Buckland Ripers

Well I have arrived and starting to settle in to Buckland Ripers. It is a cute country hamlet located about 10 minutes from Weymouth. My neighbours are two horses as can be seen from the view from our back fence.

Spent the last few days driving around getting a feel for the place. Still in the habit of putting on my windscreen wipers instead of the blinker as they are on opposite sides. Have driven around the local area trying my best to avoid dogs and oncoming cars. It seems every man has a dog - "literally". Where ever you go there are people out taking their dogs for a walk. Also, the country roads are very narrow, in most places only wide enough for 1 car with large hedges on either side.

Weymouth is one of the most beautiful sea side towns. Lovely old buildings with a great feel about the place. They have their sales on at the moment and there is lots of people shopping - looks like some things are no different to home.

Everybody has been very friendly and are quick to pick up on where I am from. Was taking some photos in one of the small hamlets when an old couple invited me in to their house to chat. Got a tour of their old mill and its history. However, one thing they dont want to talk about is the c word - thats CRICKET! Looking forward to the last test.

till next time

Welcome to Heathrow Sir - ps; we have lost your bags!

Well I finally reached the other side of the world. Left Sydney at 3.50pm for 23 hours of joy. Luckily I had a very nice person (read young brunette) in the seat next to me so was good to have someone to talk to. Although most of the time I was distracted by the individual personal entertainment system with a choice of over 50 movies, games, TV, music and more - almost wish I had one at home.


Arrived at Heathrow at 6am to a warm 10 degrees even the train conductor commented to me that it had something to do with that "changing earth thing cos the crap we put in the air".

So here I am at the airport watching all the bags go around the carousel, watching for mine to make an appearance. 100, 50, ...23.......15...........6........0...... No bag! No point in getting in to a panic - just trying to work out how best to explain wearing track suite pants and a 4 day old smelly shirt on my first day at work. Went to the lost baggage and started to fill out paper work when this loan bag appears on the belt. Despite its best attempts to get on a plane to Hawaii and avoid the cold, it was rounded up and handed over. Looks like it is not the only one not happy going into winter.

Next step was a 4 hour bus then train ride to Weymouth. And it only cost me the equivalent of $145,877.... well almost - £43 which is almost $100 - ARGH.

Have now settled in to the house (more on that later) and trying to stay awake to convince the body it really is not the middle of the night!

Next few days involve looking around the town and getting ready for work.

Chat soon

So what is the weather really going to be like?

I am amazed at the focus on the weather in Weymouth. I knew the poms complain about the weather but the level of fascination is over the top. It seems everyone is keen to give a weather update - LIVE - 24 hours a day.

If it was not bad enough just to feel cold you can look on-line and know that you were right - it is bloody cold. Here are a couple of sites that feed the weather live from where we are going to live

http://www.geoffwebber.co.uk/weather/index1.htm
http://www.weymouth-weather.co.uk/ http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/Environment/Weatherstation/home.asp?svid=1011

Here is a live photo from a few days ago - as you can see it is a lovely rainy day with a wind chill factor of 5 deg. CANT WAIT!

Maps of our Travels

End of Year Trip

European Trips

Scotland Trip

Highlands Trip

Ireland Trip
Wales Trip
Weekend Trips