http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/DanMons/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from DanMons en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:20:43 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:20:43 +0000 Hi everyoneJust thought we'd write one final blog to let those of you who are living overseas know that we are back we've actually been back for almost a month now. For those living in NZ they're probably already wishing we were back over there There was no rest for us when we got back home. Daniel was picked up from the airport with his bike and the boys headed straight for the hills I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Woodend/blog-355435.html Hi againWe've made it to Hong Kong. It's hot again here. We have a two hour stop over.Can't tell you if Daniel is on the next part of the flight or not as he had to go through customs and then check in again but hopefully it will be OK. We got two seats at the back of the plane for the first part of the trip with a spare seat next to me. After taking some herbal drowsey pills we both managed to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Hong-Kong-Island/blog-351485.html HiWe are sitting on freezing cold seats in London Liverpool station waiting for the cheap train fare time 9.30 so thought we would update the blog for the last time from overseas probably.We had a nice few days in Holland visiting family. It was sad to say goodbye as we have really enjoyed getting to meet them all. I have however made a promise to them that if I ever learn Dutch properly th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/blog-351149.html Thatrsquos it...our time in Guildford is over except for Daniel who has to go back to collect his bike.Itrsquos kindof sad to leave as we have really enjoyed our time over here and could happily stay for a while longer but at the same time we are looking forward to coming home to see our family and friends and coming back to the familiarity of NZ with our house and our things around u http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-349682.html Hello allMonique Daniel here writing for the last time about a visit to a different country.We are now on the Eurostar train heading back to London from Paris. Heading back to our last week of work in England man time has flown.After arriving in Paris we walked the 3km from the train station to the hotel past about 1500 sexXXXAO shops Shocking After we managed to escape the seemingly http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-348836.html Our last weekend in Englandhellipgonehellipjust like that.Yeah technically we still have two more weekends over here but next weekend we'll be in Paris and the weekend after that we'll be in HollandSo what did we dohellipOn Thursday night we went to see the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra play lsquoBest of Broadwayrsquo. Because of the trainrsquos efficiency and my high heels and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-345892.html Rome...we came we saw we conquered...in rough chronological order Santa Maria degli Angeli Plazza della Repubblica Fontana del Tritone Trinita del Monti and the Spanish Steps Fontana de Trevi Piazza Colonna Palazzo Chigi Palazzo Montecitorio Saint Ignazlo dl Loyola Tempo Adriano Pantheon Palazzo Madama Palazzo Navona Colosseo Arco di Costantino Palatino Arco di Tito Monumen http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-344665.html Well we made it. I'm sitting at the hostel computer trying to learn how to use these strange keyboards took me a good few minutes to figure out how to use the symbolFirst impressions of Rome WOWAmazing place with sooooo many things to look at. We've seen quite a bit in our half day here but I'm not going to bother about telling you about it until we put the photos up at the same time an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-342998.html For some reason it seems that all we really have to tell you about this weekend is alcohol I hope you donrsquot all get the wrong impressionhellipreally wersquore not that big drinkershellipI like my wine and Daniel likes his wine beer whiskey rum bourbonhellipOn Friday night Daniel and I headed out to the Hog Back Brewery with about 20 people from my work for a brewery tour. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-341163.html Daylight saving has endedhellipdark nights cold days frost and SNOW yes snow skating on the pavements lack of sleep due to 3 hour delay in our flight from Glasgow due to a hacker in the Easyjet system leading to an arrival in Gatwick at 2am meaning no more trains travelling to Guildford so a 40 taxi ride instead of a 20 train ride which meant not getting to bed until 3am and being u http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Edinburgh/blog-340074.html Hi allNext weekendrsquos update...On Saturday morning Auntie Margareth and Uncle Albert arrived from Holland to spend a few days with us. We picked them up from Gatwick and spent the weekend doing touristy things. On Saturday we spent the day looking around Guildford. We gave them our own walking tour since the free ones they held on Sunday arenrsquot held over the AutumnWinter period. Aft http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-337968.html Hi allToday's update will have to be in two parts as Daniel and I have been living seperate lives for the past week But now we're back together again yahMONIQUE'S WEEKMy week was rather dull and boring I'm afraid. After coming back from Holland I spent 3 days and 2 nights in London on a course. The first day was an induction course even though I've been here for over a month and the other http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-334986.html This weekend we planned a surprise visit to Friesland to spend Mum Dad Beppersquos last weekend in Holland with them. Oom Arjen picked us up from the train station in the morning after we took the boat and train across to Holland. When I said we took the train across Holland thatrsquos what we really did you see I printed two timetables for the trip to Heerenveen one slightly earlier http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/Province-of-Groningen/blog-332029.html Hiya allAmazingly we had another nice weekend with no rain We were just starting to get the feeling that we had somehow been transported into another country when the rain started again today Tuesday. Now itrsquos raining pretty consistently and I am not looking forward to my walk homeFor your excitement and enthrallment here is the next instalment of our livesWORKWell work is work. I hav http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Berkshire/Windsor/blog-329347.html Another weekend has flown by only 10 more weekends before wersquore back againThis was our first full weekend with company other then each other of course And Mum and Dad seem to have brought the nice weather with them. Daniel wanted to tie them up and keep them here in order for the nice weather to carry on but unfortunately the weather knew they were planning on leaving so started raini http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-327142.html Today was London Day. We went up to London on the train in the morning and headed to Buckingham Palace. We saw the changing of the guard. The new guards get brought in with a big marching band. Even though it was a Thursday the place was chocka After we had seen enough we went and joined the queue to see Buckingham Palace. Once we got in the place was amazing We looked at the 19 state rooms and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-326822.html Hi all. Another week has flown past so it must be time to update the blog again.Last weekend was Heritage weekend in Guildford so most of the historical sites were free to look at over the weekend.Daniel went and visited the air raid shelters on Friday afternoon as all the Saturday tours were booked. They were built back in the World War 2 and could hold 1000 people. They were never actually us http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-325363.html We survived our first week here in England. And our 9 out of 10 days of rain. And our jackets have never been used so much beforeMy work is going well so far. I still havenrsquot done any actual auditing work but thatrsquos OK at least Irsquove got other work to do.Daniel is still looking for a job. The area is not really industrial so hersquos having to look outside our town. Hopefull http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-321710.html Hi allA quick update to let you know we arrived safetly here in Guildford on Sunday morning. We have a nice wee flat in Guildford. It's pretty small but that's to be expected over here. The kitchen is hidden behind foldaway doors in the lounge so it's pretty tiny. The place has a spare bedroom with a doublequeen bed so it anyone wants to come and visit you are most welcome to come Except http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Surrey/Guildford/blog-318944.html Hi all from the English channel. Yip we made it this time.Today in keeping with the rest of the trip was great fun. This morning we went and visited Tante Antje with Tante Joke and Oom Teus in Asperen. After a drink and the usual cake we went for a bit of a walk around the town. Tante Antje knew where my Dadrsquos old house is and so we had a look at that. We went down the street which took http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-318929.html