Grandchildren at Christmas 2009

OUR PAD AT THE POINT

We host the Auckland Intergolf Team

Last year we had the privilege of playing golf in Victoria with a wonderful group of people from Auckland on a tour organised by Intergolf. Recently many of the same group were staying and playing here on our home course at The Hyatt Coolum, also on an Intergolf organised trip.

JT organised a dinner at our nearby apartment so we would once again have the opportunity of enjoying the company of some fantastic people.

Above, JT, John Lockington and Bev Moor
Staying with us at the time were friends Frank and Rose Fillary, enjoying a mid-winter break from Napier. Frank and Rose ended up as co-hosts, working hard to ensure a fun evening.
Co-host Frank serving the organic steaks to (from left) Jeanette Hanna and Judy Burrows. JT had purchased our meat from her favourite organic butcher at Forest Glen and Frank had BBQ'd these to perfection.
Robyn McElroy and John Lockington.
Frank serving Bev and below (from left) Bev, Rose, Robyn and John L

PICTURES FROM PARIS & LONDON

After an easy train trip from Amsterdam The Taymacs and The Wrightsons arrived in Paris; Dale and Gilli went off to their apartment in trendy Boulevard St. Germain and we to our boutique hotel LE SIX in nearby Montparnasse. What a delightful hotel this is; the staff were terrific.

We arranged to meet for drinks at Le Six and joining us was our son Dale, who is working in France on TV drama Merlin. After a few drinks we set off to find a restaurant for dinner and we came across Le Dome, where the pictures below were taken. However we didn't stay here as after 20 minutes we still hadn't got any ones attention. So off we went and found a brilliant little place nearby. Dale W found out later Le Dome is one of Paris's top restaurants; pity about their service!

JT, Gilli and Dale McCready.

Dale W, JT and Gilli

John and Dale Macs

John, JT and Dale

Dale heads off to his digs

Next day we visited the Museum d'Orsay and while the lucky three waited under cover John lined up in pouring rain for 30 minutes or so. This picture was taken just as shelter was reached.

What a magnificent building; JT enjoying the huge space in what apparently was a railway station in times past.

After a couple of hours viewing the great art we headed to the Museum's beautiful restaurant for lunch. A good time was had by all, with the staff being friendly and funny.

The head man was a particularly good guy and joked away whilst providing excellent service and French Food of high quality.

After lunch it was back to the viewing. Dale and Gilli have devices that allow them to hear descriptions of what they are viewing.

It was an arduous but enjoyable day fighting our way through the huge throng of people to view; but all was worth it when near the end we came across the Monet collection. STUNNING.

JT and I just loved this one from Renoir

This one is the view from Museum D'Orsay to Sacre Coeur

My co-tourists

JT and that river

Day turns to night in this beautiful city

With Dale W suffering from a cough Gillian, JT and me set off to visit Dale McCready on the set of Merlin at the castle at Perrifonds, about 50K north of Paris

Dale working on the Merlin set where he is Director of Photography

John, Dale and JT at the set where a wedding scene was about to be shot.

Dale discussing lighting and camera set up with his team

JT, hidden by the brolly watches a scene being shot on the outside of the castle

John with the countryside of Perrifonds in the back ground

One side of the castle

Back in Paris those Smart Cars were everywhere

JT on the steps of Sacre Coeur

On the steps of Sacre Coeur with Paris in the back ground

We went inside this beautiful church and the singing by two nuns was very moving

After Sacre Coeur it was into Monmartre for JT to buy a cap and then off to lunch at a cafe/pub Dale had read about in the tourist guide

And what a good lunch it was; also the service was outstanding

After lunch it was off to the Eiffel Tower

This one of JT has both Eiffel and an billboard advert for Australia

Gilli and Dale walking towards the Eiffel

On our 2nd honeymoon, where we came 20 years ago

Too soon our time in Paris was coming to an end and we are in the tube taking a train to meet Dale and Gilli for a farewell dinner

Again Dale had done his research and guided us to Cafe De Flore on Boulevard St. Germain.

Our final Dinner with The Wrightsons was as usual full of many laughs, a lot of wine and it was sad to say good bye as Dale and Gilli headed for the South of France and Croatia and we back to Amsterdam and then onto London. Dale and Gilli made our time in Europe a wonderful fun experience.

JT on the train back to Amsterdam

After a few more wonderful days in Amsterdam we went to our very favourite city, London: our home from home. We struck 22+ degree days and this shot was taken in Hyde Park on a Sunday as we walked to Harvey Nicks for one of their fantastic cocktails. 

John enjoys the Hyde Park sunshine 

We visited Westfield's new Mall at White City. It is enormous and has quality fittings, high ceilings, wide walkways and over 250 excellent shops, including a new Apple Store (in the back ground)

JT toasts a fitting end to a wonderful holiday in the Harvey Nicks 5th floor bar; one of our favourite spots.