BRUGGES (BRUGES) - BELGIUM

Goodbye Dover.

Hello Brugges (or, if you prefer, Bruges) in Belgium

We are here to spend a couple of nights with Tony and Sonia before taking off back to Australia. Sonia is the daughter of a childhood playmate of Cathy.

Sonia, who grew up in Scotland, works for a multinational food company as assistant to a Sales Manager. She speaks mainly English at work but is fluent in Flemish (Belgian language). Tony was born and bred in Brugge and like most Belgians, speaks fluent English. He has a very interesting job examining properties owned by the city and determining what sort of repairs need doing and how. Tony and Sonia spent time in Australia in 2003 and went out with Glenn and Andrew and families.

They live in this four storey house in the heart of Brugges which they bought from Tonys' aunt. The centre of Brugge surrounded by a canal is Heritage listed. The house dates from the 1700's but someone, in their wisdom, decided to render it in concrete like many other properties around. They now have to live with that but the big door opens into a surprise world.

This is the back yard with a garden and a three car garage.

They are converting the roof space into a bedroom and will enjoy views like this from up there.

Brugge has many canals and is a tourist Mecca.

We got upgraded to "Business Class", for a second time, by Etihad Airways on the 15 hour leg from Abu Dhabi to Sydney for which we were very gratefull. It means we got a bed and were served with Champagne! You don't avoid jet lag but you don't have to endure the extreme discomfort of not being able to lie flat.

Wot's that?!

THEY'RE BAAACCKK!!!

DEAL AND DOVER

Folkstone Harbour and

The white cliffs of Dover.

The memorial to "The Battle of Britain" on top of the cliffs.

A Spitfire

This is the time of year when the battle took place, early August 1940, and  we took a day trip with Rosabel into nearby Sandwich where the market place was taken over by a World War 2 theme.

"Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler if you think old Englands done?"

"We are the boys who will stop your little game"

"Tally-ho chaps!"

The Yanks are here!

Sandwich is also famous for "The Royal St George Golf Club" home to the recent British Open.

and lots of very old buildings.

and the odd eccentrics!

The next day we visit DOVER CASTLE

The castle was built in the 1100's by Henry II who controlled a large part of Europe

Lady Catherine of Scotland (a Norman) had to appear in front of the king to settle a dispute over land with a Saxon!

The outcome had to be decided by a group of 12 knights. One of the Knights is trying to disguise the fact that  his gender is in doubt!

Hopefully Henrys people are not watching! I'm on his throne.

A couple of last minute photos with Rosabel in her cottage at Deal then we are off to Brugge (Bruges) in Belgium.

BRISTOL

After Festival week we motored down to Bristol to visit Sue and Tony and their families.

Portishead High Street decorated with flower baskets.

Sues' daughter Sarah behind the counter of her new shop which is undergoing renovations to incorporate a Florestry section.

Sarah with her daughters Emma and Lucy and Sue.

Me with Sue. Don't take too much notice of the body language. We are still talking when mouths aren't full of peanuts!

Sue with Tony who looks considerably better after treatment in hospital this week.

Sues son John, wife Karen and their son Hari in front room of their house. Poor Hari has a severe rash on his face and not too happy.

John surveying his backyard project which will ultimately give them an entertainment deck overlooking the river Severn.

John and Karen are facing a concerted campaign through the planning authorities from neighbours behind them (mainly in the houses to the left of the picture above). The residents object to J& K's proposal to develop the back of their block which is across the street behind the car and fence to the right.

J & K's block extends from one street to the next and is big enough for a legal subdivision and the construction of a separate dwelling facing the street above. Their house plans have very little affect on the outlook from the other houses so the whole issue appears to be one of sour grapes. The project to modify their own house and build a second one has been ongoing for four years which has been a strain on the family but the future prospects look good so we offer them our best wishes.

A view across the Severn river from Battery Point Portishead with the wooden hulled ship "The Matthew" based in Bristol harbour sailing down.

A trip down "Memory Lane"! Me outside 30, Beechwood Avenue, Hanham where I spent the first 14 years of my life.

The ancestral farmhouse of Grandma Barkers' (nee Nicholas) family at Pucklechurch near Bristol. The house dates from 1700 and is "Heritage Listed". My father Colin, born in 1912, stayed here for the duration of the First World War 1914-1918.

Outside the front door.