Getting There is Half the Fun! Christmas and NYE in UK

Aunty Olive, and Brynn January 2013

’m selfish. Sometimes in life you need a challenge. After eight years of challenges, poverty, debt, and stress, I am finally living comfortably. With my family I might add, something that really has never happened before. I am no longer forced to count every penny as it comes into the house, live paycheque to paycheque, or stay up until 2am making sure I was ready for work the next day. There is money in my bank account, and I have lunches that do not consist of, tubs of yoghurt, or toast with jam. So, the only sensible thing to do is throw it all away.


Perhaps it is too simple to live a challenge free existence, or perhaps I am fated to live a life that is never free from challenge, and in this case to drag my wife Stephanie, and daughters Aurora and Brynn along with me. So with all that is going well, low cost of living expenses, a network of friends and family, disposable income... moving to the other side of the planet seems the logical next step.


But even this is too straightforward. So first we will take the scenic route, via the third world. Morocco is lovely in January, and the fact that I am travelling with three blonde white girls should not attract any attention. This still does not feel quite right... what about Egypt, the Pyramids are the only surviving official ancient wonder, plus we could see the Sphinx! And, this just in, we will also be able to witness, first hand, a violent uprising in favour of democracy in Egypt, complete with demonstrations, gunfire, rubber bullets, bombing, tear gas, and protests. I can think of no better first hand education of have/have-not for my daughters. Also, they will now be able to understand the term civil disobedience with matching first hand experience. Luckily I have a visa all sorted out for New Zealand!


...almost. That is I have the forms, and have applied for jobs to get the ball rolling


Before the third world, and the underside of the world, comes the UK. A nice relaxing family vacation for Christmas. The first one with my mom since 2000 (she flew over a few days ahead of us). We have grown accustomed to living in suitcases this year, and this reality will continue into the foreseeable future. We are also accustomed to living in tight quarters, and Wales is no different this time round. My great Aunt Olive has graciously offered to put us up (as she always does truly a family legend!). it She, having just recovered from her latest bout with throat cancer, and a move in the dead of winter at 85 years of age, shows no signs of slowing down. Quite literally. She drives like a demon possessed down the center of the very narrow roads here. Though in fairness to choose a side of these country roads, is to choose death. Driving an automatic, for her has proven to be a bit of an adjustment, having driven standard most of her life. Several times at about 70mph she slammed on the brake thinking it the clutch therebyintroducing my face to the dashboard  for an uncomfortably  close inspection. But, we are happy for her hospitality, and she is a character to say the least. You have to speak with mentality of a defensive linebacker to get a word in edgewise, in that you must overcome whatever she is saying by speaking louder and with little to...., no, no pause. As soon as you pause in speech, you are finished in the conversation. 


The aforementioned move, has brought her to the town of Caerestyn from Colwyn Bay, and her new dwelling is somewhat less spacious, but all she needs really, a tad cramped for a family of four and another full grown adult however, but we are happy to be with family for Christmas and the New year. Most appreciative of Aunty O particularly. For as long as I can remember she has been fighting tirelessly fighting to keep the family connected with each other, Jones, Hughes, Larges and all. For her to put the five of us up the way she did this time was not different than countless times before. She always made sure we had everything we needed, and I think seeing the family socialising is all she ever really hopes for.

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Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

After a flurry of activity relating to meeting relatives new and old (again facilitated by Aunt O), we felt it was time to do some actual sightseeing. We opt for Northern Ireland for several reasons: mom has never been, Stephanie has never been, nor the girls, nor me. For me, it is an opportunity to check another country off on my quest for 100 countries and seven continents before death separts me. Northern Ireland makes 18. Plus, Belfast looks like an interesting spot to ring in the new year, which will make my second on the island of Ireland, and my fourth country for a New Year’s celebration. On top of all of this N. Ireland is currently in a state of unrest over the Union Jack, and there has been serious rioting and a car bomb there within days of our arrival, what better experience for my four and one year old daughters, start the new year off with a bang.


So the violence, it turned out, was over hyped. Belfast was a crazy new year mad city, and we were in the party district to be sure. But no riots, no gunfire, all around I was a bit disappointed by all of the hype my cousins had fed me before going. We had a pretty stale NYE in our hotel rooms, watched the celebration in London, and then got up early for a bus trip to the Giant’s Causeway, which so far has been one of the highlights of the trip! Google pictures of it until I have time to post some, it looks like pavement cobblestones, but 10-20 feet high, and rising out of the ocean like a 3D, and very uneven, backyard patio. This coupled with some of the strongest wind I have ever experienced, and breathtaking views of the North eastern Irish coastline, made for a truly memorable day.


Definitely disappointed that we only had time to visit for three days. I have now been to Ireland three times and still have not really seen Ireland. Dunluce castle, which we stopped off at briefly looked amazing silhouetted against the sunset, like some haunted fortress that belonged in a Tim Burton movie.


Our UK visit was dominated by family visits, and we are now in Andover, after a rushed trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury today. We fly to Morocco tomorrow, and should be arriving by the time everyone back home starts work. 

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