Greetings from the south coast

Hey hey hey,
I just checked the blog after a month.
I love 1st August, and I was thinking of us, Mr and Mrs Woods...lovely
Moo for your information you have a different horse birthday over there I think, not that has anything to do with our memeories but, all horses birthday in the northern hemisphere is celebrated on January 1st. This is something I recently found out.
Looks like a fine day here today after rain overnight. We truely need lashings of rain, Darwin style to soak the earth before summer. We have have bushfires already round Nowra and Ulladulla, which should be unheard of this time of the year.
Ok better get organised for the day
Love to all
Zak

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Haven't posted on here for ages. Don't know if anyone other than Annie and Kate ever look at it, but thought I'd say "Hi".
Not much to catch you up with. We are having the best summer we have had since I lived here. It has been hot and sunny since the start of May. Have had a good fall of rain over the last few days but the sun has returned today.
Unfortunately the cloud arrived just in time for us to completely miss seeing the blood moon.
Hasn't been any work lately so have been able to enjoy the weather.
Jules has been busy replacing our back steps - the ones outside leading to the garden. He is doing a great job as always because he is a perfectionist when it comes to any work he does.
Tomorrow (August 1st) is the anniversary of our Rover being written off, as well as the horses birthday.
Anyway, that's all for now.
Love to all xxx

Greetings from the south coast

Hi all
One day soon, dad will put Christmas draw up.
Just wondering whose checking out this page.
Is a group email better to get to all the family?
Just seems he never gets round to it after checking form guide, then later results. Some things never change.
Have a good day
Love Zak

Greetings from the south coast

Hi anyone,
First blog of 2018 and it's almost April!
Anybody out there reading this??
OK wait and see all the responses

Cheers Zak

Greetings from the south coast

Oh my goodness, have completely forgotten about the blog!
Sunday morning, just getting ready to head off to the beach, when this massive storm hits. There goes the beach idea for a while anyway.
However looking south there is already some blue sky, so I may get down there later.
Oops no more blue sky, looks like a sewing or sanding day.
I have had lead light windows in the shed for 5 years now, so I really need to get them sorted out.
If I get them sanded grouted and painted by the time Jules gets here, he and Hasi will have a nice little project to do together! Also then I can sort out the shed and we can move on to the folly, which has been in planning for a while now, and not forgetting the glass wall!
I definitely need to stop working to get these projects up and running.
Hasi and I are discussing how someone can get 99.75 in the HSC. Apparently the most you can get is 99.85, so Jerome A was pretty close.
Mum was remembering being there for his first day of school! Lovely memories of long term friendship with the family.
So fresh laid eggs (thank you ladies of the garden) and a brew of coffee  awaits
Love to anyone who may think about reading the blog
Zak

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Just a quick post to let you know how life in beautiful South Wales is at the moment.
The weather is COLD. We have had a few falls of snow but not really a lot with us. Not enough to curtail activity,Looking up to the mountains looks lovely.
The darts knockouts are over and we are back to league games. We didn't get into the finals this year. Next week we have a bye so provides the perfect opportunity for us to go out for Christmas dinner. Always an enjoyable night when we go out.
Yesterday I went to Cardiff to see Miss Saigon, a fantastic production. Went up for the matinee which works well. A few more good productions on the program for next year so may make it a regular thing.
Tonight it's the local pantomime - oh no it's not! oh yes it is! Don't really get the whole panto thing but this is the adult version (over 18s only) and it's a good excuse to catch up with some friends and have a drink or two with them.
Been getting a good amount of work (for me that is, not loads). Jules is still negotiating on his personal injury claim. Hopefully will be sorted soon.
That's the basic goings ons. Nothing more for now.
Thinking of you all and sending love.
Bye for now, Moo.

Welsh Greetings

Hello All
Not much happening but wanted to keep the blog alive.
Jules is clearing the garage and finally throwing away all those things that "we might need one day".Can almost see the floor now!
Darts knockouts on at this time of the season. Three more weeks of them. Haven't done very well thus far. Captains, Pairs and Singles to come.
Saw Beautiful, The Carole King story at The Millenium Centre. Highly recommended!
Cold and damp in Wales (and the rest of Britain). Don't much like this time of year here.
Getting a bit of work. Keep the bailiffs from the door!
The car is going well and I am enjoying it. Still miss the Rover though.
Thinking of you all and sending love and hugs.
Bye for now, Moo xxx

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Not sure if anyone is reading this anymore but I'll post anyway.
Had a fab July with Clare here. Saw a lot and made some great memories.
Clare will be the last visitor to travel in the Rover. It has met a very sad end and we are extremely sorry to see it gone. Fortunately, after much studying of car sale websites and comparing size, performance, reliability, etc. we have a replacement.
We welcome a Kia Soul Inferno to our small fleet (the car and the van). Had to travel to Southend-on-Sea to get it but it seems it was worth the hassle. Four years old with only 9450miles on the clock. As it is a Kia, it still has three years of it's 7year warranty left. We look forward to another 12plus years of service from it.
Not much else has been happening as we have been so caught up with sourcing a car.
Had a lovely birthday. Thanks for all the greetings sent.
Weather has been OK for August. Bank holiday Monday this weekend so hopefully, it continues.
Jules is well, as am I.
Thinking of you all.

Greetings from the south coast

Hi all,
Happy July and summer in Europe.
Hopefully the sun is shining bright over southern Germany and Wales for the next few weeks for the visitors.
Pretty cool on the coast, but definitely not as cold as Canberra!
Ok I think I've done all the chores around the house and garden.
Next I have to refer to manual to find out how I put diesel fuel in the Combi.
May head down to Albion Park where there is a place that fits out camper vans, to get a few ideas, then on to Oak flats to check out some timber window makers.
I really want louvre windows in the kitchen. Actually I would love them on all the windows, gives the place a tropical beach feel, just have to convince Hasi.
Oops looks like rain, just get the washing off the line before I head off.
Love to all and happy holidays to you lucky ones.
Love Zak

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Greetings from South Wales. Only six more sleeps until Clare arrives!
We have been getting the house organised for her visit and hoping the weather plays along.
Looking forward to showing off the hidden treasure that is Wales.
Have been having a few wins in our darts of late. Beat the other Gwyn team 9-2 on Tuesday. This week we have both teams playing at home so will be a busy night in the pub.
On Wednesday Jules and I went to see Robbie Williams at the stadium in Cardiff. What a show! Knew it would be, he is quite a performer. Had a wander in Cardiff and a few drinks before catching the train home. Needed to leave some time for the train queues to die down. Great night as it was unplanned. A friend gave me the tickets so it was last minute. Very enjoyable.
Jules has been playing with his new chainsaw and chopping some logs. The wood store is looking well stocked now. We have a good pile for the chiminea as well. Will be ready for a night or two on the patio with Clare.
Had a heatwave last week but we are back to usual temperatures now. Had a bit of rain. Bit more forecast for the week ahead. Hope it's all gone by Friday. Clare arrives at Heathrow about 7a.m. and will get a bus down to Port Talbot where we will collect her. Greatly looking forward to it - did I mention that already?
Hope you enjoyed your birthday last week Kev.
Sure the musical was a great success as always Annie.
That's about it for now. May try and post a few updates during Clare's visit. Also keep an eye on facebook.
Take care.
Lots of love,
Moo

Greetings from the south coast

Hi all,
Seems I've missed a few months of the blog.
I have checked out the train trip you did Moo, and it. really looks awesome.
Clare dropped by to m&d on Friday and we all looked at m&d photos of Wales. It was really great.
I wish I had taken all mine to show her, from my three trips there, actually four trips to Wales if I count the one I did in the 80s, before you were living there.
It really is a hidden treasure.
The rain has finally stopped here after a week of constant rain. Nice to see the sun. Hope it stays out for the arvo as we have a outside wedding to attend this arvo.
 I feel so restless, with so much rain, can't get the physical exercise I really think I need to keep a calm and happy frame of mind.
So many things to do in the garden, but everything too soggy. Suppose I could go to the gym, yuk! Actually should probably think about getting ready for the wedding
Love to all
Zak

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Have just had a few days away. Stayed in a caravan in Borth (just north of Aberystwyth). We were fortunate with the weather -quite glorious on Thursday and Friday. Dry all week but quite dense sea mist for the beginning of the week.
Caught the train into Aberystwyth on Wednesday for a stroll about - mostly op shopping. On Thursday we took the train north to Porthmadog. A beautiful train ride, running mostly along the coast. we had an hour in Porthmadog and then came back to Barmouth where we had about two hours to wander and soak up the sun. It was a lovely trip. Google Cambrian line to get details.
Otherwise, been fairly quiet. Jules has been slowly doing things in the laundry. We have sourced some cupboards to go in there - free from gumtree. Jules also needs to fit the cupboard in the kitchen to fill the gap where the washing machine was.
Took Cynthia out last week for a spin on the Gower. She sends her greetings to you all.
Only five weeks until Clare arrives! The planning is on-going.
Hope everyone is well and happy. Thinking of you.
Bye for now. xx

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Hope everyone is well and happy, as we are here in sunny South Wales.
Not much has been happening in the two and a half weeks since my return.
Caught up with my friend Louise over bubble. Have got back into doing that quite well really.
Been to see Cynthia and told her of my Aussie sojourn.
Didn't get to darts the night of my return, but have played the last two weeks. We are winning and losing this season. Had a win this week.
Had one shift back in work. Hopefully get a few more in soon.
Bank holiday this weekend. The point-to-point races are on Monday not far from here. Usually a good day out - if it's not raining!
Jules has been tiling the floor of the laundry. He has been accepted to work on the polling stations in the up coming general election. Hopefully he will enjoy it (or at least tolerate it) and be able to work on other elections as they occur.
That's about all for now.
Take care and have fun.

Christmas Draw

Here it is, enjoyably worked by Moo and Zac with  Maria Burgess overseeing proceedings.

Kevin               buys for         Annie

Joan                                       Lucy

Jack                                        Kate

Fran                                        Moo

Tom                                       Kevin

Liam                                      Clare

Connor                                  Julian

Marty                                    Connor

Claire                                     Jack

Kate                                       Tom

Hasi                                        Marty

Annie                                      Liam

Lucy                                       Fran

Clare                                       Joan

Moo                                        Claire

Julian                                      Hasi      

Greetings from the south coast

Hi anyone out there,
Oops I missed writing for the whole of Feb. Probably just busy trying to adjust back to the real world.
Only had one major meltdown, on my first trip to the supermarket. So "normal" having to shop to cook, but so boring.
Anyway that's all history now, as I've been a few times since, but I really draw the line at buying fruit and vege in the supermarket. I'm completely pissed of that our local green grocers has closed down, which means I have to get in the car to go to the next closest one.
But I will not be defeated, I will support the green grocers. Bloody supermarkets want to monopolise everything.
Anyway otherwise it's pouring rain here, and looks set in for a few days, so no evening beach walk and swim this evening.
Thats all for now
Love Zak

Greetings from Los Angeles airport

Hi all,
Well it seems there is wifi at the airport here inLos Angeles.
We arrived here about midday from Mexico City.
As our connecting flight isn't till 10pm, we decided to get out of the airport for the day, so caught a cab to the famous Venice Beach.
What a great idea (mine of course) It was a beautiful sunny balmy winters day here.
A bit too cool to swim, but we strolled the promenade, and checked out all the local characters, who make this place the eccentric, eclectic crazy place it is.
It's about 7.30 now, and we don't board till 10pm, so I have bought myself a new book -The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende.
I have read another of her books while I've been travelling, called Eva Luna, and it was a great story.
Hasi is lying down behind me, making the most of being able to be in the horizontal position, before the 15 hour plane trip.
I really think I will get a cup of tea, and start my book.
So this really will be the last blog of this travel series.
Love to all
Zak

P.S. Have a great time in Melbourne Annie and Clare

Greetings from Mexico City

Hi all,
Today we flew from El Salvador back to Mexico City.
The flight was a bit more than 2 hours and it was great, because it flew low enough to see the lay of the land, the whole way.
Totally amazing landscape, coast rivers, lagoons behind the coast, mountains and volcanoes.
Spent hours waiting to get through immigration at Mexico City. I really hate airports and flying. It really is a means to an end. There's no fun in it
And still have to get out of Mexico,and go in and out of the USA before arriving in Sydney.
Hasi had a bit of a hassle getting out of El Salvador. We had not got stamps in our passports coming into El Salvador, I didn't have a problem, but the guy was interrogating Hasi. He finally let him through, but it's always a bit of a hold your breath moment.

So now we are in our beautiful hotel room, just 5 minutes from the airport, as we have to be there by 7am, so didn't think it was worth going into the city, just to sleep.
It is incredibly quiet. Has double glazing, so you can only just hear a rumble of the planes going over, and nothing else.
This is pretty amazing in a city of 20 million people!
Also we need quiet because we need sleep.
Last night we barely slept due to mosquitoes, bed bugs, party people outside our room, so we really have been like zombies today.
It's almost 8pm and we are ready to sleep, after long hot showers, scrubbing ourselves, to make sure we are rid of all the bugs before we dive into these lovely crisp clean sheets.
Need to be up again at 6am.
Breakfast at 6.30, then we get taken to the airport.
This may be the last blog of this series.
I'm not sure if there is wifi at Los Angeles airport.
We arrive home Thursday morning. We are going to get the train straight home, as we will be zombies by then.
So speak to everyone when I get home
Love to all
Zak

Greetings from El Tunco

Hi all,
Had our last lovely day at El Tunco today
We feel like we know most of the locals and tourists here at the moment.
We have our favourite place for coffee in the morning to start the day
Then Beach, jumping in and out of the water, catching the waves.
And this evening, Our last sunset, for this trip, over the Pacific.
And packing. This is the last big pack for this trip. Most of the stuff won't see day light again till we get home.
We have booked our cab for 10am tomorrow to take us to San Salvador airport, and our plane leaves at 1.50pm to Mexico city. It's only about a two and a half hour flight.
We have booked a hotel close to the airport, as need to be back at the airport pretty early on Tuesday morning.
Hope we have a more peaceful night tonight than last night. Music was pumping till after 1am.
Anyway, that's our day.
Hope the weather isn't too extreme anywhere
Love to all
Zak

!Hola!
That was (almost) that, as they say. Due to the wonders of modern technology, you already know most of wot happened, Kate being the diligent blogger she is. No use to catch up and tell all the amazing tales of wonderous Magic foreign lands to a mesmerised audience anymore.? ... Luckily, not quite...
Highlights / summery:
Long flights, hours of fun in airports, immigration, planes, queuing up for stamps and luggage.
Long bus rides, squashed in with dozens of fellow travellers, sweat, elbows, NEVER enough legroom,.
Dozens of hotel/hostel rooms, cold showers, fans that range from (too) gently to far too powerful and noisy, sleepless nites with mosquitos and noisy neighbours.
Lots of people who don't speak English, and two travellers too lazy (or too busy) to learn enough Spanish before leaving OZ.
Amazing cities with wonderful architecture and incredible history.
Volcanos, beaches, rainforests, cloud forests, mountain ranges, the Atlantic / carribean, the Pacific.
Lots of rum. Oodles of noodles / great food. More rum.
Thousands and thousands of dollars not invested in a retirement fund...
Mosquito bites, fever, infections, liquid shit, and RAIN. RAIN. Lots of rain. Hurricane.
WAS IT WORTH IT???
Fuck yeah! Definitely. Anytime. When can we do it again???
See you guys soon, hasta luego,
Greetings and kisses,
Hasi

Greetings from El Tunco, Pacific coast

Hi all,
We today we were up early, packs already packed last night, for our trip back to the coast.
3 buses and 4 hours later, we are back in Layback hostel.
Swimming in the Pacific, sleeping and reading in the hammock, just chilling out .

The news in El Salvodor this week was that either Wednesday or Thursday was the first day since January 22nd 2015, that there had not been a eported murder in the country!
This country has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Our experience has however been awesome. Absolutely no problems, the people go out of their way to greet and assist you, and we will be sad to leave.
Really can't believe tomorrow is our last day, before we start the long trip home.
At the beginning, it feels like you have forever, then all of a sudden, it's gone.
Such is life!
 Plan fort night, reading in the hammock.
It's still the 14th here, so we are having a few shots of Flor de Cana, (Nicaraguan rum) to celebrate Annie's birthday.
So love to all,
Zak

Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Greetings from Wales. Much colder here than you are all experiencing.
To answer your query Kate, we had a fall of snow on Thursday. Didn't settle here but the mountains look pretty with a coating of white. Due to be a bit milder tomorrow but that means rain. Europe has had a lot of snow, even into Greece as you said.
Birthday greetings from Wales too Annie. Was great to speak to you. Enjoy what's left of your celebrating.  Have a great trip to Melbourne with Clare.
Not much happening here to tell about. Work is busy so I am getting it when I want it.
Jules is well and sends his regards to all.
Really just an hello post to remind you I am here and keep in touch.
Love to all. xxxxx