Final videos are in process...

It is well into October and a quick return trip to New Zealand is imminent for Teagan and me, this means that I need to complete our 'Big Trip' videos so that I can cut them onto one LONG DVD for Alison and to effect that, I need to spend some time in front of the computer, not so fun.

Here I leave you with a short video of our Transatlantic Crossing.  Truely a lifetime experience and one that the Meanderers would recommend to everyone who has the means to complete.  Clearly, the 'Crossing' is expensive if travelling from New Zealand but for those located in New York and England, it is surprisingly affordable when all costs are accounted for and a deal or two is hunted down.



Across the Atlantic on QM2 from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

We are about to go home....

We have had a relaxed final day in Istanbul. All of us have been a bit too tird to tour the city much but we enjoyed a bit of quite shopping an early dinner and in bed well before 10 pm! This morning is very relaxed also as mum leaves the hotel at 9:30 am and. Teagie and I leave mid afternoon.

As for vlogs...li have updated/extended my previous one to include our travel up to Sofia. Enjoy!

 

Budapest to Istanbul from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

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First part of our journey to Istanbul

As this section of our journey is quite long, I am posting an unfinished vlog....it I finishes suddenly mid-music in Belgrade. As I get more opportunities I will update it and repost.....

 

Jessie, there is a little message for you from Teagan as she hasn't been able to send you any postcards! Watch out for it after her Budapest zoo visit!

 

Budapest to Istanbul from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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The video of our trip into Budapest

The trip from Belgium to Hungary was a near Breeze. All connections were faultless and trains more than comfortable. For us, the journey was really reasonably priced as I booked on-line the day bookings opened...and within an hour of opening at that! I did note that the deluxe sleepers were only available on some days from Cologne and did not cost much more that the regular couchettes if booked well in advance.

I think I will repeat the journey sometime as the view of the castles over the Rhine was unbelievably good - a fairytale!

Right at this point in time we are still in bed after a long long slow train to Serbia. We have one full day here, catch up on some laundry and do a city tour methinks.

 

 

Iepers to Budapest from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Made it to Budapest and exactly as planned....

Rather surprisingly we made it to Budapest via one long interconnected set of train journeys....one of which was a comfortable 13 hours! I must say, there were a couple of points once we had arrived into Budapest when it did look like the custard was being made: (1) Teagan decides that the fact that she doesn't want to stand up is my problem because I decided on the trip (got me there kid) and (2) when one confident young traveller and hotel explorer gets caught out not knowing the symbol for the lobby/ground floor...nothing more shall ever be mentioned!

Our time in Iepers/Ypres was fabulous....the 100 year anniversary of WW1 and a key focus of our Europe trip. Here is my video of that section.

 

Across the North Sea and down to Belgium from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Southampton to London to Hull

As I have been sitting contemplating the next leg of our journey (Ypres to Brussels to Cologne to Vienna to Budapest in one set of train rides), I have finished a short iMovie of our time mostly in London.....hopefully, I shall get plenty of time to put together a movie covering our sobering time in Ypres and visiting Flanders Fields.

 

Southampton to London to Hull from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Back to our New York video

As we leave London enroute to Belgium (via overnight ferry), I thought I would load our New York Video Log.

 

New York, New York from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Last day aboard....

Supping on my coffee in bed at 8 am I am too aware of this being our last day aboard the QM2. What a way to cross the Atlantic (and cheaper than flying too).

This sector of our Journey has been rather better than expected. Many reviews from previous passengers ran down the liner, claimed it was less than they thought it would be; for our group that has not been the case. Yes, QM2 is its now 11th year of service and as any liner would have, does have its were and tear but she is a great ship and she is very well groomed. It is all about the little things: the service has been exemplary, the Kids Zone staff fantastic, the food superb, and the ship itself, so large that you need to leave your stateroom with seven minutes to spare in order to arrive at the Britannia Restaurant three decks below and aft (we are forward - just under the fog horn!).

Would we recommend a crossing? You betcha! All inclusive with three people in a stateroom, the price has been less that our one way flight from Doha to Prince Edward Island and that is all inclusive. That said, I did book through my US travel agent and I do know that some people aboard booking last minute in the UK had excellent prices including one-way return flights....they were free to accept and thoroughly enjoyed their short notice 70th birthday celebrations. Thanks QM2 for a wonderful crossing, it exceeded my expectations. Where tie is on my side, I shall be sailing the Atlantic rather than flying in future.

Tomorrow it is off into London with an evening West End show - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Photo: the Captain leading us in our Sunday Service

 

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Entertainment and Dining

Wow! Maybe those that cross the Atlantic or cruise Queen Mary 2 may not enjoy the entertainment as much as have have but for new viewers it was fantastic.

We have had fantastic speakers: Phil Bye from ITN talking about his experiences with the Middle East crisis, Croatia, and reporting on Queen Elizabeth II and her travels; George Takei from Startrek speaking on his life and career plus many other interesting presenters. Our mornings have been flying past us as we move from one lecture to another by choice.

Evenings have been taken up by concerts, dancing and singing. Even Teagan ripped herself out of the children's activities to join me in the Royal Court Theatre for a condensed production of Arabian Nights. One night Mum and I attended the theatre to see the Cubard Singers, we along with most of the theatre were captivated by the performances of the four singers and the orchestra and then last night we went to hear Ben Makisi (a New Zealand tenor)... He was so good the theatre stood for him!

And the food? Most would say they over eat but not me. Personally, I have found the food excellent with good portion sizes. In our assigned restaurant I have been able to nearly eat three courses for each meal! Of course if that hadn't been enough, I could have gone up to the buffet and eaten again...not for me though as there has been just too much to do to be bothered with perpetual food.

Our crossing is rapidly closing in on England. Only two more dinners here, one formal and one informal ... maybe today I should try and get some more photos and footage for an iMovie .... Hmmm ... But first things first, it is off to church for 11 am.

And for a photo - here is a photo of our purchased portrait photo so there is a record that I was actually on board.

 

 

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Entertainment and Dining

Wow! Maybe those that cross the Atlantic or cruise Queen Mary 2 may not enjoy the entertainment as much as have have but for new viewers it was fantastic.

We have had fantastic speakers: Phil Bye from ITN talking about his experiences with the Middle East crisis, Croatia, and reporting on Queen Elizabeth II and her travels; George Takei from Startrek speaking on his life and career plus many other interesting presenters. Our mornings have been flying past us as we move from one lecture to another by choice.

Evenings have been taken up by concerts, dancing and singing. Even Teagan ripped herself out of the children's activities to join me in the Royal Court Theatre for a condensed production of Arabian Nights. One night Mum and I attended the theatre to see the Cubard Singers, we along with most of the theatre were captivated by the performances of the four singers and the orchestra and then last night we went to hear Ben Makisi (a New Zealand tenor)... He was so good the theatre stood for him!

And the food? Most would say they over eat but not me. Personally, I have found the food excellent with good portion sizes. In our assigned restaurant I have been able to nearly eat three courses for each meal! Of course if that hadn't been enough, I could have gone up to the buffet and eaten again...not for me though as there has been just too much to do to be bothered with perpetual food.

Our crossing is rapidly closing in on England. Only two more dinners here, one formal and one informal ... maybe today I should try and get some more photos and footage for an iMovie .... Hmmm ... But first things first, it is off to church for 11 am.

And for a photo - here is a photo of our purchased portrait photo so there is a record that I was actually on board.

 

 

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Today is a Goodbye Day for Tiny

This morning I was preparing to write a blog post about our Crossing. Sadly, this morning we learned that our beloved Tiny (Teagan's 2 year old ratbag of a darling cat) had died suddenly. Tiny was an expressway rescue, a tough little bundle of non-fluff found at the tender age of three or four weeks old. We picked early on that he had a congenital chest problem as his gait was lopsided and his chest caved inwards. None of that made any difference to him and ensured that he continued to live with his "mother" (Teagan). He was passionate about chewing sheep's wool and licking Teagan to show his cat adoration.

This morning as Ross was to collect him from the Cattery he collapsed and died without warning. Following an X-Ray it was clear that his heart was of an irregular shape and quite enlarged.

Teagan was "worse than sad" and has quietly taken herself off to Kids Zone to sit in the corner and just sit and think on her own with others playing around her. I am allowed to come and check on her at 11:00 am which is about now and I am itching to see her!

 

 

 

 

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Queen Mary 2: boarding and Kids Zone....

One might say that a Transatlantic crossing should be the highlight of our 'Journey', they would well be correct if they were not 'Journeying'. Everyday to date has been a highlight meaning that the excitement of our Crossing has not been experienced as a work up to just prior to departure day - excitement was at the start up of the trip.

And now to correct any impressions that the Crossing was not worth being excited about....this IS the way to travel from New York to Southampton!

Arrival at the Ocean Terminal was super fast. Our car had us here from Central Manhattan within 20 minutes, not the hour I had assumed, Check-in and boarding was polite, welcoming and speedy meaning we had entered our stateroom by 12:30, several hours ahead of my forecast allowing for a whole afternoon of ship orientation which was absolutely necessary. Mum and I have estimated that the distance we have to walk one the length of the deck 6 corridor (i.e. to drop Teagan off at the Kids Zone) is about the distance of Hobson St to the St Clair beach esplanade, very approximately 200 m.

 

Teagan rapidly orientated herself and has one mission in place, to attend as many Kids Zone sessions as possible. She is in with the 8-12 year olds and is adoring the staff and her fellow ship mates. One of the leaders there is an expat Kiwi from Geraldine. She has been teaching in London and is currently taming the QM2 8-12 s.

There are nearly 300 young people on board (under 18) where 60 are aged 8 - 12. I don't have any photos of inside the kids club due to no photography but I do have a video that I was allows to take on departure day when the "Kids Zone" room was empty but that will have to wait until I have decent internet! I must say that I am impressed with Cunard's approach to their younger set. The Zone is placed at the stern with an outdoor area. All staff are so professional and you never feel like you are in their way and security is very tight. Many parents of very young children appear to be wheeling their sleeping treasures into the night nursery while they go and enjoy a late dinner and late entertainment. Teagan, due to a rule change, is not allowed to sign in and out and I need to present my car at least twice to collect her (moaning and whining about how I am too early). Ultimately this means that you don't see younger children wandering the ship at all. The teen set are present as they meet up in various places for organised activities.

It is now the morning of our 3rd full day and my first breakfast has arrived as room service. Second breakfast will be closer to 10:00 am as Teagan is waking quite late (I wonder why).

As a note: a state room at the bow, close to the promenade deck on a foggy night means a fog horn blasting very 2 minutes all night! And should I complain? No, We really enjoyed the reassuring sound and light vibration as it added to the strange ambience (last night the fog was swirling around on deck around the Captains Cuff Links - spare propeller blades - it was rather surreal). Forget any sea views today!

 

 

 

 

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New York, New York....

Part one of our journey has just about closed on us as we transfer onto Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Rightfully we should be enthusiastic about boarding the world's largest ocean liner to cross the infamous North Atlantic, however, in this instance we don't feel that way. Finishing each day means that it is finished. Each day has been so good we have wanted to repeat it not move on to a new wonderful day!

We have not been quite so busy here. Rather, finishing off some last minute tasks, ensuring we visited Ground Zero, spent an afternoon in Central Park, and sailed past the Statue of Liberty.

Unfortunately the shipboard internet is too slow for me to upload out New York video log, so that will have to wait until we get to England. Meanwhile, I am hoping that a couple of photos will suffice!

 

 

 

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On the way to Cape May

We were so fortunate to be invited to spend a few nights with Mrs Hess's extended family. Without counting I think there were 30 people sharing two houses in the Victorian part of Cape May in New Jersey. Teagan had a splendid time playing and beaching three full days away. Thank-you all for sharing this with us, it was precious.

 

On the way to Cape May from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Gettysburg and on for a long weekend in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Leaving Lancaster in Pennsylvania we stopped off for an extended break at the National Gettysburg museum. Teagan managed to buy her own lunch and befriend a Union soldier from the American Civil War. An few hours later we were on to visit Jan and Dave Pearson in Lewisburg where Teagan has formed a fast friendship with both.

 

 

Lewisburg with the Pearson's from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Lancaster County

Following our nights in Halifax we travelled to Philadelphia by air and then enjoyed a prolonged journey to visit the Hess's in Lancaster County. We decided to miss an expressway and explore extended time on the 476 before taking some quieter roads back to Lancaster! Thanks so much to the Hess's we thoroughly enjoyed our time on Weaver Road.

 

 

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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And off to Halifax...

As I type this, we are actually in the USA and I have been sitting out on the porch watching the fireflies; what better place to upload our latest vlog.

 

We had only two nights in Halifax and due to travel we effectively only had one full day. Our focus was to visit the maritime museum and Fairview cemetery gaining an appreciation of the Halifax Explosion, the largest man made non atomic explosion in history flattening and devastating the city, and then to pay respects to those who perished in the Titanic. We were humbled by the care that the residents of Halifax gave to those who did not survive the sinking.

 

 

20140713 On to Halifax from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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The Red Dirt Road

Two weeks in Charlottetown have closed in on us. The three meanderers had a most wonderful time (wonderfullestmostest according to Teagie). Karen and Maddison hosted us and we felt so welcomed into their family. Two nights after leaving, Teagan is still wishing she was back in PEI....a return trip will be in the wings to return our loonie, toonie and $1 note!

 

 

The Red Dirt Road from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Of friends...

Our first full week has finished. Teagan has been exceptionally busy with two sleepovers, one concert, plenty of children to play with and the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur and getting by with no electricity!

 

 

Of Friends 03 from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

 

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Canada Day and Strawberries

Teagie has decided that her Grandma, Charlotte Town, is famous in Charlottetown...One wonders how she came to this conclusion?

Canada Day and Strawberries from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

And the start has finished...

I was wondering when would be best to put my first real trip blog post up, or, more technically for this one, a vlog post. Logically it should be when Mum arrives in Charlottetown, so that is indeed what I have done!
I also must share this wee gem from Teagan:
Me: "You know I love you so much"
Teagan: "I have deep regards for you also" the. She turns over and falls directly asleep!

20140627 The Merrimans' Meander 01 from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

All packed up and just about to go....

Summer 2014 has arrived, or to be more direct and honest; is well established and exceedingly hot touching the early to mid 50 degC range, is rather unpleasant and I am getting out of it because I can!

Following nearly fifteen months of planning, the meanderers are about to meet up and begin our transcontinental and transatlantic journey by rail, bus and sea.  Our self researched and booked itinerary spans 22 pages and is mostly prepaid until we reach Budapest, after which, plans become rather more adventurous and super cheap as we journey through Belgrade, Nis, and Sofia before taking our final night train on to Istanbul and returning to our resident countries by air.
Both Teagan and I have carry on luggage only, weighing in at 9.5 kg plus a small 'personal' bag, each.  Our clothing and extras consist of: travel wear and formal wear for our Cunard Queen Mary 2 transatlantic, digital devices (note the plural), and even Greenie (Teagie's trusty travelling scooter) amongst a range of other carefully selected paraphernalia. Following a final document check and packing approval from Teagie, we are ready to for takeoff at 11:59 pm.
I am hoping for some sleep on our flight to Amsterdam's Schipol airport where we have a nine hour wait:  whether we get out of the airport for a few hours or "play" at the airport depends solely on my 8 year old flying companion. I have dibs on her crashing (without warning) leaving me to a prolonged unwatered and unfed guard duty as she is too heavy to "hiff" over my shoulder anymore.

An Impromptu Visit to Dubai....

Often I complain that we get no visitors and I tell family and friends, "even if you are passing through Dubai...I can get there easily."  Little was I to know that one week prior to our 10 week summer vacation two of my ducks would line up, and most seamlessly at that!

Tony, having an affinity with discussion and developments in metabolic disorders, along with (as I didn't discover until after reading and discussing with anyone willing to listen to my banter) being an author in the recent Lancent paper of May 29, 2014: Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, was invited to speak at a conference in Dubai and asked if we were busy! Of course we weren't so I got busy making some bookings.

Then From the dark recesses of my mind, I hauled the details of my friend Janette's travels, and discovered that she and family were also going to be in Dubai that weekend enroute north - what a line up we had!

Below is a short video of our time in Dubai, day one was with Tony and day two was lunch with Edward where both Teagan and Edward reverted to hyped up individuals needing to be brutally prised apart at the finish.

As an end note: whoop whoop, Doha has an airport that is not an overstuffed, outdated henhouse with every living body scrabbling for the slim peekings....the new Hamad International Airport 'seems' to have been worth waiting for (we shall see on Friday night when Doha departs for cooler climes).

20140618 Dubai from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

It is a tad too hot too early....

A tad too hot too early

It is merely May and it is a tad on the warm side.  When my mother refers to a "hot day" in Dunedin, she speaks in reference to a temperature of around 20 - 25 deg C....I daresay, I am therefore justified in describing the outside temperature here in Doha as incinerating!

Yesterday I picked children up from school with a recorded temperature of 51 deg C.  Fortunately for Teagan, I had been kind and made her a lovely rich hot mid-day meal of lamb shank and mash - I am not sure who was more stewed!  But the heat was only to get worse....following gymnastics in a residential area away from the Corniche (water front), my car was unable to record a temperature.  Driving towards the water front helped and finally the air had cooled enough for the car to record 55 deg C.  Needless to say, within 15 mins both mother and daughter were in the chilled swimming pool thankful there was no dinner to prepare.

51 deg C at 1:20 pm school pick-up time

A hot kid 

And 55 deg C when the car could record temperature again

A cooked kid!

The Uber Travel Planner meets her match...

The Uber Planner come Travel Hacker

Very recently I discovered that I could be described as a "Travel Hacker".  Personally, I don't think I fit into the category but it is a good modern description that could be used to describe a person that plans and books travel themselves obtaining cheaper and heavily discounted fares/prices by teaching themselves to "be in the know".  Note, a true travel hacker uses all means legal and less legal to travel on the cheap or for free and use no intermediaries at all; clearly this does not relate to me at all.

Over the past 14 months I have slowly been putting together a travel plan in conjunction with my mother.  Our upcoming meander involves a near global circumnavigation of the globe over 52 days.  Mum, Teagan and I meet in Canada and then via land and sea we make our way down the USA, across the Atlantic and down through Europe via train  to Turkey before splitting up to return to our respective countries.  Through a variety of online tools, networks and extensive research, I was able to drop the cost of our TransAtlantic Crossing by nearly 50% and get super low priced train travel by working out the best day and time to book.

The early planning stage document - for choosing the most appropriate route.

Currently I am in the process of booking the route via Vienna to Istanbul.  Most of the journey has now been booked and we will begin the cross checking and packing ready for departure late in June.

She meets her match and grips on for dear life!

With confidence, good knowledge and a small travellers network, I suggested to Ross that we could consider an exciting trip for our 20th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2015.  Silly me!  With scottish roots bolstering my scrooge like tendancies we came up with a great travel idea meeting the three of our needs: A Northern European Disney Cruise over eleven nights.  For Ross and me, it is a higher-end cruise line with superb facilities for both adults and children, and an itinerary to tick off a lot of our bucket list countries and continents.  For Teagan, well what else could a young girl ask for other than a Disney Cruise venturing into Norway (the Pixar movie FROZEN) and Iceland with a touch of BRAVE in Scotland. 

My scrooge like tendencies required me to sit on the itinerary for a while investigating reviews and booking options.  Little did I know that those Americans really "in the know" and experienced with Disney Cruise Line (DCL) were first off the block in reserving their places. Three weeks post initial bookings opening, I was paying 20% extra and getting about the last stateroom available in our category.  The ship is nearly now sold out 13 months out!

Worse was to come.  As I sat back and planned the upcoming trip, the DCL experts were busy getting their bookings in for land tours in the north sea.  Not to be left behind, I got on the telephone and after discovering that all rental cars in our key destination are booked and many of the tour companies were full, I scored a private tour and have paid our deposit (a town of 8,500 residents is welcoming a cruise ship of 2,400 eager tourists).  DCL will provide their own tour options and we would have no trouble getting in on these (and paying their hugely, extremely, inflated prices).  However, can anyone imagine my darling husband being happy with a large group tour full of children?  No!  

My next issue is reconciling the cost of being beaten to the lowest prices!  But at least we have something super special to treat ourselves to for our wedding anniversary.

Teagie and Greenie hit Greece...

Living within a near stone's throw of Europe is one of the main benefits for us living in Doha.  It seems that every term school holiday has a travel plan attached to it (currently we are planned out until August 2015).

Currently we are having "spring break" or "Easter break" as the end of the second of three school terms.  Greece was the "call" this time.  Actually, Qatar Airways called us to it.  Initially we were hesitant about travelling anywhere as there has been a bit too much travelling lately.  Teagan seems to prefer time at home.  However, Qatar Airways (usually very expensive) sometimes have very very very good deals, enough to attract Mrs Scrooge - afterall, who can turn down a direct flight into one of the world's great cities at around NZD600 per adult?

Another change we have made is getting Teagan to produce a video diary using iMovie and quite a bit of adult technical input.  So the following video has been produced by none other than Teagie herself with extensive input from her chief technical assistant.

For reference: Greenie is Teagan's MicroMaxi scooter (a true friend with a personality now) and Tom Bihn refers to the brand of luggage that we have been using for the past year or two as carry-on luggage travellers.

Video length: the total video length is about 11 min 35 seconds, so it isn't a quick watch!  I have not permitted downloading.

Internet streaming problems and a video: what a surprise, YEAH RIGHT!

Fibre Optic

We have had broadband internet in our villa for maybe around two years now.  Naturally, One would expect superfast internet, however, muggins here just paid more to get "up to" 50 mbps in speed.  Okay, so somedays it might work well and other days I would employ my dubious patience.  Until, well, the last day of my dubious patience!

I am still no IT expert but now I can nagivate my MAC addresses and get into my control box and muck around with settings using the suppliers not so secret, secret passwords and I can find things.  The net outcome is that a certain irate customer called up the SAID supplier and was evidently proven correct!

Outcome, a superb Pakistani IT expert on my doorstep within 75 minutes, connections adjusted and me resetting up the network - SUPERB live streaming again.

To celebrate, I am loading my current most favourite VIMEO iMovie.  This was Teagan's first slightly intrepid trip (OK so the UK doesn't qualify) involving lightweight and interesting journeying.  Mum, Teagan and I will be joining in another trip this coming July and August - somewhat more extensive though and hopefully just as exciting!

Please note that normally my videos are unsearchable and password protected.  In this instance, this video is not password protected but I have not allowed downloading or anyone to link it to their own playlists etc.  If by any chance you (someone I know) do want to download a copy, please let me know by direct email or Facebook and I can set you up for a download.

201007_Paris to Spiggie and Back from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

It is not often we have visitors

Unlce Tony visits enroute to a conference

As an estimate we have guests once a year.  Rather, Janette visits once per year, so having another guest is a major event for us.  Seemingly, Doha is a less desirable tourist destination (I never would have guessed!), and is rather difficult for Kiwis to stop-off in enroute to Europe, so we were utterly delighted to have my big brother to stay enroute to some genetics conference in Paris.

Rather than embed a large number of photos, we have created a video just for the cousins!

20140309 Uncle Tony visits Doha from Kirsty Merriman on Vimeo.

As I get ready to update our short Dubai trip....

A short break in Dubai

As I get ready to update our short Dubai trip, I am listening to the french lesson taking place in my dining area - three little voices are speaking french rather rapidly and I can barely follow any of it!

If you remember in a previous post, I had said that I was going to become more "digitally organised".  Happily, I am reporting that (touch wood), to date, I have been making quite a bit of progress.  Several of our trips have been "iMovied", more cloud space has been purchased, and security improved.

Rather than post a set of photos for this blog, I have embedded one of my Vimeo movies on Dubai.  It is short (which is far better) and has no password in this instance, so enjoy.

Dubai - a trip summary

Schools here seem to benefit from a considerable amount of holidays.  In reality, the days off are the same as in New Zealand for secondary students and the school days are extended somewhat (7:20 am until 1:10 pm with only two half hour breaks).  The school year is broken into three terms and luckily for us, they fit in with the English school year.  Last October, Ross and Teagan finally managed to drag me to Dubai for five nights.  Quite honestly, a Middle Eastern shopping and entertainment metropolis was not enticing for me in any way, shape, or form.  Following the trip, I cannot say that my opinion has changed.  That said, I did enjoy myself!

=

Before I catch up on our Dubai trip and Christmas in New Zealand.....

Before I prepare a catch up on our Dubai trip and Christmas in New Zealand blogs, I intend to post about my next trip intentions.  Correctly, actually, our actual bookings.

Last weekend, Ross and I sat at the computer and attempted to align my frugality, his holidays, along with T's holidays.  The net result is that I cancelled out anything exciting for April much to his displeasure and it was not readily appeased with "but you are getting four nights on holiday in Nashville, Tennessee following your four nights at the Gaylord Opryland!"  Needless to say, me trying to fob-off a work conference did not achieve me any points.  Fortuitously, Qatar Airways, who rarely have great airfares managed to extend their flight specials for a few extra hours and I mindlessly searched for flights by European capital expecting nothing to come of it: then out popped Athens as a viable option.  Bang we were flying there for eight nights.

My second best mate for travel bookings (first best mate is www.hipmunk.com) is www.booking.com and I discovered affordable accomodation in an area within a 30 minute walk of the Plaka and Acropolis.  Shortly after perusing many of Rick Steve's Greek travel articles and chatting with a Greek friend, I had made a two night reservation in Hydra to the south of Athens - an island with no vehicles, just foot and donkey traffic.  Methinks I now have a very happy husband!

To touch back on my resolution of being more digitally organised, I have been using google calendar and their labs much more.  Within google, I am able to build a thorough itinerary and attach all booking documents and relevant walking maps.  A key function within the printing section is the "agenda", provided all notes are well filled out, I get a professionally completed itinerary and am able to share the calendar with Ross.  There are "apps" out there that will do this for you e.g. tripit, but for the life of me, I cannot see the advantage of a separate system to that of google and the agenda which will export to many other programmes and apps as required.

As I don't have any photos and it is not appropriate for me to link up holiday bookings etc, I am including some recent home photos below.

Sometimes, you just gotta sit with your mates!

Most of the children are out of sight but with the pleasant weather it is a veritable racetrack and bike park on our street.

Just wait mate!

A new year's resolution that I shall keep to - YEAH Right!

Following a Christmas break in New Zealand and the inevitable "New Year's resolutions", I have come to resolve that I will become more efficient digitally this year.  This is so opposite to my inclinations (digital I mean as efficiency and I are best friends).  It was following my mother asking why I wasn't blogging anymore.  Part of me answered with; "but no one looks at it", but the truth said, "the digital world and my photos, links, downloads and the like are just getting to big for me.  Hence, I resolve to sort it out this year!

Last year, I taught myself to: tailor trousers (included making jigs to assemble a near perfect welt), copy a shop bought shirt, create my own knitting pattern, understand the ins and outs of the Industrial Revolution, set up a decent media centre and thank the GFC (global financial crisis) for making a year of positives in the recovering investment markets.  Last year did not have me sorting out the miriad of technology in the home or trimming down my digital library expansion, needless to say, all of my digital issues are compounding into a problem that needs a resolution.  This year, I shall sort it all out.

Bringing me finally to posting a couple of catch-up posts.

This post was written in November and covers the Merriman Meanderings to Palm Cove just north of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.

Days and weeks turn into months and personal writing via a computer screen into an ethereal world seemed rather pointless especially as many of my posts were mere recordings of activities completed.  t was only after a chat with a friend that I have changed my mind and decided that typing via an electronic device into a world that doesn't really seem to exist is not a bad option for recording some of our activities - especially in the world of travel where I have since discovered we have been searched and located!

Is this a catch-up post.  Yes, I admit it is.  The first of two.  The completion of T and my winter holiday to New Zealand and Australia followed by a short trip to Dubai and survival for the non-shopaholic or thrill seeker amongst us.

Since T has been breathing air, we have taken some holidays with mum.  Just the three of us.  Essentially all works well.  Mum and I are regarded as a couple with T joining us as the under 16 year old "child".  Really it means a twin room with T and me sharing one bed and quiet nights in for the three of us.  This August was little different to previous years excepting for an increased "ease" of travel due to T being that much older.

Palm Cove was our destination, just a short drive north of Cairns.  Both mum and I had been there about 15 years prior and felt it would be a good stay put winter break.  I was acutely aware of the pitfalls of returning to a wonderful destination and how the holiday is less charmed.  Thankfully, this did not occur!  We repeated most of our day trips but on this holiday I had to squeeze in a morning scoot and an afternoon wave jump leaving mum with some happy quiet hotel balcony time.

A key feature for me on this holiday was giving T a longer leash.  She is used to independence within our compound and it works well there.  However, she doesn't quite get my reluctance to let her go when we are staying in a resort.  Following a bit of negotiation and some rules, T was allowed to scoot the same circuit that I was doing on foot.

Another great holiday!

At some airport somewhere (they do all tend to melt into each other now)

My scooter kid - the best travel gadget we have ever had!

Every morning she took off on an agreed circuit, we met at the end of the pier and then we went on our return journeys 

The cable car

We are now lightweight travellers and have not looked back

In front of our tree