Quality Hotel Reading

... across my shoulder making me walk with an almost horizontal back. What a sight that must have been walking up to check-in as I prepare for the weigh in challenge.

Pleasantries over I am asked to place my bag on the scales and I glance over at the digital readout to see how I've done at reduc...........whats this? There's no readout!! The scales are not even ...

... reached our cruising altitude of 28,000 feet and will now be starting our descent into Belfast". Why dont they just fly lower I ask myself?

Anyway, picked up the hire car and made my way to my hotel in Killyleagh which is a small town about 30 miles from the airport.

There was a sign on the hotel door directing me to the pub next door to check in. I duly followed the ...

Mon 5th Oct We were the first boat away from the festival heading south. First stop was the facilities, then a pause at bridge 168 to visit Morrison's and boost the price of Hazel's shares. Moored with difficulty north of the bridge as they are installing new piling south of there. Should be easier next time. We didn't stop for lunch but continued to a very quiet mooring before Heyford Common Lock. Tue 6th Oct Although raining most of the day, this was a very pleasant cruise ...

I am shortly off on a trip to South China and will be using Travlepod to keep a blog again. I have added a few names to the mailing list and kept the old ones too. If anyone would prefer not to receive notifications of my travels, please let me know and I will take you off the list!
All the best
Helen

Mon 28th September A damp dew this morning but pleasantly sunny as we cruised through Nuneaton and past the junction with the Ashby Canal. We caught up with a trip boat "The Hargreave" going quite slowly but it was only half a mile to the water point at Hawkesbury where we wanted to fill with water, so we decided to remain behind the other boat. However, they beckoned us on, saying they were killing time. There was a pinch point ahead where there had once been a bridge, so we shouted ...

... architecturally impressive
- Alice in Wonderland's shop: dingy, twee, ****** and wouldn't recommend it
- Christchurch Cathedral and College: again, beautiful old building with lovely manicured gardens. We watched the little tackers play rugger on the sports field
- Christchurch War Memorial Garden: lovely gardens

We weren't all that impressed with Oxford as a city centre mainly ...

... and how entertaining its going to be to read - bear with us, we'll do our best and see how it goes. Thanks to everyone who came to our leaving drinks - it was great to get to say goodbye to you and we are looking foward to receving many guests once we settle down in Aus! Take care Neil and Jo x

A quick half day visit to Reading, England just outside of London. After a good nights sleep in a hotel near Heathrow, we decided to venture out to the university Bart went on exchange to. It was fun for Tracy to see where Constantin, Ryan and I are always talking about. Saw the student union building with 3 bars and a discoteque, along with my dorms (just a cement ...

... the curry is heavenly!!! ...you find carpets on the bathroom floor (and sometimes even in the kitchen). ...you wake up Saturday morning thinking you are back in Madrid because the sun hits you right in the face. ...you return home to Madrid with no photos (well to be fair, I spent most of my time in Reading where I have lived for close to five years). ...you still have a jolly good time.

... evening of quiet, sociable drinking and eating. Following tradition, Jo disappeared until the following morning and the ceremony, whilst Andrea and I could only last until about 10 pm (jet-lag, of course!). We met up with Rich and some of the others over breakfast and decided upon a plan for the next couple of hours before the ceremony at Headingham Castle. I went back to our room to make some last-minute adjustments to my speech (which took ages) and ...