Travels1

Many thanks for all the kind messages and a BIG HUG for Claire and Lozzie. I miss you all. Harry seems to be getting on fine and they should have a new car soon. Lucky that it is the school hols.

Here we are in Oz and it’s wonderful to be back and to hear the flute-like magpie thingies outside the bedroom window. Very warm here in Sydney – good thing I worked on the layers principle for clothes – Dale tells me that it is freezing in Perth.

Bangkok was lovely but very hot and humid. The people are really kind and made sure that we had a great time. The hotel provided a limo and a guide, just for us, at a ridiculous price so we did the Emerald Buddha’s temple and the Grand Palace.

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Loved the floral motifs made from all the porcelain that was broken when ornaments were shipped over - see above. Plan to work on this in the sketchbook and print out photos on my baby printer.

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On the plane over we proofed Jae’s book which is all about the dynamics of contrast, and it struck me in Bangkok that the contrast between the swish hotel and the street life going on all around it was immense. A marked contrast in temperature, too.

Busy streets.

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Hotel foyer.

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Then to Oz where Ian, bless him, had got tickets for the Opera House (had a drink and a bite in the Opera House bar). Luckily it was Pericles with drums – the drums were needed to keep us awake. One of the Bard’s more lighthearted romps and brilliantly produced. The sets and lighting were qute inspirational and some work may come out of this. Coming out onto the floodlit quay with the bridge and the ferries was quite breathtaking.

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Yesterday we went to the Blue Mountains – a favourite trip when we visit Ian. The Grey tradition is to eat an Ozzie meat pie from a take-away for lunch during this outing. I don’t like meat pies but have to partake or risk being called a poncy Pom. Clive lost the pie-eating contest but won the messiest eater award and had to be cleaned up by our own personal valeting system – aka Pipi the dog.

Today is my Birthday so we are off to Sydney to potter and then to a very posh place tonight for a disgustion! There is a different wine for every course and there are loads of courses. Hope we make the plane for Darwin tomorrow morning.

Not many sleeps now Doreen.