31 July 05 - Bon Voyage party

After a very hectic week Tam finally finished working at 5.15pm (still doing her final reports) to join her work goodbye drinks. She got a lovely necklace from her favourite store E.G.Etal in Collins St. http://www.egetal.com.au/main.html (I'm sure future pictures will feature it).

We'd planned to have the party catered as we knew we wouldn't have the energy or skill to put together the food for the party and we've used Marika at least 6 times before and always with rave reviews from our guests.

After a slightly slow start, the party really kicked off with family & friends and we had a lovely mild "winter's" night after 18 degree day. The brazier outside was certainly a hit with the kids (particularly the Hughes' boys) and our grass is now featuring a burnt out bald spot. Thanks Roma for the inspiration of marshmallows, I certainly enjoyed them.

You can see a select number of photos below and see the cake (Globe Cafe, Windsor http://www.globecafe.com.au/) and how everyone enjoyed themselves. Thanks to all those who made this night memorable (not just limited to those in these photos).

21 July 05 - Our plans so far

Our initial plans are as follows:

A couple of days in London to find our travelling feet.


Then off to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival and Military Tattoo.
More about the Fringe and tattoo:
http://www.edfringe.com/ and http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/











After many late nights in Edinburgh we will relax in Dundee for 2 weeks with Tam's sister and her 8 month old baby Kali.


After eating too much haggis, we are then off to Paris to meet up with Lillian and Rod where we have booked an apartment in the 10th arrondissiment.
Our Paris accommodation.

















After 7 nights in Paris, we make our way to our first home swap in Berlin for two weeks.
http://www.silvialettau.com/berlin/berlin.html


Our next stop is Copenhagen (another homeswap) so we can catch up with 'our Mary' for three weeks.
Our Copenhagen accommodation:
http://www.digsville.com/listing_photos.asp?id=771


We're then off to Amsterdam for our second last homeswap where we can admire all the skinny houses for three weeks.
Our Amsterdam accommodation:
http://www.homebase-hols.com/ihea/houseinfo.cfm?id=16263


The final home swap is in St Sornin (near Cognac in France) where we have four weeks in a 200 year old stone cottage.
Our St Sornin accommodation.
















We don't know where will be be over Christmas, Mark's Birthday and New Year but it will be around Spain, Andorra and the French Riviera.


Our final extended stop is in Casoli (same level as Rome but on the opposite coast) where we hope to get some snowboarding in.
Our accommodation in Casoli is on this hill overlooking the mountains.















Then its off for a couple of days in Rome before Mark heads back home via London whilst Tam travels a little bit more into Ireland and back to Dundee for a final visit with her sister.

1 July 05 - It begins here

Tam and Mark are heading off to Europe on a grand adventure. Keep track of our travels here.