Another busy day in the New territories

We woke late but decided to go out again to the New Territories and took the train to Lok Ma Chau where of course we could not stay as it was in the Chinese Border Area but it enabled us to take photographs of the China Border Area. We then took the train back to Shung Shui with the intention of taking a bus to the Hong Kong Wetland Centre near Yuen Long but we could not find the correct bus and resorted to a very expensive Taxi ride.

The Hong Kong Government must have spent a lot of money on this fairly recently opened tourist attraction and it was quite busy, perhaps more Chinese than birds!. The garden layout was great and there was also the salt water crocodile that was spotted in the marshes which they tried to catch and it took two years. They even paid for Steve Irwin from Australia (RIP) to have a go but even he failed to capture the poor animal. Now it has a small home in the Wetlands park and spends most of the day sleeping.

We stayed here for about two hours and then took the Light Train back to Yuen Long and then back to Mongkok to the Hotel. Dinner that night was at the The Hong Kong Club, Noel was a member for many years whilst in Hong Kong and they have an excellent absent member faculty. The food was top notch and prices, as always reasonable and surroundings were lovely indeed. This evening brought back many memories of distant past New Years Eve events at the Club which were unforgettable. And so to bed

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIS OVERSEAS TRIP ARE ON OUR PHANFARE BLOG. SEE LINK ON MAIN MENU.

A day out to Lantau Island

There was a wedding party in the Hotel and we were woken to sound of a lot of giggling girls getting ready as bridesmaids, anyway they soon left.

We decided to go to Lantau Island and see the Big Buddha and so we left by the Discovery Bay ferry and upon arrival at Discovery we noticed how it had changed since our last visit. It was a new quiet resort, but not any more, it’s a vast housing area even perhaps a new town.
From here we caught the bus to Tung Che to catch the overhead cable car out to the Buddha. Noel is not happy on Cable Cars particularly as he was aware that some while ago a car fell of the cable but thank god nobody died. Anyway we went on it and there some amazing views of the Hong Kong Airport and Lantau Island, which is considerably bigger than Hong Kong Island, and you are really travelling very high up,very scary. Noel closed his eyes and drank large volumes of a medicine called Brandy. . We reached The Buddha and walked around the Temple before leaving for Tai O a small fishing Village. This was a very quiet place with usual hawkers offering boat rides etc to see the pink Dolphin.

We took the bus to Silvermine Bay(Mia Wo) and the ferry from there back to Central.
Dinner that night was with an office colleague of Noels and we went to Lan KwaiFong a busy nightlife area just above central and tested some xcellent Tapas

Tai O pictured below

A good day out around Hong Kong

Well we had a slightly late start to the day and just scraped in to breakfast before they stopped serving. We took the MTR to Central so that I could sign on at the Hong Kong Club as an absent member and use the facilities. This accomplished we headed in to Central, Queens Road area to look for any changes.
There is an escalator which runs up the side of the hill to Mid Levels and so went up and took a few photos. You can see the old and the new, side by side it was quite interesting.
After a walk through the old Western Market which was a food market when we were living there is now a mixture of shops and restaurants and I must admit they have a done a great job of improving it. We then went on a Tram ride from one end of the line to the other and ended up in Shau Kei Wan where we walked through the food market. The freshest food you could see was amazing particularly the fresh fish shops where the fish are alive until you need a bit. There was a tray of fish heads where one of the fish head was still moving, not for the squeamish!
A quick MTR trip back to the hotel and a cup of tea and in the evening we went out for dinner with some old friends and colleagues. It was great to Archie Da Silva and Wolfgang and his wife Gigig a we had a really great evening reminiscing about the earlier air freight years in Hong Kong and the tricks of the industry.
Following dinner we hit off a couple of bottles of wine in a bar nearby.
It was a really great evening and good to see Archie and Wolfgang again.
Made a note must have an earlier night tomorrow.

First full day in Hong Kong

A good breakfast in the Langham Place Hotel(see photo opposite) followed by a long walk from MongKok down to Tsim Sha Tsui about 3 miles I think. It was great to walk around the small market areas and down some of the older streets in Hong Kong. These guys were just hanging around in the Hotel
Mongkok had a reputation some while ago as being a dangerous place to walk in Hong Kong and also an area where the world's oldest profession was well established. Well know its a lot safer and newer and cleaner and nothing else has changed. We visited the Ocean Terminal complex where the Cruise ships tie up and it was in the past the location of my office in 1980. Its changed a lot since then when it was a warehouse downstairs and offices up stairs but now its mostly designer label shops. We then took the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Wanchai Ferry Pier and headed thought the shopping areas to the Excelsior Hotel for lunch. A further long walk from Causeway Bay area to Central and Noel went to the Office to meet some colleagues whilst Jennifer went on a shopping spree and purchased a large packet of tissues.
The evening was spent in a nice bar close to the office with a group of old colleagues and followed by Dinner in the 'Outback' Steakhouse. An Australian Chain, just to ready us for the OZ part of our trip
A quick trip home by the most efficient underground system called the MTR for Mass Transit Railway and a glass of wine in the lounge before bed. A long and tiring day but most enjoyable

We leave tonight

Well it was quite a busy Tuesday what with my sister and Brother in law arriving late the previous evening from there home in France. They are to stay in Piplin House to ensure the continuation of the development.
During the day we had meetings with the builder, the electrician, the plumber and many others involved in changing how the the house will look. It rained quite a bit so that it was not possible for the the glass people to finish putting the glass in the end 'orangerie' as we call it.
Whilst we were having lunch the staircase was pulled down and the boiler drained so no hot water for showers we thought.
Anyway after a hectic day we left early for the airport and or upper class trip to Hong Kong. This is really the way to travel. Apart from a highly organised check in and private security channel we were in the Virgin Lounge within 15 minutes of arriving by car. We had a couple of wines with our dinned in the lounge before boarding our flight. We were both quite tired and slept most of the way to Hong Kong.
We arrived on time at Chap Lep Kok airport and in the Hotel about 90 minutes later. An efficient Airport and transport system. Oh God we could do with the same in UK. We have booked at the Langham Place Hotel in Mong Kok. Its a very good 5 star Hotel which has one many awards.

We had dinner in the Hotel at the buffet restaurant with all manner of goodies to tempt you before hitting the bed.

A New Year Dawns

Well the New Year dawns with a lot of things happening.
A lot of activity in the last few days what with the Cedar going up at the end of the house and also the framework for the conservatory now taking shape and only wait for the glass to be put in.
We are due to use the old utility room cupboards in the garage for storage and so we had to take them out of BIG YELLOW STORE so that they can be put up. All this was going on whilst we were continuing to clear Range Way of the contents. So many things to think of as we are leaving on a jet plane on 15th January until 5th April, visiting Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. My brother in Law and also the architect of the project is coming to Weybridge to take otver the management side. In the meantime we had a surprise visit from our old Japanese friends Aki & Miko Ryuji who had flown in to attend a funeral in Bournemouth. We hope to visit them in October 2008. Lets see how the money goes.



A couple more photos to show you whats happening with jennifer surveying the garage mess.

A quick reveiw of 2007

2007 was an interesting if not challenging year, it had its good and bad points. Unfortunately Jennifer's father passed away in early September after a long illness which he fought gallantly. His sense of humour and knowledge amazed many people including the Hospice staff. He will be missed by many and a lot by his family.


Cyril K Brown
1917-2007 RIP

We started our house rebuilding program in August, much later than expected and of course it is know running quite late. Which is a bit of a nuisance as Jennifer and I are planning to leave on an extensive trip to meet the 'Roos' and Sheila's in OZ and then watching the grapes grow on the New Zealand vineyards. Should be a good trip and it has taken a long time to prepare and I am sure we will have a great time.
We will travel via Hong Kong and are looking forward to meeting old friends and business colleges
Michael moved to Scotland with his partner in September and this has been quite an upheaval, new home, new job, new area, new colleagues and of course many changes in the way the Ambulance Service works. Amazing really one NHS and multiple practices.?
The caravan has been laid up all year, for reasons see first paragraph, but now we are planning to go to France in May 2008 for as long as we can. We have also booked tickets to see Elton John at Brooklands Museum on the 11th of July, so we may come home from France early or just fly home for a day or two, we are undecided at this point.

Christmas was spent in Scotland seeing Michael and Joanne came with us and we are able to have a dinner at the hotel for just the four of us, almost like old times, only more expensive.














New Years Eve was spent with good friends in Wey Road where we saw in the New Year clutching a glass of good bubbly, what a way to end this
year and so much to look forward to in 2008.

18th december Update- the development Continues

Well I have just realised that I have not put an update on the web for a little while so here goes.
The Dormer Flat roofs have been completed and the proper tiles roof is being laid now and should be ready by hopefully the end of this week.
They have started working on the partitions for the bedroom and bathroom etc and again this will be completed soon. The Electrician is also here starting to wire up the new 'Wing' and so we have about 8 people on site working today, one being away with the flu.

The 'Orangerie' finally turned up on Monday the 17th, many weeks late. It was also delayed for a further 10 days due to some bad painting I understand. Anyway they have the intention of trying to complete this and make it watertight by Christmas. Lets hope they can do it. There is a chance that the guys may work between Christmas and New Year, lets see what they finally decide. We were planning a Scotland trip over Christmas but what with the workers perhaps being here we may have to cancel. This is really not so bad as we are off to Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia for almost 3 months on the 15 th January on out Virgin Tickets which were a retirement present from the company.
The planning of the house and new garden layout's together with ordering showers etc whilst planning our far East trip was quite tiring but we have managed it. WE had planned to have the development finished by Christmas but this is out of the window and likely to be end of February when perhaps we can start laying carpets and floors etc. The next four weeks will be very busy then.

Getting there, slowly but surely

Well, we are getting there slowly but surely. After almost 18 weeks you can now see what this delevopment is all about. It seems to be raising quite an interest in passers by and a number have come in to ask questions etc, this is apart from general neighbour interest.
Unfortunatly, we have suffered delays from suppliers of the replacement windows, about 6 weeks late at the moment and we are stil not sure when they will arrive, and the Orangerie (post word for a conservatory) is also ruunning at about the same latenessbut we expect it at the end of next week. As for the Glass Link building which joins the old house to the new, well perhaps sometime after Christmas but before November 2008 I understand. This is frsutrating as unless the whole thing is watertight then they cannot do the plumbing and electric etc or even join the building together.
The Cedar cladding and shakes on the dormers makes the house look so much different. Jennifer and I spent all of last Sunday painting on the contraceptive varnish(or something like that) and that made the wood grain stand out and also makes the house less new.
We have tried to take good care of the workmen, with lots of tea, cakes and Noel even made them all bacon sandwiches last Monday as a treat.
The costs are of course not in line with budget, are they ever,but we are doing our best to keep them down hence Noel has been working outside as a labourer most of the time.
However, we have come a long way since the first hole in the ground and we still have to strip our main bedroom and also lounge once the conservatory is up to allow the rest of the work to continue. Like knocking down walls and the old fireplace and putting in new door frames etc. It will get worse before it gets better.
Luckily I still have my hair and have not aged to much, but then again we still have a long way to go.

The house development continues

Well it been quite busy just recently with the house being rebuilt around us. Its not going to plan however it is moving along. The glass atrium and also the glass orangery are running about 4 weeks late and the windows three weeks late. They should arrive at the end of November or early December and this delay means that other important elements cannot continue.

The cedar wood covering the lower part of the house is almost complete but we are now waiting for the upper floor cladding and insulation to be fitted. It is intended to use cedar wood shakes, or something like this, only there appears to be a delay on fixing these.
In the meantime, last Friday afternoon we packed our bags and disappeared over to a large shopping area South of Lille, where we visited Castorama, owned by Kingfisher who also own B & Q to look at sanitary ware, Loo's to you. The result was we purchased three loo's, three wash basins and the taps to match at a price 30 to 50 percent lower than from B & Q in UK. We have also looked at showers and again there is a huge difference in price and so we arrange to purchase those in France as well.
Well its Monday morning at 0945, the bricklayers are working, the guys doing the cedar work have not arrived and the delivery from Travis Perkins with sand for the bricklayers has failed to show since last Friday, so all is normal chaos here.
We have finalised our Australia and New Zealand trip planning and we leave mid January. We have hid to fix all the hotels in NZ as its the busy period there and this was a lot of fun working through this process but I must say that the New Zealand Tourist website is amazing, we were able to plan our trip, places to stay and locations to visit. Once its fully finished we will circulate tho interested parties..
Ken and Madelaine are due back this Wednesday morning and ken is starting to put the roof on the bedroom etc.
I have added a few pictures on this Blog but more are available on the Phanfare photo site.

Recent events

Well its been a very challenging and interesting year so far. So no real incentive to keep this blog up to date
The sad news is that Jennifer's father Cyril passed away early September after a long illness and therefore the last few weeks have all been about sorting out the estate.
However ,in the meantime , the redevelopment work started on the house in early August and will continue through to December, we hope to finish by Christmas but lets see. In the meantime Michael with his fiancee have moved house from the one bedroom flat in Aldershot to a three bedroom house in Rosneath, Scotland. About one hour North West of Glasgow. They have delightful views from their house over Gairloch, see picture.

With a view like this he will be able to see the rain quite clearly. Michael has joined the Scottish Ambulance Service whilst Celina is hoping to get a job in a beauty salon nearby in Helensburgh.

The van Michael ordered for his effects to Scotland was not big enough so a few days later we rented another van and drove to Scotland in the worst weather of the year. It took 12 hours to get there and 8 to get back. We stayed in a very nice Hotel on Loch Lomond. We did not tell Michael or Celina that we were coming and it was a great surprise when we phoned from outside their house to say we were there.
On Sunday 6Th of October we brought the caravan from its storage location in Walton-on-Thames back to Weybridge and spent many hours give it a good external clean and then took it back to storage and put a cover over it. It has been most unfortunate that we could not use the caravan this year apart from a few days because of illness of Jen's dad. Anyway it will be ready for next year when we hope to take off in late April or early May once we have returned from our trip to New Zealand and Australia which we have put back from last year.
The brick layers turned up this morning, a couple of weeks late!! so lets hope we can get back on track quickly, unfortunately the weather today is rain the whole day but the forecast for the rest of the week is better.
I will try to kjeep this Blog up to date in future now we hope that our life is getting back in shape again. Just to keep me more busy I have bought a large Casio Electronic Keyboard, I used to play the piano when younger and I hope to regain the knowledge which may mean I need some lessons, lets see.

Up, Up and Away

I have often said that I would like to experience a glider flight so for my Christmas present last year Noel arranged for me to go to Lasham airfield to do just that.
As the weather was so poor I did not get around to organising the trip until last month. So on a lovely sunny morning we set out for Lasham which is south of Basingstoke.
"So you are here for three gliding lessons" said Barry my gliding instructor. That was a bit of a surprise I was only expecting a joy ride.
After showing me around the glider and helping me into my parachute we climbed in and waited to be towed into the air by one of the small tug planes.
Up, up and away it was a bit bumpy then a loud klunk and we banked away to the right away from the tow rope and plane.
"Oh no I think I might be sick" Here I am 1500 feet up sitting in a fiberglass tray only about 8 inches wider than me with a plastic bubble over my head and an ex RAF pilot behind me.
He was busy talking about what there was to see how the stick and flaps work etc. Now he said hold the stick gently in your right hand, now push forward. Wow it was like being on a roller coaster with nothing in front of you.
And so it continued terrifying and fabulous at the same time.
By the time we landed for the first time I was beginning to relax. There were two more flights to go. Each flight he got me to take control a little more I will never make a pilot but it was a great experience soaring round and round on the thermals to gain height. We went up to 3500 feet so we had plenty of room to fall while I tried to control the glider. Thank goodness he was there.
Finally it was time to return. i was exhasted but it was worth it.

Back on the road again, well at least for 10 days

It's been a challenging year so far what with Jennifer's dad requiring considerable care and attention, however he has outlived the Doctor's expectations and keeps on going. However it's been tiring for both of us as we have also been arranging the Resident Party which took place on the 30th June.
The party was a great success but spoiled by the poor weather, rain and more rain .
We decided we needed a break and some sun. To tow the caravan to the sun, in the South of France, would take perhaps 3/4 days each way and only allow a few days on site and it would be difficult should we find it necessary to come home quickly. So after a very quick Board Meeting we decided to go to the Jebel Ali Hotel in Dubai for 10 days. We know that the weather will be hot and sunny but also that we can get back quickly if need be.

And so a quick trip on Virgin Atlantic was great, we got some good seats near the pilot on the way down, but near the wings on the way back. We spent most of the time, sunbathing, book reading and swimming. We also visited a couple of the very large and comfortable Malls for a small bit of shopping and also to give us a bit of time away from the heat. Neither of us wanted to burn and so we took precautions by slapping on the sun tan lotion. There were quite a few Brits at the Hotel who seemed to spend the complete day laying in the sun, not good at this location as it can start many skin problems later on. Oh well it keeps the NHS busy.
We also met with some of Noel's ex colleagues for dinner and lunches which was great, most enjoyable.
We did not take too many photos this time as we have visited this Hotel and Town several times before and there is no point in repeating.
Dubai has grown like crazy since we were last there in 2004, major building everywhere including construction of the tallest building in the world, number of stories not confirmed due to secrecy. The Emirates Mall, the largest outside North America, has a huge skiing area, yep that's right skiing and SNOW.

For a detailed report visit SKIDUBAI. To see the Arabs enjoying snow fights and skiing etc when it's 42 degrees outside whilst below 0 C inside was quite amazing .
We are back home now and hoping that we can start on our house development so that we can finish in time for Christmas.
Well that's the latest news from us and all the photos are on the photo BLOG