http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/tuppyj/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from tuppyj en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:03:51 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:03:51 +0000 I am one of those who never know the direction of my journey until I have almost arrivedPs 139 v 9 10 If I rise on the wings of the dawn if I settle on the far side of the sea even there your hand will guide me your right hand will hold me fast.Never have these words rung more true then now. I have seen Godrsquos hand at work particularly over the past 8 months where I have had no idea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Kent/Otford/blog-198328.html ... unfortunately I ran out of space in the previous journel... but these photo's cant be left off. Monsserat is a National Park consisting of a 16th century monastry and basillica. It houses some 80 monks and the oldest boys's choir in Europe. The monks lives are dedicated to prayer and worship of the Black Madonna also known as the Moreneta. This is due to the dark colour she has become over http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/blog-198323.html A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single stepJoshua 1v9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified do not be discouraged for the Lord your God wil be with you where ever you go.And so it was for mehellip From Umhlanga to England to Wales and now to Kenthellip and even then it hasnrsquot stopped. For after 2 days of working in the offices I was invited to leave with the nex http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/blog-198315.html I have found adventure in flying in world travel in business and even close at hand. Adventure is a state of mind and spirit.Home sweet home. I finally have a place to unpack my suitcase and somewhere to legitimately call home where I am now longer a squatter The Otford Manor was built in 1920 by a man who was not too keen on people and so built it very much like a rabbit warren. It has been http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Kent/Otford/blog-198314.html Take only memories leave nothing but footprintsEver since leaving South Africa I have dreamt of standing beneath the Eiffel Tower and maybe even being able to climb ithellip as the months have passed the probability of this ever happening was looking less and less until the free day in the Loire Valley The spice girls and David the green frog set off before the break of dawn to catch a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-198306.html A place has almost a shyness of a person with strangers and its secret is not to be surprised by too direct interrogation.Pain au chocolat chateaursquos beautiful countryside great fellowship and new friends would sum up the past week in france. About 30 of us headed out to the Loire valley France with Oakhall Expeditions for a camping cycling holiday. It was really special to start eac http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Pays-de-la-Loire/blog-198297.html Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motionThis past weekend Debs Myles and I went off into the country to watch the tour de france. There has been much excitement in England as it has been able to boast of being the host to the worldrsquos greatest cycling racehellip. So on Friday we gathered excitedly around Trafalgar Square desperately trying to catch a glimpse of these http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Kent/blog-198294.html Oh my word... talk about walking through history books. Berlin is beautiful Not being much into architecture even I was blown away by the grandeur and hugeness of these buildings. It is incredible to stand on the side of the road and look down the street lined with huge building after huge building. Being in Germany without a fellow English Speaker I felt particularly out of place and ver http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/District-of-Berlin/Berlin/blog-177344.html What a quaint little airport Altenburg is if indeed it can even be called that. As the planes wheels touched down I searched amongst the forest for a building that would resemble a terminal and finally spotted a small shedlike building The luggage conveyor was about 2m long each way so you had to be quick to get your bag before it disappears again Craig and Andrew collected me on their wa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Saxony/Leipzig/blog-177297.html Time to go.... I have now been working in the UK for my allocated 12 months so its time to make a new plan for the rest of my visa.... So without having a plan beyond the next 24 hours I have resigned from work said farewell to my work colleagues church friends mountain bike friends and salsa buddies.... The car is packed with all the junk that I've managed to accumulate in 18 months so off http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Bristol-County/Bristol/blog-177318.html Who would've thought that it could be June so quickly I have finally found a wonderful church called All Nations that is totally blowing my hair back The first time I went in there they were celebrating what God has been doing in the church and how he's bringing so many nations together that despite being from many different backgrounds cultures etc we are all part of God's family and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Cardiff/blog-167169.html Its incredible how time just flies. The days are getting longer and longer offering more and more time to explore some of beautiful wales. This past month has been a whirlwind of mini adventures particularly on my mountain bike. One day while riding home I noticed a young lady pushing a mountain bike up the hill. Always being on the lookout for fellow mountain bikers I stopped to see if she h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/blog-167162.html So spoilt were we where after a brilliant week skiing in France JP put on his ldquoJean Paulrdquo clothes and we headed off to Italy to meet up with his dad Gustavo and little brother Damian to ldquomeet the familyrdquo. Without any arrival plans Angelo JPrsquos uncle somehow found us at Milan airport and took us back to his home in Viguzollo to meet Graziella and be fed the firs http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/blog-145537.html HOORAY for snow and mountains and friends Julia Knight Pete Hind Johannes Pietrus and myself have just spent a brilliant week at Alpe D'Huez in France. It was a brilliant week of catching snow flakes on eyelashes for the first time for some learning to ski Jules and snowboard JP visiting the longest black run in Europe 16km where the air was so thin we all felt lightheaded and g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Grenoble/blog-145202.html Girls getaway to rest relax and have fun Nels Amy Lisa and I have just spent a wonderful weekend away at Lisarsquos familyrsquos brand new log cabin in some tiny Welsh village near St Davids UKrsquos smallest city. Irsquove had such an expectancy for this weekend and it was more then met. On Saturday we did a lovely long coastal walk stopping at the little bays and beaches ski http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Pembroke/blog-147610.html Amy's big day finally arrived We had a lovely dinner with all her friends at some quaint little chinese restuarant where you just arrive and sit at these long tables and read menu's which is a bit like playing baldedash And then get this wonderful surprise when your food arrives and you get to actually see what it is The service on sunday morning was really special and so encouraging as A http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Cardiff/blog-136207.html We spent a beautiful afternoon having a picnic in my car and then running around and enjoyin the freezing cold weather..... Lisa and Amy crazy girls even managed to run around without their shoes on... So much fun http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Swansea/blog-132774.html What a blessing the past 6 weeks have been to soak up being in a family again to have home cooked meals and just sit and chat face to face revisit Umhlanga Medigate Centre and enjoy lazy Sunday afternoons in swimming pool with my siblings just like we used to when we were little.. For Lindarsquos birthday we had a brilliant weekend away at Highover where we spent 2 wonderful days tubing d http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-129817.html For my birthday I was able to spend it with my family in one of my most favourite places in the world... the drakensberg... My dad managed to find a cottage to sleep about 20 people high up in the mountains in the Champagne valley area. Here we spent 7 glorious days tucked up beneath a towering ridge near Monks Cowl and away from the rush of everyday living. This was particularly good for http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Free-State/Drakensberg/blog-129849.html Its amazing how God is able to lead and guide one when your heart is open to Him. I cant believe how many mistakes Irsquove almost made and yet everytime Hersquos bailed me out and headed me in the right direction again.. Towards the end of October an opprortunity suddenly arose to pursue my hearts desire within OT that being hand therapy. In hindsight Irsquom stunned at how within a fe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Dorset/Bournemouth/blog-129819.html