9th May 2009 Hong Kong

Well this was our last stop of our great adventure and cant say I am ready to go home yet. We left Phuket at about 12.20pm and the trip to Hong Kong is about 3 and a half hours and we had the daycare plane - there were babies everywhere you looked and they just let them walk up and down the aisle and kick our seats and cry lots so fair to say we were happy when this flight was over. We walked about 5 miles to get through Hong Kong airport and had to catch a train - yes you heard right - a train to get our luggage and then we poured into a Taxi to our Hotel. We were staying at the Harbour Plaza Metropolis and what a gorgeous hotel it was. When we booked in I asked about the Laser show and what time it would be on and she advised that we would not see it from our room but we could be upgraded for $88 and have a full view of show. We were on the top floor - the 21st floor and on the lifts going up you could see outside - freaky! We watched the laser show which was a bit of a fizzle due to the weather and then Tim and I headed into downtown to have dinner and see what we could buy while the kids stayed and watched DVD's from Phuket. Had dinner at the Outback Steakhouse - yummy - then went and bought a new camera - cos we needed one! The next day we had brekkie at the hotel and then did some last minute shopping - phone for Tim and PSP's for the kids. Spent more in Hong Kong in less than 24hours than we did in London and Phuket. Home to Perth on a 3pm flight - 7hours on the plane and got home at 10.30pm. We were tested for our temperature for Swine flu but we made it through ok. The end of a wonderful adventure and now time to save for the next one.

8th May 2009 Last Day in Phuket

Our last day in Phuket and we spent most of it around the pool as even though it was a bit overcast it was still warm and the pool was lovely. It rained twice today with torrential downpours and one was just the time when someones wedding was due to happen so they had to move all of the chairs and tables inside. We off to Patong for our last minute shopping and to catch up with Pat and then it will be an early night as we are off to Hong Kong tomorrow for one night as we couldnt get a direct flight back to Perth from Phuket.

5th May 2009 Phuket

Well we left London and 12 hour flight to Hong Kong and we were delayed and hour from Heathrow which then only gave us 50 mins to change planes to go to Phuket. Our luggage had been checked through all the way and we just had to make the plane which we did. Got to Phuket in our jeans and t-shirts and waited by the carousel to get our luggage and it didnt turn up. I think the fact that we only had the 50 mins between flights they just couldnt get the luggage on the plane. When we went to the lost luggage desk they were aware of it and it was to come to us that night at 9pm. Well that was ok but we had to go straight to the markets to get some summer clothes - shorts, bathers, etc just to get us by til the luggage arrived which it did. I think we were pretty lucky that this has only happened the once with all the flights we have done. It was straight to the pool and that is where we stayed - we just love this place. On the 6th May we spent the day around the pool also then it was into town to do some shopping and catch up with Matthew's friends Pat & Chief - they recognised us straight away and they spoilt Matthew again.

Today the 7th it was once again round the pool and the kids slept in until 12pm which is really great for them to catch up on all their missed sleep. This afternoon we went go karting and did some more shopping then home to the hotel. We only wish we had 2 weeks here but it has been nice to have this time to just relax and not have to do any sight seeing or tours even though we have loved them.

3rd May 2009 Over To Shauns - The Rowland Clan

Our last but definately not least catch up was with the Rowland clan at Shauns place and before that we went past Nan's to say goodbye which was sad and then dropped into Richard & Linda's. place for a coffee and chat. We got to Shauns and had the tour round the house which is really nice and shown his prize collection of Leeds United shirts since 71 - it is wicked! It was fantastic to see Kim,Lloyd and the kids as they had travelled down from Leeds to see us all which is about 3 hours away - awesome effort and we really appreciated it. The day was full of stories and loads of laughs and Michelle and Shaun had excelled themselves with a feast for all of us. We got there at 1.30 and didnt leave until 9.30 that night as so much to talk about and catch up on and the kids got on like a house on fire - it was a great day - wish they all lived in Australia!

2nd May 2009 - More Family fun

Well it was up and at em once again as no time to waste and the boys had organised to take the aussies go karting and clay pigeon shooting and us girls were to be taken up to see Jean's horses and then it would be back to nan's to catch up with some other relies. We got up to the farm and met all the horses and then Emily had a ride on Nellie who was a beautiful 14 hand high horse - coloured - and then we headed back to Nan's. I went over to Ruths and caught up with her daughter Karen who I had met and worked with when I was over 20 years ago so we reminised about those days and then back to Nan's (they live across the road from each other) to catch up with the relies who had come down from Dorset - Susan & Derek and Jenny & Steve. That was great and Jenny and I didnt stop gas bagging. The picture with the 6 of us in it is 3 generations which is pretty awesome. It was getting later in the day and the boys were still not home and I got a text message from Tim asking if they were in the sh#t and they were a bit as they had missed some of the relies but not too much. They had gone to the go karting and Matthew was not able to go on the karts as there were no kids ones left and he couldnt be left on his own so Dad had to stay with him which was a bit rotten as the tickets had already been paid for and they wouldnt give a refund - 40 pounds it cost which is about $100.00 for half an hour - very expensive! Then they all went clay pigeon shooting and they really enjoyed that but both Tim and Dad came back with really sore shoulders and they were all bruised. That night we went to Jean & Tones for a curry and pizza which was great.

1st May 2009 Nan's Surprise Party

So we packed up at the Youth Hostel after an enjoyable stay and then headed to Kings Cross Station in a London Cab. Organised our tickets and the trains were coming every 10 to 15 mins to Hitchin where we were greeted and picked up by Shaun. Mum and Dad were just around the corner and they came to the station and we followed them to the accommodation Highfield Farm at Sandy which was about 15 mins away from Nan's place. Great place as it was an old stables revamped into this really modern 4 bedroom 4 bathroom place - which we were not used to as we had been sharing a room with the kids in most of the places. That afternoon Mum & Dad took us on a tour of the places they lived in as kids and also where they lived when they first got married. We then stopped off at an English Pub the Old George for a bite to eat and a beer. Then it was home to get ready for the evening -the big surprise. We arrived at the pub and had to quickly do a detour as Nan was just getting out of the car and we didnt want her to see us. Then finally we got there and mum & dad walked in and we walked in a couple of minutes later. Everyone, especially Nan was so surprised and a few tears were shed. We had a great night there with wonderful food (the pub is owned by Mandys Parents -Jay's wife) and lots of laughs and meeting some of the relies for the first time.