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2008 UK Trip Report

Janet and I had planned to go to the UK to do a bit of private business ? but (after booking our plane tickets) ? we decided it was too much hassle ? but went through with the trip rather than give up our tickets.

Saturday, 16^th February, 2008 ? A leisurely exit from Singapore Jetstar to Hong Kong departing 15:45 ? arriving 19:25 all on-timegot to the boy's place an hour or so later, JL was there but Tyke was on a trip

Sunday, 17^th February, 2008 ? Up leisurely (again) ? down to IFC Check-in ? there was good old Ralphie time for a coffee and a chat then out to Chek Lap Kok 13:30 Oasis HK Airlines to Gatwick ? arriving same day at 18:50 ? easy. we had spare seats between us Now began what I thought would be the most difficult bit of our whole trip we had to meet up with Brian & Vonnie in The Chaser (pub/restaurant) in Shipbourne at 20:30 ? because (England!!) last orders were at 21:00.

Firstly ? Hire a car ? had done the booking on-line (as it turns out ? not a good thing to do. web-page was a company called Fourmotion offering a car for 144 quid for 9 days instructions told us to follow signs for Europcar. we did and got the car no problem ? AND ? amazingly found The Chaser pub at 20:32!! Brian & Vonnie in attendance ? nice meal, good to see them again.

When we handed the car back in 9 days later bill was 224.00 Pounds including 27.19 pound charge by Fourmotion (only an agent) to make the booking.. moral deal with the big boys ? not agents!!

Followed Brian & Vonnie back to their house at Kingshill and basically straight to bed.

Monday, 18^th February, 2008 ? Up with the lark and off to (firstly Marks & Sparks in Woking to see if they had boots for Jane ? No!!) then to Maureen & Geoff in Bracknell for a couple of hours chitty-chatting, (thanks Maureen for the rolls etc.. just what was needed), then Geoff gave us a great route to Cheltenham and recommended a trip to the Outlet Malls in Swindon (old locomotive (railway) sheds) couldn't find Christchurch Road initially ? but did find the station ? and Inga directed us from there ? easy. Into the ?new? apartment and a meet with Ben.. looking good! Straight out to Strada restaurant ? just a short walk away ? nice area of Cheltenham.

Tuesday, 19^th February, 2008 ? Slept overnight on the sofa-bed in the lounge ? very comfortable!! ? Ben had student things to do ? so Inga, Janet and I went off to check out the Outlet Malls in Swindon very impressive - BUBSY?s therapy.

Wednesday, 20^th February, 2008 ? Ben still being a student ? so we three again went out ? this time for Janet to see Oxford ? first fill-up with petrol (at Burford) ? couldn't find the lever to undo the bonnet/fuel cap. Good snoop around the colleges etc Cold day ? but lots of walking ? fish and chips in a very nookie pub (The White Horse) near Blackwells Bookshop.

Thursday, 21^st February, 2008 ? Still in Cheltenham ? Janet went to therapy at Primark buying lots of things for her kiddie-winks, Ben, Inga and I met her for lunch at the Slug & Lettuce pub ? nice and warm ? Janet left a shopping bag there and had to quickly return to retrieve it did Ben cook that night..?? Indian very good!!

Just before our departure.....

Friday, 22^nd February, 2008 - Drove to Britsy & Gary in their new rented house/cottage (very nice). Inga went as well in her car ? started after us ? and arrived before us because we missed the turn-off for Aisholt ? and just about got to Minehead before we realised our mistake ? almost 40 additional miles!!

Never mind ? it was lovely country!! This is the view from B&G's cottage..

Whilst this shows the main house with B&G's cottage at far left of the building - second chimney..

Japanese-like mood-picture...

Drinks in pub in Taunton then...

... to Sanctuary for dinner

mix-up with Taxis.. there were 5 of us and usual size couldn't take us all..

During the couple of days with Brittsy & Gary ? we ?played? with the GPS Tom-Tom thingy... which gets you from A to B when driving ? Brilliant thing!! Wal used one in Austria ? see later... On a couple of occasions they beeped to say ?too fast ? speed trap coming up? - and saved fines ? I have to get one..... but don't have a car!!

Saturday, 23^rd February, 2008 ?

All 5 of us lunch at Taunton pub place where B&G had their reception

Then off to supermarket shopping - frightening... because.. he's going to cook us a fish dinner.... ? clever boy!!.

First though... lets get some Frexinet shampop inside us.... so we can relax..... around a nice warm fire...

Gary's a busy boy... Fire-watch, Host... and cook!!..

A lovely fish supper - well done Gary!!

Sini - black cat.... no fish!!

Replete......

Frightening......

Sunday, 24^th February, 2008 - off out to Dunster village....

me taking a piccie of Gary taking a piccie of..... is that right??

then to Sunday lunch at nookie little village we'd been to before then ? light food in at home for dinner.

When did Inga leave??? guess ? during this day....

Monday, 25^th February, 2008 ? Leave Brittsy & Gary for a bit of tourism at...

Stonehenge ? got the automated guide thingy amazing 60% of the stones have been carted away and used elsewhere over the years - freezing cold, back in the warm car ? off to Brian & Vonnie's

Tuesday, 26^th February, 2008 ? Janet trying on Vonnie's Wedding hats, this is one of about 10... - then packing and off early to Gatwick airport. handed the car back in, saw Janet through check-in/Security etc.. then made a bad decision plenty of time to get back to Brian & Vonnie's ? so waited an hour ? for National Express bus to Victoria ? lots of traffic ? took hours!! Got to West Malling around 21:00, missed Brian at the car park ? eventually got ?home? - what a mess-up!!

Wednesday, 27^th February, 2008 ? Me up late, and a quiet day in the house, until the workers got home

Thursday, 28^th February, 2008 ? Another quiet day in the house ? did we go out to The White Horse near Maidstone this night ? great place!!??

Friday, 29^th February, 2008 ? Brian took the day off ? lots of packing SeaFrance were on strike ? and we'd been advised to get to Dover early in order to switch ferries. crappy evening ? windy, lots of rain ? got to Dover around 22:00 ? easy switch onto Norfolk Ferry to Dunkirk ? very stormy night ? but the crossing was as peaceful as you'd wish. Driving through the night ? still lashing it down, then in the cool light of day ? after Munich ? sleet, hail, thunder, lightening, snow and....... a Tornado!!

About 100 big mature fir trees ? on both sides of the autobahn were snapped off about 20 feet up their trunks ? some of them crashing down across the road crazy.. before and after this ? 100 miles of traffic jams on the other side of the route ? must not get caught in that ? next Saturday!! Found Schochenhof easily, Wal arrived about an hour after we did. snooped around Kirchberg - Very little snow ? didn't get skis or passes.

Saturday, 1^st March, 2008 ? Kirchberg ? still no additional snow ? more expected Wednesday. ? had dinner in the Pfeffermuhle.

Sunday, 2nd March, 2008 ? drove to Kitzbuhel and then Pass Thurn

Monday, 3rd March, 2008 ? checking out snow conditions - About time we had a look at the slopes ? went and got skis etc.. and off up the Fleckalmbahn ? a couple of easy runs on fair snow ? then lunch at Steinberkogel and Wal ski'd down but Brian and I didn't like the look of the snow and chickened out ? dinner at Brandseitstube (Andy's place ? could walk there from Schochenhoff ? through mud/fields etc..).

Tuesday, 4th March, 2008 ? Because the slopes were so naf - we drove to Saltzburg this day ? tourists ? tea/coffee in the Sacher Hotel ? home of Sacher Torte, very ?fine?

Wednesday, 5th March, 2008 ? Ski'd a bit ? there had been snow overnight and it continued through today.

Thursday, 6th March, 2008 ? Great ski ? lovely weather ? great snow ? morning drinks at Pengelstein ? apres ski drinks and dinner at Andy's place

Friday, 7th March, 2008 ? A ?quick ski? - then decided to go home early trying to avoid 100 mile long queues (we did!!) etc.. got to Brian & Vonnie's at around 02:00AM

Saturday, ^8th March, 2008 ? B&V at leisure

Sunday, 9^th March, 2008 ? Lunch with B&V, Tabs/James/Poppy/ and Tilley in restaurant somewhere..

Monday, 10^th March, 2008 ? B&V at leisure

Tuesday, 11^th March, 2008 ? Leave Brian & Vonnie's at 13:00, by train to Victoria and Gatwick Express to the airport ? 5 hours early, plane full, but on-time

Wednesday, 12^th March, 2008 ? into HK on-time (15:40) ? 3 hours to wait for JetStar plane ? into Singapore on time around mid-night.

Costs/Expenses in Pounds:

Sub-Total. 1,947.17 (my portion of the ?divying-up with Brian & Wal was 550.00 Pounds)

Sub-Total. 139.85

Sub-Total. 451.00

Sub-Total. 100.00

Total = 2,438.02

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