Travel News! Visiting England and Our Grand Plans

Travel Plans! Off to England

Although I don’t miss living in England because I have a morbid fear of the cold, I do miss family and friends I left behind almost 20 years ago when we moved to Australasia.

I’ve only been back to England a handful of times since then because it’s so expensive to fly a family of five all that way. Ludicrously expensive, and most of my money gets spent at the supermarket anyway, because the Candy kids are large mammals who eat a lot.

But I digress. Despite the expense of flying to England from Australia I make an effort to go back every four years because nothing beats connecting with old friends and family members who know and love you more than anyone else.

On July 4th my mum is celebrating her 80th birthday so of course I want to be there with her. Thankfully her birthday’s smack in the middle of English summertime or I might not be looking forward to the visit so much.

I’ll be taking along Kiara (aged 10) and Max (aged 13) but leaving behind Luke (aged 17). Luke’s in his last year of school so he needs to work and will be staying home with Rich who’ll be holding down the fort with all things internet marketing related.

Meanwhile ere’s what me, Max and Kiara be getting up to:

  • Flying Emirates via Dubai from Brisbane to London – it only takes 24 hours – not including getting to and from airports and stopovers of course!
  • Testing the new HumanCharger by Valkee to see if it really will help me get over jetlag faster;
  • Staying with Mum in Leicestershire and seeing aged relatives: Auntie Prue, Auntie Chrissie, Uncle Tim and my godmothers Helen and Rona.
  • Seeing my naughty school friend Anne-Marie who I last I saw four years ago when I last visited England. She’s now a god-fearing, homeschooling mum! We’ll take the kids to visit Foxton Locks canal and the National Space Centre together.
  • Seeing my dear friend Teresa from Costa Rica who I haven’t seen for six years. She now has a beautiful young family so we’ll be visiting Waddeston House and gardens in Buckinghamshire which sounds like a good place to enjoy a picnic in kid friendly surroudings.
  • Nipping to London to visit Jackie and Steve – two very old friends from Zimbabwe (where I got culture shocked by visiting witchdoctors and seeing people eating chicken feet) who I haven’t seen for over 2o years. I’ll have to ask them when it was as I can’t remember!
  • Celebrating Mum’s birthday at CentreParcs Holiday Village in Longleat, Wiltshire with honorary auntie Dot plus brother Tom and his family and our sister Janet. Hopefully that will be a formative family holiday.
  • Visiting Longleat Safari Park since we’re in the area.
  • Staying with Tom in Hertshire.
  • Staying with my bestie and very dear university friend Fiona plus her three boys and film directing hubby in Hampshire.
  • Going to Paris on Eurostar which I’m very exited because I’ve never been through the chunnel before and I haven’t been to Paris since I lived there in 1994.
  • Staying at the Mercure Paris Terminus Nord Hotel because it’s right by the Gare du Nord where the Eurostar arrives from London and a great base for a whistle-stop 36-hour Paris experience.
  • Flying home from Paris to Brisbane via Dubai. Phew! I think we’ll be feeling happy but tired by then.

off to england

Don’t worry – this blog will carry on ticking away while I’m gone as I have weekly posts scheduled and of course I’ll be back at the end of July to share our adventures with you.

Happy travels until then!

x Annabel

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13 Comments

  1. Mag June 24, 2015 at 2:30 pm - Reply

    Have a wonderful time Annabel. I love England in the Summertime. Enjoy and treasure times with family and friends. Must say I’m a bit envious as I so enjoy visiting my family and friends in England and Wales.
    Safe travelling!

  2. Barbara Hammond June 30, 2015 at 8:17 am - Reply

    How exciting! Can’t wait to here all the stories from this adventure! Happy Birthday to Mum! Too bad you couldn’t have crossed paths with Sonia Marsh, while she was over there. Maybe next time you can wangle a trip to USA! Would love to host you!
    Have fun!
    xob

    • Annabel Candy July 7, 2015 at 1:50 am - Reply

      Hi Barbara,

      Gosh I would love to revisit the States. I love it and hope I get to come soon.

  3. Barbara Hammond June 30, 2015 at 8:27 am - Reply

    Oh…one more thing…Can’t wait to hear how the human charger works!
    b

  4. Shaun Conway June 30, 2015 at 8:46 pm - Reply

    Enjoy your trip with family and great friends
    Don’t forget there is a bicycle race on too!!????????

  5. Maxbenjamin July 6, 2015 at 4:34 pm - Reply

    I would love to hear your experiences over there. It is my big dream to visit that beautiful part of the World.

  6. Sally July 7, 2015 at 7:32 am - Reply

    Wow, sounds like an awesome trip. I partied at ‘The Shack’ in Leics. once- years ago. (Had a friend in Rutland & there was no place to go there at the time) You and your kids will have a brilliant time. Have fun!

  7. Jhon Lingkon July 13, 2015 at 5:04 am - Reply

    England is more costly for traveling in my own view, seeking for post about cheap traveling.

    • Annabel Candy July 15, 2015 at 8:49 am - Reply

      Hi Jhon,

      The cheapest travel destinations are probably India and Thailand… England is way cheaper than Australia though :)

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