China here we come

After 18 months in the planning, we are heading to China to explore the wonders of this beautiful and ancient country.

A month simply isn't enough - but it will have to do!

I am so excited I can hardly speak - and you know how that must be!

She lives!

After an extremely long time as a recluse, I've ventured out into the writing world again.

Check out my flash fiction  and more info on what I'm doing in the writing world over at Annie On Writing

2017 update

I used to be a great letter writer - and blogger - but found I’ve become very lazy and put things off so long,I feel that the news I want to share is old news and no longer interesting to report. When I lived in Europe for 5 years ( before the internet - can you imagine that time?) I used to write to my mother every week and one of my three sisters ( in rotation) every week as well. I did that for over 5 years  and my mum has just given me a pile of postcards and letters she had kept all that time. What a treasure trove! Something I must do something with some day. 

With Facebook so prevalent in everyones lives it feels a little strange to write about events which is now ‘old news’ only given that it was ‘posted’ a day or so ago. Anyway……. I digress.. 

We have been in our little piece of paradise now for two and a half years. It seems a lifetime ago that we were travelling round Europe and a different dimension all together when we lived in Brisbane in a suburban lifestyle. As our lives have changed so have our interests and focuses. Its no longer important to me to chase that career, but rather to chase a life work balance where I can be involved with my kids growing up and developing. I am blessed that we have been given the opportunity to be able to do this. I have just signed a contract till the end of school year where I am a special needs consultant at a small school about 80 km away from home. It has 60 children in it - which is a medium to large school in this district. I don’t mind the drive in the mornings; besides its only two days a week so its not a hard cross to bare. 

Our place is only small compared to other properties in the area, but 20 acres is enough for us to manage. We have 4 chickens who lay occasionally, two cows and a calf. Yuppie - our favourite, is about to calve, so I am sure we won’t be allowed to get rid of her baby anytime soon. The last two years have seen the formal rose gardens the previous owner had, left in disarray as we tried to unpack and sort out our lives, so now I’m feeling that we have turned a corner, I am focusing on establishing vegetable gardens, and building a lush garden paradise around us in private spots to sit and relax and reflect. The yard around the house is about half an acre - so we have a lawn tractor to mow it. Even so, it doesn’t get done quite enough! The house is set amongst huge gum trees - thus the name - but it also presents me with the problem of limbs and bark falling every day. Just as well I am not stressed about a perfect lawn.

Our long hot summer has seemed to have suddenly turned tail and disappeared into our more normal mist and heavy dews in the mornings, heralding the return of heavy frost and perhaps a snowflake or two. Where we live in the mountains of the Great Dividing Range, the temperatures are a lot cooler than most places, so it was a huge shock for us to have high temperatures of 42 degrees ( unheard of) here for a week or so. We normally don’t get above 30 degrees - and thats only for a few days in all of Summer! What this meant was my garden and lawns slowly baked, unused to the extreme heat and no water. it didn’t rain for months, so we have had to buy semi trailer tankers of water to fill our tanks and everyone has been on extreme water saving measures. We went for 8 days without water just before Christmas - which may not sound bad - but when you can’t turn a tap on and get water, flush the loo or wash your hands, it starts to become a bad dream. 

As the weather has turned now, we have some rains coming in and my near dead lawn has greened up and what shrubs were here have sprouted again. I hope it stays warm enough for a little while before the frosts hit and cruelly burn all the new sprouts off. Just before it got very hot, I did a few weeks of concerted efforts into weeding and planting garden beds. While a few key plants ( the expensive ones of course) died, due to my mulching ( and clearly superior gardening skills) most of them survived. 

Our district is famous for fruit and vegetables and we are lucky enough to have a huge influx of overseas backpackers decent upon our sleepy town for up to 4 months of the year to pick the crops. Our town nearly doubles with over 4 thousand foreigners turn up almost overnight. This year there seems to be a lot of Korean backpackers - but also a lot of French. It makes for an interesting shopping day in town with so many people there. I like it, but many locals hate this time of year -as we have traffic ( over ten cars on the street at once!!)

 Although it is illegal to do so, I usually pick up hitchhikers on the road out of town and take them back to their lodgings. Don’t panic though - I only pick up girls ( though that is not a reliable thing either) But you can tell the backpackers - shopping bags full of food and that dead tired, exhausted stance. I swore to myself along time ago as a traveller, that I would always help others when I saw them. I’m a huge believer in the pay it forward scheme of things and its a fun game that the kids and I have played for many years - finding little things to pay forward to folk. Smiles and compliments are our easy “go to” techniques. 

So, onto what we have been doing for the last few months. The kids and I have joined a local archery group. We practice on a target range on the weekend with compound bows. We aren’t good enough to go out on the ranges yet - but we were allowed to do it once! The ranges are sort of like a golf course. There are 20 markers around a huge area ( our group has some steep bushland) You get to your numbered stop and need to find the target - a printed wild animal ( noxious - ie not native to Australia and ones which harm our environment- so pigs, deer, foxes, rabbits, goats) which is fixed to a large bale ( so the arrows can stick in without breaking) There are points for shooting them in the heart area or head shots etc. You only have three arrows and a limited time to shoot. Once your points are tallied, you find the next target and so on till you have finished all 20. After completing one round, I understand why they don’t let beginners out there - as we took so long to finish. 

Lilly is in her first year of high school and has taken to it with all her wonderful enthusiasm and love. Morgan is in year 9 and for the first time has been able to choose subjects. He has focus on Graphics, IT and metalwork/ manual arts and for the most, seems to be enjoying and doing well in it. They are both continue with their scouting journey.

After having a leading role in last years Shakespearean play “Alls Well that Ends Well”, I have renewed my love of the theatre and acting. I went a weekend workshop on directing and learn some great distinctions, realising that I actually do have a great depth of knowledge and skills which I have been holding away and not sharing with others. Lilly and I go to a weekly nightly workshop on acting, where I teach voice projection and voice skills and we also undertake impromptu improvisations and discussions scripts. I am wavering on putting my hadn't up to being involved with this years Shakespearean play “Macbeth” - I reckon I will though…

I still haven’t gotten back into my writing and though I miss it and feel pressured by myself that I aught to be editing and finishing certain projects, my heart is not in it, so I have left it in a heap.

We continue to welcome helpers from all round the world through HelpX and Workaway into our home and have had some wonderful people share our life for a short time. Some stay only a few weeks and others for months. My mum and dad still live on the bigger sheep and cattle property a few km down the road, so they ‘borrow’ helpers every few days to assist with mustering and all the other farm work. It gives our helpers a real taste of Aussie farm life without being stuck too far out in the outback. 

Travel also continues to be a focus for us - its in the blood and spirit. We had the foresight years ago to purchase points into a holiday club, so this equates to several weeks accomodation in self contained apartments around the world a year. We have been taking advantage of this for coastal breaks and lovely luxurious holidays away without breaking the bank. We are off to Twin Waters near Noosa for Easter, most likely to Cairns for a week in June ( still in planning stage), Fiji in September and Port McQuarie just before Christmas.  Further afield perhaps next year with very slight possibility of  going to Thailand ( using our points of course!) or other parts of Asia - all on a shoestring though; but thats always been part of the fun.

I know its along way ahead but we are excited about it - we are already formulating plans on our return to Europe in 2023. All going well, Lilly will have graduated from year 12 in 2022, and Morgan completed two years of study at uni; both ready for a gap year in Europe! We plan to walk the Camino again in late April ( it will be the 10 year anniversary of our first Camino) I have family and friends who have all said they’d like to join us - but as with everything - proof will have to be in the pudding. We are collating of the things we felt we missed last time we were there and researching new ones. My guess is that we will be there for at least a year and do something similar as we did last time - a mix of helper/ workaway assistance and house sitting. I’m not sure how its going to work with the whole Brexit thing as we were planning on spending more time in Europe rather than the UK, so we will have to see what pans out. We have duel - both British and Australia Citizenship - so can live and work in the UK.

Although I love Australia and it will always be home, I miss Europe terribly; having lived there now three stages in my life. Its a lesson though in patience and simply being. To be happy and to find happiness in my everyday life; no matter how mundane or simple it may appear. If nothing else, the camino taught me the beauty of simply being and the fulfilment of having one focus ( to get up and walk all day and go to sleep)  As daunting as the 800 km is, we are all looking forward to walking it again; receiving memories and making new ones.   

If you are ever in our neck of the woods - please let me know and I’d love you to come and stay. We have a self contained cottage 200 mt away from the main house especially for guests to stay, visit and enjoy our district.

would love some comments - or emails - or good grief! a letter in the mail.

It may even encourage me to write more on my blog

Merry Xmas 2016

Fuelled by our beautiful wedding, our years happiness was heightened by news of Annie's pregnancy; later only to sadly be dampened with a loss. Sadder still is our more recent miscarriage, just before Christmas. Here is hoping third time lucky for 2017.

Annie has enjoyed the freedom of part time teaching and rediscovered her love of the theatre, recently performing in a major role; alongside Lilly, in a Shakespeare performance. 

Michael continues to work hard, putting a smile on the faces of his customers with his cheeky quips. His newest love, his ute, consumes his time and he has, at least part time, returned to running his gardening business. 

Michael and Annie keep busy with their roles within the Bushfire Brigade, learning essential skills in chainsawing, 4 W Driving and putting out the odd fire. 

Morgan attended an International Youth Summit in Sydney and is firming up his goals to pursue a graphics and IT based study program. 

Both kids continue to enjoy Scouts, swimming and looking after the cows, chooks and quail. 

Lilly has triumphed as the student leader at school and winning prizes with her artwork.

Our travels continue with visits and camping around far western Queensland and towns along the Eastern Coast.

We hope your year has been eventful, stress free and joyful and that this continues through to 2017.

Much Love 

Annie, Michael, Morgan and Lilly.

Back into it

After what seems a million years of me not blogging, i've decided I need to just get back into it. I made a commitment while we travelled to post every day, which hell or high water, I managed; something I'm very thankful in doing as it serves an incredible source of memories for me.  

I've sunk into that awful hole where I dont think what I am doing or seeing is worthy of sharing with anyone, much less an international fan base. However, after reviewing all the little achievements and progression we've made over the last 6 months since arriving back from Europe, it IS important to record them, to share them; even if for me alone.

Something that prompted me was discovering a letter my grandfather wrote to his oarents while he was in Palistine during the second world war. He never spoke of those times and I found photos which made me cry, having never seen them bwfore. Mich less knowing they existed. Reading his letter...reading between the lines.... It makes me so grateful for those around me, my life now, the opportunities whic continue to surround me.

So, my blog for a while at least, may mot be filled with castles or magnificent scenery, but it will be filled with what consumes my time right now.

Warwick Aquatic Centre

The calf whisperer

Slacko here

Its been months since I posted up a blog, and for my loyal readers, I have to beg your indulgence and apologise.

I have many drafts waiting to be completed, and so much to put up - but just never gotten round to it. Its a huge difference not to have access to the internet all the time as we did in the UK. Fortunately, we now have it - and I can start sorting out a bunch of internety things.. including this blog..  So, please excuse me too as I start to publish things - they may be in a strange order.

The 'Sanctity of Marriage" debate

It seems insane to me that the hoo ha about the “sanctity of marriage” is even an issue. I’ve decided to weigh in my 2 c worth.

Love is love. You want to be with the people you love and share a life with them. You don’t need a piece of paper to prove you love someone - but if you want it, you aught to be allowed to have it. Thats called equal rights. 

Just as I believe you don’t need a religious person to ok it by their gods. Its between your God/Goddess and yourself - no-one else damned business. I certainly don’t think the state or Gov have any rights to tell me who I can love or share my life with and damned as heck don’t feel I need to ‘keep them in the loop’.

But lets reel this back a little.. The Sanctity of Marriage? Please…. It should read “The slavery and misery of women” - watch out - you’ve got me started…In no way am I trying to male bash here - they are just a part of the machine of marriage. Here is a small history lesson about marriage - we are looking at the white anglo-saxon Christian point of history - but many of these points still hold true in other societies and religions. Marriage was rarely about true love. Its a business transaction. It was ( and for many still IS) about ownership, it was about patching up arguments, wars, making political alliances, bringing new money , land and influence to old families. It was about climbing up that social ladder and of ‘bettering your standing”.. and still is.

Marriage was about revenge, to prove loyalties, to settle debts to annoy the neighbours, to prove a point, the be ‘better than the others.”  What the individuals thought of the union was rarely if every considered.

Rape was ( and still is in many places) acceptable in marriage ( how about your ‘marital duties?” thats still VERY much part of our present day culture). Countless women were brutally murdered for having the wrong gendered child, or if they were unable to produce a child ( too bad if it was the males issue and not her fertility - just blame the woman!!)… Children are still being married off at young ages as business transactions. Women were murdered or discarded when a better alliance appeared on the horizon ( lets not start on the mid life crisis issues we have now when many men discard their ‘worn out wife’ for a younger chick”). Many women were perpetually kept breeding until they died ( how many of you have grandparents who were 1 of 12 or 16 kids? Its not that long ago that this was still happening). 

I’m not saying that love and romance didn’t happen in marriages - and that it was possible for arranged marriages to bring respect and happiness between the two; but that Disney fluffy crap about romantic marriage and the ‘sanctity of marriage being eroded?” The whole business of marriage is a money making , plastic BS fashion statement set up - even now as a passing of a chattel ( the daughter) over to her new owner.  It makes my blood boil.

So - summing it up.. I believe in love between two people. Is it really that hard? If they CHOOSE to dress up and have a party in front of some religious person or civilly appointed person and get a piece of paper proving it - then they aught to be allowed to do that. 

Soo.. what would you do?

Yawn.... Just arrived in Singapore ( big delays due to fog and knock on effects at Abu Dhabi)

Just a little hick up to prove that it doesn't matter how much you plan or organise stuff, something always throws a curly one at you.

However, I believe that the trick with travel is, is to be flexible... ( and be grateful to have a little extra money stashed away for that rainy day.. thank goodness....)

Our hotel transfer was unable to pick us up at airport - as it was a sedan car and the guy said he only accepts 1 bag per person.. I know.. WHAT?  Normally these are those little minivans or mini buses...I've NEVER had issues with per person luggage before..We had 30 kg each plus cabin luggage.( which is a NORMAL amount for any international traveller. so.. The driver suggested I send the children with him to the hotel ( half an hours drive away BTW) or leave Morgan at the airport and he'd come pick him up later. (is anyone imaging my face right now.. after nearly 20 hours of travel, I stink and I am damned tired...)

To be fair, I know he was being helpful but at 2 am (no damn it - anytime) I was not comfortable at all with either leaving a child at a near deserted international airport or letting a stranger take the kids somewhere.

So, I said no thanks and got a minivan to the hotel. (where that little extra stow away cash came in handy)

Sigh.. I guess ya just got to roll with what you are given when you are travelling... sleeping now.. sad we got here so late and are going to be sleeping till we get chucked out at check out time - and not see anything of Singers. Still, its not that far away and there is always a next time.

Bye bye little car!

I loved my little car. I was so sad today to hand over her keys as we left the UK.

First, I want to give a huge thanks to my gorgeous cuz, Christine Angus for keeping it for me that extra six months. When we visited in 2013 with Age, we confirmed with her our 'secret' that we were returning the UK for an undetermined amount of time in the coming January . She and Roy quickly offered us OOT as they were upgrading. At that time Age and I were planning to return the Europe to live for a few years, so it was a perfect offer and so kind.

Things didnt quite go to plan, but the kids and I did keep our one way tickets and return in January...still to live for a few years...Its been such a blessing to us. Poor little thing just about doubled its milage - did nearly 40k miles in 12 months ( and 3 of those were when we walking the camino) 

We have had our ups and fowns.. A very scary crash in Wales where the insurance company wanted to scrap her.. Nooooo! A few hundred pounds had her up and tunning again - with a few beauty marks....

I was in such a quandary as to what to do with her when we decided to come back to Aus. I hate the whole selling behicles malarky and I really needed her till we left. Chris and Roy didnt want her back, so after a bit of thought, realised one of my younger cousins didnt have a car and had just started his first job. I think he was a bit gobsmacked when I offered him my car for nothing. But its made me glad to pay it forward - and have encouraged him to give a kindness to another person at some point. 

My little way of spreading world peace.. It may not be much, but every kindness encourages more. 

Hogmanay

FIRE!! There is nothing which screams to the primeval part of anyones psyche like a fire. We were fortunate enough to be invited to spend Hogmanay in Scotland and be taken into Biggar, who host a fire festival.

The roots of Hogmanay are a bit fuzzy but its believed that it ties in with the Norse celebration of  winter solstice among the Norse as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain ( which is celebrated in various forms throughout the UK featuring fire).  Usually in Scottish villages there is a precession of fire bearers, a pipping band and fire ball swinging before the huge bonfire is lit and dancing begins. 

I found it interesting that traditionally Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and that Hogmanay was the more traditional celebration in Scotland ( though now with commercialisation its anyones game)

The day before New Years is spent cleaning the house spotlessly and ensuring that everything has been aired.

We went into Biggar to check out the huge bonfire heap which had been accumulating for over a week and I have to say it was impressive. Sat on the main street, tonnes of waste wood pieces and logs were thrown up higher and higher.  I've taken a shot of the kids in front of it for scale. 

A huge precession marched up the street to the sound of many bagpipes wailing their tune. ( an eerie sound - as there were no cheers - silence all but for the bagpipes and roar of the fire bearers)

Fire bearers nearly stood shoulder to shoulder around the fire and waited for the signal to lower their burning brand.

It went up with a huge WHOOMPH! and began crackling madly. I can imagine a few people lost eyebrows and eyelashes being so close. 

We stayed for a while to watch the flames lick high into the inky darkness; that is, until the smoke almost overtook us. We were soon blanketed in thick smoke and had to escape to the car to get away from it.  Great night though!

Happy new years one and all.  May the dark young man who steps across your threshold bring fortune, happiness and health to you and your family.

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Castlerigg Stone Circle is situated near Keswick in Cumbria and to my mind probably the most atmospheric and dramatically situated of any of the ancient stone circles.  So many people believe that Stonehenge is the only stone circle in the UK; which is mad; especially given Avebury is only 10 miles away and just as impressive.

Castlerigg is around the same vintage though, believed to have been raised in about 3000 BC during the Neolithic period.

We were fortunate enough to be there on a crisp beautiful afternoon, just as the last rays of sunlight burst over the snow capped mountains.  The light was incredible. Set high up on the hills with panoramic views of Helvellyn and High Seat as a backdrop, its a breathtaking spot to be.

It certainly has a powerful energy surrounding it; and I was glad to have been granted time to wander inside the stones and meditate.

Christmas Day 2014

Stockings are set with care, bribes are out and children snoozing, desperately trying to stay awake to take a peak of Santa Claus.

I'm eternally grateful for the wonders of technology. Christmas morning ( Aussie time) was something I could share with my family, while here, in the dark and cold, we were still waiting for Saint Nick to arrive. It was wonderful to see and hear my family back home getting stuck into presents, firing up the nerf guns and getting ready for a big family meal together.

Here, in the Lakes District, we slept to a respectable 7 am and called more friends and family, chatting till mid morning ( and hunger overcame the desire to talk)

One of my favourite breakfasts is smoked salmon Eggs Benedict. Its one of those luxury breakfasts that screams "holiday". I also adore a fruit platter ( most meals if we have to be honest here)

The kids were very excited to see what Santa had brought; the toss up between the books and the new ipad ( what great kids I have!)

Continuing the tradition of wearing silly hats at the main Christmas meal, we have Morgan sporting his turkey hat and Lilly wearing a very fetching reindeer hat.

Again, through the wonders of tech, we were able to share our meal with Michael, who at some terrible time in the morning in Australia, also put on a silly hat and joined in virtually.

I didn't go stupid on the meal - just the traditional stuff - turkey ( so succulent!) roast veges, brussels sporouts, honeyed carrots and minty peas, cranberry sauce and a thick gravy made from pan juices.. yummmmm.

We toasted absent family and friends, were grateful for a wonderful year and welcomed in the new opportunities 2015 will bring us. 

Though it is promising to snow later in the week, it doesn't look good.  We are in the lovely town of Ambleside in the Lakes District,where the home is snug and warm. Our plans extend to watching Christmas movies on the box and eating popcorn.

Wishing all our loved ones a wondrous festive season.

Christmas Card 2014

Merry Christmas to all our friends, family and loved ones. 

A note ( and apology) on my Christmas Cards - I had planned to be ever so organised with Christmas cards this year, having ordered personalised ones early in October. After a month and they not arriving, I had to re-order - which was a pain to start with, but a little difficult to manage given our traveling lifestyle ( no set address for periods of time). In the end, I received them late November, wrote and addressed them, sent off the European ones and sent the Australian ones in a large envelope to my mum to put stamps on and send from there.. Sorry Aussie mates, its been 4 weeks and that envelope has not yet arrived... I just hope it does eventually arrive and you do get a card.. But just in case..... this is what it looks like.. and I'll type the message I had on the back below.

As you read this, we will still be in Europe, hopefully experiencing a white Christmas.

2014 has seen the three of us travel much of Europe, complete the Camino and most importantly, begin to come to terms with the cards we have been dealt.

Christmas is a time for celebrating family relationships and for gratitude - this Christmas will be no different. With a tumultuous two years behind us we are looking forward to an exciting, bright future, filled with travel, spending time with loved ones and family while living our lives to the fullest potential. Though we will be far away from loved ons, Christmas, like all of 2014, has been a time for out new family to bond and begin to plan out future. 

With much love Annie, Morgan and Lilly Mitchell. 

,

He's behind you!! Pantos - Mother Goose at the Salisbury Playhouse

The stage was set for Mother Goose Panto at Salisbury and I was completely entranced the entire time.

For those who have never seen or heard of a panto, let me share a few insights and historical facts with you.

Its a purely British institution performed around Christmas time. Though often there are celebrities as the star act, it is not a must. Based on the Italian comedia dell'arte, its slapstick and physical comedy rolled up with bawdy banter, songs and dance, often with a local twist and often referencing television or cultural events from the year. 

What really sets it apart from 'normal' styles of theatre is the audience participation; something that I doubt would work or occur anywhere else in the world. Most characters have a key action or word that they illicit a response from the audience with.  Everyone knows that when the baddy comes in everyone boos and hisses. When a character begins an argument with "Oh no I don't", the audience yells "Oh yes you do". Other instances include characters hiding and only the audience can see them, yelling " They are behind you!" and sighing and sympathising when a character is poor or is having a bad time with "Awwwww".

Pantomimes run along a set storyline with a dame, who is normally very poor (and played by a man) with a young man ( played by a woman) who has a love interest. There is a battle of good against evil, with a moralistic message, culminating in temptation and good finally triumphing, ending with a wedding or a party.  Other ingredients include a 'messy' scene where two or more characters get extremely wet or messy with gags on the audience of fake buckets of water.

Pantomimes are normally written with risque lines so that the adults in the audience have a good giggle and the kids are none the wiser.

Reflective of the Greek and Italian Comedia Dell'arte performances, the 'good' characters enter the stage on the right ( symbolising Heaven) and the 'baddies' entering from the left ( symbolising Hell).

I particularly enjoyed the slapstick humour and the nod to the Laurel and Hardy skit of the wallpaper glue. 

Character performances were strong, comedic timing was smooth and practiced and best of all, the actors looked like they were enjoying themselves, rather than running on automatic. 

A huge thank you to Sally who surprised us with this kind gift of tickets to see this wonderful performance and introduction into a very special British institution.

Blustery Blowing Glastonbury

Back again at one of my favourite spaces in the world... Glastonbury; and in particular, the Tor.  Thought its a blustery, chilly day, I couldn't pass the chance to walk up it again and breathe in the calming energy of the place. 

After being in the highlands of Scotland, its incredible how mild the winter is here down south, still is. I also cannot get over how green everything is - still. It will be a big shock to go back to Aus and experience a cold winter there - where everything dies and its all brown and yuck. 

We climbed the Tor and nearly got blown off the top! The pictures below are of the kids running in the wind and leaning into it -being blown around alot.

Magical or no.. its a beautiful, peaceful spot.

Christmas Markets in Bruge

We had a brief - but fantastic nights stay in Bruge - especially to visit the famous Christmas Markets.

To add that extra special Northern Hemisphere Christmas atmosphere, there is an ice rink in the middle of the square. There are beautiful fairy lights encrusting the trees, making them glisten and shine.

The markets are relatively small, with perhaps 50 stalls in all. Most of them are food stalls, each I suspect, pumps out its sweet or savoury smells to entice passerpbys. 

We indulged in hot chocolates and then a special marshmallow chocolate dome sweet; followed by the most enormous hot dog in history. 

We ogled the hand crafted toys and beautiful  Christmas ornaments, which were showcased with twinkling lights and mirrors. It truly felt like we were transported into a fairy land. 

We really splashed out ( ha ha not really) and bought two tiny wooden carved tree ornaments.

Perhaps it was a long way to come and drink hot chocolate and get a wooden tree ornament, but the experience will stay with us, and as I say to others - we don't have things like this in Australia.. so its important to grab the opportunity to se and experience them first hand when we can.

I've been to Bruges before and spent time wandering its tiny streets in the summertime. Its unique ancient medieval Flemish city where much of the architecture has been preserved with the streets traffic free making it very easy to explore on foot. Oh - and Bruges is also a chocolate lover's paradise! mmmmmmm..

It was also heartening to know that the "camino kids have still got it!"  Our room ( gorgeous by the way) was a little way from the city centre. Our host pointed us up the street and said "keep walking straight, you'l run into it".. we hadn't imagined that we needed to walk 4 kms.. but we did easily.  Though it was chilly, we had our fluffy coats and gloves and our normal silly banter kept us going. It was great to know we could walk 8 km in an afternoon and not really worry about it.

Brussels

Brussels boasts some iconic photographic spots - the Atomium, Mannikin Pis and the space-age Atomium.

One of the lasting visits was the Atomium which looms 102m over Brussels like some space age alien from a bad sixties movie. 

We didn't go inside due to time restrictions, but I've been told that it houses nine separate studios showcasing art and creative displays.  The house-sized metallic balls are linked by steel tube-columns containing escalators and lifts. The balls look like a school chemistry set to represent iron atoms in their crystal lattice.It was built as a symbol of postwar progress for the 1958 World’s Fair ( Expo) and was scheduled to be destroyed but in a last minute bid, it got saved and turned into a world class art gallery and restaurant. 

We spent a day wandering the medieval streets and wandered the beautiful square, which was dressed especially for Christmas. 

Other attractions included the Mannikin Pis and the Janneke Pis ( which I will blog about separately) 

When in Brussels, one MUST eat the frittes.  They are soooo good. We lined up for about 10 mins at one of the most famous places to eat fries - and were not disappointed. Creamy inside and so crisp and deliciously fried on the outside - accompanied of course with creamy mayonnaise.  

We also ate waffles and had hot chocolates .. mmmm.what a piggy day - but so delightful. 

One of the must "dos" is a leisurely wander into the Les Galerie Royales Saint-Hubert. Its a famous 19th century shopping arcade, where chocolate shops carry more security that a jewelery shop and looks every bit as beautiful and precious.  I've read that over 6 million visitors walk up and down it a year. Judging from the prices of the food and chocolates, if everyone of them bought just one tiny piece, the owners are very happy people.

We indulged by visiting one shop and buying one ( yes - truly) 1 - piece of confectionary each. 

Below is a photo of Lilly choosing a traditional Belgium jellied fruit sweet. the one below is of me at the start of the long walkway.

The Cat on a bike is a sculpture was created by artist Alain Séchas for the city of Brussels in 2005. He reportabley was paid 100 000 €. yeah.. I am wondering too. Still, its one of THE things to go and look at and scratch your head about, so we did.. got the photo and are still wondering.