BOUT TIME I GOT OFF MY ARSE posted Bublé himself !

Ayup all. Hope your all keeping well. Kim's having a little coma......No, she's not done the usual!!! It's just that we have walked about as much as Scott of the Antarctic in the last few weeks and as fit as she is, it has taken it's toll on her.

WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACES!

Well, I'm so bloody slow on the keyboard that I'm just gonna post some shots. Hope you don't mind. But if you do.......bollocks......cappich. (Don't know how to spell kappich.....How embarrassing.)

So then.

Some snaps.




Notre Dame



























Le Biggus Bennus














More of the hunchbacks house. This is the arch above the main entrance. Stunning!












Kimmy, cold but happy














Still cold....Still happy











Unfortunately she's not too good at getting rid of proffesional beggers and unwanted artists. She's not getting any better at it either bless her.







Locall artist's work on the banks of the Seine











There was a lot of police at Buckingham palace with really big machine guns so i thought i should act as inbred as possible. Still didn't get me thru the gates though







Part of the back of the Louvre. The biggest gallery I have ever seen. Very grand. Can't do it justice with a camera!












Not bad ey?













Really really happy Kim!!!!
Louvre joy













Saint Paul's in London. Sorry bout the order but I'm not very good with Linux. Give me windows for f--ks sake














Trying to be a bit arty with St Pauls. This is the front. Gobsmacking little joint!














The view from the dome.





























She was so happy to spot the tower for the 1st time she just had to stick her hand in a bum!













A shop we were thinking of buying.














In a wee pub in Paris called The Wall. We were blitzed by 2 pm!!! I LOVE MY LEFFE. DON'T TOUCH MY LEFFE!!!!!!












The owner' Nicolas. We were his best customers that day I think. He took me on a trip down memory lane by playing all the old 70's metal that I used to headbang to. We likey Nicolas!











Not too far from home















You got to love Paris.













We did!














Very much!













Bullet hole????













Why would you shoot a statue?













Back to the hunchbacks joint. This is a little dwelling on the grounds of the cathedral. I just liked the lines and the contrast. Forgive my wankiness.

Okey dokey. I've been gone for a while. Kim will think that I have ran out of luck and actually got myself arrested this time. Keep you guessing about that tale. Tell you when we get home.

Take care y'all now. Love ya's all and miss you sometimes. :o) tata from me xx

Day trips fm Nice to Monaco, Canne, St. Raphél, St. Tropez.

This one is a work in progress.... keep an eye on it, have not had time..... will update ASAP

This will begin from our departing from Ventimiglia to Rome 'n straight to Florence

Finally some pics for your viewing pleasure !

Monaco ROCKS - Oh Ali, I am in Paparazzi Heaven on the Cote D'Azure, you will know exactly what I mean, all my mag info has come in handy !

More on Monaco on it's own blog, but for now, we are posting some pics.


Wayne in his Kimono with a bottle of French Champagne that our stewerdess on Qantas gave us as a honymoon gift

Preparing for another day in TOKYO with wet shoes from the day before !




















Now for some scenery.... & other stuff

Macca's in Tokyo - they have fresh prawn burgers Mmmmmm....



Our electronic toilet seat in our room, complete with front & back bum washer ! Wayne just LOVED it



Tokyo Streetscape & Temple by night




Now for some FRANKFURT shots.... Waynes favourite place, it looks far more beautiful than our experience of it.

We managed to find a beer, although Frankfurt closes on Sundays ! Cheers



It did look pretty with the snow



Wayne found the architecture more friendly than the people



NOTTINGHAM
Wayne's Home Town

Olde Trippe, which is the oldest Inn in England built in 1180 something, for the Sarecens (British soldiers)leaving to make Jeruselum British. Great Ales, awesome place.



The street Wayne spent all his life on, pre Australia.... Ye Olde Norbett Road



The first house is number 59 which Wayne lived at until he was 7 with his Grandma & Grandad
















Next came the big move to number 42 across the road & down three where Wayne lived with his mum & dad

Kaz - one for you lush !

League of Gentlemen...aka....Royston Vasey (real name Hadfield)

Kim & Nic & Joe standing in front of the Cafe...



BubSun posing with THE genuine sign - cheers Andy (Warhol) the shot was worth all your embarrasment & we LOVE you for it !



We stayed at Andy, Nic & Joe's for a week after Frankfurt, in FISKERTON. We had a great time & this is just a sample of Wayne & Andy's fine beer emporium which was held almost nightly - please note "Bishops Finger" WHAT THE ?

Between us we left a number of very healthy recycle bins....



Onto LONDON where this is a pic of Wayne taken on the London Eye with a view of Big Ben in the background



Well that's all for now guy's.... we have not got the rest of London or Paris or Nice or Monaco onto disk as yet.

This is just a very small sample of what photos we have - hard to select a few out, but hope you have enjoyed them as much as we have enjoyed experiencing them.

Au Revoir for now, love & hugs & kisses & angel wishes to you all x

Mr & Mrs L

Nice is better than nice !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dad, we hope your day was brill, miss you & Trish x

Hi there, great to read all your comments ! Helena, give little Ben a BIG KISS from Kim, bless him x

Well, the Moulin Rouge was mindblowing, something not to be missed. Lots of tits out for the lads & exotic ladies swimming with snakes - amazing, have a program for show & tell when we get home.

We are now in Nice, & will be here for the next week. Our first day was great, sun's out NO COATS which was nice. The further you go the better the food, Andre, you would be in gastronomic heaven, the Olives are to die for & they love to feed you, I think this is where we start to pork up.......

We got here last night, great little studio room, very cheap, very charming. We have shutters on the windows, so we have popped our table there to enjoy the view & drink our red wine - ahhhhh !

This morning Wayne got up early & went to the markets, he came back with fresh garlic, eggs, proscuitto, tomatoes off the vine, fresh basil, crusty bread & cooked up a magnifique breakfast, with fresh coffee....... I married well if I do say so myself, bit spoiled !

We walked all day, ate MORE great food & ended up down on the beach on the Cote D'Azure, HEAVEN, amazing. Pebble beaches, the bluest water.

Tomorrow we are off to Monaco & then next day Cannes, then next day in Nice again, then St Tropez - we are having the most amazing time

Lots of love & hugs & kisses to you all - au revoir. Mr & Mrs L xoxoxoxoxo

Paris MAGNIFIQUE !

OH MY GOD - Paris must be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

We were supposed to check out today & head to Nice this afternoon on the Eurail but we have extended our stay until Wednesday. I have a terrible head cold & Wayne is also a bit achy so we were not able to do a lot yesterday, I was in bed much of the day. As we thought it was our last day we dragged ourselves out in the afternoon to Montmarte as this was somewhere we really wanted to see. I HAVE to see the Moulin Rouge. It was booked out last night & tonight, so it has given us a good excuse to stay a couple more days & we are going to the 9.00pm show tomorrow night.

We have been EVERYWHERE, all the main tourist stuff & down & dirty drinking with the locals (the real Paris) Pictures do not do it justice, it is the city of lights & the city of love. It's beauty lies in EVERYTHING, the language, the people - big fallacy they are not rude or arrogant at all - the architecture.

All the streets are cobblestone, the street lamps are all ornate, the architecture is mainly gothic, everwhere is postcard perfect, oh my GOD the food & wine - Andre you would be in heaven, we have never seen or tasted anything like it. Meats, cheeses, breads, pastries, crepes - we are excited about the South of France & Italy if only for the food. It is mind blowing.

Hey Tony, Wayne just got off the phone from you & I got your big kiss & hug - Merci !

There are major riots here that you may have seen on the news, but all is well where we are & we are fine.

Kykarda - our love & hugs & angel wishes are with you all, be safe in the cyclone xox

Bonjoir for now, with much love & hugs & kisses & angel wishes to you all xoxoxoxo

Mr & Mrs L x

LonDON Town

Well, with MUCH sadness & a few tears, we departed from Andy, Nic & Joe. We made our way to London on the bus. Not goin to write much as in Paris & the keys on the keyboard are totally different than any other keyboard & I am on a half hour limit & hitting all the wrong keys !

First stop before we hit London was to catch up with Helena & Steve & Ben. We had a FANTASTIC night, great meal, great company - thanks guy's !

Saw Buckingham Palace, St. Pauls Cathedral, Big Ben, Rode the London Eye - WOW, Westminster Abbey, Picadilly Circus by night is brill ! Houses of Parliament, just so many things. Went down to Knightsbridge to Harrods.

Caught the high speed train to France through the tunnel, very cool it took 3 hours.

Love you all - is anyone out there, talk to us - missing you all xxxxxxxxxxxxx

A week with Joe, Nic & Andy

Ayup !

Well, we have had the BEST week. We are here in Fiskerton with Nic, Joe & Andy. It is our last day and will be hard to leave, it is hard to imagine we have been away for two weeks, it feels like two months, we have just packed so much in. Andy & Nic had to work all week as they have just come back from two weeks in the Caribbean on a cruise ship.

So the order of the day is to go out exploring & return at night to some fine company with old friends, some much needed unthawing, fine English Ales & Red Wines & cooking up a storm........& start again the next day - what a life.

We spent our first few days in Nottigham & Arnold mainly (where Wayne grew up). Wayne gave me a tour of his hometown. I saw the hospital where he was born, his old street & the houses he lived in. We went to his schools and all his old haunts as a child - it was FAB ! We went & visited Aunty Val, Ralph & Jonathon in Arnold. We popped in one night right on dinner time creating a lovely surprise. We could only spend a couple of hours, so we arranged to go out for a meal the next night. Jonathon has a lovely girlfriend, Wendy who came along also. It was fantastic for me to meet them and for Wayne to catch up again. We got there on a double decker bus which was ACE ! & of course much sampling of shops & pubs !

Also, one of the first things we did at the start of the week was to go out & buy some new kit.....we got awesome boots & jackets for the European winter, now we just need to wear a light top under our coats which is much better than a squillion jumpers & loads of bulk. This will come in handy at home too. Andre, Wayne is looking forward to hiking with you in his new sexy man boots ! I thought this Brokeback Mountain stuff would end when we got married but alas...........

We went to the Olde Trippe to Jerusulem which is the oldest Inn in England & had some scampi and mushy peas. Oooh & I sat in the pregnancy chair, which legend has it that any woman who sits in the chair will very QUICKLY become pregnant ! As I would back to my seat Wayne commented I had gained a bit of weight, the cheeky bugger. You are not supposed to sit in it due to it's age but I touched upon it lightly, I suppose that will ensure we don't have twins then ?

We have done loads of walking & been to heaps of pubs, which is not hard as they are every second establishment. They are fine emporiums of exotic beers of which we have sampled much. It is so cold here you have the choice of cellar temperature or chilled. Cellar temperature this time of year is perfect.

Last night Wayne & Andy went to a local co-op (which is a supermarket) & purchased two beers of every different sort they could find - they have many weird & wonderful names for example - "Bishops Finger" - name say's it all really, those Catholic's have it goin on here don't they, all out in the open like !

Kaz, with much excitement we went to Hadfield aka Roysten Vasey. It was bleedin snowing, but we managed to purchase a few souveneirs....... & take a few photos. It is hard to find anything cos most of the shopfronts in the show were CGI animated, so nothing was really recognisable. We found a lady in a little local shop like a milk bar who was very helpful & seemed to be the local souveneir lady & source of all things "League". We went to the local railway station which was used as the "Last Stop" & took photos at the statue that is at the start of every episode which is actually a war memorial. We found a pub that has the actual sign "Welcome to Royston Vasey, you will never leave" apart from that the town does not advertise the fact that they had anything to do with "League" it is actually a very weird place, the real locals are very closely aligned to the characters in the show weirdly enough ! We did not go to "Local Shop" cos it does not exist, it was also CGI. Anyway, glad we saw it - strange as it was........

Probably the last blog here in Fiskerton, off for the day now with Andy, Nic & Joe to explore some more countryside & cosy taverns. Tomorrow morning we are off to London Town.

With much love & hugs & kisses to all until the next blog x

Mr & Mrs Lancaster

Oooh, I am back with more stuff ! this morning after I wrote, we went to Clumber Park which is part of the National Trust. Clumber Park was once home to the Dukes of Newcastle. The original mansion was demolished in 1938, but the gothic chapel and the grounds are still intact. Apparently the whole area was once home to Dukes. There are historical homes all around.

It was snowing quite heavily as we walked around - it was absolutely beautiful but BLOODY FREEZING - glad we got some good kit to keep us warm !

There is so much to see, probably quite normal to those that live here, but to us, it is just awesome. There are houses built into the sides of hills with grass on the roof, these are eco houses - imagine mowing your roof !

Every area or village you go through has different houses, some tudor, some stone, hedges hundreds of years old, dry wall fences. People on horseback are common through the neighbourhood streets - it really is like going back in time.

Back home now to a nice warm heater, some crisps, hot soup & English Ales.

Love you all x

Hello Heathrow

We are here !

We flew in to Heathrow, it was only 1 hour from Frankfurt, the best flight so far !

Heathrow was a bit of a dissapointment, I was expecting this giant hub of an airport which is world famous. We think that possibly because we were on a German plane that is why we were dumped off literally at the arse end of the airport - no jokes - you exit at the very very end where there is nothing. If nothing else it gave us a chuckle. Seriously though from an Aussie perspective the bleedin English & Germans need to get over themselves....

We found the bus terminal & caught a bus to out to Nottingham, birthplace of Wayne, which cost us nearly 200 AUD, Blimey !

Andy met us at the airport & we have now arrived with much excitement at Andy, Nic & Joe's.

We had a BIG night catching up & driking copious amounts of red wine. Aaaaaah feels like home - love it !

Watch this space cos I will add to this over the week.

Miss you all - love you all x

Frankfurt - Home of "Sexy Man"

Before we start - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jan & Jodie & Kaz & Frank & anybody else celebrating in March & April. I do not have my birthday book with me so am unsure of the exact dates....but we are thinking of you all and hope your birthday's were & will be awesome xxxxxxxx When we get back we will celebrate x

Wow - it's hard to believe that we have only been away for a week, it feels like an eternity already. What we are realising is that six weeks is not nearly enough time, we are only able to see such a small part of everywhere we go. We are making the most of it, not sleeping much - partly by choice cos we don't want to miss anything & also very jet lagged.

What it is doing though is showing us where we want to see more of & where we don't....which leads me to Frankfurt.

It was a trip to hell beginning at 5am in the morning. We got up at 5am to leave Tokyo (after 2 hours sleep) for Frankfurt. When we got to the airport we found the flight was cancelled due to the snow in Frankfurt - all air trafiic was cancelled. It does not normally snow this time of year we were told !

Anyway, to cut a long story short we were on standby until around 1.00pm in the arvo. We finally got on a plane that was PACKED & it took an 11 hour flight to get to Frankfurt. Cos we were on standby Wayne & I were seated apart :-( Wayne was next to a 6 month old crying baby & I was jammed between a German man who just stared at me didn't (or woudn't) speak English & a Japanese businessman who was not happy if I needed to get out of my seat !

When we landed we got seperated at the airport & could not find each other, I was early in tears a bit scary !

We made our way out & got a taxi to a hostel, by this time it was very late. Frankfurt had a big festival on but we could not go out we were exhausted so we slept & thought we would make a big day of it the next day.

We got up early all excited & went to reception to ask what there was to see & what they could recommend. We were told Frankfurt "closes" on Sundays - nothing was open - GREAT start to the day, we only had one day there, so you can see the pattern emerging now......anyway, off we went. There was snow covering everything absolutely BEAUTUFUL ! postcard perfect, but that was as good as it got unfortunately. We wandered around window shopping, saved a fortune cos the clothes & shoes were awesome. We found an Australian pub open so we popped in for some warmth & a drink. I had a stien of Fosters & Wayne had a gin & tonic which cost us...wait for it...... $ 25.00 AUD ! our $ is crap here in Europe - need to be careful !

Now for those of you that don't know, historically the Germans hate the English & vice versa. Couple that with an arrogant German attitude & Wayne did not have a good day ! He really tried, bless him, but they were horrid !

We made our way back to the hostel around 3.00pm frozen to the core & Wayne with a new cold :-(( now this is where it gets interesting.....

Wayne made 3 friends in Germany.

1 - Our taxi driver Singh
2 - A homeless woman named Doris
3 - Bertie the Sri Lankin "Sexy Man"

Wayne went back to our room to freshen up while I got postcards & stamps & settled in at the cafeteria with a beer. Up to this point everyone was very reserved towards us. Wayne thought it was him being English but then we thought no.....we are just being paranoid. Well no we were not, without Wayne, people were chatting to me & asking if I was Australian, but when he reappeared they clammed up & dissapeared - HORRID people !

At the cafeteria we settled for a few beers & met Doris the homeless woman who was very proud & would not admit she was homeless. We had a great conversation with her, she really tried hard to speak with us she was a lovely woman. Then in came BERTIE. Bertie had been drinking since the morning & just motioned to our cigarettes, so we gave him one. He sat with us & claimed not to speak either English or German - it did not take long for him to give himself away. He spoke BOTH rather well ! Anyway, after much conversation we spoke about people & races & Wayne said he loved ALL people. Bertie really showed his true colours then. He whispered quietly to Wayne - "I am sick man, I have operation" Wayne enquiried further, Bertie motioned across his legs & abdomen "I have operation" Wayne asked quite concerned "have you had your appendix out" Bertie lowered his voice & said "I am sexy man" Wayne said "Whoahhh Bertie, this is my wife Kim" Bertie said "I am very ashamed, very embarrassed, I cannot sit here" & moved to the next table. Wayne tried to coax him back but Bertie would not come back - he tried to crack onto Wayne & failed ( I of course knew nothing of this yet) Later Bertie motioned to me to come over as he could see I was getting a bit tipsy & said "you have coffee & I put this whisky in" the horrid man was still trying for Wayne - he was trying to get me drunk ! Even though I knew nothing of his plan my gut instinct fired up that there was something sus. Wayne overheard & said we would call it a night. Before we left Wayne gave Doris 15 Euro - he did this to ensure that Doris would be back at the hostel for at LEAST the next week. It was Wayne's way of sticking it to the Germans, cos they clearly were not happy Doris was hanging around ! Hee Hee.

We got back to our room & Wayne told me all about "Sexy Man" well, I nearly wet myself, I fell on the floor laughing.......we still crack up when we talk about it.

Next morning up & out & back to the airport at 7.30am - can't wait to leave.

The nicest Germans we met were the ones at the airport who were happy to see us go..................

Next stop - ENGLAND

TOKYO ROCKS !

Hi everyone - LOVE all your comments, missing you all but having the best time ever ! It is 8.55pm here and it is our last night. I pretty much just got out of bed cos we sampled the famous Roppongi nightlife here last nite, it had to be done, it was recommended in our Lonely Planet Guide as a must do, it also said if your night was a success not to expect to see much of the next day, especially if you make a connection with the Japanese cos they know how to party ! the connection was made & I am just out of bed FANTASTIC. We started out last night by being lured into a place offering all you can drink for an hour for 3,500 Yen each which is really cheap, but when we got in there we fast realised it was a "Gentlemans Club" as we were offered "companions" to sit with us. We declined, had a chuckle, drank up & met a couple of American guy's who fell for the same trap, so we all got our monies worth of alcohol & then decided to go to a bar. We danced & drank and had the best time.

We are currently in an internet cafe in Roppongi. We are in little booths side by side & I have ordered fried rice & Wayne has ordered a curry and a beer, anything you want it is all here. Our food is being delivered to our booth. We LOVE Japan so much we have not stayed here long enough, I don't know where to start....it is sensory overload and the people are awesome. We can't speak Japanese & they can't speak English but we are getting along just fine.

When we got here, we got onto a bus & headed out to Akasaka where we are staying, it took about an hour from the airport and it dropped us off at the ANA hotel, it was cold and drizzling - on went our backpacks and the search began for our room. We walked and walked, we asked for directions from passers by, but could not understand each other as they cannot read English. Also here to find anything you don't go by street name, every area has a district which has a number and then the street has a number and the hotel has a number for example 1, 12, 8 - there is no way to know how to get anywhere - all the cabs have Sat Nav so they just plug in the three numbers to find anything themselves. So we ended up in a cab which took us 400 metres down the road to our accomodation (we were so close) it was very funny.

After we settled in we went out for our first meal, it was a tiny little place where we could not communicate at all and the menu was in Japanese only. Nothing was working all attempts at communication failed, so I stood up pointed to someones meal & put my fingers up indicating two....there was much smiling & relief all round....... also pointed at beer & sake and got that also. There was much fuss made and by this stage people were looking at us like we were from another planet...we were just laughing. The chef stared at us while we began to eat, as it turned out, not to be rude but to show us how to eat his food properly using a spoon and chopsticks - all this is communicated with hands, who needs words - not here in Tokyo !

We have been just travelling everywhere - feel like locals, the subway is awesome, trains are there continuously it is just AMAZING ! train seats are heated ! so much to tell, every single little thing is amazing, ticket machines at stations are in Japanese and SO different to what we have here and yet we are working it out. We are making a good team, Wayne is our map master & I am train master, so between us we are blitzing.

Toilet seats are heated and they all have front bum & back bum washers - brief funny story - I was a bit scared to use it whilst sitting on it so I thought I would stand in front of it and press the buttons to see how it all worked - well.... little arms came out and squirted both sides of the walls and all over me. We have a photo ! Wayne does not have these problems he stays seated & loves it ! Clean botty, clean mind he say's !

The Japanese people are the nicest, most respectful people we have ever met. They have gone out of their way every single time, to help us. One guy even walked with us for about 2km in the pouring rain to show us where to go to a YHA Hostel. We went into his shop for help with directions just as he was closing. He must have realised even though he showed us the way on the map that we didn't get it. We thanked him though & went on our way. Next thing, we were standing at the traffic lights & I turned around and there he was standing beside me with his umberella grinning indicating he was coming with us. When he got us to the YHA he spoke to them in Japanese & would not leave until he was satisfied were were going to be looked after - AMAZING !

Every day we have been up really early and back after midnight. Tokyo does not sleep. There is so much to tell. We have fallen in love with all of it. The people, the sights, the sounds, the food, the temples, the rail system, the lights, the kitch - EVERYTHING !

Anyway, have to wrap it up now - off to the bar where the film "Lost in Translation" was filmed to have a Suntory Whiskey - cheers Andre, we'll have one for you & Mr Bob Harris. We have his photo & going to get a location shot - "LIP THEM"

We have tonnes of photo's can't wait to show you all..... we will be up tomorrow at 5.00am (ouch) & off to Frankfurt. Sad to be leaving but we are coming back ASAP - not nearly enough time. We knew we would love it but

Love to you all from Mr & Mrs Tokyo - Sayornara xxxxxxxxxxx