Some UK, Europe fun, & House updates. New cities, new nephew and more…
You may have seen a few Facebook posts of my days in London. Munich and Margate – well here we go, the blog finally arrives. A brilliant work trip, it really was. It was great to catch up with the Telstra team in UK and Europe – and of course the clients there. Loads happening from that. And of course wonderful to have the chance to have the weekend home and see family and friends, and to meet my new nephew too. How lucky am I!!! So here comes Some UK, Europe fun, & House updates. New cities, new nephew and more…

How clear is this from the window seat. Foreground is Kent (just missed getting Thanet), middle is Isle Sheppey, and foreground is Essex. So cool!

London Town next. Right in the middle there is the city, if you see The Shard, our office is to the right, over the river in Southwark – cool!

And triple cool is that this is Putney and Wimbledon. See the biggish roundabout where the parks are. Putney Common, some down that main road and you’ll see a ‘square’ with 3-4 buses in it (white topped roofs). That is the bus turning point, where my old local was – The Green Man, and behind that is our flat @ Manorfields. Incredible. Home-sick at 4,000 feet…

This is same day and I am no win a suit. Landed at 0730am and 1st client meting was 1130am after mad dash to hotel, shower change and walk to meeting. Picked up my chaperone, Mr Lord from the work office. So so busy in town we just walked everywhere.

National Art Gallery looking rather splendid in all this sun and blue skies.

He’s a big lad is Nelson, seriously check out that column. I sent this to the kids and told them to watch Night at the Museum III again.

End of the first day and still so so sunny, so time to pop for a refreshing beverage and some history. This pub is from something like 1540. In Singapore that would mean built at twenty minutes to four. Loving this!

Eye Eye

Whilst I was traveling the boys did a ChillaxBBQ for charity. Well done lads. Loving the drone shot!!!

Meanwhile over in The Philippines out first shipment of pebbles arrives for levelling all around the house. I tell you this week was MANIC. Thanks to family Philippines as always!!!

We even managed to squeeze in a superb, albeit manic, supplier lunch at Mr Gordon Ramsay’s. This is Union Street in Southwark, and damned fine it is too.

Colleagues hard at work ordering lunch, and hopefully taking some orders of some new services off our clients soon.

Another day of client meetings done, and a brisk walk back to the hotel to catch our flight to Munich for workshops and yet more client meetings. On the way my tour guide showed me this cracking view of St Paul’s. I used to work for BT just below there – literally across the road.

Slightly marred view now though…

Jump in to an Uber now to Paddington to get on The Heathrow Express. Amazing luck with some slow traffic to allow me to stick my head out window and get a lovely shot of Eros with again that beautiful sun.

And then even Liz’s gaff. She was home as you can see from the flag, but would answer my calls asking her to join me for a swift one.

Another economy flight to Munich, but rather empty at the back. Weeeee – arm-rests up = flat bed!!!

My Baby Jude gets the special delivery I ordered for him before I left. Don’t want him forgetting Daddy. My very own little UltraMan.

Back to Philippines and gravel is pounded and levelled. Next up concreting.

Arrive to Munich 0030, up at 0600am after yet another sleepless night and boom its another sunny day. This is the Court House. SO lovely to see some architecture that has ‘age’. Beautiful.

Again decision was made to walk. It’s a walled city with huge pedestrian area so it was a no brainer, and also gave time to soak in the views and atmosphere. A truly beautiful city is Munich, my first time here.

How lovely is this city centre…

Happened to meet the cousin of my tattoo.

Everywhere you look it is simply stunning!

And then to the very centre and the Cathedral. Liker Prague it has the clock animatronics every hour. Breath-taking!

Clock close-up for you. So so similar to Prague, I wonder if same architect?

It truly is gorgeous! Blue sunny skies help of course!

This absolutely cracked me up. This is the sign in the Regus Offices that Telstra use in Munich. Is it ‘really’ needed…?

Workshop part I done to off to lunch and a walk around that cathedral, and I could not help but take some snaps of these incredible relief carvings. Literally ‘stuck’ to the wall.

I wonder how old these actually are, and what origins they have?

2-3 weeks before Oktoberfest, but that is almost a neither here nor there as this is the ‘norm’. A late lunch at one of the so very many Biergarten. Packed everywhere. Tourists and workers alike. As in PACKED!!!

I won’t mention the client – but this is one wall-board of activity of engagements. Yep we sure were busy boys!

A late evening walk about now after we finish workshop part deux. Boris was an excellent guide before he had to disappear off home. All on foot through this city. SO much to see.

Here is the Opera House (I think). I wish the golden gilding had come out better – it was shining so so bright in the sun.

Literally everywhere you turn you have something to snap.

Up the Cathedral spire we go courtesy of Boris and what a view of the city and surrounding countryside. Over in the distance are the snow-capped Alps. Took that for Amy to see.

It goes on and on….

Yet another insanely beautiful al fresco bar, How could you not want to sit under that whilst watching the world go by.

That night before Boris disappeared a couple of Steins was the order of the day. This was absolutely mobbed in here. People watching on steroids and great company with team Telstra Europe.

Uno also joining us now – happy days in Munich, in the sun. Great to meet the guys.

Have a look inside at this Bierhaus’ ceiling. Absolutely stunning. Oompa music being belted out everywhere. Just such fun!

Back to Philippines again – now the left hand side of the house is gravelled and TV antenna are up. Looking good, looking good.

Last night in CitizenM Hotel before having the weekend in Margate. This doll thing is what they put on the end of the bed to help you sleep. Modern day Chucky in my reckoning. Imagine that dragging it’s no legs body up your bed. Scary as.

What a cracking hotel this is – massive recommendation from me if you get the chance. It’s stellar!!!

Back to London and some seriously beautiful stuff happening at St Pancras in there converted ticket office. Check this place out. Absolutely loved this. I think called Sorting or Ticket Office. Must try.

Energy saving lightbulbs need to turn right…

Meanwhile back in Philippines the levelling is done on both side now. How much better does that look. Quite a step change, literally. Concrete then tiling!

And the other side…

A wee treat for my journey on the train to Margate from Victoria. Although when I say treat, I mean the railway company hang this while thing on the seat and call it 1st class.

Photos still flooding in from overseas as I journey through Europe – he is my UltraMan. So awesome and so cool.

Well hello Margate – weeeee. A little walk to Mum’s now to acclimatise.

So wonderful to bump in to Mel and JemJem on day #1 with Mum, and Uncle John and Janet )no photo yet – bugger!). Thanks so much for coming down ladies.

Next up it’s time to meet with the boys – well a handful of them. Thanks for coming out lads. Sooooo great to see you all.
And then I get to really meet the new man in my life. My amazingly cool, and so flipping cute nephew. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you baby Ayden. BFF’s for ever. Mum and Dad be proud – this little man just blew me away. Love this little guy.

Love this guy!!!

Off to DK’s for a wee bit to have a look at Ayden’s room and DK’s room too – sorry I meant “Man Cave”. Twiglet also getting in on the action. Stunt cat!!!

Man in Man Cave. Er plus all his “Man Lego”….

Family Kennett in family pub Sandwich. My last wish family roast dinner before I go home to Singapore. Roast turkey, spuds, Yorkshire puds, cheese broccoli – absolutely fantastic made even more special with these 4 wonderful people. O promised mum I would not include the “Say Walls” photo – private joke…

Showing my BFF some videos of the kids at home playing at the Art Science Museum. He loved the flashing balls. Look at that little face.

One amazing whole day with this little chap – so very special.

Missing you Baby Ayden.

OK this was last photo with Mum and DK at silly o’clock at Heathrow Airport. So so so sad to say goodbye to them, and everyone else. Big hugs.

Ayden selfie…. Kiss Kiss!!!

A beauty with my beautiful sis in there too…

Hmmmm. Seems Ayden and Jude have the Japanese connection in common. How funny is that! Bless them – cosmic connections.

Jude loving his wee gift from UK. This bloody thing was roaring in the suitcase the whole way home. Only way to get it in the suitcase was take it out the box. Grrrrrrr! See there it goes again!

The remotely back to Philippine as they have unveiled the shared swimming pool and clubhouse. Loving this place more and more. Oh yes!

And soon to come apparently a man made lake and restaurant nearer to our house. Yes fish in the lake, catch one and take it ti the restaurant for cooking. I wonder if there is a retirement job there???

Other gifts given too including two of Mum’s infamous cross-stitch pictures. One of those is a gorgeous one for Amy, now adorning her wall with pride and one on its way to Philippines to have a proud place in our kitchen there!!! Thanks Mum, love them!!!

It’s official I finally made it back to Singapore and family there – out first meal together in more than 10 days. That was a LONG time… Missed these guys massively.

Concreting begins in Philippines – this is going to look incredible when finished and we get the tiles down. Tripling the usable space we have outside when done.

Jude gets stuck in to his new UltraMan belt and ‘morphing’ capsule things. He should have a slot in the show for sure.

He’s even taking to stealing my sunglasses now on a frequent basis bless him. Well they do go so very well with Dad’s mini me shirts he has. Cool Dude Jude.\
So there is the monster blog of my wee trip away for work. A pop to see family and friends in Margate too, and so so much happening rest if world in parallel. Phew, so so busy. It sure was Some UK, Europe fun, & House updates. New cities, new nephew and more… Just hoping you all look, as I did, and – ENJOY!!!