Bonjour mon ami,

We leave our luxurious resort today at Eurodisney and head to Paris and then west to Brittany. We have booked a week at a luxury campsite in a 3 bedroom mobile home. This will be a first for us and very reasonable at $600 NZ for the week 16-23 September. I thought the kids would appreciate the pools and the social aspect. Lets hope I'm right. After Brittany (Pont Aven is the town), we head south to the Lot region and stay in a villa at Frayssinet le Gelat for 23-30 September. Then to northern Spain about an hour from Barcelona again staying at a mobile home (3 bedrooms) on a site at Salou for $300 NZ as last week of the season and booked special rate on the net. That will be 30 September - 7 October. Then further south to Delia, Spain in a villa with our own pool for 14-21 October and then to Tuscany, Italy in a villa for the week 14-21 October. After that we drive to Basel, Switzerland to see our ex student/boarder Evelyne for the weekend of 21/22 October. She has kindly given us her flat/apartment and she will stay with her boyfriend. Then up to Calais for the night of the 23rd October and on the 24th we take the train (with the car) to Folkestone, England. We have worked out that we will be doing 6-8 hours driving each time we move on but hopefully as we aren't doing much driving between times it won't be too exhausting. The tolls for the 6 weeks here on the roads are estimated to be $1000 NZ but we will need to grin and bear it to reduce travelling time. 24-28 October we will be staying with Tim's cousin near Salisbury and 28-31 October we will be back in London in a hotel somewhere. 31 October we fly out of Heathrow to L.A. The reason for letting you all know is it is very unlikeley we shall have the internet again until late October and we are unlikely to be contactable (but you never know) and it would still be nice to hear from you all when we do get the net. So that's us! For now,

Au revoir

Eurodisney Paris, France -

Arrived for park opening at 10.00 a.m on a beautiful day. There were large groups of noisy protestors marching with banners when we arrived complaining about Disney's poor wages. Had to wait 40 minutes sorting out our free travel agent tickets and then went to pay for the children only to be told there would be free admission to everyone for the day due to the protestors disturbance! So a very cheap day and we had our $100 NZ to spend at the park that we had got from the timeshare spiel so all the kids got a t-shirt and a few small things all at no cost. The park was great but being seasoned Disneyland travellers we definately noticed that the park was not run with the usual USA efficiency. A lot of rides were closed due to faults etc which just doesn't happen in the American ones. It was however the first time for the kids and they loved it. We left tired and hungry at closing time - 8.00 p.m.

Meant to say on the last post that Jonty was intrigued by the mini handbasin in the bathroom which was of course a bidet. We showed the kids how to use it and Kennedy in particular thinks it's pretty cool (well warm actually).

Marriott Resort, Eurodisney, Paris, France -

Our villa is the one on the left of the picture (both storey's). Each villa is of a different appearance on the outside. The complex is 3 years old. We look on to a small pond with ducks and the golf course. We went to the 1 hour spiel on buying a timeshare and received 50 Euros ($100 NZ) for attending!

Marriott Timeshare Resort, Eurodisney, Paris, France -

We caught the car ferry from Dover to Calais on Sunday 10th September (44GBP or $120 NZ for 5 of us and the car). Then we drove on the motorway for 2 hours ($51 NZ toll) and the 'B' roads for 1 hour to reach this resort where we met up with our London friend Michael. It is a resort next to Eurodisney and 20 minutes drive from Paris. We have a lovely 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa which is 2 storey and our own kitchen and laundry plus 3 TV's. A welcome luxury break after camping. The villas are all decorated in French provincial country style. The temperature is 26 degrees and we have just been shopping for the week and spent 1/3rd of what we were in the UK on food. The kids went to the free kids club for most of the day. Tomorrow we will visit Eurodisney taking the complimentary shuttle.

Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, England -

One of the top 5 most visited National Trust properties in Britain. Modelled on a French chateau and home to the famous banking Rothschild family who still live on the estate.

Roald Dahl's grave, Great Missenden, England -

Final part of the day was to the cemetery to see Roald Dahl's grave. I included this photo as it shows Kennedy 'showing' Roald one of his books which I thought was kinda cute.

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden, England -

Then there was the Roald Dahl Museum which was more about the author with videos and memorabilia etc. Great Missenden is the small village where Dahl lived for over 40 years until he died. His widow still lives in the village. Here is Beau dressed up as Willy Wonka beside the genuine costume worn by Johnny Depp in the movie.

Roald Dahl Gallery, Aylesbury, England -

The 3 children are all Roald Dahl fans especially Beau so this visit was always on the agenda. In Aylesbury there is the Roald Dahl gallery which is in fact a hands on museum/fun centre for kids. We spent several hours here and the kids loved it. Here they are dressing up in front of a photograph of the late author.

Legoland, Windsor, England -

First theme park visit for the kids so far and an expensive one at that. 30GBP per adult ($90 NZ) though had got some coupons earlier for two kids to go free. We had great weather and as the school holidays in UK are now over there were no crowds or queues. The models in the photo are of course all made of lego.

So you know we are still alive and well and somewhere in England......

House used in "Doc Martin", Port Isaac, Cornwall

Tintagel Post Office, Tintagel, Cornwall -

No longer an operating Post Office but managed by the National Trust. The building dates to the mid 1300's.

Eden Project - Cornwall

Largest greenhouses in the world. But much much more than that. The African and South American jungles are recreated inside aswell as the warm Mediterranean. Kids loved it as did we. Tim was particukarly intrigued by the fine healthy crops of marijuana!

In Leicester at the moment and NOT camping as too wet but managed to upload this photo of our tent with its adaptations i.e polythene cover and umbrella at the door. We have however had a lovely 6 days with Scottish cousins who spoiled us all and overfed us.

We get the ferry to France on the 10th September and are looking forward ro camping again and warmer climes. Also a cheaper cost of living I am told. We start at Eurodisney where we will be staying in a 2 bedroom apartment with our friend so a bit of luxury will be a nice change. We are planning on going to France and Spain and Switzerland to visit one of our past homestay students. We are then booked on the 'chunnel' back to UK on 24 October and fly to L.A on 31 October.