The Thai staff prepared us a party to say "Bon Voyage" or "La gorn" as well as Happy Birthday and Lily, our Manager's assistant, provided this amazing cake!
We both received a shirt as a present and we enjoyed some wonderful Japanese style curry.We also enjoyed a night out with the Carey Family to celebrate all the birthdays around in April at their favourite restaurant. We had a really good time and Simon insisted on treating us, which was lovely.
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| We took time-out from Songkran for a quiet drink |
We left Chiang Mai as the temperatures hit a high, hoping to find London and Paris a little cooler.......they were!
Back Home:
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| Our reception committee at London Heathrow! |
Our time at home was to be divided between the UK and France and we had various locations to reach in both; the motor home idea turned out to be brilliant, even if getting used to driving the beast took a while. (I don't think Emma enjoyed our maiden voyage from Egham to Passais-La Conception very much!)
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| Home for the duration! (another ebay special!) |
The tour plan went:
- London Heathrow
- Hanwell
- Worcester
- Hanwell
- Covent Garden
- Hanwell
- Egham (pick up Emma)
- Passais
- Paris (Emma on Eurostar)
- Passais
- Visit from Pat & Bob
- Bessencourt(NW Paris)
- St Omer
- Calais-Euro Tunnel
- Blackburn
- Sabden
- Haslingden (Calf Hey)
- Simonstone
- Sabden
- Eddisford Bridge (Camp site nr. Clitheroe)
- Whalley
- Higham
- Boundary Mill (shopping!! arrhh)
- Rawtenstall
- Padiham (Doctor)
- Barrowford
- Nelson/Colne
- Colne (soiree):Joan, Tim to Rishton to visit Dave
- Fence Gate
- Hillthwaite House Hotel (Windermere) Sue & Mike's birthday presi
- Gyln Cerriog
- Betws Gwerfil Goch
- Morph Nefyn (Ty Coch)
- Porth Tocyn Hotel, Abersoch
- Altincham: Steven & Laura Isherwood
- Manor Wood camp site near Chester
- Chester City (pick up David)
- Folkstone (Euro Tunnel)
- Passias La Conception
- Caen (dropped Dave at Ferry)
- Richard and Andrea to stay
- Calais with Richard and Andrea
- Dover
- Egham
- Hanwell
- Christchurch (Trustees)
- Hanwell
- Egham
- Heathrow
- Hong Kong
- Chiang Mai
Photo journal of the tour:
(though in a random order, I suspect!)
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| We are still waiting for the book of anecdotes about "Cat's" life in Hanwell, She is well into her twenties and enjoying the move South! |
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| Toby in "Sheriff's Wood" Windermere. A dog friendly Hotel meant that he join in the fun! |
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| Sue and Mike's idea of a good birthday treat was greatly appreciated, but over too soon! |
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| Joan's expert pruning techniques were called for with this Cherry tree! |
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| The outlook was widened by Bob's chain-saw skills; our new neighbours saw this scene most evenings! |
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| A condemned gas water heater and sink were quickly removed |
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| The block walls look much better rendered; window painting is under-way. |
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| The fire surround was already in, we fitted the log burner and ordered some logs......... |
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| Was that 50 cm long logs or 5 cubic metres of logs? |
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| When you're used to Thai temperatures you need every possible heat source! I am converting this Aga to run off electricity. (Ebay rules!)  A 2 inch hole is needed through the cast iron chamber(it needed reaming out a bit!) |
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| My birthday present was an apple tree, Normandy is renown for good apples so..... |
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| Toby, before he broke his tail wagging it! |
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| You can just see the pasting table! |
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| Pat & Bob came prepared for work, Bob is burning hedge before digging 15 metres of drainage trench! Pat avoided the camera but worked so hard. |
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| A good blossom and fruit set; perhaps someone will be there in Autumn to get the cherries before the birds! |
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| Perhaps this is why so little evidence of mouse damage was found-the snake skin was huge! |
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| Back in the UK, this hostelry was conveniently sited next to our camping site in Clitheroe! The Higham crew doing what we do best! |
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| Tony's Machine (plus partners) gather for Stephen's wedding (Vacancy for a drummer now we assume?) |
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| Stephen & Laura Isherwood. Following Church we went to a castle in Cheshire for the reception. Richard read from 1 Corinthians 13, just as I did for the other Steven & Laura, last year! |
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| This kitchenette was a the worst bit of the house, we decided to demolish it! I'm improvising a stop-end for the old water pipe to the sink. |
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| Richard in demolition mode! The work tops were solid oak under the formica and fablon! |
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| Andrea gives her Granddad credit for teaching her how to paint properly- it looks great now it's finished.  Further demolition required! |
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| I did the easy bits! |
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| The "A" team at work! |
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| Richard's other favourite pastime! |
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| The expanded living room; still showing evidence of the old kitchen. |
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| From this direction it looks OK; what you can'nt see are 2 long holes in the floor where the walls were! |
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| It was a brilliant plan. All the old kitchen was burnt and we were to cook tea on the embers. It rained! Andrea remains undaunted at her post.....
Back in the UK:
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| Insanity Radio, 103.2 FM; Emma coolly browsing the new charts, ready for her show. |
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| Lewis is a study in concentration; together these 2 try to stay "on topic" in a chart show that wanders off into the by-ways at the slightest excuse!
Back to Chiang Mai
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| Our new house is coming on, roof tiles next week; then the walls, we hope! |
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