From the window of the TGV, we watched the sun set for the first time over our new home. Today is the beginning of a huge change for Megan and me. We are following our dreams and taking a risk or two along the way.
Sun setting over the French countryside
We know the next days, weeks, and months are going to be difficult. We have much to learn and discover along the way. With some hardwork and some luck we should find ourselves on the other side a touch stronger and maybe a touch wiser.
It started with a little flurry of flakes that were barely visible through the windows. Within a few hours the snow had started falling continuously. The size of the snow flakes varied during those first few hours but settled as the evening drew in.
Snow falling and settling in a lane way
This is the first significant snow fall we have seen since arriving in Europe and it is exciting. Megan in particular was delighted to be able to walk out into the town and experience freshly falling snow; growing up in Australia limits your exposure to snow.
Snow settling on building masonry
Snow starting to settle on the rooftops
The weather forecast suggests the snow will not last. Sleet is on the way and the snow is likely to be washed away. Until then the world outside has a magical feel to it.
A snow covered street this evening
Tetbury is an English town in the county of Gloucestershire. We stopped for a brief visit on our way back from Westonbirt Arboretum.
The town is pretty but was not particularly photogenic. The central market building was surrounded by roads ferrying cars here and there. Fewer cars would have been welcome.
Tetbury market building
One of Tetbury’s claims to fame is a shop operated by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall called Highgrove.
Many of Tetbury’s buildings were adorned with the English or United Kingdom flag. I am noticing this trend more and more since returning to the UK. There seem to be more flags flying than I remember almost a decade ago.
A street in Tetbury
The Snooty Fox public house in Tetbury
The blanket of morning frost is beautiful.
Frost sitting on a plant
Frost on a fence in Westonbirt Arboretum
Frost covered leaves
Close up of frost on a wooden fence
These photos come from our recent walks in Malvern Hills and Westonbirt Arboretum.
During our visit to Bathurst we were treated to fresh coffee. This was the first time I had seen green coffee beans roasted and transformed into a cup of coffee.
Our kind hosts put up with my enthusiasm to see, and photograph, their coffee making process in full. The entire roasting process took about fifteen minutes and required surprisingly simple house hold tools to complete.
The green beans are placed in a container ready to be roasted with a hot air gun.
Green coffee beans
These beans took about twelve to fifteen minutes to cook with constant stirring. As they roasted the coffee beans’ husks came off and drifted out of the bowl.
The beans were roasted outside as the husks can settle in the garden without harm and the smoke created does not trigger fire alarms.
Roasting the green beans
The beans are stirred as they roast
Once the beans are roasted, they are cooled. In this case the beans were tumbled from one metal bowl to another.
Cooling the roasted coffee beans
Tumbling the coffee beans to speed up the cooling
The once green coffee beans have now turned brown.
Roasted coffee beans
The cooled roasted beans are ground to a powder using an electric grinder. Previously the grinding had been done with a hand grinder, but unsurprisingly the process was not endearing and an electric replacement was brought in.
The traditional espresso coffee machine
Coffee ready for the espresso machine
After being ground the coffee is put through a coffee machine and into the waiting the cups. The end result tasted fantastic.
The final beautiful cups of coffee
Our first light fall of snow appeared overnight. The Malvern Hills behind Malvern showed a thin scattering of snow this morning.
Snow on the Malvern Hills
Given our onward travel plans, I am grateful to see no more snow is predicted for the next few days.
Malvern Hills viewed from Malvern Link
Road looking up at the Malvern Hills
With over thirty hours of travel behind us, we reached Paddington Station in London. Despite a lack of sleep over the past days, the architecture of the train station still managed to capture my attention and my camera’s focus.
Paddington Station's vaulted ceiling
We had a few hours to wait at Paddington before our train for Malvern arrived. During that time we wandered around, enjoyed a coffee, visited Paddington Bear, and enjoyed the feeling of walking on solid ground again.
Detail of the vaulted ceiling at Paddington Station
Beautiful iron facade at Paddington Station, London
Long haul flights are never enjoyable. The term long haul is apt and descriptive. I have travelled back and forth from Australia to Europe enough times to know that every extra comfort is worthwhile.
Thanks to extensive searching for specific routes and a healthy block of Frequent Flyer points we were able to secure our latest flights on the new Airbus A380 plane along with Qantas Skybed seats.
Qantas A380
This was the first flight I have been able to recline fully on. The seats certainly helped. It will be difficult to return to traditional airline seats.
Qantas Skybeds inside the A380
Inside Business Class of the A380
View across the A380 inside
Qantas Skybed seat controls
Tail mounted camera on the A380
A photo of an Australian Kangaroo Paw taken in Bathurst.
Australian Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo Paw is a plant included in the emblem of Western Australia.
Bathurst is an Australian town in New South Wales. Getting to Bathurst by train and bus takes about four hours. The scenery on the way is beautiful and rural.
We were in Bathurst to visit friends. The town has an attractive and family friendly feel. We happily strolled around with our friends’ two little boys running and playing ahead.
Park and two foozles
It was wonderful to catch up in person with old friends.
View of Bathurst and surrounding countryside
Bathurst courthouse
Bathurst war memorial in the town centre
Bathurst war memorial
A visit to Bathurst would not be complete without a circuit of the race track.
View from Bathurst race track