Michelle and Graeme, Vicky, and Steph and Tim along with myself. We were all sat together for the meal (which was one of the best wedding dinners I've ever had!) and it was really nice to have a good catch up!


The cake cutting!


And the first dance - they'd even had a couple of lessons!

Australia

I continued on from China to Sydney. I had a free day before meetings started so got to do some sight seeing! First off though here is the view from my hotel room with the Aquarium in the foreground, Sydney Wildlife World to the right and the Maritime Museum in the background across Darling Harbour.


I caught the ferry around to Circular Quay.


I walked up to the Opera House


and was inspired to try and take lots of arty photos, but as I only had my camera I failed miserably.


Later in the week I had a couple of hours in the morning before the customers arrived at lunchtime, so being so close I bought a combined ticket for the Aquarium and Wildlife World which obvioulsy had some Koalas. Both were good, but I didn't think either were a patch on the Zoo that I visited last time I came to Sydney for work.


On my final day and meetings done I had a couple of hours before needing to go to the airport so wandered to the Maritime Museum, which normally wouldn't really be my thing but I have to say it was superb. The main museum is free but you can pay to go on one or all of a submarine, a destroyer or a replica of the Endeavour. I chose the Endeavour and it was really interesting so definitely worth it.

China

More travel! This month it starts in China, arriving in Beijing for 1 night, then onto Shanghai for 2 nights, and driving to Ningbo for the day in the middle.

On the last day I did have some free time in Shanghai before going to the airport. I had a wander around the main squae, and then headed to the Yuyuan Gardens.

South Africa

Another month, another trip. South Africa this time. I started out in Johannesburg for 1 night, and then moved to near Durban. we stayed in a small village a few miles out called Umhangla, and one evening ur agent there showed us around, and I was particularly interested as by pure chance it was the village that a friend of ours lived as a teenager!

Cornish Hols

We went to Cornwall for our summer holiday. the weather wasn't great and I had a stonking cold, but we had a nice chilled out week.