Day Seven

It is said, the castle is haunted! Soon we explored. Built in 1625 by James Shaw and his wife Isabella Brisbane, we ventured into the tower where it is believed that Shaw imprisoned Isabella because she gave birth to a girl and not a much wanted boy,son and heir! The room where she was imprisoned was no bigger than a pantry. Isabella tried to search for her baby but it is said she either fell or was thrown by her husband off the top of the tower. There are many unexplained happenings in this part of the hotel since then as we discovered!!!
When I paid our rooms to commence the next part of the journey I found the car keys had disappeared and I mean disappeared! During the previous night I swear I had been visited by " something" ,, most frightening but a peaceful feeling after the visit. My hair was pulled in my sleep, that much I knew was real!! So began the search for the missing keys. The hotel staff searched everywhere we had been to no avail. We searched our luggage at least 3 times. How can a set of keys just vanish? We hadn't left the premises at all, sooooo, we've been here all day, phoning hire car company to get another set of keys delivered, express post at a cost of $400+ . Also contacted police in case of theft, cancelled our next accommodation at cost and will need to pay extra for here tonight as we are stuck. No trips to see the sights, just in the bar drowning our sorrows. I feel quite bereft!! Hopefully tomorrow will bring good news and we will be on our way!!

Day Six

Wet,wet,wet but undeterred we soldiered on to see Newgrange Neolithic cave site. What an awesome sight and highly recommended to anyone visiting Ireland. With 'Mad Merle' leading the way we finally made it to our next stop, Ballyagally Castle hotel brut unfortunately It is spelt two different ways so Merle had a real probrlem. But we made it (more by accident thank good planning) and wow what a sight. Wild weather from the north sea was spraying over the road where we parked. The castle right on the coast road and truly interesting!!!!!!! As we struggles against the wild weather to bring in our luggage, a slight disaster was happening but we didn't discover it until the next day.....

Day Six

Pouring rain all night and early start in the dark so we could make the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. Driving was a nightmare in narrow roads, fog, rain and on the edge of steep cliffs but we made it!!!!!!! At the ferry terminal, 'forecast' Rought Seas and boy were they rough. Luckily we just missed all the flooding in Nor Wales. It was beautiful drive through Snowdownia National Pak. Wales really is beautiful and would recommend the B&B we stayed at. Now Dublin!!!!!!! Rain, rain, rain, rain and ms Irishmtaxindrivermwho said 'Trust me' five million times then dropped us off at the wrong hire car spot so we and luggage were totally soaked. Welcome to Ireland. Once we organised our car, off on the road again and onto Drogheda. Just a fluke we found it despite 'Mad Merle' our temperamental GPS who really does have amid of her own. Phew what a day.

Day Five

What a beautiful morning. Aftere our full Welsh breakfast (plus passion fruit), we decided the walk to the highest watfall In Wales. Told it was just 1 milw but turned out to be 4+miles up hill and down dale. I just strolled the distance unlike poor cousin who huffed and puffed!    Took us over an hour but well worth it except taking lots of photos (later accidentally deleted and to be recovered back in WA). So exhausted had to get a lift back in back of a van but a great day finished at the local pub I. True Welsh style.

Day Four

Big Day...... Headed off early to Windsor Castle to catch the Changing of the Guard....awesome. Got lots of photos and videos but still don't know how to load them yet. Also walked through the fire-renovated State Apartments and that was areal eye-opener. We then hooked down the road to have lunch at Danesfield House with a friend. Next stop Henley on Thames for a wander and then back to The Angler to prepare for the next stint of our journey to North Wales to stay at Eirianfa B&B, my aunt Betty and uncle Donald's home  in the 1940's. A great B&B and cousin Anne was just two years old when she lived there. Weather was beautiful.

Day Three

Another lovely day in Marlow wandering around the upper Thames. Then into hire car for Blenheim Palace where we walked for hours and hours and absorbed all the wonderful paintings, furnishings, life of Winston Churchill. Then an hour chatting with who we believe was the form head of security at Blenheim for 40 year, ex Sandhurst. He had some many interesting things to say, especially about our former PM Paul Keathing!!!!! Won't go into what he said but will tell you whenI get home. Then back to the Angler to enjoy sitting watching the Thames flow over the causeway. This hotel certainly has some history and we love soaking it all in - have yet to work out how to include photos so you can see for yourself.

Day Two

Pretty new at this blogging so forgive all the errors!!!!!!!! From Heathrow, we didn't have any problems finding our way to Marlow, except for a slight detour of the M4 to Windsor where to our delight, I discovered a coffee shop that served Illy coffee just like Cafe Cafe at Subi. It is now my resolve to check out every coffee shop along the way. Driving in England is a breeze. Next stop - The Compleat Angler at Marlow where we were greeted with a fine bottle of Prosecco champagne by the management - delish. After exploring Marlow and needing to stay awake, we decided to head north west on the Midsomer Murder trail. After happening upon Aylsebury, we quickly high-tailed it out of there! Our travels took us along delightful country lanes where we happened upon Waddesdon Manor built by Fernand de Rothschield. What a hidden treasure. There we were agog viewing the magnificent  treasures such as Sir Joshua Reynolds paintings, Faberge eggs and the spectacular gardens and elaborate Aviary and Rothschield rose gardens. I found so many roses  there that Re in my own garden at home but mine at home are in better condition. Dinner was back at the Angler, a two rosette restaurant with superb food. The Angler is on a causeway and simply devine to sit and watch the water.

Day one

The big adventure begins for the two cousins from either sie of Orstralia. Met up in Singapore - boy what a remarkable airpor and even more remarkable laws the efficiency of airport staff all using iPads to offer assistance to every passenger. Orstralia should take a lesson or two in the  Singaporian way of life. Flying in the A380 certainly allowed us to sleep in comfort all the way to Heathrow where we picked up our car and headed straight to Marlow in the Upper Thames.