New Years Eve in Bangkok!

On the way back to London from home we stopped off in Bangkok for 3 days before going to Cambodia. We stayed in the beautiful Peninsula Hotel and had a very relaxing time doing nothing but sitting by the pool! We joined in the festivities on the lawns in the Peninsula for a show and fantastic fireworks over the river.

View of the NYE dinner location from our bedroom, view of the river at night

NYE Dinner, the singers and modern Thai dancers

Inge & Ben xo

Visit to Sydney & Christmas in Adelaide 2007

Well, it's been a while since we've gotten back from our holiday, but better late than never! Seeing as my nephews were born just before Christmas, we decided to head home to meet them. After a bad start to the trip (BA delaying our flight to Frankfurt so that we missed our Qantas one to Sydney and had to overnight in Frankfurt!!), it was great to finally arrive in Sydney, even if it was pouring with rain! That was a positive though as the cricket Ben was supposed to go to but missed because of BA had been washed out!! We spent the week in Sydney rushing around catching up with friends and doing a lot of paperwork with banks and rental properties! Not the most relaxing of weeks, but great to catch up with those we managed to see. It was also good we were very busy as the weather wasn't the best, so we weren't wanting to spend our whole time on the beach!!

Our last day in Sydney on Coogee Beach - this was the nicest weather we'd had all week!


Our bad luck with flights continued when we flew to Adelaide and were stuck on the tarmac in Sydney for 2 hours! But we finally made it to Adelaide where we went straight to the hospital to see the Twins! They were gorgeous and Mum and Dad were getting into the swing of things. We had a really nice time in Adelaide, really just relaxing with the family (Ben's parents and brother came to Adelaide as well) and seeing as much of the twins as possible.

Our first meeting with the Twins! I was holding Joshua and Ben was holding Jonty!

Cara unpacking all the baby clothes I'd brought from London (and Ben wondering how much I'd spent!!) and Detlef and Cara with Joshua and Jonty. They were still both so small!

Christmas Day was very pleasant, we all went to my Dad's place for lunch and had a great day sitting in the sun and playing cricket and table tennis. It was also great meeting all of Sharon's (my Dad's partner) family.

The sporting action on Christmas Day!

Christmas cuddles with the Twins! The nurses in the hospital had put them in Christmas outfits!

Me with my Mum and Mum's new puppy, Gwinny (she's a labrodoodle and a real princess!)

We really enjoyed our time at home and were pleased that the weather finally warmed up for us and managed to get some sun and beach time! We also managed to catch up with our good friends George and Anita and to finally meet their little son Lukas. It was great catching up with them and their family - although it was a very hot day, almost 40 degrees!

Ben with Lukas, Lukas waking from his nap, and Lukas with Uncle Laki

George & Anita with Lukas, and all of us!

Inge & Ben xoxo

More photos of the twins

From all accounts back home the twins and Mum are doing well. Still a few weeks till they can leave hospital, but they should be home by the time we get to Adelaide.

Jonty Kirsten Joshua Kirsten

Detlef & Cara - the proud parents

Sue - the proud grandmother

The Arrival of Joshua & Jonty Kirsten - My Nephews

Saturday 1st December was an exciting day as my two nephews arrived safely at 1.45pm in Adelaide. They were very early, but are healthy and strong, and they're mother is doing well. The boys have to stay in hospital for the next 3-4 weeks, but I'm very much looking forward to meeting them at Christmas.


Love Inge & Ben xo

Joshua Kirsten

Jonty Kirsten

Birthday Surprise - A Weekend in Paris

Well, after thinking our last weekend European trip was to Rome, Ben surprised me with a trip to Paris for my birthday. We got up early on the Saturday morning to head to St Pancras to catch the EuroStar to Paris. I would recommend this to everyone as it was so much easier and much more pleasant than having to go to the airport! We arrived in Paris mid-morning and after checking into the hotel we went for a long walk down the Champs-Elysees and along the Seine to Ile de Cite for a long, relaxing and delicious lunch at a brasserie we found. We were glad we'd walked so far, as after lunch, we certainly needed the walk!

Saturday evening Ben had organised tickets to the Ballet, but unfortunately, the workers of the Opera House were on strike, so the ballet was cancelled. This was a bit of a disappointment, and although we went out for a lovely meal, it just wasn't quite the same. The best part of that night was that our taxi driver had heard about the Australian election results and was as happy as we were that Howard was finally out of government!!

Sunday we had another lovely day and went out to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur and enjoyed the sunshine and watching the artists paint in the square before re-visiting the Eiffel Tower and heading back home. It was a lovely weekend and wonderful to get out of London for the day and spend the weekend just with each other.

Now the countdown till our trip home begins!

Love Inge & Ben