Blessed in the Orkneys continued on to The Shetlands...

Ours thought we had struck it lucky in The Orkneys and thought we had been blessed.  Little did we know that we had been granted further divine blessings on hitting The Shetlands; the Mainland had turned on the best weather for the year following a terrible start to the summer.  One stood outside for sometime (waiting for the smaller half of ours to fall asleep what a joke!) waiting in the coolness until 10.30pm for a spectacular sunset over the Spiggie Loch and was not disappointed....needless to say, my endeavour outside was in vain as Teagan remaind awake in the half light until One and Ours hit the pillow.

Ours toured the Mainland in awe.  So open and dramatic.  A good couple of hours passed in the main wool shop and both One and Ours learnt some new things and purchased books and swatches of wool for internet ordering.  Added note for One: do not forget to order some North Ronaldsay wool (the unique seaweed eating sheep breed) from the Orkneys.  And added note for Ours:: do not forget to provide a donation to Sumburgh Airport to upgrade their antiquated scanning equipment (apparantly Ours has a "busy backpack").

Our hotel at Spiggie had wonderful food and a spectacular location.  The ponys over the road entertained Teagan for quite some time as she sang and danced just for them - whilst indirectly amusing the smokers outside.  Teagan also took it upon herself to inform the smokers that "smoking is not healthy and will make you die quickly"....or so I was told by those same people who were not offended and called her a "peddiebric: (sp?) meaning "little trousers" which is a pleasant term of endearment.

We managed to enter the Pict and Viking eras whilst in the lower Mainland.  Ours all dressed up and joined a group of Brownies on a child friendly recreation of the Pict era (2000 BC) and we spent time in their house before hearing of the house renovations and joining the Vikings much later.  Needless to say, One spent far too many pounds in the gift shop obtaining slate carvings and a few other interesting odments.

Ours are now resting up in a Roissy Hotel near CDG airport following a rather intense trip back from The Shetlands: luggage search (both of Ours but not One), two flights, one express train, two black cabs, one overnight in London, one Eurostar trip, one RERB train trip with some beggars (although rather friendly), Ours caught in the train door, and finally one hotel shuttle trip - One can assure youthat we were not at all stressed, just amused and slack with no longer finding the cheapest route; rather the route of least resistance.  In the morning we head to Doha!

Note: there are no photos; for some reason they are "failing to upload".  Nevermind, I am sure I will sort it out tomorrow once I am back in Doha if not before.

Magic in the Highlands

Ours have travelled a lot over the past few days. One is tired and so are Ours! We have travelled up the west coast of Scotland in a magic journey. One's highlight was the
overnight Caledonian Sleeper all 15 hours of it. The aged Ours adored her day on the Orkney craft trail (although, One believes the artisans loved her more), and the younger Ours adored her night sleeping in the castle. We have all been having early nights.  Although, I say early nights, Ours have suffered from 4 year old determination. Last night we had pipers in the street; Teagan managed to stay awake for far too long listening to them playing (rather loudly) outside our window in Stromness - it was magic.

Grandma's craft trail was blessed. The weather here in Stromness was superb, we had a car and driving to each artisan took us through spectacular scenery. One, did manage to redirect the car one or two times to some Neolithic sites, of which, Skara Brae was a highlight!!

Today in the late afternoon we head off to the Shetlands!

Ours meets Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace.....exquisite...

Ours meet up with friends and had a wonderful day at Hampton Court Palace.  Grandma spent the morning with our friends Dianna and Robert and One explored Hampton Court with Teagan.  Grandma adored all she saw but as I understand, she did not get to see or smell the ghosties as Teagan did, nor did she get to see the "long-time ago" toilets.  As I discovered, there were ghosties in the Palace: one at the bottom of Henry VIII 's area (it was whispering behind the door) and some in Mary II 's apartment (smelling ghosties); as it is beyond me to explain this, I will leave it to Teagan at some point in the future.  Needless to say, I spent three hours chasing ghosties and toilets...with a bit of help from other tourists who got in on the exciting game.

Grandma loved the gardens and has found inspiration for her own garden at home....watch out Dunedin.....

The credit card gets a workout in London.....

The credit cards are getting a bit of a workout here in London, naturally, Ours are too and so is a four year old brain! 

As One booked a jail cell at one of the cheaper YHAs in central London, Ours might as well spend the difference in the bookstores, Hamleys and Harrods!  Hence the credit card is doing well; thank goodness the NZD to GBP exchange rate is not too unhealthy.  Teagan had a great time in Hamleys and One enjoyed the upper floors in Harrods: once One got past the Harrods branded section, One found a fabulous selection of decent (ly overpriced) "must-haves" especially as many items are just not available in Doha: note to darling husband 5.1, an absolutely justified shopping expedition. 

Teagan has been enjoying herself.  It has been about kid stuff in the morning and napping in the buggy in the afternoon (whilst One hauls sleeping child through the underground in a buggy).  I do say; thankgoodness for male chivalry in London.  Teagans highlight (well actually she was too tired to get a lot out of it so it was One's highlight) was the Museum of London.  I enjoy visiting it everytime I come to London and this year it got even better (5.1, worth a visit for you in September).  Of course the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (not the best vantage point though - summer does draw crowds) was great just as A.A Milne had for Christopher Robin going with Alice.... as it was parroted back to Ours.  Methinks, Ours enjoyed it heaps too as I had to drag Grandma away.

P.S  Grandma is spending up a bit.... again, One had to drag her out of Harrods!

Ours arrive in Dartmouth....

Ours are enjoying some downtime in Dartmouth. This is very easy here as just being in our hotel is like living history. It was built in 1630 and has functioned as an Inn from soon after. We are holed up in the attic (do you think we would spend lots of money on this?) but it is gorgeous way up here inspite of fractious internet WiFi access. Just out the front door is the quay and ancient shops a lot dating from the 1500s and 1600s. We have done a short river cruise, seen Agatha Christies Summer House, the Military College and Dartmouth Castle along with Brunnel's redundant railway line (see Dad/Ross, I am putting attention to Teagan's history - Industrialisation). Dartmouth is gorgeous - I don't think we will leave here....does anyone have any spare one hundred pound notes to extend our time in this hotel???

Ours does Cornwall

Ours arrived in Cornwall on Friday with the rest of Great Britain like pilchards in a breakfast tin. One cruised (translate to struggled) up the train isle to politely "request" that the "pikes" (heard someone use this term to describe a seat taker - apologies if I have used the phrase inappropriately) from our allocated seats, then One proceeded to place her Mother, her daughter, two back packs a buggy and a stroller in that same space - need you ask anymore? I can assure you that Ours was actually very happy.

Our highlights were St Ives and walking the 5 mile length of Cornish Coast from our hostel in a valley near St Just to Land's End. Ours were exhausted at the end of it but Teagan was as proud of herself as possible for she had walked a very long way and scrambled over rocks, seen blue jelly fish and was in her underwear!

While Land's End was really tacky, Teagan and One enjoyed visiting a resored 200 year old farm which was a good reward before hitting the bus back to the hostel. Meanwhile the other part of Ours sat and enjoyed the view from Land's End (avoiding the view of the tourist attractions) and waited.

We did enjoy the open topped bus rides. Riding this bus service took us through the quaint towns and we truly got up close and personal to the villages (hmmm who can see into bedroom windows, or force a rather plush bus backwards via super narrow streets).

Now Ours are all asleep in a delightfull hotel built in 1630 in Dartmouth. Naturally, the floors slope and we have located an affordable room 5 floors up using a variety of stairways!). That will form a new blog post!

On "Foot"....

“Our” feet hurt...they ache but heck it is worth it...so, of course we don’t stop. On Wednesday we followed the Frommer’s “Paris in a day” foot tour. Okay, yes, we missed some bits because our map reading sometimes left a bit to be desired but we saw some spectacular sights (for us). Notre Dame was our highlight – even better because it was free and Audrey was resurrected from near death (trapped in the buggy wheel clinging to life)! We finished our tour with the Eiffel Tower and over a two hour walk back to the hotel. Note to myself...good work to have read up on the “warnings” as we were happily amused by one guy and his wedding ring trick- pick it up and claim he had found it, would we pay for it? And of course, the old “do you speak English?” trick....of course “Non, non”....And for dinner, it had to be a Cafe street meal – absolutely delectable. We were happy with our sore feet as a day of travel with no foot work would follow.

Ha ha ha...what no foot work. Who booked the tickets? One did. Ours had to walk over two hours with all luggage and asking in English, non English speakers how to find the ferry...yes, we went the wrong way but again, absolutely worth it. Roscoff is quaint and extremely picturesque (see I am using French).

Now we are on a 6 ½ hour ferry ride to Plymouth. One is working on the computer, part of Ours sleeps and the other does something important (I have to say that as she is my mother). Then it is a half hour walk to our guest house in Plymouth. Happily Audrey is keeping Teagan company in the buggy both of them are sound asleep and the rest of Ours wish we were too.

On Audrey in Paris...

Audrey has hit Paris.  Audrey travelled very well, she fitted in her seat and curled up with her Mum and slept from when told by the grown-ups until breakfast was served.  Audrey said that Grandma (Ours) and One (Teagan's Mum) got some sleep and geared up for a reovery day.... and the question is....did they relax and recover?

Of course NOT.  They got us lost first (over zealous with their map reading), but it was lots of fun looking around.  I then wanted to just look at things so I went in the buggy with Teagan and we got pushed around for 4 hours.  Ours has sore feet!  One does too.  Teagan and I feel good because we slept through all of the important stuff!

On Audrey...

Audrey is beautiful.  Audrey is gorgeous.  Audrey is a star.  These are the words of a 4 year old adorer.  Whoever, or whatever Audrey is, it does not change the fact that she is and has been loved within millimetres of maintaining an intact body.  Here One has attached a couple photos of Audrey in Doha and in her mission with Teagan packing an impossibly large and a "definately not coming with us" suitcase.

And for the other part of Ours (Grandma in case you are having trouble recalling my references) appears to have successfully arrived in Hong Kong and has been indulging in "lounge experience".

Now One must get ready to actually leave.  There have no crisis messages from Ours, hence my only impending crisis will be letting Teagan down gently about her passionately packed suitcase - it is NOT seeing the otherside of our Villa's door!!