Henry's School Concert - 1st December 2009

Henry is 2nd from the left in the 2nd row.

Cleeland Boys - 28th November 2009

Double Celebration 14th November 2009

We were honoured to be a part of Vicki's 60th Birthday. Plus Paul & Vicki's surprise Wedding Ceremony which was held at The Rotunda, Newstead Park with the party continuing at St. Margaret's School, a truly magic night had by all who were privileged to attend.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

PCYC Trophy Presentation/Father's Day September '09

Thomas receiving his trophy & certificate for socccer. Having a great time on the giant slide before heading off to Brookfield for lunch with his cousins to celebrate Father's Day!

Botanic Gardens-Orchids Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay 1st-4th August, 2009

June Birthday's - the ones we have photo's of!

Graham 17th June..................................................................................Anthony 7th June

Julie 15th June

Ryan on his birthday 8th June at Macca's in Tokyo with a cheeseburger and chip candles!!

Home Reminiscing May 22nd, 2009

Cinque Terre

Pompei

Rome/Singapore/Brisbane May 17th/18th, 2009

Up early, had breakfast and all packed up for the taxi trip to Fiumicino Airport, another crazy, mad fast driver, at one point he was doing 160km an hour, Graham was thinking how pleased he would be to get to the airport! Arrived 2 hrs. before our flight was due to leave, took 1 hr. to just check in, then was given the run around to claim tourist tax on some purchases, time ran out, missed out on refund, that's Italian's way of making sure they keep it!!! We had a good flight, 3hr. wait in Singapore then on our way home, I managed a short sleep, Graham nil. Now we definately realise the benefit of the stopover in Singapore on the way to London. Just starting to feel normal again. Thank you all for your interest in our "Once in a Ruby Moon" trip, we are pleased you enjoyed the blog.
Au revoir/Arrivederci/Cheerio for now. I intend to keep the blog going, so check in from time to time. Helen & Graham.

Rome 16th May, 2009

Our visit to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel was a wonderful inspiring experience, the art work is breathtakingly beautiful. We were asked not to speak in the Chapel or take photo's, I was horrified at the disrespect of the majority of tourist's who did just that! From the Vatican City we left the tour and walked back to the Piazza Navona where we had dinner. Entertainment galore, a guitarist/singer, a hen's party, a bride & groom, just watching the people and soaking up the atmosphere was great for our last night. We did not want it to end, even Graham was not in any hurry to come home, how's that!!

Rome May 16th, 2009

Pompei

After our late night we had a later breakfast out in the garden being serenaded by an opera singer who lives in the same complex, she works for one the theatre's here in Rome, beautiful voice. Organised our suitcases for 9.30 departure from the B&B in the morning for the airport. Now we are going into the city for a tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. We will stay in the city tonight for dinner, hopefully in Navona Square which has beautiful fountains up the centre and restaurants lining each side.

Rome May 15th, 2009

At the cafe with Diana our waitress from Romania.


We set off at 6.30am this morning for our tour of Naples & Pompei. Travelling out of Rome there were hillside after hillside of vineyards. As we travelled further south the landscape is quite rugged with high mountains and the vegetation more sparse. In Naples we were given a panoramic view of the City from the bus, it is the 3rd largest city in Italy with 1.5 million population. We were told it is also the most dangerous as far as crime etc. goes. Then onto Pompei with the major attraction being the excavation of the city which was completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79a.C. It is truly remarkable how they have almost finished excavating the rubble to view the remains of the buildings. Here we were served a 3 course lunch in a beautiful restaurant. There were a lot of market stalls and horrid men hassling you to buy their goods, it is the worse I have encountered as we had not had any problems to speak of up until this rude awakening, I actually told one bloke to leave me alone and let me decide what I wanted, for a second he got the message!! After arriving back in Rome at 10pm we were dropped off the bus at Piazza Venezia, found a bar/pizzeria and had beer & pizza while watching "Oz cars which a very important woman won" like Jack Brabham used to drive. They were travelling around & around the city, big commotion with police and their whistles in the centre of the Piazza to stop the traffic while they went through. I have encountered the same problem uploading photo's so will have to complete them when we get home.

Photo's May 14th, 2009

Program having a hissy fit and will not allow me to upload photo's, will try again Saturday!

We are on a 12hr. bus trip to Pompeii, Naples + tomorrow, leaving at 6.30am! Off to have a beer and dinner now.

Rome 14th May, 2009

We set off early this morning to meet the bus for a tour of the City. We visited St. Peter's Vatican, only the outside, it is magnificent to actually see where all the masses of people gather. We viewed the Stadio Di Domiziano - the only original part of the former square remaining. Then onto the Navona Square with three beautiful fountains. From there to The Pantheon, the oldest building built before Christ in the 6th century, inside is awe inspiring, the photo's do not do it justice. Some other land marks on the way to the Trevi Fountain, what can I say it is beautiful, we each through a coin in. From here we finished the tour, all walking, at the Spanish steps, it was very crowded as all area's are. We walked the 136 steps. We were buggard and wanted something that resembled aussie food, good ole macca's did the job, neither of us can believe we appreciated a macca meal!!

Rome 13th May, 2009

After a good nights sleep and a lovely breakfast in the garden we set off to do some shopping and book a couple of tours. Not a pleasant experience even for me, crazy mad drivers and very hot and crowded. Used taxi's after initially getting the tram. People in the information booths could not give a crap re giving information, directions, it is all just down the end of the street, NOT.

eventually we found a bus company that did tours. We were so tired we had an early dinner and early night.

Cinque Terre/Rome 12th May, 2009

We left Cinque Terre at 8am by taxi to La Spezia train station, very nice driver named Giuseppe who helped with the tickets and showed us where to go. Arrived at Roma Termini at 2.45pm. WC on train revolting so me NO use. Picked up by taxi and taken to B&B in Trastevere, just over the Tiber River from the main city centre. The front of the building has a glass door entrance with key lock entry, once inside up a flight of stairs to be greeted by our very gracious host's, Zen Buddhist Monks, Anna Maria and Guglielmo Shown through their house, out the back to "The Little House in the Garden". It is charming, only thing is it has the most unusual shower set up - imagine a small WC with a shower hose attached to the wall and that's it! we shower with the WC lid up!!! They supply rubber slip ons should you need to use WC after shower, you should of seen us the first time we used it, amazing how easy it to compromise and all very amusing. After settling in off we went walking, had lunch around 4pm. Dinner we caught a tram to "Alle Fratte Restaurant" and had a steak, delicious only 2nd since leaving home. Interesting time finding the tram stop, whenever we ask for directions it is either just down there or over the road, hundred metre+ later and more asking we found it. The drivers are mad, crazy, lots of scooters and motor bikes, much worse than Paris.

Monday 11th May, 2009

Up and organised reasonably early to catch the boat to Riomaggiore, the 1st of the Cinque Terre Villages from which we walked to the 2nd Village, Maranola where we had lunch. This is the easiest of the walks which includes what is known as the romatic walk for lover's. It has writings all over the rocks along the trail. Took heaps more photo's and have added some to the web album. Graham is off having a couple of beers at his favourite hotel on the hill where we spent time the first evening we arrived. While we have enjoyed the other cities we have been to this place is truly magic! Will be sorry to leave, but also looking forward to Rome.

Cinque Terre 10th May, 2009

Today we took the boat to the 5 Villages of the Cinque Terre, I have added photo's to the web album, it is a truly a magnificent area, no wonder it is World Heritage Listed. The village we spent our time in was Monterosso Village where we had lunch overlooking the most gorgeous view of the beach and the cliff's plus some eye catching bods with not much on!!!Graham this is doing the ogling! We finished the day at an Italian Seafood Restaurant and Graham says if this is there seafood dinner which he had to pick a massive lot of bones out of he is going to stick to sandwiches, if he can find them!! My grilled fish was very nice, big bones! Their gelato/ice cream is absolutely delicious.

Paris/Cinque Terre 9th May, 2009

Up and on the move at 4am this morning, called a taxi around 5am and off to Orly Airport, what a shocking long line of people when we got there about 5.30am, took us most of the time to get through the queue, no time to crab a bite to eat started loading the plane 6.40am, good flight, the driver was waiting to bring us on to Cinque Terre. It is as beautiful as it looks in the pictures on the internet. Fun trying to buy a phone card, eventually found a lady who spoke english and prepared to go that bit extra to help us, now in possession of one phone card!! Had to have a little rest we were so tired, now we are going off exploring. Found a hotel on top of a hill looking out over some children playing, we had a few Becks beers and soaked up the atmosphere, with the drinks came an endless supply of peanuts, corn chips and chips. After this we went down to the water with the idea of having dinner, I ordered a wine, Graham a Becks, then out comes this huge plate of chips, olives, salami, ham, little toasted bread, a dip, we sat there eating this and few more drinks to the point where we did not need any dinner, also seen the most beautiful bride walk past, good picture of the hubby!

Friday 8th May, 2009

After our very late night and very late rising this morning to chirping birds outside our window and the Church Bells ringing out, it has been lovely waking up hearing both each day we have been here. We had a rest day today and tidied our bags etc. ready for departure tomorrow. I ventured out to do the shops over in our immediate area, managed to find a nice top. We had dinner in Rue Cler, a gorgeous cobbled street, think I have mentioned it before, the place just oozes with character.

Paris Toilettes 7th May, 2009

At the Seine River Cafe we both needed to go to the WC - well me first, here we are trying to work out what coins we need to put in the turnstile thingy and along comes 2 french women, they put 1 lot of money in, no. 1 goes through, holds the turnstile open while no. 2 goes through then says to me come on madmeselle so off I go as well, it was hilarious, she was saying lots in french and laughing all the while!! All the time this is going on Graham is trying to figure out money so he decided if he could walk out throught the turnstile if he pulled it as if I was walking out I must be able to get in, so that is what he did!!!! Bloody hell, can't beat him, no matter how hard I try, and I needed HELP from lovely french ladies!!!

Paris 7th May, 2009

We set off walking at 8.30am this morning to get on "L'Open Tour hop on, hop off double decker bus" which took us to every corner of Paris. It consists of 4 routes, each a different colour, so all day we that is what we did, went to all the districts. We saw lot's of the famous Paris buildings, Monuments, Churches, Museums etc. Among them-The arc de Triomphe, crazy driving in this area, ah well correct that crazy driver's all over Paris, appears to work quite well for them, mix of cars, scooters, motor bikes, bicycle riders, they zig zag, no lanes like in Australia, correction out on the highways there are lanes!! In the Montmarte district we climbed 358 stairs to visit the Basilique du Sacre Coeur Church in the Square Louise Michel, the photo's will do it more justice than me trying to describe it! Passed the Moulin Rouge, The Opera, La Madeleine Church, The Pantheon, The Louve Museum, Musee d'Orsay where we viewed some of the most beautiful art and sculptures, poor Graham, out of his comfort zone, but he takes very good care of me!! Saw so many more historic buildings which at this moment cannot not remember but sure the photo's will jog our memory. Of course these Kilkenny's beers I'm drinking could be dulling the memory just a tad!! Back to the end of our day/night-after deciding to depart the bus we headed down to the Seine River, found a Cafe on the water and had dinner there before heading over to the other side with the idea we would do a river cruise, NO, found some outdoor low lying lounge chairs, heineken beer each and sat back & watched the lights come on on the Eiffel Tower, another beer and soaking up the atmosphere and heard the ahhhhh, ahhhhh, from people around and beyond where we were as the tower sparkled blue, it was just magic!

Paris 6th May, 2009

Water Fountain at La Defense Shopping Complex


Ah, Ah!! No surprise feeling the effects of toooo many drinks, Irish Pub version of Margarita, very nice. Once we were organised headed out again, no walking, taxi to the massive La Defense shopping complex, very modern construction compared to any thing else in Paris, actually looks out of place. Poor Graham it is quite a sufferance for him this shopping but he handles it well!! After a few hours there came back to our apt. bought a french custard slice, delicious with a coffee. Once 5pm came headed to the pub for internet access to do the update. We will be having an early night, not usual in Paris!!

Paris 5th May, 2009

Our very colourful guide Madeleine, a character!

Today we went on a bus tour to Giverny where we visited Monet's House & Gardens. I must of been brain dead as not too long after leaving discovered the batteries in the camera and phone were flat, fortunately I had a disposable camera in my bag. The house is very colourful, the dining room was all shades of yellow and the kitchen blue, very pretty, just like his paintings. After leaving here we headed into some beautiful country on our way to The Moulinde Fourges situated on a river with an old wooden water mill, 3 course lunch with red wine, we sat with two couples from Aust. one from Chapel Hill and the other from Melbourne, some lively conversation, also a woman from Bangkok who spoke very good English. After lunch out into some more very picturesque countryside on our way to Versailles Palace, it is massive, took 49 years to complete, after viewing all the rooms with a running commentary of the history of the kings & queens, which by the end did not want to hear anyone else had been beheaded. The architecture is absolutely amazing as it is all over Paris. On the bus and headed back into the city, **we walked a very long way to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral magnificant building with it's stained glass & architecture, there were tourist walking around while people were in the confessional + others patiently waiting + there was a service being conducted while we were there, we felt like intruders but obviously it is normal practice** could not walk another step so had to be a taxi ride back to Rue Cler, not far from our apt. where we had dinner, steak, well done, NOT, but very nice all the same. Had to stop at the Irish Pub for few more drinks, it was packed with a soccer game on. Great day!

Paris 4th May, 2009

Around lunch time we went walking to the Eiffel Tower then onto the Trocodero in search of a tour agency which we found after we had lunch in one of the many side walk cafe's. The food is very rich, you should of seen the size of the plate of toasted chicken & bacon sandwiches we had served with coleslaw, had we known one would have been plenty for us to share. We have found the people very friendly and happy to help. Could'nt tell you how many k's we walk most days, we were both buggard, got a taxi back to the apt. and ate in.

Notre Dame

Paris 3rd May, 2009

Thank you all for your good wishes on our big day! After a leisurley morning ventured out walking once again. Checked out the Eiffel Tower, made sure they had our reservation for tonight, all o.k. Nice slow meander back to Irish Pub, a beer, glass of champagne, bagel and finally found out how to use the free internet that is available all over Paris except our apartment, don't seem to able to get it there - buggar!! The Eiffel Tower, It is a magnificent construction, awsome! - We had a window table on the 1st floor for our 40th Anniversary Dinner, looking down on the Seine River with it's boats & bridges and looking out over Paris. The food was a bit tooo fancy for Graham!!!! After dinner we went up to the 2nd floor and were amazed at the magnitude of the City. On the way down the light display commenced of the Tower, it is truly amazing.

Paris 2nd May, 2009

Nice smooth ride on the Eurostar to Paris, very fast. Once settled into our apartment which is very comfortable, we went walking the streets of Paris, found an Irish Pub, playing "Hit the Road Jack" 2 different games of football, crowd very passionate. Bought a chook and gorgeous tiny potatoes at Rue Cler Markets and took them back to the apt. nice to have our own place.

London 1st May, 2009

Today we have been from one end of London to the other on a tour. The architecture is just beautiful. We visited Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, all very grand and spectacular + heaps & heaps of tourist. In the middle of all this we had lunch at The Silver Cross Hotel. Then on to St Pauls Cathedral, well no words to describe how beautiful it is. The Tower of London with a viewing of the Crown Jewels, would never have to think of money again if I could get my hands on one diamond from anything we saw. This is just an overview of all the landmark buildings, churches, parliament house etc. that was pointed out to us. We ended the tour with a cruise up the Thames River. We were so buggared we caught a taxi to Natalie's pub, had a couple of beers and a meal and said our goodbyes. Now most things are packed ready for our Eurostar trip to Paris. The week has gone so quick.

London 30th April, 2009

Graham is feeling poorly this morning after our night out. We put the tour off around London until Friday morning. He is feeling better, hopefully after a sleep will be ready for our last look of London. The pub's here are quaint little establishments with a great atmosphere.

London Covent Garden 29th April, 2009

Another interesting day with Natalie. We set out to Covent Garden where we had lunch before seeing 'Oliver' at the Theatre Royale, we girls enjoyed it very much, the stage settings and costumes are magnificent, not Graham's cup of tea though, but he was happy to go along.

Afterwards we looked around the markets in Covent Garden, it is full of character before hopping on the tube back to the Landor Pub where Natalie works. Lot's of reminiscing.

Bath, Abbey Church 28th April, 2009

We had a most interesting tour today to Windsor Castle, very magestic and awe inspiring architecture, then onto Bath where we viewed the Roman Bath's with it's magic water which we chose not to sample. The village itself is absolutely beautiful, we would have liked to spend more time there. Then onto to Stonehenge, which is amazing how the stone was transported to this area and to this day no one is sure why! Once out of London heading towards these areas the countryside is truly beautiful. I have added several photo's of the trip on the web album, hope you enjoy them. Once we arrived back in London Central went in search of an English Pub, found this quaint little one in the next suburb from where we are staying called The Moon Over the Water had a few beers of course and a typically ordinary aussie meal, steak & veg. a fantastic day!!

London 27th April 2009

This is the B&B where we are staying, it is very cosy and lovely hosts. I had a very quiet day today. Graham ventured out on the tube into London Central and organised our day out tomorrow. Arrived back with nice cold beers!

It was a bleak day here, first rain since we arrived and of course cold. In doors is nice as it is centrally heated.

London 26th April 2009

We met Natalie at Tooting Bec Station and off we went on an adventure around London. Could not tell you how many times we were on & off the tube, pays to get around with a seasoned Londoner who knows her way around. First up we went to Harrod's, what an opulent store, signed the Princess Diana Book and generally looked around, everything is on a grand scale. Then onto Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, by this time we all wanted to sit down, wait for this had lunch at Macca's. We decided to go to Oxford Street (famous for the shopping) so back on the tube, but not without some minor drama, when we got to the platform the train was there so Natalie got on, me after her but the doors closed so I pushed them with both arms, Graham behind pushing my backside in the train, doors close and he is still on the platform! I'm saying shit how is he going to find us, she is telling me in between laughing uncontrollably at the look on my face, "it's alright Auntie Helen he will get the next train and get off at the next station" I was concerned but sure enough that is what happened. Typical "Cleeland's" had it all under control!! So off we went to this warehouse place called Primark, made a small purchase after fighting the huge crowds, Graham sat out on the ledge of the building and was suitably entertained people watching. Then it was coffee, 3 more tubes to a pub in Clapham Common called The Frog Forget Me Not and a well deserved relax with a few beers and a meal, as you can see by the photo we are all exhausted. By the way everyone had to buy Graham ear plugs!!!!!

London 25th April 2009

Well for us this was definately and eye opener, today Graham + some help from very helpful strangers mastered the tube across 3 zones, 3 changes of trains to get to the new Sheppards Bush Westfield Shopping Centre (as you all know not his favourite pass time) but he actually purchased a pair of trousers himself while I went searching! We think Chermside is huge, not compared to this, it is absolutely massive. Ended our day with a delicious dinner at an Italian Restaurant just down from b&b.

London 24th April 2009

Another good flight, neither of us can quite believe just how good it has been, Graham a little stiff today though. After arriving at the B&B and settling in we caught a double decker red bus into central London, went walking, walking & more walking. We went into Westminster Abbey, saw Sloane Square, found a local travel agent for some brochures, managed to find our way back to catch bus 319, had a couple of beers just down from where we are staying. Now Graham is sound asleep and I won't be far behind him. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!!

We have just returned from a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, spectacular 160 acres, which we saw a smidgen of. Our flight over was very good, actually went quite quick. It is very hot & humid here, fortunately Angie's beautiful home is air conditioned. This afternoon we are off shopping!! which Graham is coping with quite well.
We also visited the museum of the Raffles Hotel which is an iconic building here which has been beautifully restored. Dinner was at PS Cafe which was beautiful, before the 13.5 hr. flight to London. We are being very spoilt here with Angie.

Adam's 60th Birthday Party

Great celebration and catching up with friends. More pictures on the web album.

1st March 2009

Ryan, Henry & William enjoying an

ice cream at Coolangatta

Jeff & Chrissy's Beautiful Wedding

Japanese Gardens, Toowoomba.
14th March 2009

We are in Coolangatta soaking up the beach atmosphere. A perfect place for reflecting on our memories of our son Greg

who would have been 36 today.