The Wombs
Womby
The Wombs
Hi, we are about to encounter a journey of a life time (for us) I'ts taken us 25 years to get to this point. Our itinerary is as follows.
Singapore
Perth
Cairns
Sydney
Fiji
Los Angeles
Boston
The reason for our adventure it’s our 25th wedding anniversary. We have a wish list for our journey , hot air ballooning, snorkelling on the great barrier reef, dinner on the beach in Fiji escorted to our table by a Fijian warrior (WHAT!). Walking across the Sydney harbour bridge, drinking Singapore slings at Raffles, I’ve always wanted to hold a Kola bear ( I know it’s sad), wine tasting in the Napa valley. This is just a few, the list will be added to and it will be interesting how many we will actually achieve.
26th March 09, 9.08am.
Hi everyone, we thought it was about time we got back to you all now we have found out how to use this thing !!
Well were in Singapore, after a 12 hour flight it was a killer, its really lovely, very clean and the people are so friendly.
Stayed at Raffles hotel on Tue night for our anniversary, it was amazing, we have stayed in so many fantastic hotels around the world but this topped them all. We had our own butler he even did the ironing, I have put him in my suitcase !!
We had dinner in 1 of the 18 Raffles restuarants, the food was unbelievable, soft shell crab, lobster, oysters (10 different sorts), sushi, caviar to name a few. Richard gave me a diamond engagement ring across the table, it was so unexpected I cried !! they brought over champagne, glad we didn't have to pay for that at 85 pounds a bottle, talking about champagne we had a bottle on ice in our suite on arrival courtesy of Sugarfayre, Jeff / Kathy please would you thank Danielle on our behalf untill we get home.
We had our first Singapore Sling in the famous Long Bar, we ate peanuts and threw the shells on the floor, just like everyone did, wiered!!
We have walked for miles from Little India to China Town up Orchard Road, if you like shopping its a paradise, Richards making me do this to save on buying me a drink at 10 pounds for a small Tiger Beer, (there own brew) unbelievable!
We had an authentic curry at a small Nepalese Resturant in Little India last night, the food was fantastic but the alka seltzer was a welcome relief this morning.
We went for a walk and came across a Japanesse Karioke bar, and guess what? Richard got up and sang 'Your just too good to be true' (Andy Williams), the whole pub applauded, I cried again but this time out of embarrassment !!
Before we left Singapore we had time to take a flight on the Singapore Flyer, a bit like the London eye but much higher, really scary, but fantastic views.
Thankyou all for your messages, its really nice you have taken the time to send, please keep it going.
Vicky and Lauren, hope your behaving yourselves and keeping the house tidy or else it's the orphanage for you two when we get home, love you both, keep texting, your Dad cries every time he gets one.
Happy Birthday to Danielle, hope you have had a nice Birthday and you got lots of pressies (our niece).
Ray - Harrington Burr is having a good time too, we are now his adopted parents.
We will now try to figure out how to down load some pictures, bear with us.
We fly to Perth tonight we will update our profile then.
love to you all
Richard and Lynda xxxxxxx
Friday 27th March 2009, 9.15pm.
Well we have set foot in Aussie, we flew into Perth this morning at 3am, felt quite jet lagged today so stayed off the ale but we are going to make up for it tomorrow. We are staying in the City in an hotel called Swedish Miss Maude, this is the only hotel Richard booked, I thought it was going to be some kind of brothel with a name like that, you know what he's like, but its very nice, more of a boutique hotel.
We met up with Steve, a friend of Richards that he used to play football against (Chalk Lane and Brighams days), they haven't seen each other for 20 years, he lives just outside of the city. They both said they hadn't changed a bit in 20 years but obviously they both were glasses now!! he and his wife Tracey are picking us up tomorrow and driving us around to see some places around the coast, they are staying in the city Saturday night to have a few 'tinnies and stubbies' with us, I wonder if they will mention football at all? Then he has planned a BBQ at his house on Sunday, there will be a few lads from Hull that we should know there on holiday also, Steve has got everyone together so should be a good day.
We took the train to Fremantle this afternoon, what a lovely place, we had traditional fish and chips for lunch on the harbour. We visited the Fremantle prison, took a look inside a submarine and had a paddle in the Indian ocean.
The weather is really hot 30 degrees and it's autumn ! crazy!
We haven't seen any spiders, snakes or crocodiles yet Lauren, but we saw an Island off the coast that is populated with Tiger Snakes, the third most poisionous in the world, we will take you there one day Lauren.
Well were just going for a walk and have a drink or 2 and will update our profile in Cairns, we will again try to get pics on.
Janet I did get your message, the butlers mine, and do the kids want real koalas or stuffed ones?
Ray, Harrington has got a new Aussie friend (Shiela) we have left them both in the room, hope they are behaving themselves.
Bye, Bye for now, have a great weekend, we will, love you all,
Ricahrd and Lynda xxxxxxxxxxx
p.s Vicky, we have tried to put photos on even the IT guy cant do it, give us a step by step way please.
Sunday 29th march 2009 - 7.11pm.
Had a great time in Perth we have met some wonderful people, people we knew from many years ago through football.
Steve and Tracy have been out here for 20 years now and have got a faboulous lifestyle. we met them on Saturday morning and they took us up to the kings Park area, the largest park in the world it was amazing, the scenary over the Swan river was beautiful. We went down to the old Brewery houses, this is now a renovated apartement complex, some are worth 6 million dollars and are unbeleivable. we had drinks at the bar of course, then went down to the marina to a bar called the Lucky Shag, (didn't get one, so not so lucky for me)!!.
We met everyone in the Dirty Nellies Irish Bar and had a fab night, it was rocking, the Aussies are into very heavy music, very loud so you need to go with the flow. We were the last standing, ('come on you England').
They all stayed in the City, most went home sick, we were ok , had breakfast then Steve and Tracey picked us up and took us for a drive.
We went along the coast to Scarborough, Brighton Beach, it seems that the Aussies are taking he piss, this is our Scarborough, whats yours like??
The scenery was fantastic, surfers, lots of people out having BBQ's along the coast, the houses are out of this world, we have chosen one and put down a deposit !!
We then drove to Steve and Tracey's home, breath taking, I wouldn't like to clean it, we have took lots of pics that will remind us of what we can't have. We then walked to there local, it was a 40min walk up the beach with the occasional paddle in the Indian Ocean, not a bad life is it!!
We had a few more bevvies then went back to Steve and Traceys were every one turned out to wish us farewell, they put on some georgious food and it was great to meet the family. We are leaving at 8.30pm tonight for our flight to Cairnes, Steve and Tracey have given us some guide on what to do and were to go to get the most out of Cairnes, especially to snorkel in the Great Barrier reef and maybe a balloon ride if I can be brave enough.
speak to you from Cairnes, there daughter Nick has helped us put on a couple of pics but its really slow, so hope you can see, we will try to get the hang if it and put more on.
take care, love you all, Kathy we haven't heared from you yet!!
love Lynda and Richard XXXXXXXXXXXX
Monday March 30th - 7.45pm.
G'day UK, this is Aussie calling, weve really picked up the accent and will get on your nerves !! not really !!
Arrived here at 9.30am and hadn't had much kip, we came via Brisbane took us about 61/2 hours, I really love flying now, NOT!!
The hotel is lovely and looks over the bay, looks really inviting although no one seems to swim in it, there are lots of signs saying that it is Crocodile infested so we shall stay clear of that.
However we have just had a lovely meal consisting of Oysters, Bugs (look like large bugs but taste like prawns), Lobster, Prawns, Kangeroo, Emu, Crocodile. My favorite was the Croc was more fishy and like monkfish I thought, Richards favorite was the Emu.
We have just walked around the marina and saw flying bats in there 100's and were the size of crows, there was only Richard and I who seemed worried !.
Looking to book some trips tomorrow and gonna have a drive upto Port Douglas which is supposed to be really nice, Jeff Rich is really up for a bungy jump, he says its ages since he's had a jump, don't know what he's on about.
Richard made me laugh tonight, he said 'I have really enjoyed my holiday" then I reminded him that we are not quite half way around yet and that this was only our first week.
Hi Vick and Loz, I'm sick of your Dad showing everyone he meets your photograph, were really missing you, and I know your missing us too, hope there is some money left in the bank account, LOL.
We need to go now, our beers getting warm, were not allowed it near the internet.
Love you all lots,
Lynda and Richard (Lyndie and Richie as we are known by our Aussie friends)XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tuesday 31st March 2009, 9pm.
Hi kids just read your blog, hope your kidding Dad needed his inhaler, (by the way get me an Audi, red soft top). !!
What a day we have had today, first we missedthe bus to Port Douglas so we had to hire a car, we went right up the coast to an aborigany town ship called Moorham, into the rain forest to see the water falls/creek, it was like I'm a celebrity get me out of here!!, we poohed ourselves we were in snake and spider city, oh and a few crocs in the creek.
From there we drove up the coast and seemed to be a nice afternoon Richard saw a sign for "This way to BUNGY jump" and yes you guessed it we took that turning. We got a drink like you do and viewed some people (idiots) jumping off the equivelent to a 10 story block of flats!! He sat a little not saying much, I thought I'm not going to say anything cos his Mam would kill me for encouraging him. He got up and said I'm gonna do this, and he did. To his credit he said he will never do it again and admuitted it was the 'Best jump he has ever had", don't know what he means by that, but anyway, Jeff hope your looking forward to your Bungy Jump cos your next.
We have booked a trip to the reef tomorrow, and doing something else, cant say yet cos Richards Mam won't sleep tonight, but watch this space!!!
Just had a nice steak in an Aussie bar and now going back to hotel, I need to get the washing from the launderette only $4 dollars so our bags will smell a little fresher, we need to be up at 3.30am tomorrow to do our thing!!!
Lewis, it's not just a bag it's Richards Man Bag, (how very dare you ).
Sammy, yes Harrington has now got a wife, they haven't come out of the room since they met.
Ok see you all then,
Love Lynda and Richard XXXXXXXXXXX
Wednesday 1st April 2009, 7pm.
Hi everyone, thankyou for your messages.
What a day today has been, we had a 3.30am start and was taken in a Land Rover up into the mountains through winding roads and through mist and fog, to were we ended up in a Farmers field. This was were our Hot Air balloon was been prepared for our flight !!!!
It took about an hour to fill the balloon and one by one we stepped into the basket, by this time it was a very lovely sunny day. The pilot told us he can get us up, he could turn us around but were the balloon was going to land was anybodys guess!
After reaching the dizzy heights of 4000 feet across the Afterton Tablelands the views were breath taking, below us we could see Kangaroos jumping along the valley, we have both never experienced anything like this, it was so peaceful up there. After an hour we started our decent which were he was putting it down looked like we were going to land on someones roof, people on the ground were waving, a dog was barking from its garden and when we landed we just missed the garden fence, this was nail biting.
But he got us down in one piece and we all pitched in to pack up the balloon. We then drove to Riggers Rest and had a cooked breakfast with Champagne, it was the best morning ever.
Then we were taken to the Marina and boarded a boat to the Barrier Reef it was still only 10.30am, they took us to Green Island about 1 hour journey, here we were provided with snorkeling gear and swam around the reef, we have never seen colours like it on fish and the coral was amazing. After lunch we went on a glass bottom boat, this took us out further onto the reef and we saw Nemo!
We got back to the hotel, had a shower and now after writing this blog we are going for an Italian and we may have alcohol LOL!
What was dissapointing is that we didn't have enough time to do the tandam sky dive! LOL.
We fly to Sydney tomorrow, we expect the weather not to be as good but we don't give a Castlemaine XXXX.
Speak to you in Sydney.
Love Lynda and Richard xxx
Thursday 2nd April 2009, 8:10pm.
We arrived yesterday about 3pm and flying into Sydney couldn't have been better, we were on the left side of the plane were we saw great views of the bridge and the Opera house. We got a cab to our hotel, typical city center hotel, clean and nice. But most of all the location is excellent, a 5 minute walk to a place called Darling Harbour and what a beautiful place it is, buzzing with bars and restuarants around the huge harbour, plenty to choose from. It was lovely just to sit there catching the last of the sun in a terrific venue over a bottle of wine.
We decided we wouldn't have a late night tonight and catch upon a bit of sleep so we went to bed at 1am !!
Handing over to Richard what happened next:
Thankyou Lynda:
I was awoken by the sound of the fire alarm at 03:15am "Lynda"! I shouted it's the fire alarm, put your shoes on were out of here, what about our passports she replied, forget them and go.
We were on the 3rd floor so I knew we had quite a treck down the stairs, when we got to the bottom, I pushed the fire doors open and was greated by a huge "GASP" from the dozens of people outside in the city center street, what was wrong? were we the last out of the building? I turned to see if Lynda was ok, then it hit me what the gasp was, there stood Lynda, her mascara smudged in her pink and white hooped pyjamas.
She looked like Beetlejuice had just been made over by Gok Won! What there fuffing looking at? said my wife, at this time 2 fire engines came hurtling down the street, sirens blasting they stopped outside the hotel. The fire chief organising his men suddenly stopped his duties and said "STREWTH" he had spotted Beetlejuice, (I mean Lynda). He carried on with his duties and after 10mins the fire crew came out of the building, it was a false alarm, the fire chief came over to me and said, "does she always dress like that for bed"? No I replied, sometimes her PJ's are quite horrible. I felt proud when Sydneys finest shook my hand and wished me good luck. As we turned and made our way back into the hotel, Lynda oblivious to all that had happened pointed out a bottle shop opposite our hotel and said "that will come in handy".
Friday 3rd April, 8:35pm.
We have had a lovely day today, we took a walk to see the Sydney Harbour bridge and walked across it, tomorrow we will do the Bridge climb and walk over it, very high Gulp!!
We walked around the Opera house very impressive, had lunch and took a ferry across to Manley were there is a lovely stretch of beach and we sat and watched the surfers.
Tell Kate I said hello to her sister!
We came back on the ferry and had sushi and a bottle of wine at our favourite bar The Docks.
We are just about to go to a Japanese Resturant near our hotel, but no alcohol for us tonight, we will get breathalised before the Bridge walk tomorrow.
Thankyou all for your messages, it really cheers us up, knowing your thinking of us.
Have a great weekend everyone, speak to you soon from Fiji.
Love Lynda and Richard xxxxxxxxxxx
Saturday 4th April 2009 - 7.00pm.
Had a lovely nerve racking day today and that was only been breath tested before we were allowed to do the Sydney Bridge Climb. The views were amazing, the full walk took about 3 hours and was really scary if you dont like heights (like Lynda) and very exhausting. When we got to the top Richard wanted to Bungy jump, he said he's into extreme sports now, but the guide wouldn't let him.
By the way, if you would like to see our photos of the hot air balloon trip we did, you need to go to www.hotair.info and click onto the 1st April.
Not really much to say today because the day was took up by the Bridge climb. So we are going to make up for the lack of alcohol last night and get pickled. Luckily we get another hour in bed because the clocks go back again, at this rate we will be a year younger LOL.
We fly to Fiji tomorrow at 1pm, and hopefully have some chilling out time.
Nice to hear from you Avril, really recommend Aussie they are mad just like you Newcastle girls !!The Champers was really special and thanks to everyone so much.
Hi Joe and Henry, Aunty and Uncle here, hope you like reading about our travels, we will really have a great party when we get home, don't tell anyone.
Lauren, hope you got your hair done ok, I will tell Dad it cost him loads, he's too far away to go mad !! LOL.
Anyway bye for now.
Love you all, Lynda and Richard XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wednesday 8th April 2009, 2pm.
BULA from Fiji,
Well we have arrived in Fiji and it is paradise, hotel is very beautiful and so is the drink!!. We have been here 3 days already just chilling out, the first 2 days we spent asleep in a hammock between 2 coconut trees on the beach overlooking the South Pacific Ocean. This has been our first opportunity to get onto the internet, we needed to come into the main town Nadi.
The national dress for the men here is a skirt called a Sulu, you wear it with a Bula shirt, yes you guessed it Richard is walking around in a skirt LOL, no joking.
We have found a smashing restaurant and bar in the port of Denarua, its just a 10 min walk away, but in this heat takes us half hour at a snails pace.
Yes Kathy we are getting all your messages, I would love to come to Em's birthday, but we have planned our home coming party that day (8th May) for the family and it's the only weekend Richard has got off, sorry and disappointed.
Going now to try the local drink Kava, it's not alcoholic but its supposed to make you dopey !! It's a root thats pounded into a powder then strained through a muslin cloth with water and it a welcome drink from the Fijians.
Just before leaving we saw a demonstration of how the Fijians cook there fish under hot coals wrapped in banana leaves, the smell was mouthwatering, we didn't have time to taste any before we left which was a shame.
We also so a Kava Ceremony taking place for the crew of the United Airlines, and they invited us to take part. The Fijian mixed the Kava root with the water through a muslin bag and squeezed the Kava out, it looked like dirty potato water.
Each person was given a drink from a coconut shell, it tasted like potato water LOL !!, then the tribe did a dance and then we had to leave.
Next stop LA we fly tomorrow night it will take 10 hours, maybe we will succeed and try and down load some pictures.
Thanks for your messages, speak to you from LA.
love Lynda and Richard xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thursday 9th April 2009, 6.10pm.
How you doodly, diddling ?
A warm welcome from California we have gone from been 11 hours in front to 8 hours behind !! and after a very tiring 10 hours flight from Fiji we are here.
Our hotel is right on Venice beach which is a great location, We thought we have been good eating healthy all holiday, then we come to America and we forget how big the burgers are, also the Coronas too there in pint bottles, the bar is called Cabo we think its going to be our local, it plays lots of Gangster rap music which me and Richard love ! not.
We need to get ourselves sorted with what we are going to do, so we'll keep you posted.
Nice to here from Ian and Carol, I dont think Cabo Roig will be boaring after this, it will be the place to bring us back down to earth, looking forward to going back on 1st July, we'll be ready for a holiday by then !!
Any way we know its early but we need to get some sleep, recharge our batteries, speak to you in a couple of days.
Bye for now
Love Lynda and Richard xxxxxxxxxxxx
Saturday 11th April 2009, 12.50pm.
We have just about got our sleep pattern right, Richard buzzing cos he has just found out Rovers beat Hull.
Yesterday we went for a very long walk which took us all day. We walked along Venice beach, lots of old hippies bumming around, very funny, then upto Muscle Beach, (they might of had the biggest biceps but Richard had the biggest belly !!). We walked through to Santa Monica, had a look around Santa Monica Boulevard were all the shops were, but more expensive than home.
Walked on the Santa Monica Pier, very beutiful with great views of both Venice and Santa Monica beaches but a little dissapointed that we couldn't buy a bag of winkles.
Walked all the way back and ended up in our favourite Cabo Cantina bar were it was happy hour 4-8pm and knocked back several marguritas and staggered back to the hotel.
Quick shower and out, went to a lovely Italian resturant, Rich had seafood pasta I had sea bass with pasta, very nice !!
Today we are going on a Los Angeles city tour to see the sights, Hollywood etc, Harrington is really excited he hopes to see Winnie the Pooh!.
Happy Easter everyone, have a great weekend, Ray and Carloine have a great holiday in Gambia, see you when you get back.
Love Richard and Lynda xxxxxxxx
Sunday 12th April 2009, 11am.
Went on a small tour bus yesterday, the driver was a guy called Mark Darling, he is the guy that writes most of the CSI Miami programs, he was very informative he took us everywhere.
We went to Bel Air and saw J lo's, Janet Jackson houses, Play boy mansion, just to name a few the houses and mansions we saw were out of this world, some worth around $125 million !!
Then went onto Beverley Hills were the houses came down to $50 million. He took us up to the Hollywood Hills were we saw Jack Nicholson and Robert Redfords houses and great pics of the Hollywood sign and great views of the whole of LA. We are now full of useless information !!
Rodeo Drive was like a movie set, it didn't seem like a real street, lots of very expensive designer shops, Richard wanted to buy me a new wardrobe but couldn't find an Asda George anywhere!!
From there we went to the Farmers market, this was an amazing place, we sat and had a bottle of wine in the hope of spotting a star, we saw a dog that was the spitting image of Lassie LOL.
Went down to the Chinese and Kodak Theartres, were the stars imprints are and the walk of fame, it was nice to see very old imprints such as Clark Gable and Betty Davis.
Tonight we are going to a resturant called The Warehouse, it was the resturant used in the film Meet the Fockers,, should be good.
So now were are going for a walk to find a bar to watch the golf (the final day of the masters) we have been following.
See you for now, Happy Easter Sunday
Love Richard and Lynda xxxxxxxxxxxx
Monday 13th April 2009, 7.30pm.
Woke up to a lovely sunny day today and Richard said it would be a nice day for a bike ride !! So we went down to the beach and hired a tandem bike and got me biking 22 miles (the little fat sod) !! It was such a laugh, it was a yellow one, when most people have a ride to Malibu beach they usually take the Limo or Bentley but no not us a yellow tandam just did us fine !!When we got back our bums were numb and we had really caught the sun.
Tell Abby we hope she will be feeling better soon, it sounds as if she is already.
Going to pack our bags (not that they have been unpacked much) ready to fly to Boston tomorrow lunch time, its a 5 hour flight, so should get to our hotel around 9pm tomorrow night. Then we will be only 5 hours behind you, so we are catching up, and the weather will be much colder, a chance to get used to the cold before we get home.
Bye for now, speak to you from Boston.
Love Lynda and Richard xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thursday 16th April 2009 6:52pm
We got to our hotel around 9pm, very tired again, and upon checking in they had upgraded us to the tower suite, FANTASTIC!! what a surprise, Richard said he had planned this but I dont think so. We have our own complimentary dining room for breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canopies with our own personnal bar, we have been so lucky.
We walked the Freedom trail on Wednesday and so lots of historic sights, we walked around the harbour and saw the Liberty ship were the Boston Tea Party took place. We walked through Boston Common and went into the original Cheers Bar from the TV series and had a drink. Richard asked the barman for a photo, he took the camera off him and made him go behind the bar and serve 2 customers, he was real embarrassed but loved every minute.
Were on our last night in Boston now, we have had 2 really full days which have been really good, the weather is very sunny but chilly in the shade so we needed our jackets It's going to be over 70 degrees from tomorrow so hope we get it in the UK next.
We visited the famouse Quincy market and bought more 'trash', Richard loves markets so you can imagine he was in his eliment. We ate at a famous Boston seafood resturant last night called the Legal which was just across the road from our hotel, we had all types of seafood including lobster, clams, mussels etc, we have never seen so many types of seafood on just one plate, I had the Mia Mia cold watwer fish, this was very tasty, I knew about this fish from Fiji, I had it there. Richard bought me a copy of their recipe book and the Head Chef signed it for me, so Jeff we've got some great recipes to have a go at.
By the way when we were in LAX thats what they call LA airport, we waited for the lift and we let this woman out I said don't say thank you then,
to her, Richard pointed out I had just had a go at Torri Spelling famous for 90210, apparently her Dad is Aaron Spelling. Means nowt to me. (you can take the girl out of Hull)!!!!
We fly at 9:00am tomorrow and with the time difference get into London around 8:00pm, we've booked into the Holiday Inn near the airport, then were up early the next day to get the train to reality!!
See you all soon,
love Richard and Lyndaxxxxxxxxxxx
Sunday 19th April 2009 11:00 pm
We are now back home, got the train yesterday from Kings Cross after seeing family straight from the train we collapsed at home around 5:00pm.
Richard was back at work this morning and I am half way through the washing and ironing. We were both wide awake at 3:00am this morning, I guess it will take a few days for our body clocks to get back to normal.