Well it's been a year since we set out on our trip around the world. It's funny but I think we are enjoying the memory more than the actual doing!!!! It took several weeks to get back to a normal life, catching up with house jobs etc, catching up with friends and getting back to work.

But now we are both retired I would like to continue with my blog, to tell you about our continued trips even tho at the mo they are just local. Life is still busy and finding the time to plan trips is hard, but we plan to visit different places as well as towns etc etc.

So far we have had a weekend in Windsor and a day trip to Woburn!

Windsor is fab, but it was very cold! We stayed in one of the Sherritons, but not the really posh one!! The Saturday was spent going around the castle, it was lovely. "Liza" was there recovering from her tummy bug but we didn't see her, thought we might have been invited in for tea but she wasn't up to guests!!!! What a home, I just loved all the china, fabrics. The town was quite interesting, a bit of old and new mixed together. Well worth a visit.

Woburn town was closed!! Only a few cafes and pubs open and only ordinary shops. Very disappointing!

Now we are in the Lake District for the next week. We have a cottage up the hill above Ulswater Lake. The views up here are breath taking and in my opinion, is as good as any we have seen on our other trips, but, Bev will not have anything compared to New Zealand.

Hope to get this blog up and running again

Well we have done it!! We are now home after a long 42 hour trip via Sydney and LA. Fay and Rich were at the airport to meet us, and as we came through the door we ran to each other, huged and cried. Never again will I leave my family for 4 months. (I will just have to take them with me next time!)
We kept it a surprise for jack and Amber. When they walked in after school thier faces were a picture. And of course we see such big changes, they have both grown and JAack voice has broken so we have come back to a MAN!!! Where has the time gone!!!!
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog. It felt like you were all on this trip with us.
For people who are inspired, go for it ! But be warned, it is hard work!!! We have had our ups and downs. We have laughed and cried and we have also been amazed. It's a big world out there just waiting to be seen, and we have loved the small part that we have visited.
Thank you all again.

Views thermals and a visit to Hobbiton was the order of today. The views of lake Taupo with the sun high in the sky was gloriouse. The thermals were a gamble, but worth the detour to see them. And Hobbiton was cute cute cute. All the little houses and the gardens. The little mill and the pub! The only thing missing was Frodo and Bilbo! Still the new movie will be out in December, can't wait. So yes today has been really good!

Well I will say it again, this country is fabulously amazing!!! We have now driven up the west coast and again we have not been disappointed. The west is known for its rugged coast line, which makes for som fantastic photos. The weather was windy and wet, but that did not stop me from taking photos. The dark sky's just mad it more dramatic. We stopped to view the famouse pancake rocks which "blew Bev away", not literally of course, but he was so surprised and delighted at the spectacular display, made even more fantastic by the weather.
As we continued to travel up to the ferry in Picton, the views were awesome againg, but this time the rain had stopped and the sus was shinning. This made the lakes brilliant blues and greens. I wanted to stop on every corner to take photos but as we had to be at the dock for 12, Bev firmly said no more stops!!! But the drive down into Picton was beautiful. The harbour in all it's glory with the colours and the boats!!! Just breathtaking.
Driving up the west coast of the north island became a little tedious when all we saw was farm land, then as we climed to cross the mountains, again!, we were treated to the delights of an alpin desert with snow capped mountains in the back ground. We drove for miles but not once did we take our eyes from the views. Just mind boggleing!!!
We only have four more days left in NZ. We are sad to be leaving what has got to be the best country yet. I just hope that the next four days will be just as memorable.

Found out that the route we took in the last blog is the highest pass in New Zealand. Also that this route should not be attempted with out the back up of snow chains!! Nobody told us!!!! At least knowing this, any future mountain will be a brezzzz!!!! Hopefully!!!!!

We are heading north now on the west coast. We set out from Te Anua at about 10am in proofing rain, which did not stop allllllll day. We headed for Queenstown which took a little over 2 hours.  Part of the road was along the huge lake that the town is built next to. The views as normal were fantastic.the town itself was vert commercial and geared mainly around skiing. We drove around had a look but didn't stop. We had thought to ride the cable car, but the wind was so strong that I didn't fancy it. So we headed out to Arrowtown which is old gold mining town, lovely, quaint and very interesting. Had a good mooch round, went to the museum and had a late lunch. We then set out for Wanaka which is where my biggest nightmare of the trip started!!! I thought the road to Milford sound was bad but OMG, my nerves were in tatters!!!! This was a snake pass to end all passes. If there is a barrier I don't mind,  if there are trees I don't mind, if it's not to big a drop of the side I dont mind! But this road has none of this. It was steep, hairpin bends, no barriers, shear drop out to open space, OMG it went up and up and up. My ears were popping! Poor Bev knew how nervouse I was and did his utmost to keep me calm and not to show how nervouse he was. I didn't dare look to my right, what I could see made me feel sick, I don't like heights at the best of times, but can cope when all the safty nets are in place! But this road!!!!! How they don't loose tourists over the side daily I don't know, and the thought of driving one of those high vans , makes my blood run cold!!! We climed and climed, and as we got to the top we turned the corner to find we had to still climb!!! One of the thoughts I had was, OMG I have to go down the other side!!! We started to hit snow, not much but enough to worry about the Ice on the road. When the chain laybys counted down to one, we new we were at the top!!!phew!!!! Well as you see we are still here so we made it safe and sound!!!!! And the road down was not bad. it was a gentle slop but still a snakey and very windy. I am sure when the maps say 30 km, that is how the crow flys. This road was far more than 30 km!!!!!! Bev said well done and "you can dine out on that one for years to come," to be honest I don't want to ever think about it ever again!!